It’s wonderful to have Me Ra back with her amazing words of inspiration. Having had the privilege of attending a CONFIDENCE Workshop last year (yep, last year ladies!) Me Ra and Brian truly create confidence and feed passion with that same inspiration. And with every moment filled with hilarity, fun and humanity. I hope you all get to come at some point. 🙂
It’s Genie again – here to announce our next Running on Empty contest. This time it’s for Seattle!
Do you know a mom who needs this kind of group and weekend getaway? Do you know a mom Running on Empty? If so, nominate her today. Let’s turn her day around and let her know we are rooting for her!
If you know a MOM who is;
A. Running on Empty
B. Lives near Seattle, WA or has mileage to spend
C. Can arrange for a sitter and get the weekend free, starting Friday, January 28th 7-9pm, for Meet & Greet night all the way through Sunday night, January 30th.
D. Most importantly, has a PASSION for photography
Nominate her TODAY! Nominations must be in by Sunday night, 1/9 at 6pm PST.
We will announce the winner in time for her to jump in and make all the arrangements. So make sure your nominations are all in by Sunday at 6pm PST. If you are not familiar with this contest, read below and see what it’s all about! Moms are one of the most beautiful parts of creation. This contest is all about acknowledging their beauty, even when they are Running on Empty.
Here’s how it works!
In honor of how wonderful moms are and all that they do and give, Brian and I keep one spot reserved in every workshop for a special mom like YOU! That’s right, you (or she) will get a free pass to the upcoming CONFIDENCE Workshop in the Seattle area! (Please note, we don’t provide room/board and travel.)
To nominate a mom, you must post a comment telling us about the mom who you think deserves a big break in life! If you are a mom, you’re probably laughing because we ALL deserve a serious break. But the moms we’re looking for are the ones who have had a ridiculous amount of stress in their life whether from trauma or things just not going her way this year. She is a mom in your life that needs a serious blessing to come her way. She needs a serious surprise that gives her empty tank some fuel. If she is a woman that has miscarried, she is still a mom in my mind b/c I know her heart became a mother’s heart the moment she found out she was pregnant. Don’t hesitate to nominate her too.
I’m proud to say that some of our previous winners stepped out on a limb and nominated themselves. Take courage in them and feel free to nominate yourself if you know you need a serious break. Who knows, you may have your house remodeled by Oprah!
We’ll collect all the nominees, have a committee of wonderful moms vote, and then announce the winner in the next two weeks! Being as wonderful as they are, it’s not an easy job. As one said recently, “After reading each story I’d say, ‘I’m voting for HER’.” Each one of you is so deserving.
Nominate her today and turn her day around! Oh, wait! Don’t forget to let her know you’ve nominated her too! If I was a mom nominated I’d love to know my friends were thinking of me whether I won or not! Deadline for ALL nominations is Sunday, January 9 at 6pm PST. Nominations MUST be posted as a comment on this blog post. Either your email or the nominees email MUST be included on the blog post to qualify. Nominations emailed or posted on other blog posts may be overlooked. Please post all nominees here. Thanks! (A tip: write in Word or other program first – just in case.:))
For more details about the CONFIDENCE WORKSHOP, CLICK HERE! The only way into the the Seattle Workshop is through this contest as it’s SOLD OUT, so nominate now!
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*All 2011 CONFIDENCE Workshops are SOLD OUT, BUT if you’d like to be on our waiting list, email me at genie@fioria.us. If confidence is your goal and photography your passion, it’s an amazing pool to jump in. You never know what may open up!
Seattle Details, SOLD OUT!
LA/Orange County Details, SOLD OUT!
Scottsdale, AZ Details, SOLD OUT!
Send those nominations in by Sunday 6pm!
~ Genie
It’s scary to even be pouring my heart out here, and in so many ways I feel selfish for even thinking I deserve this. Am I running on empty? The simple answer is yes. I really have no reason to be running on empty though. I have been abundantly blessed in my life. My husband and I have jobs and a roof over our head. We have a healthy, vibrant little boy. We have love and support from our family and friends. Admitting that I’m running on empty is so difficult because we have everything we need in life. There are so many more deserving women that have struggled through such difficulties in their lives.
I have always thought of myself as a hopeful person. Now, I’m beginning to question that part of myself. Why am I feeling empty now? Meeting my husband was such a joyful time for us. We were both very active in a youth ministry group through our church and met at a training conference in Arizona. What a wonderful way to meet your future spouse. At a conference that’s goal is to lift up God. I didn’t even blink an eye at moving 2500 miles away to be with him. I just leapt. I never expected to get so homesick. When we had our son, I missed my family even more. It saddened my heart that they wouldn’t get to experience so many things with him. When I went back to work instead of staying home with him, it broke my heart. My heart’s desire is to stay home to raise him. I am trying to be so thankful for all that we have and feel so unfaithful for questioning why I have to work outside of the home. What kind of wife does that make me to put that kind of pressure on my husband? It’s funny because I’ve been through much worse in my life than what is going on right now. Being molested by a grandparent didn’t break my spirit. Not being able to stay home with my son did. It’s been on my heart to own a photography business since I had my son. It wasn’t until applying for SOAR this year that I really understand how much it’s been on my heart. It’s like you said in one of your Cambodia posts, Mera, “Instead of waiting for the sky to part and the answer to come as the voice of God, what about the subtle nudge that really and truly almost goes unnoticed”. Since having him, picking up the camera is what’s kept me going. Part of me just feels so inadequate in opening a photography business. I don’t understand the rules of shooting in manual mode. I guess I’ve always felt that because of that, I’m not a real photographer. Do I love to capture candid moments? Absolutely! They are my favorite. Not the posed picture that is all technically correct. I have no problem picking up my camera to get good pictures of my family, but how can I ask people to pay me to take their pictures when I don’t understand so many things about photography? I guess that what it really boils down to is that I feel I need the Confidence workshop so that I can have some actual confidence in my work.
Thank you so much for reading this and for your encouragement every day. You are such an inspiration, not just in your story of how you got into photography, but of how humble you are and how much you give back to others.
I would like to nominate my mother for the scholarship!
Just a small background, my mom is secretly my step mom but no one knows until we tell them. I came into Terri’s life when I was seven years old. One day she was engaged to a single man in Washington and the next married with a seven year old that definitely didn’t come with an instruction manual. I wasn’t the easiest child to bond with and came with my own baggage but Terri handled everyday with gentleness and grace. I’m almost 25 now with two babies of my own and use Terri’s love as my example of how to love my children. There is no other person that I would rather call my mom.
When my mom wanted to attended the upcoming workshop and then saw the scholarship, I was very excited with the chance to nominate her. After everything she has been able to do to change my life in the most positive and loving way I would love to impact hers with this nomination. My mother has always loved and admired photography, in the last year she has developed the courage and passion to start creating her own art through photography, and is completely in love with it. She spends time practicing and reading books and blogs to learn more about photography skills. This workshop would help ease frustration and strengthen skill for my mom.
For a mother that has given all of herself to her children and husband and left her dreams on empty, please consider my nomination as it would further my mother’s confidence and begin to refill her dreams.
Sincerely, Tamarah
What does empty feel like? It feels like there is a hole where your heart is supposed to be. It’s a dark, draining pain that fills you and simultaneously leaves you devoid of joy. When I applied for the San Francisco’s Running on Empty Contest, I shared my story. I told you about my kids, Oliver and Annie, about my husband Tim and about the sudden and devastating death of my mother in law Robyn. I shared about the struggling time after her death and how hard it was to just “live life” while my husband was deployed in Iraq. I told you how it sparked ever more deeply my love for photography and my desire to understand and know more. But I didn’t tell you about this…
Picture in your mind a husband returning home from deployment. Let me help you, me and the kids were all dressed up. Both kids decked out in red, white and blue, Annie’s pigtails with ribbons cascading down, bundles of balloons in tow. We all held signs that said “Welcome Home Daddy” and “We Missed You”. Our friends came too and we waited with excitement for Tim to get off the plane. It really was “picture perfect”. And when he first came down the escalator it was amazing; just as I had dreamed it would be. All hugs and kisses, smiles and tears. Simply perfect!
I dreamed and dreamed of our reunion, how we would run and greet each other, how whole our family would be again, how much easier it would be with two parents in the household. I had heard of other families struggling when they reunited but in my heart I knew it wouldn’t be a struggle for us. Sadly I was mistaken…
After the fairytale reunion wore off I soon found that our transition into “real life” was not going so smoothly. You don’t understand it until you’ve lived it and it is seldom spoken of, but the truth is that melding your family back together after a deployment is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Time apart changes you. Time in a war torn country changes the person who has been deployed. And when you throw that all together it can be very messy.
After we came and modeled for the San Francisco workshop on that Sunday, I was so filled with joy and anticipation. I was literally waking up in the middle of the night and jumping out of bed to come write down all the awesome ideas that had come to me in my sleep. What a great place to be.
Then out of nowhere I felt like I was hit by a truck. Some truths about happenings during deployment came crashing to the surface and I was hit with deception full force. Out of respect for my husband aside from saying that it wasn’t infidelity, I won’t share all the gory details but suffice it to say… deployment is hard. Being away from your family is hard. And sometimes honesty is even harder. And no matter what the situation is, when you’ve been deceived, especially by a loved one, it leaves you feeling utterly empty.
I love my husband dearly and we are working through our issues. We will overcome them and I know in my heart that we will be stronger in the long run. But now more than ever I am feeling so empty. I want to feel joy, I want a spark that will ignite love in me and help me to remember that love is what life is all about. I really need this. I want to be back in that “good” place. Thank you for considering me! Jody onlyjody@hotmail.com
I recommend Kyndal Bowers. Kyndal lives up North towards the Oregon border and I’ve already told her if she wins that we can room together. I’ve been waiting and thinking positive for her so I haven’t offered to room with anybody else! 🙂
I have known Kyndal since early 1998 when she and my daughter Stacey became friends when we moved to Longview, WA from Arkansas. She was just a child but helped my daughter feel welcomed to a new life, I will always love her for that. I’m not surprised though, Kyndal’s family was a foster family and so they just big O’ open hearts. Bless them. Recently Kyndal was a brides maid in my daughter’s wedding and it was surreal seeing them all grown up in wedding attire because I have photos of them as silly little girls.
One of the first children I practiced photographing with was Kyndal’s son Benny who was two and a half years old and has one of my favorite “soaring” photos of all time. He’s pretending to fly with his arms stretched running around the play equipment but he’s so young he can barely run. It was beautiful! http://tinyurl.com/preview.php?num=2eezxfw
I have two children, besides the one whose friends with Kyndal’s, I have a son, Stephen. Neither of them will follow in my footsteps to become a professional photographer, and I never was disappointed about that, but I was jumping up and down when Kyndal sent me a facebook message wanting to know how to get started in photography. It made me well up with pride that she would ask me that, simply because she knows I’m just a wee bit further along with my journey getting started in photography myself.
Kyndal’s a young 22 year old mother, she’s getting ready to go back to college to finish her business degree and work on her photography skills so that one day she will be able to open her own photography business. I have no idea how she’s going to do it all because going to college is hard enough but when you add a 3 year old in the mix, if she’s not empty yet she soon will be. But she has me in her corner cheering her own. She even applied for the SOAR! scholarship and even though I’ve got my fingers crossed for myself, I have my other set of fingers crossed for her! (Honest!)
So it is with great pride I nominate Kyndal Bowers for the Seattle Running on Empty spot.
I know there are alot of nominees, and I know so many are deserving of this wonderful gift. This is a long shot, but I feel like I do deserve this. I don’t get or have much but family.Which is not a bad thing. My family is my life. I never complain. I never express the need for more, although deep inside I yearn to learn more, and to be more. I have not been concentrating on myself for a long time. I take care of my four small children (2yrs-8yrs) and my husband, and my clients ofcourse.. But I fail to take care of me. I am just struggling so much lately. I know this will bring me back to life.
My husband and I moved to Seattle for a better life. We had been struggling with his employment with a construction co in the Midwest for so long, then I found out I was pregnant again! Aaaah! Don’t get me wrong, I love kids, love love love them! But, we could not afford this baby. We didn’t have heat, food and clothing for our 3 other children, what would we do now!!?! To add to the dread, my husband got laid off completely, and We ended up losing our home. We packed up a suitcase for each kid, and took a few treasured pieces, and left the rest behind. We left our family, our home, everything.
It was the most difficult thing we had ever done. But there was oppurtunity knocking at the door, and we had nothing else we could do. There was no work at all in Minnesota, where we had lived our whole life.
We arrived in Seattle, almost 3 yrs now, and my husband got a job right when we got here. We were ecstatic! We welcomed our baby into the world that December after the move. Then, my husband got laid off again.Found a job. Got laid off again. So, He decided to build up his own business instead. So little by little, he got busier and busier. It is starting to build up now finally after a few years. But not so much that we have enough money to live with no stress. Sometimes I just wish we could have a nice home again that we could call ours. I know that soon enough, If we play our cards right we will. We are both working on that.
I started my photography business officially after we got to Seattle. I started it in Minnesota, but really decided to pursue it after my hubby got laid off in Seattle. Photography heals me. It is my passion. Its what I do. Its something that has always been in the background my entire life. It intrigues me. It lightens my mood. It shows who I am inside outside. I can’t explain it as I would like to, but lets just say I am obsessed.
I saved up for a nice camera, and then a flash, and worked up from there. I literally started AT THE BOTTOM. It has taken me this long to get two cameras, a tripod, a flash, a background stand, backgrounds, and software.
It seems like If I have a good month, It goes to necessities and basics with nothing left over, and I never get ahead. I would love to learn how to run the business part of my business better. I have the artistic eye, and I feel like I have what it takes to be wonderful. So many have told me that they were blown away with my photography. And I feel like I am just brimming the surface.
Please help me to be able to win this workshop. I need it desperately.
Just like I said, I know alot of people are hurting financially, and deserve a shot, but I feel like this could be my chance. If not, congratulations to whomever you choose. What a wonderful oppurtunity!
When Melissa Miller became a mom, she left a job where she was loved and well respected in her field in order to free herself to pursue her passions: Motherhood and photography. Now a mom of two, she is working hard to find and maintain balance, but it takes a toll sometimes. All she wanted yesterday was a nap, but there was just no way to make that happen. This event would be the perfect way to allow her to rejuvenate herself through her art. Please consider her for this opportunity.
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I nominate Melissa Miller! Besides being an awesome fellow photographer she is a caring person and a super loving momma! But even super mommas need a break!
DO IT !
I’d like to nominate my buddy, Janna Curran. She has 2 sets of twins. That’s 4 boys 2 and under…hellllo! Who wouldn’t be running on empty with all those bouncing bundles of joy?? Any way, she’s new to photography and is trying to make a viable business out of it. They have had some financial hardships, and she and her family have been living with her parents since her first set of twins were born. Janna and her husband are hard working, loving parents who are doing everything they know how to do to provide for those boys. I would love for her to have a break, have some quality adult conversations and have her passion for photography stoked and guided.
Thank you for considering my wonderfully passionate, deserving friend Janna!
The chance to participate in the Seattle CONFIDENCE workshop would mean the world to me! The past three years have been full of baby-making, dream-chasing and business-building, and while those experiences have all added richly to my life, at this point they have also left me feeling drained and even sometimes out of touch with the purpose behind all this hard work.
My daughter, Grace, was born two years ago, and shortly after I decided to pursue my dream of starting a cloth diapering business, Mothering Grace. We launched in October of 2009, and three months later I found myself pregnant with baby #2,
who has now joined our family in the form of wonderful baby Eli. I have spent the past three and a half years either pregnant or nursing, and working hard to try to keep our other family business afloat while pursuing my personal dreams with the diaper business. I find myself often feeling overwhelmed, and doubt creeps in as I wonder if I am really doing a good job at *any* of my duties as I try to juggle them
all. I feel depleted of physical energy, time, and–with all of our extra money going toward launching Mothering Grace–financial resources as well.
Unlike a lot of people, I am not interested in the CONFIDENCE workshop because of any desire to open a photography business; no, for me, photography is tied to my deep wish to create–and chronicle–a story for my children. And this desire is also why I have worked so hard to maintain our businesses while caring for our babies. With an English degree, words have always been important to me, and now the chance to create meaningful pictures as well excites me. Though I am only a beginner, I love trying to capture the essence of my family. I love photography as a medium for this, and I’m learning all I can to further my photography skills. This weekend would present me with a chance to get a break from the daily grind and focus on what truly matters to me–creating and capturing life’s moments, be they extraordinary or the mundane.
*My Big, Long Deep Breathe Goes Here*
Dear Readers,
My name is Jessica Ho and I’d like to submit my entry for the Running on Empty Contest for the Seattle Confidence Workshop. I should mention I also applied for the SOAR scholarship this year too. I must say I didn’t really feel like I had enough time to pour out my whole life story out in 90 seconds so I went with another approach, my top 3 reasons to be chosen. I guess this is my chance to tell my story…
So, I dated this super cute boy in high school and I always knew he was the one for me. We were just CRAZY about each other, even through the hard times when his parents were strongly against us dating (asian parents – that’s a whole other story). We were both just starting out in college (and my boyfriend’s parents had high hopes he’d be a doctor), when surprise!!! I was pregnant! I was 19 years old, with only a quarter of college under my belt and I was working as a Starbucks barista. We decided to keep our baby and figure it out. OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD! I was sooo scared. I had no clue what to do or what I was signing myself up for. My boyfriend was pretty depressed, mostly because he had to tell his parents at some point (he told them when I was 7 months, yes it took that long to work up the courage). It was an extremely stressful and emotional pregnancy/situation. When my boyfriend finished school, he got a job, we eloped, we had our baby, and we moved out on our own. You can’t begin to imagine how tight money was and how much tension there was between our families. My husband’s family was extremely disappointed with us. In the midst of chaos and even postpartum depression, somehow our baby, Opal brought so much love and light into our life. We had barely anything but we had everything.
Since then we had another little girl, Zoey (I had an amazing pregnancy & birth the second time around!), we are renting a house, and my husband finally landed a job that could better support our family; he is a train engineer with BNSF railways. I have to say I’m extremely proud of how far we have come! I see that a lot of young people can’t survive the stress of parenthood and even being in a marriage, we did and we still are! Our secret: PRAYER. :]
During the past four years, I have in no way felt like I was in my early twenties! I never really had a chance to even think about dreaming big, I was completely emerged in getting by and raising my children. I’ve always stayed home to raise both kids and I’m so proud of that. I already see that investment paying off, my girls are so creative and bright; mostly we are all so very close. I’ve been running on empty for the past 4 years! I need a break! I have the dreams but not the resources. Yes my husband has a better job, but our financial priority right now is saving up for our home, buying a car, school, the list goes on and on. I need a break! I want to feel young again, I want to do something for myself, I want to start a really successful photo business, I want to be a role model for my children and other young mothers, I want to get out there and create change in the world! Honestly, I really have my heart set on the SOAR scholarship this year, but maybe it’s not my year, I don’t know what God has in store for me.. All I know is I’m ready to put myself out there and work hard. Thanks for reading my story and considering me…
Love,
Jessica
I second Ashley J’s nomination, Janna Kingham is hard working, passionate and loves her kids so much. Her family has been through so much and her photography business is more than just for fun, it’s for survival. To give her the chance to hang out with other photographers and learn ways to move her business forward, I know would be a huge blessing in her life. 🙂
Running on Empty. This simple phrase sure stirs up a lot, doesn’t it?! It can be simple – busy mom, working mom, dedicated mom, committed wife, sister, daughter….happy and tired and flying by the seat of our pants (which so many of us do). It can be more complicated – all of the above, mixed with questioning so many choices in our lives, reflecting on whether we are where we want to be, wondering if we are good enough, questioning our decisions, dreaming, wishing, a desire to grow! When I saw your most recent blog post which mentioned the Running on Empty nomination, my heart flooded with the hope and desire for my sister-in-law to receive the opportunity to attend this amazing conference! Her name is Terri and she so deserves this nomination (actually, as it turns out, I’m seconding the nomination of her daughter, Tamarah, above) : )
When I thought of running on empty – and the depth of that phrase – my heart flooded with hope for her – hope that she could attend a conference that would help her find her confidence…the confidence in her photography (which she is working at daily and trying so hard to grasp)……and the confidence in herself – to realize her potential and the true beauty of her sprit. I see her pictures changing – they are telling her family’s story – she doubts it a bit and I really want her to recognize the beauty in them and in her! There are some people that you come across in life that touch your heart in ways no one can fully realize. You know their back story, you see their current life and yet you know that there is something deep inside just yearning for more. I know this opportunity would mean so much to her and fill her up! For her, a chance to pause and reflect and grow and learn will mean more than you know! I love ya Ter – and hope you get this. You so so so deserve it !
What a wonderful act of kindness in extending a scholorship to your Photography Conference. I am SO hopeful that you agree with me that my daughter truly deserves this chance of a lifetime opportunity.
Susan was nicknamed Sunshine as a little girl and I’m so proud to say that in spite of heavy burdens, she has shown the ability to calmly take one day at a time and look to the future with hope. She is a blessing to others and recently spoke by request on “How to Maintain Joy during Trials.”
Susan’s first born child, a little boy,was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 years old. All the dreams of his future have had to be set aside. At 8 years old, he is non-verbal, still wears diapers, has seizures and has a sleep disorder that means he can be all through sleeping by 2 or 3 a.m. With little sleep, Susan also needs to keep up with a very active 4 year old daughter. She has to watch others do the normal family activities: going out to eat, taking vacations, going camping…things that they are unable to do.
As if this weren’t enough, her husband has been unemployed for the past 10 months, the second time it’s happened in the last 3 years. While her peers own their own homes, they struggle to pay rent in a place too small for their needs. She wants to be able to help her family financially but is unable to hold a job with regular hours because of the challenges at home.
Then 4 months ago, she was asked by her MOPS group (Mothers of Preschoolers) if she would volunteer to take family pictures and the payment would go to fund the MOPS scholarship program. She was happy to do that and as a result of other people seeing her work, she suddenly was contacted to do other photo shoots. Her favorite pastime and her passion for photography has suddenly become an opportunity for a career where she could schedule her own time. She has found working with children and families and taking their pictures has added great joy to her life, giving her a sense of fulfillment to be doing what she loves and pleasing others with her work.
She is so excited and at the sametime fearful for she knows she has so much more to learn. Her knowledge thus far is from trial and error, reading books and visiting blogs and websites. This conference would give her the confidence boost that she needs and provide her with tools to make photography her business. With her birthday just 3 days prior, this would be the “gift that would keep on giving.” When I told her that she was being nominated, she said: ” I would LOVE NOTHING MORE than being able to attend this conference but I’m also praying that if there is someone more deserving and needs it even more than me, she should win.” That’s the daughter I’m so proud of!
My heart goes out to every woman who is nominated for this contest. Good luck to everyone, and keep dreaming big!
good luck to all of these great ladies.
Hello everyone!
My name is Kyndal, and I’d like to nominate myself for this contest.
I’m 22 years old, and single mother to a 3 year old, Benny, who I swear drinks a pot of coffee every morning when I’m not looking. He drives me crazy sometimes, but I couldn’t be more thankful that he is healthy and active, and is becoming quite the little genius (right now he is sitting in my lap, arguing with me over whether a lollipop is a reasonable breakfast).
I’m working full time as a receptionist in a small elder law office in Vancouver, and as of last Monday am also a full time student at LCC in Longview. I’m working on finishing up my business degree, and working on my photography skills so that one day I can have my own photography business. This first week of being back in school is already taking its toll. Benny is NOT liking the extra time I have to be on my computer for my distance education classes. He sits next to my desk with a stack of books, tugging at my arm and asking me to come cuddle and read to him. It breaks my heart that I have to tell him no, that I have to finish my homework. Last night, as I was practicing my alphabet in Spanish for a class, he was sitting next to me reciting his alphabet in English (he kept correcting me, saying “No, Mommy. That’s not what the A says!”). In the end, I know all the time I spent working on school will pay off when I can provide a better life for him.
I’m so grateful for my job, it pays the bills and provides stable hours. But with the costs of day care, groceries, school, pull-ups, gas for commuting 40 miles every day, and other costs of life, there’s not much left over for “extras.” I finally made the step to go back to school so that I can provide more for Benny and I and end this awful living paycheck to paycheck cycle, and it’s going to be long, stressful journey. I’d love to attend the Cofidence workshop more than anything, and feel I would benefit from it immensely, but the cost is just out of the question. I appreciate your consideration for the Running on Empty contest, and wish the best of luck to all the women nominated!
Sorry, I forgot to post my email address in my nomination for Kyndal Bowers:
delanae@delanae.com
Kyndal’s email address is: kyndalbowers@live.com
I am very proud to nominate my much-loved and talented sister, Susan, for your generous scholarship offer. Susan remains a remarkably joyous and optimistic woman in spite of the many trials and heavy burdens she faces on a daily basis. Our mom Donna has already explained those considerable challenges (including the care of Susan’s 8 year-old severely autistic son who is unable to speak and is becoming increasingly aggressive and seizure-prone) in her separate nomination, so I will not repeat them here. Susan will occasionally share with me how difficult her life is and how exhausting it can be, but those times are rare. She has instead adopted as her motto that “about the only thing you can control with life’s circumstances is how you react to them.” How Susan has chosen to react to her own circumstances is truly an example to us all. And so I hope and pray that you will extend to Susan the amazing opportunity to attend your workshop, which just “happens” to be on the same week as her birthday! She not only needs and deserves this boost both personally and professionally, but I am confident that no one would do more to pay that gift forward. Thank you for your consideration.
Me Ra is correct in saying that as moms, we ALL deserve a break! For that reason, I find it difficult to nominate myself, because there are so many wonderfully deserving women who would benefit from being at the workshop. I have written and re-written what I want to say several times, as I find it difficult to say that I deserve more than another to come to the workshop, but was urged by a friend to post a self nomination. With that said, I’ll just share my story. I don’t have a story of trauma or overwhelming life circumstances. I would, however, love to have a break just like many other moms. I stay at home with my 4 wonderful and amazing boys who I can’t imagine my life without! Two are almost 3 and 2 are 15 months old! Two sets of twins in less than two years would send many people running, but this is the life I have been blessed with and I wouldn’t change it for the world! It is a ton of hard work, and we have a very active household, and I find it difficult to even find the time to sit down some days. Four toddlers all at once make it difficult to shower before the 3pm nap time most days, let alone have the time to do anything for myself. In fact my husband often gets on my case for not taking enough time for myself. If I do end up doing anything for myself or by myself it is not until 9 or 10 in the evening when all the boys are finally in bed, the kitchen is cleaned and the laundry is running. But I find it difficult to do anything any other way. My boys come first in everything. My days are spent on the floor playing with cars, and trucks or rolling balls and changing diapers, LOTS of them (All 4 are still in diapers… 3 different sizes!), and washing bottles, cleaning up everything from sticky fingers to the sticky cheeks!(And don’t even get me started on the piles and piles of laundry that I find it impossible to keep up with!) Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lot of work, but my boys and my husband are worth every bit of it! The other part of my story is one I hesitate to talk about because it’s so personal to us. My husband was laid off during my second pregnancy and went almost a year and a half without a full time job. He has since found a wonderful job, but as you can imagine, the catch up has taken its toll. It was during this time, about 6 months ago, that I decided to begin capturing memories for other families around me to help try to make ends meet. I LOVE capturing the memories of my days, my boys, and now memories for other families to cherish. It is an amazing creative outlet for me and a momentary brain break from all the little people. 🙂 The only problem is I have no formal training and everything I’ve done is self taught as well as learned by trial and error. So I would love this opportunity, and in fact have been dreaming of this opportunity to attend the workshop in Seattle. What an amazing experience that would be life changing for me. I would miss my little men tremendously over the weekend, and honestly might feel lost without them, but it’s time I do something for Me! So thank you for considering me to join you!
I also nominate Janna Curran. I think her other nominators explained it perfectly, so I will simply just state that that beautiful, busy and dedicated heart of her’s needs some refreshing. 🙂 Best of luck!
Hello! I would love to nominate a well-deserving person for this event….my niece, Janna Kingham. She is a wonderful wife and mother…of 2 sets of twin boys, I might add…she has had NO time to herself for over 3 years now…she would also be a wonderful candidate because of her love of photography. She is extremely talented in the field and would love a chance to be in this event…If possible, I hope that you consider her. She is the perfect person to pick! Thanks for your time!
I would love to nominate my dear friend, Janna Kingham! With 2 sets of twin BOYS that are age 2 and under, she has her hands full! The admiring thing about Janna is that while a lot people would not desire the job she has, she is thrilled with the life God has given her with her busy life of 4 boys and a husband to take care of. She does it with excellence and joy despite the many hardships her family has faced the last couple years. Not only was she surprised with a second set of twins soon after her first babies were crawling around…her husband was laid off from his job. Imagine the stress….4 babies, all in diapers, no income. Janna and her husband are both very hard working and loving people. It was such a hard time, but they did several jobs to try to provide for their family. Photography is not only something Janna used to help keep her family afloat, but it is also something she is passionate about and has such a natural gift for! If you have ever stayed with 4 toddlers 24 hours a day 7 days a week, then you would completely understand the reason why Janna Kingham would need a break from her everyday life to have a weekend to enjoy herself!! Often times she neglects herself to take care of her family and it’s time for her to have a weekend off duty to enjoy what she is so passionate about, have 3 days of adult conversation, eat 3 meals a day before they get cold, no diapers, no bottles, no running around. Just 3 days to enjoy the gift God has given her with other women alike. If you have ever met Janna, you’d know she is the right woman for the scholarship! She is a gem!
Thanks for the opportunity to share about my sweet friend.
Best of luck to all of you women here who have gone out on a limb and nominated yourselves or were nominated by loving friends/family. You are all SO very deserving. It must be so hard to chose just one.
Oops, I forgot to post my email address in my first blog post, unless I misread the rules. It is kyndalbowers@live.com! Thank you
Wow, look at all these amazing entries. Best of luck to each of you, and stay strong and keep coming back here for encouragement whether you win or not. The tides will eventually turn. Hugs to all of you!!
I was also kind of confused on the email address… does it need to be posted as well as in the reply field? any how… janna@thekinghams.com (and just for clarification, my married name is Janna Curran… maiden name is Janna Kingham) 🙂
I would like to nominate my dear friend Janna Curran for this incredible opportunity & “break” from her everyday life. I met Janna and her husband when they showed up at my place-of-work for an ultrasound…TWINS! Although positive they were going to have 2 girls, I proved them wrong and gave them the exciting news of 2 BOYS!! I continued to see them almost weekly throughout her pregnancy and grew to just adore this couple. Janna is an amazing woman – she is bubbly and happy and I would always look forward to her visits. Fast track a year later and there she is again…pregnant with more twins…more BOYS! As I watched her (and babies) grow during the 2nd pregnancy I marveled at her strength and astonishingly positive outlook. We have since become close friends and I still cannot believe the patience and dedication she has to her family. Such a wonderful wife, mom, and friend – always selfless and offering to do things for others. Janna deserves to have a break! She never takes time for herself and an entire weekend of peace would do wonders for her mind, body, and spirit. Janna needs the time and ability to enhance her passion for photography. She has taken photos for my family and I just can’t get enough of them – it is obvious to see the joy in her heart as she is capturing these memories. She would be so thrilled and delighted at the opportunity to sharpen her skills, learn some new techniques, and meet other moms life herself! I’m not saying it would be easy to leave those sweet little bundles for an ENTIRE weekend – but Janna – you need it and deserve it more then anyone I know!!
My name is Nichole and I have an amazing sister, Janna Curran. We come from a long line of strong women. Women who raised children on their own. Women who suffered through illness and loss and carried on. Women who were the backbone of their families. It is a heritage I am proud of. When we were growing up, my sister and I were lucky enough to be encouraged by these women to be kind and generous, loving and nurturing but with a quiet strength and resilience; a strength and resilience that would ultimately allow us to weather the storms of life. I am continually amazed by my sister, though. She has taught me what “strength” really means. Strength is more than a physical attribute, it is a mindset: When all else fails, press on. When your body is tired, press on. When you feel like giving up, press on. The amazing thing about Janna is that she’s able to do this with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. Rarely will you find her complaining. She is constantly sacrificing herself for the benefit of her friends and family. With 2 sets of twin boys at home, all under the age of 3, there isn’t much time to be had for herself. But she does it willingly, sacrificially, lovingly. So on days when I feel tired, I think of Janna and it gives me strength. When I feel like there is too much to do or that life’s challenges are too great, I think of Janna and can press on. I am continually amazed by you, Janna. You are extremely talented and have the strength of ten men. Thank you for being such a great example to moms everywhere. I hope that you win a spot to this conference because you deserve to be noticed just as much as you notice others. You deserve to be cared for just as much as you care for others. And most of all, because you need the sleep!
With the sincerest humility and gratitude, I respectfully nominate myself to attend the Seattle Confidence workshop. 2010 was the most difficult, painful year of my life. In 2011, I hope to pick up the pieces and find happiness again. If I were chosen to attend the conference, it would give me the opportunity to reconnect with one of my greatest passions, photography. I fell in love with photography when my children were born. I was blessed with two beautiful daughters, Lindsey (born in 2004) and Ashley (born in 2006). I loved having my children photographed often. I felt like each photograph captured a fleeting moment. Through photographs I felt I could capture moments, smiles, and memories that might otherwise be forgotten. In connecting with other photographers, I quickly became interested in studying photography. Sadly the events that were to follow over the coming years would prevent me from pursuing that interest. Shortly after her second birthday, my daughter Ashley was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of pediatric cancer. Our lives changed dramatically in an instant. We were given the option to not pursue treatment because her prognosis was so poor. She had a less than 5% chance of surviving this rare and aggressive cancer. Weeks before we had been celebrating her birthday in Disney World, and here we were being told that her time with us would likely be brief. I remember wanting to scoop her up in my arms and run out of the hospital and get on the next plane back to Disney to make as many lasting memories as possible. She was immediately scheduled for surgery. The tumor was wrapped around her spinal cord and was invading her lung cavity in such a way that the threat of paralysis was imminent. Within days of this surgery she began a rigourous treatment protocol that involved multiple surgeries, 18 months of chemotherapy, 3 months of radiation, countless visits to the ER, every major holiday spent in the hospital and countless hospitalizations. Throughout her treatment we probably spent 100 nights at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago all the while spending time apart from my husband and 5 year old daughter Lindsey. I always did my best to be strong and put on a brave face but the moment someone asked me how Lindsey was doing I would burst into tears and my heart would break. I was always felt so torn and wished I could clone myself and be with both daughters at the same time. If I was in the hospital with Ashley, I felt like I was missing huge moments in Lindsey’s life. For nearly 18 months I felt like I was living through hell on earth, like my family was being torn apart, but yet Ashley kept me strong. Ashley gave me courage. She went through all her treatments with a smile on her face. When she was going through radiation she’d wake up at 4am giggling and smiling before our hour long drive to the hospital each day. If she needed an IV she’d sweetly extended her arm for the nurse. If she required medication by mouth, she’d swallow it down and simply ask for some juice. She smiled as the nurses connected her “tubbies” (access to her port) to the pump that would administer her chemo. She smiled as she woke up from each surgery. Her doctors came to me and said “Ashley is a miracle. She’s handling the most aggressive treatments and we believe she will beat this.” We had let our hearts believe that everything would be okay, but our worst fears were realized just days before Thanksgiving (2009) when her oncologists said her tumors had returned and we were out of treatment options. This is every cancer mom’s worst nightmare. Treatment itself is hell, but you go through it all in hopes of ridding your child of this horrible disease. On February 5, 2010, my sweet girl lost her battle to cancer. She died in our home in my arms. My heart will forever be broken. We go through each day with a huge gaping hole in our hearts. My older daughter Lindsey who is now 6 misses her little sister terribly. She knows more about cancer than any child should ever have to know. I want to continue to be the best mother I can be to Lindsey and I want to capture and document every special moment of her life. We recently had a mini-getaway over the holidays and Lindsey borrowed my camera the entire trip. I loved seeing her excitement and passion for photography. It warmed my heart greatly when she said she wants to be a photographer when she grows up. I love that we share that passion and that bond. It seemed like my camera was collecting dust for those 2 years when our lives were lived out of a suitcase going back and forth to the hospital. In 2011, I’m hoping to reconnect with myself again and I truly believe that attending your Confidence Workshop would help me do so. Thank you for taking the time to read my entry.
I would like to announce to you, Melissa Appleton! She has been my very best friend for over 28 years now. We met when I was 7 and she was 9. I know her probably the best out of anyone besides herself.
I will start this off by saying that Melissa is the kind of person you are proud to call your friend. She has been there for everyone that has needed her. Through out ALL these years I have witnessed her life as I was right beside her through many things that she went through, good and bad. After being by her mom’s bedside for almost a year she lost her mom to cancer, in 2000. She took care of her everyday and was devastated when she past. She then got married at a young age and moved to Portland Or. Living with a husband that had no motivation or intention of working or making a life for them, she carried the full load to support them. I believe it was about 2001 when she realized that life had a lot more to offer her than where she was at. They divorced and it was then when she started wanting true happiness. A few years later she met Mike (her husband now) and they had a little baby boy named Maxwell Stewart Appleton, 3 now. She inherited a wonderful mother in law that she loved very much. Elaine (her mother in law) took the place of her mom and was the angel she had been waiting for. The love between Melissa and Elaine was one of a kind, she traveled with them and spent a lot of time with them. Since they had just lost Elaine’s son to suicide in 2005 Mike, (Melissa’s husband) wanted to include Elaine in EVERY family gathering. She was always there with the Appleton’s almost on a daily basis. Elaine was the main care giver for Maxwell while Melissa worked, Max loved his nana so much and still does… Just this last August, Elaine got very very sick and was hospitalized for almost 3 months. Every single day and night Melissa would go to the hospital to see her and sit with her. She was waiting to find out when they could bring her home, as Melissa was going to quite her job to take care of her. Well, the really sad thing is she never made it that far, Elaine passed away in October 2010 at age 67. Melissa, Mike and little Maxwell were devastated, especially Melissa since she had already lost one mom. They are trying to move forward with their life and trying to stay strong. (at least they have each-other) Melissa loves being a mom and in fact, they have been trying to get pregnant for awhile now. When she finally succeeded the beginning of 2010 she had a miscarriage and lost the baby. She waited and they tried again and just a few months ago she lost another baby. Once again devastation set in.
This is why I am so proud to call her my friend, my best friend at that. (well not the only reason) But Melissa has been battling with obesity for years now. In the spring of 2010 she called me and said you have to try “Zumba” (which is an aerobic dance class) I thought what the heck is that? She was SO pumped up about this she even went to a conference in LA to meet the creator of Zumba. It was then that she got VERY motivated to work on herself to be the best she could be for herself, her hubby and their little boy! Needless to say it took me a few months before I tried Zumba and now I love it too! Melissa has recently got certified to teach Zumba classes and I am so proud to announce she has lost almost 70 pounds, she still has probably 50 to go but she is on FIRE with the weight loss!!! Zumba has become a passion in her life along side photography. When she is passionate about something, good luck trying to hold her back! She recently got the Nikon D60 and has been taking photography classes. She’s done several photo shoots of her son, nieces and nephews and they have turned out amazing! I know in my heart that when she is passionate about something she puts in 110% in order to get where she wants to be. I value the women, mother, and friend that she truly is. She has accomplished so much in her life and always with a level head. I am so proud of how far she’s come. She is the most giving, beautiful person that you will ever meet. If anyone is deserving of this scholarship, I honestly believe it’s her!! Melissa just lives 3 hrs from Seattle and has a friend that she could stay with while she is there. She has such an amazing outgoing personality, when you meet her, you will feel like you’ve known her forever. She’s just that type of person. If you choose her I know she would appreciate this more than words could express. I know that she falls under the category “running on empty” with all that she has been through this past year. This would be an amazing opportunity for her and something that she has a great passion for.
I could tell you a lot more about her, but I am pretty sure you get the picture!! All I have to say is it would make her a very happy girl about now if she was the one that got picked. So thank you for listening to me talk about my true best friend!!! And please take her into consideration as she really could use a break about now! Thank you for your time, and Happy New Year!!!!!
I meant to put my name down as I am the one nominating Melissa Appleton. But instead I put hers, oooops!! Thank you again for this HUGE opportunity for my very best friend to reach her dreams, goals and hopes in the wonderful world of photography!
Running on Empty is not a new experience for my granddaughter, Janna Kingham Curran. They say if you want something done right you should ask a busy person, and that would certainly describe this gifted woman. From an early age Janna thought of others before herself. For several years she took teams from her church to places like Cambodia, Peru, Chile, Kenya and India. I remember well her glowing descriptions of all the places she had been, and her regret at not being able to capture fully the expressions of the people and their cultures on film
To finish, I would like to highly recommend my granddaughter for the spot at the conference. She would be a great asset to the community with her photography. Thank you for your time!
Hi there it’s Jennifer Newcombe again. I am nominating “Melissa Appleton” and I forgot to add her email address to my post. So her email address is mappleton05@yahoo.com
Thanks again and have a wonderful day:-)
I would like to nominate Jana Curran. She is a lovely young woman who loves her ever busy family and photography. Jana is a mother of not 1 but two sets of twin boys (yes completely natural). This in itself is a miraculous occurrence, but the way in which Jana and her husband have meant with the challenges and difficulties of 2 tough pregnancies, tough financial times and raising these 4 little miracles has been nothing short of inspiring! Jana not too long ago began taking photographs of pregnant women, newborns and families, among other things. I myself was so thankful and blessed when she offered to practice her photography during my pregnancy. Her pictures where unbelievable (seriously I am not photogenic at all), nothing like the posed stiff shots I had seen before. She takes the art of photography to an entirely different level that is so beautiful and captures so much more than just a seemingly simple moment. Knowing that she is unable to attend this event is painful. I would be so grateful to you if you chose her as your special guest. She is truly a gift to photography and I believe this event would be a huge stepping stone in her ability to further the career that she is attempting to begin. Thank you for your kindness to whoever you do pick! Sincerely, Rene’
I would like to nominate Jana Curran. She took pictures of my wife during her pregnancy and then again of my daughter the day she was born and they were really special to her and I. We were very blessed by the memories captured in print. My father has been a photographer for many years, so I am rarely very impressed with photos / portraits (my standards are high). I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised at the images that Janna caught of my family when my daughter was born. It is my understanding that she is fairly new to photography. She definitely has the ability to step out of the typical posed shots and really capture the emotions of the moment. I find that impressive and think she would be an ideal candidate for your special guest spot.
Hello Me Ra,
I am nominating my darling wife, Kelli. Kelli has ridden a roller coaster of emotions over the past few years. This Christmas was the first since 2007 for her that didn’t involve a funeral. Her Maternal Grandparents, who lived on the same street as she did growing up, passed on to meet their Maker in successive Christmas’s. For her, it was more like losing her parents as they had such a high level of involvement in her life. Other than knowing they are in a better place, her only sense of peace, is knowing that they got to meet her now 2-1/2 year old son before their deaths.
Like many American families, we have found the last few years to be extremely difficult, financially. I work in the construction industry, which has perhaps been the hardest hit during the Great Recession. While the nation average unemployment is near 10%, the construction industry is facing unemployment figures north of 30%. My firm has taken a unique tact. Rather than massive layoffs, the entire firm has taken pay cuts to keep as many families on the payroll as possible. For our family, this has meant that 30% of our income was now gone.
Kelli has responded with tenacity and creativity, as well as a stamina that has left her “running on empty”. The first thing she did was get amazingly good with grocery coupons. She is consistently achieving 60% to 70% savings on our former grocery budget.
Her other contribution has been creating an on-line store front for her father’s farm (www.josephsgrainery.com). This has allowed her to make a positive impact to her family’s income, while still allowing her to stay at home, and do something she absolutely loves – photography. She now spends a good part of her day entertaining/teaching our 2-1/2 yr old son, creating recipes, and documenting them with photographs. She has found a way to not only create wonderful cuisine, but capture it with her camera in a way that brings the taste to your mouth. Occasionally, our son will get to the baked goods before she can get her perfect picture. Sometimes this results in serendipity and creates a brilliant shot of him enjoying the tasty treats.
Additionally, in the last few years Kelli has helped launch a church in her town, lead the local MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers), and create an Oasis of a home – a true refuge from the outside world that is enjoyed by my son, myself, friends, and family.
Kelli is an amazing woman who truly does it all. I would love to see her get the opportunity to join you at the Seattle Event.
Best Regards,
Kelli’s Husband
jasoncollinsbi at gmail dot com
I want to nominate, Kathy Chuckas my partner and best friend for the past 22 years,
Kathy takes great photographs. But more than the photographs she captures a memory to treasure. If you know Kathy and why she needs a break, I no doubt believe you will select her to have a spot in your Seattle workshop.
Kathy is the mom of four children, ages 16, 13, 12 and 8 (a few with special needs) and is the stay at home mom. Over 14 years ago when we started the process of adoption we decided that she would be the one to be with the kids on a daily basis. She gave up her profession and became the foundation to what the kids and family needs were. She is their coach, their chauffer, their nurse, she makes them laugh in the hardest of situations, their teacher, their advocate, their confidant. Kathy pushes the kids to be there best when they take their talents for granted or think that its too hard. As we have a very diverse family…she advocates for their rights at every turn…never backing down even when it would be easier.
Each summer she runs a summer camp for kids in our area that has grown to be the place for kids to go. She employs area students who are seeking a job so they can stay in school. She helps families out who because of the economic downturn need help sending their kids to camp and she doesn’t ask questions. She just does it because it’s the right thing to do.
Kathy will do whatever she has to so that our kids have a stay at home mom. The financial sacrifice has been hard at times and it calls on her to be creative and flexible and to live simply. And now as she nears her 50th birthday, the decisions she has made are making her reflect and look forward to where she is heading in the next decade… and there is some concern.
Our house is filled with photos of our children. When Kathy can find a free moment, she will go out and take pictures. This is her time for peace. She will shoot our children’s school and take pictures of their activities – not only of our kids but for the parents who can’t be there or don’t have access to a camera. She will take pictures at the local public school for disadvantaged children and print them so they can give to their parents…sometimes the first photo the family may have. She has an incredible ability to capture the true spirit of each individual child or moment.
I know that its her time to find out if she has what it takes to take her photography to the next level and the Seattle workshop is the perfect place. And as our daughter said,
“Mommy Kathy has always pushed us to be the best and we are know pushing her to be her best.”
Yay! A chance to nominate my beautiful and talented daughter, Kyndal Bowers. As I see on here, she has been nominated already, but I must throw in my two cents as her mother. I can say reading through all these nominations, this will be a tough choice for you all to decide who is most deserving. Good luck to all of you!
Let me tell you about my daughter Kyndal. All through school she was brilliant! She was a honors student in high school and gave back to the community. She was always active in community events, donated her time to the local Humane Society, helped teach dance and even went as far as a green belt in Kung Fu. Did I mention she did all this while attending high school and working part time tending tables in the kitchen at a senior home? Many times I would pick her up and find her playing games with the elderly people that lived there.
My husband and I married right out of high school and started a family immediately. We did not have much. So many times I see and hear of children and teens complain of what they don’t have. This was never the case with Kyndal. She appreciated what I could afford and early on as a teen she learned to manage her money wisely.
This brings me to my point. Kyndal never had much growing up. We always made sure her needs were met, and she figured out the rest. Times were tough in our home. We had to have my husband’s mother come live with us at one point because she had breast cancer. Kyndal was a trooper and again came through for me with lots of help. The love and care she gave her grandmother still warms my heart.
During Kyndal’s adolescence we became foster parents and had many children come and go from our home. Kyndal adapted nicely and as usual helpful, caring and giving. In 2003 we adopted two of our foster children. Kyndal never took stock in the thought of what she would lose out on. And honestly, our money was stretched that much further. But, there were no regrets or complaints that ever whispered out of her lips.
Skipping ahead several years, Kyndal enrolls in Lower Columbia College for business. With a bright future ahead she is excited of the opportunities and world out in front of her. Then after her first quarter in college her and her boyfriend come to me with the news that she is pregnant. I did not want this for my daughter and was worried for her future. Needless to say, Kyndal had to cut out college and work more hours to provide for her baby. We helped out the most we could and wanted Kyndal to remain in college. It’s just not easy working, being and new mom and attending college. Next to impossible and her baby came first.
Still three years later, she still works nearly full time at a law office as a receptionist and is an amazing mother to my grandson Benny. Although she has never regretted having Benjamin, she always missed her education. So she has made the choice of enrolling back in college! I couldn’t be happier. To be honest, I don’t know how she finds the time but she does. And she still finds the time to cook dinner and read to her son. She manages her time wisely.
You want someone with a passion for photography, that’s Kyndal. On her days off you will find her with a camera around her neck. Kyndal has always shown interest in taking pictures since she was a young girl. She is taking photography and business classes and desires to open her own photography studio. One day she will. My daughter has the optimism and determination to follow her dreams. Not to mention, she has a pretty good eye and takes beautiful pictures.
If you want someone who has had hard knocks, that’s not tough to find these days. Now if you want to find someone who has had hard knocks, has a positive influence, is inspiring to others and always willing to give of herself, then that’s Kyndal! She is my daughter but I do know she is the total package. Give her lemons, she’ll muster up sugar and a spoon and make you lemonade. Again, I want to nominate my daughter Kyndal because I know she’s most definitely worthy and a great candidate! Although she will never admit defeat or complain about what she does not have, she does need a boost of encouragement from time to time. Please give my daughter a little wind beneath her wings and a bounce in her step by awarding her this opportunity.
Here is my email contact, lonnitabowers@yahoo.com
Like my mother-in-law (Donna) and sister-in-law (Leslie), I too would like to nominate my wife (Susan) for your Running On Empty contest.
Having been laid off from my job last spring, I can honestly say that I have a new found appreciation for my wife (and all mothers out there!). I have a better understanding of the emotional and physical investment that goes into running a household and caring for your children 24/7. It is true that ALL moms need a break!
Having said that, I believe that my wife needs and deserves a serious blessing in her life right now! Caring for Evan, our special needs son is not only difficult physically, but is emotionally draining. Our dear son is with us and yet it is similar to a death because autism has stripped him of any means to communicate. For Susan, to have never heard him say “mama”, “I love you”, “this is what I want”, “this is what hurts” is a daily heartbreak. And because autism has caused him to be sensitive to noise, indifferent and uncomfortable with new people, and wants to be only in his own environment, we have been unable to live a normal family life. Our 4 year old daughter is a huge blessing but it is another heartbreak to see Evan reject all of her attempts to interact and we often have to keep them separated because of his aggression towards her.
In the 14 years that I have been with Susan, she has always loved photography. After having children, it really became a passion. It has been in recent months that friends have seen the pictures she has been taking (with the help of Facebook). Just this past fall, Susan has done 10 photo sessions (half of those for a fundraiser). I can’t tell you how proud I am of my wife! It wasn’t that long ago that Susan talked about wanting to take photography to the next level. She started practicing a lot and reading books and websites when the kids were asleep. For her to jump in and do these photo sessions shows a lot of courage and passion. Her pictures are amazing and I see that this brings her so much joy!
Susan is not one to complain but I KNOW how stressful and difficult the past several years have been for her. The opportunity to spend this weekend with other ladies who have the same passion for photography would be an unbelievable gift for her. She has longed to attend such a conference but has had no financial means to do so.
Even though Susan is a confident woman, she openly admits to me her lack of confidence as a photographer. This conference would not only be a much needed break from the stresses of her life, but also the confidence and knowlege she needs to pursue her dreams of being a professional photographer.
I like to describe Susan as a bright light in this world (and those around her would all agree) but the stresses of her life run the risk of dimming that light. It is breaks like this wonderful conference that would ensure that her light would keep shining.
Hi! Im here to nominate my big sister Kyndal Bowers. As I grew up Kyndal had always been my role model. She did well in school and had a passion for learning. Not only did she do well in school but she also maintained a part time job and took college classes in high school. As a young mother right out of high school she took very good care of her son Benjamin. There is close to a picture for everyday of his life on Kyndals camera. She loves taking pictures of not only him, but everything. She drags her camera every just so she won’t miss an opportunity to take a good picture.
Although Kyndal has a decent job at a law office, I can tell she would like to spend more time with her son. She gets home late Monday through Fridat because she commutes to work and every other weekend he is at his dads house. If she had an opportunity to become closer to opening her own photography business and making her own hours, she would be more than grateful to be able to have a happy career and spending more time with Benjamin. Please consider Kyndal a great candidate for this seminar! Its all she talks about lately! Thank you!
Please contact Kyndal! kyndalbowers@live.com
When I first heard of this contest from my wife it took little effort to encourage me to nominate our daughter Kyndal. One of our 5 children. Kyndal being our oldest. My wife had one thing wrong in her post and that was that Kyndal reached her green/brown belt in Kung Fu. She would have went the distance but we don’t let pregnant women train. Her son always came first and Kung Fu just had to be sacraficed. Sad though, she was athletically talented.
Other than that, I wish I was better with words so I could tell you just how amazing and worthy she really is. I’ve read each of her nominations so far and as inspiring as they sound, they still don’t have the true essence of who she is.
Kyndal has worked hard her entire life to make a better life for her and her son. This would trully be a gift to her. My daughter Kyndal would use this in a way that would make you proud. Thank you for your time.
Contact info is darrinbowers@msn.com
Hi everyone!
My name is Rashelle Cuperus and I am nomiating myself for the running on empty contest. I can’t say that I deserve this more than any of the other amazing women that are being nominated, they are all amazing!! This year is a fresh start and after 2010, I think it is time that I take some time for myself. The last year was a very tough one. I had started out the year getting laid off from the job that I had had for 11 years. Talk about a transition, I had grown up there, and suddenly my world was changed. I had no job to go too and while I appreciated the time I know had with my 2 kids, it was hard to just be home. Shortly after that, my grandpa passed away the day before my birthday. We knew he wasn’t doing well, but were told we had 6-12 months a couple of weeks before he passes. He went so quickly that we didn’t get a chance to say our goodbyes that night. I haven’t had to deal with death much growing up and had a hard time dealing with it. It was especially hard when I’d take my kids over and they would ask where grandpa was, because he wasn’t sitting in his chair. We weren’t the closest with my grandpa and we vowed to spent more time with my family after that. Funny, how only one of us see the value that is in our family. My two youngest sisters each had babies within a month of my grandpas passing, and since they are struggling themselves, I have found myself their free babysitters. I dont mind having them, they really are a treat, but I am in constant running around, dropping them off and what not. In May, my youngest sister got married and asked if I’d do her wedding pictures for her….and her cake and cupcakes. It was that day, that I discovered my love for photography. It was also that day, that we thought, my other grandpa, the grandpa we grew up on the same yard, had not much time left. It was hard to be cheerful when you would look at how grey and frail he was. He was rushed to the hospital to find out that he had lost 60 percent of his blood. He was ordered to have a least one weekly blood tranfusion a week. It has been hard taking him to different function knowing these would be the last time he’d see my niece show cows at the fair, and kids graduate. We’ll he has made it thus far, reaching their 60th anniversay on the first. I have spent so much time, helping my sisters, and my grandparents, that I have gotten lost in the shuffle. I’d really like to start persuing photography, but lack confindence in myself. Mostly I’d like a break. To sit back for a day, and do something for myself. That sounds selfish when I say that, but I have gotten lost and really need to fnd my way. Thanks Me Ra for offering this chance to all women running on empty.
I would love to nominate my older sister kyndal to go to this seminar she has always love photagraphy and if she hadn’t of done running start she would have you her highschool electives to take a photography class but she felt like she had to take all the harder classes and do better so she set her love of photagraphy aside until she got out of high school. but unexpectedly shortly after highschool she had the most amazing child ever and again istead of furthering her knowlege of photagraphy and buisness in school she did it on her own while working full time and taking care of my nephew but now she has finally been able to get back in to school with online classes, she has a lot on her plate but i know she can do it. i also know she really wants to go to this seminar, i have recently moved to seattle and she still has not had the time or money to come see my place so…this choosing her would make me very happy because then she come come see me up here too… here’s her email for you, kyndalbowers@live.com
Running on Empty… wow!… I think that perfectly describes my hero and my bride, Janna (Kingham) Curran!
Me Ra, I’m sure you’ve already read some nominations from a handful of the people whom Janna has touched… long before she touched a camera. Janna’s heart radiates with love for life, compassion for people, and delight in all that is good. She loves investing in people, she loves pouring herself out for our four little men… and then at the end of the day, when I expect her to fall over exhausted, she still has energy to sit and talk with me about my day at work or whatever we need to do the following weekend.
Although we went through a difficult season over the last couple years and Janna picked up a camera to help us find a little more income, it is her creativity and passion for capturing life’s best moments that have cultivated her love of photography. There are only a few things outside of our busy daily routine that cause Janna to light up and blossom with excitement… Photography is one of them! She would love NOTHING more than to be in your presence and soak up all the insight and experience you plan to share!
Please consider my hero and my bride, Janna Curran for this nomination… and I will gladly do my best to fill her shoes and chase our four little men all over the house for a weekend so she can be with you.
Thank you Me Ra!
Kris Curran
kristophercurran@hotmail.com
I recommed Miss Kyndal Bowers! I have known Kyndal for almost two years now and we have become pretty good friends. Kyndal just today took her whole Sunday to come and take Christmas pictures for our family since our kids were out of town at their grandparents for Christmas. The pictures that she took were absolutely wounderful!
I am nominating Kyndal for this reward because what she did today is a common occurance of Kyndals persona. Kyndal and I both are Fire Department women, the significant other to fire fighters, being one takes alot of patience and courage. Kyndal is always voluntering to help at gatherings. She is one of the sweetest most soft spoken women I know.Kyndal not only has a full time job but a handsome little boy to take care of and a Fire Fighter boyfriend. If shes not at work shes keeping up with her boys and baking for all of us to try! So. I guess honestly shes just a really cool gal who deserves a break and a great photographer!
My name is Genesis and I would like to nominate my good friend, Kyndal Bowers. She was seventeen when she had her first boyfriend, who was also her first love, and first everything, she, even through every precaution, became pregnant shortly after she graduated high school. This is a girl who I would laugh and sing and goof off with to no end (while being “drunk” off of sugar, see she was always the good kid). She never did anything wrong, always listened to her parents, and was the sweetest, most perfect friend. Here’s this still growing girl who was pregnant, when her and her boyfriend were still growing up themselves. Let me tell ya, she showed her maturity and responsibility real quick taking care of her now three year old son, and still has time to work and keep in touch with her friends. It wasn’t easy with me, cause I pushed away my friends after high school, moving away and starting my own life with a loser of a man. Even after I came back to town two years later and tried everything to keep from having to hang out with Kyndal (my ex had caused tremendous depression and anxiety), she never gave up, now I am so glad that she didn’t, cause she is someone who I never mind having around, she is an honest, wonderful person and mom. She is now a single mom, works full time, and takes online classes, and still manages to keep a smile on her face, and her child happy and content. She’s got a bright future ahead of her, but just needs a little help, as funds are tight. She deserves this and so much more.
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Oh my. Thank you Jen, for your kind words and nomination, you mean the world to me and I am so lucky to have you as my best friend. I didn’t get a chance to read all of the nominations, but I did read Claudia Constantino’s and I just wanted to tell Claudia how very sorry I am about the loss of her daughter! We all have our struggles, losses and rough times, but your loss is any parents worse nightmare. So even though I’m passed the deadline, I just wanted to put my vote towards Claudia. I don’t know you personally, but after reading your nomination, I felt moved to post a message in your favor. I hope you get this chance to have a get away, you certainly deserve it. Good night.
I must be super emo today. I read every nomination and tear up. How are you ever going to choose??
I love all the stories of amazing women!
Oh my goodness, I am so moved by the incredible women we have represented for the Seattle nominees. You have each endured so much, more than your share. Thank you for sharing your stories with us. We are so honored and hold you up in our prayers.
Judges, I do not envy your decision process. So thank you again for being a part of this journey.
xoxo,
m
Dear Me Ra Koh:
While I missed the deadline to nominate my best friend Susan Coulson Burchard, I wanted to ensure that my thoughts were communicated as she is such an extraordinary and deserving Mom along with the entire list of nominees.
I have known Susan for 25 years since college and shared many joys and disappointments of life. I really struggled to put into words how deserving she is of this opportunity that would do her circumstance justice as described by her Mother Donna Coulson, Sister Leslie Couslon and husband Jarred Burchard. Ever since I have known Susan, she has ‘documented’ life through pictures.
She has given a voice to her severely autistic, non-verbal 8 year old son Evan through photography. Being able to develop her talent of story-telling with this course would be such a gift to both Susan and the many people she touches in this world. I hope you take my post into consideration.
Very best,
Susan Porter
I realized I didn’t include my email in the nomination blog post for Terri Seal – above…my email is stacygendreau@hotmail.com. Thanks!
I would like to nominate Kellie Staats. Although I do not know her personally, I read her blog over and over everyday. As a future elementary school teacher, I understand her PASSION for children. Kellie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl October 14. By her blog posts and pictures, you could feel the love she had for her sweet Maddiebug. A few months later she recieved a call that every mother NEVER wants to recieve. Her precious baby girl had stopped breathing. It has been 4 months since her princess recieved her angel wings and she is amazing!! Working with 5 year olds, asking questions about your babywhat happened to her, and where she went is just one thing that makes her “run on empty.” She has made a hobby out of photography and bow making to help her cope with her loss. This seminar would be a great first mother’s day gift for Kellie, a first time mom on her very first mothers day without her Maddiebug to share it with her.
I would like to nominate Kellie Staats. She is a true inspiration I read her blog everyday. She lost her princess to SIDS at only 4months old.She has to be one of the strongest woman out there. Taking pics has become one of her hobbies,which is also helping her cope. She has inspired me to take more pics of my lil girl I now try to take pics of her everyday.