Me Ra’s popular spring 2-Day Dallas CONFIDENCE Workshop is coming up quickly. For the last eight years, she and Brian have had the opportunity to give numerous scholarships to moms who wouldn’t otherwise have the means to attend this special workshop. But this scholarship isn’t for just any mom. It’s a scholarship for a photography loving mom who is running on empty. Do you know a mom running on empty? If yes, keep reading!
SCHOLARSHIP for a PHOTOGRAPHY LOVING MOM
On April 16th and 17th, Me Ra and Brian will hold their 2-day CONFIDENCE Workshop in Dallas. There is only three spots left. So register here. Women are flying in from all over the US. All levels of photography attend. All women with beautiful hearts.
It’s very common for each workshop to have a mix of total beginners AND paid pros from graduating seniors to young moms to published, paid women photographers to aspiring photo-loving grandmas. Yet, no matter how diverse the group is all the women have one thing in common, they desire solid confidence in their photography. That’s why Me Ra and Brian call this richly packed 2 days, the CONFIDENCE workshop. But not only is there three spots left to register for, there is also a reserved spot for a special mom. Me Ra and Brian have set aside a special scholarship seat for one woman.
This is a scholarship for a photography loving mom who needs a break in life. Do you know a mom who deserves a weekend getaway filled with photography confidence building, inspiration, creativity and laughter? Do you know a mom running on empty? If yes, keep reading!
QUALIFICATIONS
If you know a MOM who is;
A. Running on Empty
B. Lives near the DFW area or has air mileage to spend
C. Can arrange for a sitter and get the weekend free, starting Friday, April 15th, 7-9pm, for the Meet & Greet through Sunday evening, April 17th, until about 7pm.
D. Most importantly, is the perfect fit when you hear the words “Scholarship for a Photography Loving Mom”.
Nominate her TODAY!
DEADLINE
Nominations must be in by Thursday, March 31st at 9pm CST.
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 Thursday, 3/31, at 9pm CST. If you are not familiar with this scholarship, read Me Ra’s description below and see what it’s all about! Moms are one of the most beautiful, powerful people in our life. This contest is all about acknowledging their purpose, even when they are Running on Empty (and they sometimes know it least of all).
Note from Me Ra:
“In honor of how wonderful moms are and all that they do and give, Brian and I keep one spot reserved in (almost) every CONFIDENCE 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 Dallas area! This is a $1249 value, wrapped in a weekend of inspiration and creativity. (Please note, we don’t provide room/board and travel.)
To nominate a mom, you must post a comment below 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. She is a mom in your life that needs a serious blessing. 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 Oprah! Yep! A previous winner went on to nominate her family’s story and home. You never know what will happen when you put yourself out there. And you are worth it. You are worthy of all the goodness life has to give. Let Brian and I bless you and your creative spirit with this special scholarship for photography loving mom.”
xoxo,
Me Ra
_________________________________________
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
After the due date, Me Ra’s team will collect all the nominees, have a wonderful committee of former scholarship moms vote, and then announce the winner in the next week on Me Ra’s Facebook page! Choosing one mom is 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 the mom who is coming to your heart right now. Nominate her today, and together, let’s turn her day (maybe even life) around!
IMPORTANT
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 Thursday, 3/31 at 9pm CST. Nominations MUST be posted as a comment on this blog post. Nominations emailed, posted on other blog posts or FB may be overlooked. Please post all nominees in the comments to this post . Thanks! (Helpful tip: write out your nomination in Word or another writing program, then copy and paste over – just in case.:))
What do past attendees say about the CONFIDENCE Workshops? Take a look at Me Ra’s birthday post where over 100 women shared what a difference her CONFIDENCE workshops have made in their life. CLICK HERE to read their comments!
With spring and summer coming (can you believe it?!), make this one mom’s best year yet! Imagine all the GREAT photo stories she’ll capture this summer! Nominations are now open!
Big hugs to all!
Janna
Workshop Coordinator / Touchpoint for Me Ra (and former Scholarship winner 🙂
*To grab one of the LAST spots in this workshop, register here!
p.s. We are always looking for baby and family models! If you live in the DFW area and are interested in more details on how to be one of Me Ra’s workshop models, email me at janna@fioria.us.
Hi there! My name is Tamara and I’m from New Joisey. Ok, so no one from Jersey actually says Joisey, but that’s ok! When Me Ra posted about the great opportunity for one photo loving mom to receive a scholarship to join the 2 day conference, I thought to myself, “woohoo!! YES! sign me up!”. However, as I read the qualifications of the ideal candidate, I felt it wouldn’t be right for me to nominate myself. So I figured, “eh, its ok T. Some more deserving mom out there will get this awesome chance” and I went to bed. But I didn’t stop thinking about it. I sat up wondering whether I should just nominate myself. Something vain about it, I kept saying. But who knows me best and can say I deserve this better than myself?
I read the word ‘trauma’ and instantly felt the pain I know so well. See, mine began as a child but it wasn’t till I was an adult that those icky scary sad feelings I know so well had a name… post traumatic stress disorder. An hour long session with a shrink, a couple of tests, and a $40 copay brought me to this conclusion. It’s a bit too much for me to air out my dirty laundry on the world wide web so I apologize for the vague commentary. But like so many, I have loved and I have lost. People and experiences included. I’ve never truly figured out how to deal with my anxieties in a healthy manner and I have a feeling, it will be a lifelong journey to figure it out.
Next to losing weight, motherhood is the hardest thing I battle with. Whoever said it was easy, wait… No one’s ever said it was easy! 6 years ago, the universe gave me a beautiful daughter I named Gloria and in 2014, after a routine checkup, the doctor surprised me with news that I was 7 months pregnant. Yes, you heard right. I did not know I was pregnant till I was already 28 weeks and as I type this, I watch my truly rambunctious 16 month boy we call Mad Max tear apart my living room. When I decided to leave my cushy corporate job to care for my daughter, I thought I had it in the bag. “This’ll be great. We’ll be together all the time, go out, go to museums, see the world, etc etc”. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. I failed to take into account the zero income with my decision to be a stay at home mom. In the 5 years I’ve been home taking care of children while my husband goes to his full time laborious job, I’ve had to take on many side jobs to help things flow. When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them “professional hustler”. One day I’m taking care of the house and the kids, the next day I’m running an estate sale, or photographing a family, or decorating an event, or selling crafts, or teaching little children Spanish, or selling our own household items online. Taking on this type of jack of all trades lifestyle taught me that you can’t be good at one thing and simultaneously good at the other. Things will fall through the cracks. Listen, I don’t regret one bit of it. I actually enjoy the hustle. But it’s overwhelming at times, gets to wear and tear on your mind, body, and soul.
What I haven’t mentioned yet are the things that bring me great joy. These are photography, my children, and last but not least, chocolate. Chocolate, of course, speaks for itself. My passion for photography began when I was a teenager and flourished from there. It’s not a fancy camera and I’m not an amazing photographer, but boy do I love taking pictures. It’s my home away from home, my little piece of zen. In my pre motherhood days, travel brought me and the camera to beautiful places and gave me hundreds of images. Yet little did I know my best subjects to photograph would be my beautiful children.
I have the typical trials and tribulations, stresses and woes that most moms/women have. In my lifetime, I’ve been through the ringer and back and I’m still standing tall. So, here is me, in a few sentences. If I’may chosen, I’ll take what I learn from this confidence workshop and put it to good use not only for me but with whoever I can share with. I hope that I get this opportunity because I will be forever grateful.
This women has a great eye and appreciation for beauty in her pic
Ever left your brand new iPad in a Wal-Mart shopping cart in New Jersey? I did. After reporting it missing, I went home, tail between my legs, to begin the grieving process, while beating myself up for being so stupid. No sooner did I walk in the door, my phone rang. A Wal-Mart employee said someone found it and gave me a number. It was Tamara Contreras! We exchanged names and iPad outside of Starbucks moments later, but she refused a small cash reward. “Just pass the good vibes on,” she said.
Ever since that day, I couldn’t get her off my mind. She had a spark I didn’t see often. I had to know her better.
I’m a professional photographer. Since meeting Tamara, I often wonder how to make her part of my business. Tamara is a powerfully vibrant and compassionate human being, with a natural flair for all things creative – and an especially brilliant eye. But she’s not just creative! She’s smart. And kind. And fun. She also has a wisdom beyond her years, and since our first meeting, she’s already a fast friend and confidante. It’s my hope we’ll work together one day soon. All she needs is some confidence and coaching to lift her up for the take-off she deserves!
Please consider Tamara for this scholarship. She is beyond brave, facing unbearable and painful life challenges straight on, and has risen stronger with a deeper creativity and passion for life – which she shares with everyone she meets. She’s one of those people who, when broken, knows how how to use the pain and blend it with the insight, growth, and reflection offered to everyone in tough times, but few can navigate with the courage and creativity she has. She transforms challenges and pain into a perfect mixture of love, grace, beauty, and a unique, kind humility that shines through her from the inside out.
I hope you choose Tamara Contreras and am certain you – and your workshop participants – will thank you! Mostly, I hope you choose her because she will grow exponentially from the experience. She will inhale what you teach her and deepen her many natural gifts. Her natural response will be to compound your efforts exponentially. In other words, she will pass the good vibes on – and who doesn’t want that? 🙂
Linda Hesthag Ellwein
Dearest Tamara,
You’re so LOVED! And it’s clear that you have a heart of gold! Thank you so much for your giving heart, your light that so clearly blesses so many. I encourage you to nominate yourself in the future. My wonderful Workshop Coordinator, Janna, nominated herself FOUR times. It became almost comical for her. But she was determined, and she was eventually chosen. And I know she’d be the first to say that the timing was PERFECT. Not only did she come to the workshop, but she went on to become one of my Confidence Teachers and now works closely with me. So you never know. I’m excited to see how your story continues to unfold!
Much, much love,
Me Ra
I nominate Tamara Contreras! She is one of the most generous, beautiful souls I have ever met. I believe this opportunity will help her gain the confidence to see herself as others see her—intelligent, talented, kind, beautiful and funny :). She is more than deserving of this opportunity and would be a great addition to your conference!
I would love to nominate my friend Janelle Willis for the confidence workshop! She is amazing woman and mom who is firing on all cylinders… And doing so well! She juggles so much, but does it with consistency, compassion and intention towards all, but especially towards her roll as a mother. As a mom of 5, I know how exhausting that can be (she has 4!) and would love to see this sweet gal rewarded with a rejuvenating break! But knowing her, it can’t be just any break! She craves action, learning and interaction so I know she’d love your workshop!
Dearest Melissa,
Thank you so much for your giving heart and nominating Janelle. What a wonderful friend you are! How many friends would do that?! It’s clear that you both bless so many. I encourage you to nominate Janelle again in the future. My wonderful Workshop Coordinator, Janna, nominated herself FOUR times. It became almost comical for her. But she was determined, and she was eventually chosen. And I know she’d be the first to say that the timing was PERFECT. Not only did she come to the workshop, but she went on to become one of my Confidence Teachers and now works closely with me. So you never know. I’m excited to see how Janelle’s story continues to unfold! It can only be rich with friends like you!
Much, much love,
Me Ra
I nominate Tamara Contreras. In addition to being one of my oldest friends, she is a wonderful person and a great mom. She is truly unlike anyone I have ever known.
There are few women in this world who work as hard as Tamara does, and she does it without complaint. If I had to pick three things you needed to know about Tamara, I would say this:
1. Over the years, I have accumulated some really cool pictures. Tamara has taken every single one of them. She doesn’t just snap a photo. She captures a moment or a feeling. I am truly thankful for the many moments and feelings she has captured for me.
2. She is a wonderful mother (maybe I should have made this first on the list!) Her small children have developed awesome little personalities and I know that Tamara loves watching them as they each become their own person.
3. She is a loyal friend and confidante.
If Tamara gets this opportunity, I know she will get the most out of it and she will appreciate it more than anyone. She has a gift that deserves to be nurtured, and I hope she gets the chance to do just that.
I nominate Tamara Contreras. She is a hardworking and caring person, a truly amazing mother, and a gifted photographer. I know she would make the most of this incredible opportunity.
I nominate Tamara Contreras. She is a hardworking person, a caring friend, an amazing mother, and a gifted photographer. I know that she will make the most out of this incredible opportunity.
I would like to nominate myself (LOL) Snjezana D. I am a mom of two girls (8 and 10). I homeschool and have been homeschooling them from the beginning. I developed love for photography since I started to take pic of my children. I was motivated by a mom who was taking pics of her kids and tried to take pic by pic of my girls when they were 2. I really enjoyed looking at the pics later when they would be in bed. I would take pics as much as I could and seemed that I had energy taking pic even when I would organize a birthday party for them. (Birthday parties would be usually at home). When I look back, I realized I would go everywhere with them: family days events, beach, educational classes, libraries, parks or cooking at home. These pics would help me to remember. Honestly, taking pictures helps me remember! (Maybe this is why I love to take pictures so much). Since we moved from FL to TX, and girls being older, I found myself not cooking or baking with them so much, or finding myself just tired going from one place to another in a day ? I have noticed one thing! I have not gotten tired of taking pictures! I still have the same passion for learning new corners that I can take pictures from . Actually, today, a friend of mine tolled me that I take lots of pic! So, later when I was reading your post, I just had to register myself.
Dearest Snjezana,
Thank you for being BOLD and nominating yourself! I think that is wonderful and says a lot about you! In fact, I encourage you to nominate yourself again in the future. My wonderful Workshop Coordinator, Janna, nominated herself FOUR times. It became almost comical for her. But she was determined, and she was eventually chosen. And I know she’d be the first to say that the timing was PERFECT. Not only did she come to the workshop, but she went on to become one of my Confidence Teachers and now works closely with me. So you never know. I’m excited to see how your story and photography journey continues to unfold!
Much, much love,
Me Ra
I would like to nominate Tamara Contreras for the confidence workshop. She is an incredible woman who I know would make the most of this opportunity. Tamara has a true affinity and appreciation of the arts and in the time I’ve known her, she has been on a constant journey to refine her skills and artistic vision. Her enthusiasm for creativity and desire to seek out (and photograph) the weird and wonderful things in this world is engrained into her personality and has not wavered despite the changes in her life and responsibilities.
Tamara is also a wonderful mom who devotes her time and energy into raising authentic and honest children. She works tirelessly to balance being a full time mother and helping to support her family. This workshop would provide her with so much; a chance to work with an admired teacher, a well deserved child free creative break, and an opportunity to build upon her existing photography skills.
You have given us an opportunity which makes this photographers heart flutter with excitement. Photography has been with me as long as I can remember. Playing with my mothers Brownie camera with my dolls to a teenager with a very inexpensive camera learning to see life through a new view (finder) to a new mom with my first “real” camera, a used Pentax AE1. This form of expression, along with music, got me through my heart breaking childhood, my confused and looking for love in all the wrong places teenage years, to a just turned 20 lady who married her H.S sweet heart & 5 months pregnant, to today! My life journey has been both cruel & sweet. Having nothing to having just enough. Living for ourselves to living for God. My path, is probably more common then I would like to believe. A father who loved himself more then his family. A man who chose to leave his wife with 4 small children (I was child #2 & 7 years old) to be with someone else. Living out those early childhood days with much sadness and confusion my mother, siblings and I struggled everyday for the basic’s in life. Food, electricity, clothes to name a few. From those struggling years I learned to over eat, to crave food so badly I wanted to bust through our TV to eat a whopper! I learned that the use of charge cards was a way to get things, we could not afford, but were needed or wanted. My memories are so vivid and yet so cloudy. My mother was my super hero. Doing her best, always. Hiding her tears through dark sunglasses. Moving her 4 children through the stages of childhood and teenage years in the same big house my father deserted us from. She never went on government assistance. She pretended we were camping when in reality the lights got shut off. So much strength, in spite of so much weary hardship. Today I am still married to my H.S sweet heart of 37 years. Our true success is in our 4 grown children with our amazing, beautiful and photogenic 6 grandchildren. As we rejoice in our blessings, it did not all come easily. The tangles of my past still show up in big and negative ways, even today. As with all of us, our connection to our past lives somewhere in our hearts. The little girl holding her daddies ankles crying “don’t leave me!” Fell on deaf ears as he pulled my hands loose & turned his back. This is as real today, as it was 50 years ago! Today the sting of rejection is not as surprising, I recognize now, what it looks like. God has done an amazing work within me. As a 7 year old child, I got up off that garage floor, I rose! Just like today, I work hard to rise above the negative thoughts, the disbelief in myself and to lean on and trust in a God that loved me fully then and in each new and precious day I am given! So Me Ra, I am nominating ME! I would be honored and blessed to be given this gift. My photography today is such an extension of me! Touching the beauty & simplicity of my life. Touching all the good, all the challenging, everything hard & everything easy. Today, thankfully, life is being seen through a very different, view (finder). Thank you for this opportunity!
Dearest Debra,
I look at your bright, beautiful smile, and I can’t help but smile back. Despite all the hardship you’ve gone through, JOY is what that photos speaks of. Thank you for being BOLD and nominating yourself! I think that is wonderful and says a lot about you! Thank you for sharing your powerful story with us and the panel of judges for the scholarship. You are an INSPIRING woman of strength. In fact, I encourage you to nominate yourself again in the future. My wonderful Workshop Coordinator, Janna, nominated herself FOUR times. It became almost comical for her. But she was determined, and she was eventually chosen. And I know she’d be the first to say that the timing was PERFECT. Not only did she come to the workshop, but she went on to become one of my Confidence Teachers and now works closely with me. So you never know. I’m excited to see how your story and photography journey continues to unfold!
Much, much love,
Me Ra
I want to nominate Elizabeth Gonzales. I know everything she has gone through and she definitly deserves this opportunity.
Dearest Glenda,
Thank you so much for your giving heart and nominating Elizabeth. What a wonderful friend you are! How many friends would do that?! It’s clear that you both have big hearts. And as her dear friend, you know the road she’s had to walk. It’s so powerful that she isn’t alone b/c you are there as her friend. I encourage you to nominate Elizabeth again in the future. My wonderful Workshop Coordinator, Janna, nominated herself FOUR times. It became almost comical for her. But she was determined, and she was eventually chosen. And I know she’d be the first to say that the timing was PERFECT. Not only did she come to the workshop, but she went on to become one of my Confidence Teachers and now works closely with me. So you never know. I’m excited to see how Elizabeth’s story continues to unfold! It can only be rich with friends like you!
Much, much love,
Me Ra
Today I found out that there’s an almost 90% chance that I’ve miscarried…for the second time. My four year old is still getting over the croup that landed him in the ER for 8 hours last week. I am empty.
At Christmas, just months after my first miscarriage, I received Me Ra Koh’s book Your Family in Pictures. It was smelling salts after fainting. I found myself showing up unannounced with cake and candles, organizing extended family portraits, and dragging my family to visit a great-grandpa seven hours away to take pictures and write his life story.
I felt powerful, alive and I wanted to share. I forced my sister to pull out her super expensive but rarely used camera to take pictures of her gorgeous autistic daughter using my sticky-noted pages of my favorite Me Ra recipes to teach her. It was the blind leading the blind! I also wanted more. I wanted professional results. I stayed up nights plotting how to buy equipment on grad student wages. Yes, we could afford the camera in three years, but my boys would be grown and grandparents older or gone! I canceled my son’s preschool spot – homeschooling photographic preschool! I sold off anything and everything that my husband didn’t expressly forbid. And, I shopped sales.
I’m new to this photography thing. I’m a historian by trade and spent more than a decade putting together exhibits on other people. As of two weeks ago, I have a camera and lens. I am surrounded by inspiring people whose stories need to be captured. The only problem is I’m scared. I want to capture all the wonderful and good around me. I want to share the satisfaction and energy I found in photography these last few months, but I’m scared that photography will be just as fragile as the life inside me was.
Dearest Wendy,
Do you ever feel like you want to say so many things at once, you wish you could say them all at the same time? That’s how I feel when I read your beautiful words of loss and hope. I’m so sorry for the miscarriage. I can intimately identify with that pain, and I’m sorry you are having to go through it a second time.
I love that you got my book with what sounds like perfect timing, and that it has opened up a new creative outlet for you. Get ready girl. The journey to wholeness with your camera has only begun. I just have this feeling that things are going to get more and more powerful for you, as you press in with learning your camera.
Even though you weren’t given the scholarship this time, I encourage you to nominate yourself in the future. My wonderful Workshop Coordinator, Janna, nominated herself FOUR times. It became almost comical for her. But she was determined, and she was eventually chosen. And I know she’d be the first to say that the timing was PERFECT. Not only did she come to the workshop, but she went on to become one of my Confidence Teachers and now works closely with me. So you never know. I’m excited to see how your story continues to unfold!
Thank you for honoring us with your story, your strength, and your will to press onward. Your story speaks to me deeply, and I’m so thankful you shared it.
Much, much love,
Me Ra
Tamara Contreras (I see her blame mentioned here already) is a beautiful person, phenomenal photographer, and a fantastic mom. Also, she is in need of scholarship and couldn’t afford this opportunity herself.
Tamara recently took the photos for a bridal shower – they were not just snaps, but photos that captured the emotions, story, and fun we all experienced. When I looked at photos by myself and others I wondered if we were even at the same party because Tamara saw through her lens what we did not.
I’ve known Tamara for almost thirty years. I cannot think of a more deserving camera toting mom for your scholarship opportunity.
Hello Me Ra & Team!
My name is Kat Peterson and I would like to nominate myself. I nearly burst into tears reading about this scholarship opportunity and all of these deserving mothers. Like them, I know what it’s like to be overwhelmed and how special of a gift this would be!!
Since being introduced to Me Ra Koh’s work through my general practitioner (whose wife attended a workshop in the past), I have been an instant fan and follower. For each event over the past year, I have “carted” my registration hoping that we could stretch our budget in some miraculous way for me to attend. Always wishful thinking.
A bit about myself… I am a loving wife to an incredibly hard working man and mother to two beautiful and spirited daughters (11 & 6). We live in Plano, TX with our two dogs and four cats (yes, four cats). I am exhausted. The past year has been a whirlwind of change and emotion. While still recovering from a personal loss, I was laid off from my eleven-year career in retail. Though I loved my job, it was a family-time-suck with a long commute and long hours. I missed out on so much of my girls growing up! Determined to not let that happen again and with the loving support of my husband, I began the journey of opening my own family photography business as a self taught photographer. I have loved photography since childhood and after having children of my own, they easily became my muses. Pursuing my favorite creative outlet as a profession seemed natural but as many know, it is a long winding road with many bumps along the way and many lessons to learn. While my tiny business is growing slowly but surely, the stress of not being able to contribute more financially weighs heavily on my heart. We do however feel like it was the best decision because we see how the change positively impacts our girls on a daily basis. They are understanding of the sacrifices we’ve had to make and are more confident in their own little lives just by having me around more. Amidst all of this, I am also 17 weeks pregnant! (Oh Lord, please give me strength!!). On a comical note, I realize I’ve just entered the anxiety driven nesting phase because nothing seems clean enough and my brain is buzzing with organizing ideas.
So yes, while my well is absolutely full, I am running on empty.
I have been in desperate need of time – time to truly invest more in my photography skills and confidence (and confidence in general) to reach my business’ potential, time with like hearted folks to be inspired by and grow with and time to step back from my crazy bubble.
An opportunity to learn from Me Ra Koh would be life changing!
Thank you kindly,
~ Kat Peterson
Dearest Kat,
I read your submission and just smiled wide the whole way through. I think we are kindred spirits. 🙂 We jump in and figure it out as we go, trying not to have panic attacks along the way! LOL! And four CATS! Goodness girl, I can barely handle the one we have! Yes, you need this break. And even though you didn’t get it this time, maybe it’s something to try again (nominating yourself) after baby comes and is settled. Here’s one thing I can tell. I just know by reading your words that you’re coming eventually, one way or another! And I know the timing will be PERFECT!
Much, much love,
Me Ra
I’d like to nominate my wife, Shellaine. We’re an Army family living in San Antonio. We have two daughters, ages 2 1/2 years old and six months. Lately, she’s been struggling with the kids. The baby is teething and is up all night and needs to be held all day, plus she has to take care of our older daughter. Many days, she’s running on fumes and just a few bits of sleep. I’m a full-time student who often studies late at night and on weekends, so she doesn’t usually have me around to help. Since we’re military, we don’t have any family nearby to pitch in. We’re in the middle of a three-moves-in-three-years stretch, so she doesn’t have any local roots put down for support, either.
Shellaine is trained as a veterinarian, but has quit her last three jobs to move when the Army sends me to a new duty station. She first started learning about photography in 2009 before our first assignment to Fort Drum, NY. She has tried to keep improving over the years, but between jobs and taking care of the kids, it’s hard for her to find time to develop the artistic side of her photos, which she desperately wants to do. She became a fan of yours, Me Ra, last year after a friend went to a Confidence workshop, and she’s been following you and reading your work ever since. Shellaine is amazing and is the glue that keeps our family together. I don’t know what the girls and I would do without her love and devotion to us. She would LOVE to be able to come to your workshop. As icing on the cake, her 32nd birthday (or as she says, the anniversary of her 29th birthday) is Friday, April 15th. She would be thrilled to celebrate it there.
Dear Nathan,
It is such a honor to invite Shellaine to attend the Confidence Workshop this weekend! Thank you for being an AWE-mazing husband and nominating her. Our panel of judges had the toughest time choosing one woman. And we are thrilled to have her (and make this birthday an unforgettable one!).
xo
Me Ra
Dear Me Ra,
I am writing you to nominate my beautiful wife Suzi. Suzi has always had a deep passion for photography that has remained her hearts unfulfilled calling. Her photography has been left for her few and far between free moments when she isn’t serving patients or endlessly nurturing our two growing boys. She has become exhausted by life’s demands, running on empty, and could use a hearty break from the overload of life’s recent events.
Suzi is a very dedicated woman who works full time as a health care professional and strives endlessly to be the best mother and wife she can be. This past fall she carried our 3rd baby boy Joshua, in her belly for four and a half months before he passed away in her womb. He was birthed and then cremated. She received three days of grievance leave from her job for the entire process and stood strong for the rest of us during the entire ordeal. One of the most difficult and heart wrenching experiences we have been through was leaving the Maternity floor of the hospital without our baby boy.
Her heart is heavy with grief, yet she strives to continuously provide a loving environment for us all. I believe that a weekend behind the camera lens would light that fire in her soul that has softened to a small glow.
She has a passion for photography and a deep desire to improve her skills with her camera. She has taken thousands of photos documenting our journey and is inspired to become more creative and excel behind the camera. She would especially love to learn how to take unique pictures of the special moments between moms and their beautiful children. Running on empty would undoubtedly prove to be a weekend to refresh and recharge. An opportunity to gain a new found perspective on life, and from behind the lens.
With deep gratitude,
Adam
Dear Adam,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I wanted to personally thank you for nominating your wife, Suzi. I sent you an email today. Her experience is something I can relate to on an intimate level. Hope you get my email.
Much warmth,
Me Ra
I would like to nominate my friend & former Tennis teammate & Captain Tammie Hagood for this scholarship. A few years ago she took her then Pre-Teen Great-Nephew into her home & her heart & is raising him as her own as a Single Mother with limited means. She provides him with as many enriching opportunities as she is able to from camping to sports outings to scouting & everything in between. Last year she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer & was in & out of the hospital in the ensuing months due to complications from her treatments. Throughout her treatment, hospitalizations, & surgeries, she has remained steadfastly optimistic & always has her “kiddo’s” (as she oftentimes affectionately refers to him as) well-being & happiness first & fore-most in her mind. Her faith & her hopeful outlook are to be admired. Tammie had a photography business years ago which was initially a passion & pastime that turned into a business venture for her. She has an eye &
talent for capturing landscapes, scenery, & emotions through the lens of a camera. However, her resources & her health circumstances have put this passion on a back burner. She is a role model to her nephew, her friends, & her family in every way. She has faced some formidable obstacles but continues to persevere & provide for herself, her beloved pets, & most importantly her Great-Nephew with steadfast optimism & positivity.
Dearest Dolly,
Thank you so much for your giving heart and nominating Tammie. She is clearly a strong, powerful, resilient woman.
And what a wonderful friend you are! How many friends would do that?! It’s clear that you both have big hearts. And as her dear friend, you know the road she’s had to walk. It’s so powerful that she isn’t alone b/c you are there as her friend.
I encourage you to nominate Tammie again in the future. My wonderful Workshop Coordinator, Janna, nominated herself FOUR times. It became almost comical for her. But she was determined, and she was eventually chosen. And I know she’d be the first to say that the timing was PERFECT. Not only did she come to the workshop, but she went on to become one of my Confidence Teachers and now works closely with me. So you never know. I’m excited to see how Tammie’s story continues to unfold! It can only be rich with friends like you!
Much, much love,
Me Ra
Hi Me Ra and Brian!
Thank you for this opportunity! Whoever wins, will be a lucky gal!
I read your post and my heart jumped – for my cousin, Ashley Harris. Ashley is a science teacher who loves photography. She is 33 years old and is momma to Lani who is 8 years old. Two years ago Ashley and Lani came home from a short vacation to find Sean (husband and Lani’s dad) had passed away in the house. A heart breaking day that took us all by surprise but especially devastating for Ashley, of course.
Since then, I’ve seen her embrace her ‘new’ life, raising her daughter as a single mom and growing through the pain of losing the love of her life. A pain that wont entirely go away but only God has allow her to heal. There is still so much to heal, but we know she will get there. In the meantime, Ashley spends her time educating other people’s children and loving her own.
She loves photography and I think photographing Lani has become another source of joy, even more so after losing Sean, as she creates a lifetime of memories for her. Ashley is fun, sweet and such a giving person. I can’t think of anyone more deserving on my list of friends right now than her to take a weekend break from the overwhelming and ever demanding role of being a single mother, while learning from the best an area that she is so passionate about.
You can read some of her journey here: http://eashleyharris.blogspot.com/
Again, thank you for opening the opportunity for a mom to experience this. You will be rewarded 100 fold!
Love you guys!
Anthany
Dearest Anthany,
Thank you so much for your giving heart and nominating your cousin Ashley. She has walked the most painful road. And she sounds like such a STRONG, AMAZING woman that just keeps getting stronger. I can’t imagine the loss she’s endured. And as her dear cousin, you know the road she’s had to walk. It’s so powerful that she isn’t alone b/c you are there as her friend. You are also AWE-mazing Anthany, and our family LOVES you.
I encourage you to nominate Ashley again in the future. My wonderful Workshop Coordinator, Janna, nominated herself FOUR times. It became almost comical for her. But she was determined, and she was eventually chosen. And I know she’d be the first to say that the timing was PERFECT. Not only did she come to the workshop, but she went on to become one of my Confidence Teachers and now works closely with me. So you never know. I’m excited to see how Ashley’s story continues to unfold! It can only be rich with family and friends like you!
Much, much love,
Me Ra
I took a look at her blog link that you included. And she has a GREAT eye! Those are great photos of her daughter. And what a GORGEOUS little girl to practice photography with! Thanks for sharing her story Anthany! I hope she can come in the future!
xoxox
m
My name is Tiffany Witherspoon and I am Running On Empty. There….I said it! It is not an easy thing for me to admit to myself and even more difficult for me to admit to the world. I feel sort of guilty saying it because I truly am blessed! I have a wonderful husband who loves me (and puts up with me) and provides for our family, allowing me to stay at home with our children….our two beautiful children!
I could share with you the struggles that we faced battling infertility and the strain that it put on us financially and emotionally….But God saw us through it all and blessed us with two healthy babies.
I could whine about the daily challenges of raising kids, planning meals, doing laundry and housework …. But God has blessed me with these children, food to eat, clothes to wear and a roof over our heads.
I could complain about never having time for myself.… But God has blessed me with friends and family that I truly enjoy spending time with.
My friends and family probably think that I have it all together… But just between you and me…I Don’t! Underneath it all I lack confidence. I have no shortage of passion or creativity but my confidence tank is dry as a bone and always sort of has been. I pray for God to guide my footsteps but then I am not confident enough to move my feet. I feel like he has blessed me with special gifts and abilities and I am not living his purpose for my life because I don’t believe in myself and am afraid that I will fail. I’m afraid of being a disappointment to myself, to my friends, to my family and to my God.
I tried to start a photography business when we moved to Texas. I got a business license, set up a website, designed business cards, wrote out a business plan and started taking photos of friends and family to try and build my portfolio and gain experience. But I was continually second guessing myself and as a result my business never got off the ground. I couldn’t handle the pressure of being “the photographer” at weddings or events and so I would volunteer to be a “guest photographer” instead. I told myself that it was because I didn’t know what all the buttons on my camera were for and words like aperture and exposure were a foreign language to me. I never passed out my business cards or shared my website…I didn’t have the guts to put myself out there. I was afraid to take on more than I could handle and feared that I would be exposed as the fraud that I felt I was. I didn’t feel sure enough of myself to even tell people that I had a photography business much less how much to pay me. I told myself that it was because I lacked knowledge and experience and put blame on my husband for not helping me get things going….but I realize now that what I lacked was Confidence.
I am not sure if you realize just how perfect the name Confidence is for this class that Me Rah offers. We know that confidence is defined as full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing but I love the fact that confidence is also defined as a secret that is confided or imparted trustfully, as in…. The friends exchanged many confidences over the years. Confidence (the class) gives the women who attend not only confidence in themselves but a community where I imagine confidences are exchanged for years to come! I NEED CONFIDENCE!
Dearest Tiffany,
You are among friends…sisters. I read your story and I hear you. Yes, Confidence is the only name for this workshop because it’s the pursuit of so many women…and it’s been my life’s pursuit. We second guess ourselves, we fear rejection, we wonder if we’re in left field, and through it all, we still want to keep pressing in. That’s you, and it’s BEAUTIFUL!
Even though you didn’t get the scholarship for this workshop, I encourage you to nominate yourself in the future. My wonderful Workshop Coordinator, Janna, nominated herself FOUR times. It became almost comical for her. But she was determined, and she was eventually chosen. And I know she’d be the first to say that the timing was PERFECT. Not only did she come to the workshop, but she went on to become one of my Confidence Teachers and now works closely with me. So you never know. I’m excited to see how your story continues to unfold! I’m excited to see where the camera is taking you because one thing is clear, it’s about much more than taking great photos.
I’ll email this to you too b/c I really want you to make sure you get it. xoxo
Much, much love,
Me Ra
Im writing this with knots in my stomach and hands shaking. Reaching out like this is not normal for me and in fact the complete opposite of how I have lived my life especially in the past 4 years. I would like to share something I wrote in 2012. The story of my mothers tulips would be a defining moment of how faith would carry me through the next several years.
Faith in Full Bloom
(March 17, 2012)
5 years ago, I found tulip bulbs in an old box in my mothers basement. The box was filled with odds and ends, and here were several tulip bulbs scattered in-between. No life, no hope, just a box with some junk. Maybe it was the fact my mother had just passed away and the thought of loosing another beautiful possibility of life or maybe it was the fact that tulips are my moms favorite flower, but regardless, I couldn’t let go of those bulbs. It became a mission of sorts (obsession really) to make those tulip bulbs grow and live. Many, many awkward attempts to force them to show signs of life, freezing, unfreezing, watering, not watering, (it became so tortuous for these little guys that my husband took them away from me and said enough!) What I was left with were several rotten bulbs covered in mold. Any normal person would of given up and certainly not have packed them in a box and moved them to Texas to try it all over again. This time it was going to be different. No forcing, no swear words, no torturing. I made a promise to myself that I was just going to let them be. I dug a little hole in my front yard and gently placed the bulbs in the ground and covered them with dirt. One year went by, nothing. Second year, nothing. I found myself sitting by this tulip graveyard whenever I missed my mother to point of tears. I even cried on the dirt thinking well, it couldn’t hurt to try..maybe my tears had magic powers or something. Nope.
The third year is when I learned about faith. One morning, while picking toilet paper from our trees and putting the head back on our plastic goose, I saw something…..Under the mulch, …..It cant be….NO WAY! I SEE SOMETHING! Green tiny signs of life sprouting up from the dirt. THEY ARE ALIVE!!!!! I didn’t care how small, how trampled, or how horribly late they were….they were ALIVE. That moment made my year.
The fourth year I felt content. At peace really. They came back, small, green and really, I just wanted them alive and there they were…. alive:) They only grew a little and not much more than an inch or two of green.
This spring, I saw every other tulip start to sprout and I thought, my tulips are always late and thats okay. You can imagine the look on my face when the frighting thought crossed my mind of “What if these things aren’t even tulips? What if I planted carrots or something instead?” NO- you’re not going to think crazy thoughts I mumbled.
Every year, I ask my kids ,”do you think this is the year Grandmas tulips are going to bloom?” This year for some reason, I looked at my daughter and said, “ what color do you think the tulips are going to be?” Then I quickly asked “ do you think they look like tulip leaves?” She said …”yes, Mom ,now stop.” I felt like a kid at Christmas time.. I felt that pure element of surprise and anticipation of something I didn’t even know was going to happen. When life gets challenging in ways that hit you to your core, you’ll find yourself just sitting. Blurry backgrounds of chaos and mounds of busy-ness piling up…you’ll look at something and like a camera lens your eyes focus on it and mindless thoughts fill your world. This describes my yesterday. Worries, fears, exhaustion, CLICK my eyes focused on a miracle. The tulips…were alive, tall and beautiful. They BLOOMED!!! Not just one color but two colors. My youngest son wanted them to be yellow and I expected them to be orange like a carrot , so BAM! There they were….. Faith in full bloom. My mom at my side, alive and thriving…God showing me that he is in control and has a purpose for our faith. Today was good:) Thank you God for everything and tell my Mom I miss her and love her:) XOXO Yep, that was a miracle…… (written on March 17, 2012)
I had no idea that after writing “Faith in Full Bloom” that just months later tragedy would strike my family. Its one thing to have something traumatic happen to you, but when one of your children is hurt, it levels you. Never in my life did I think standing up and speaking out against evil would almost decimate my family. I have isolated myself from friends and family and haven’t been able to trust meeting new people. I lost faith in the justice system and slowly started to question my Faith with everything. I cried, prayed, cried, sang worship songs while weeping in the carpool line, cried, raged internally, wept, raged some more and crawled my way through the depression and PTSD. I know we are fighting the good fight but its seems unbearable at times. I put everyone first like all of us mothers do but Ive reached a point where if I don’t take care of myself, my family will not be better for it. After what happened to my family 4 years ago, I lost the ability to create and lost myself. My husband was diagnosed with a lung disease the same year. He is my biggest supporter and best friend. I wouldn’t be the mother I am today without him. We have three children and have been married twenty years. I got married at age twenty and now can say Ive lived half of my life with him. Im in the process of picking myself up, believing that I can have a creative outlet, and support my family along with my husband in any way I can.<3 I read Me Ra’s FB post on Valentines day this year and wept. "God of the impossible will heal our hearts". That message and every single word written moved a mountain inside me. I was able to see that people can and do make it over to the other side. It was so beautifully written and the words were poetry to my soul. The quote from Brian that Me Ra mentioned caused me to weep while I was already weeping. Im pretty sure the flash flooding we had in Dallas was caused by my reaction to reading that post. I recently heard motivational speaker, Iyanla Vanzant, say “When you are a spiritual warrior, you don't get to just lift 10 pounds..you got to bench press 280.” I imagine God being our “spotter” and he will never let the weight crush us. Every day, we will get stronger and stronger in our faith and we will be able to move mountains in his name. I love how God works through each one of us and uses us to motivate each other. Days when our weight becomes too heavy, God will place someone in our life to help us. I believe that.
Nominating myself goes against every fiber in my being. The only thing I can think of how I'm able to do this is because Im speaking out for the little girl inside me. Im nominating her. That little girl who is an artist and loves nature. Painting, drawing, and especially photography. Capturing life through photography is a way I communicate and interact with this world. We all have different love languages and my love language with God is through nature. When I capture those moments through my camera lens I feel like Im able to communicate in ways that my vocabulary can’t articulate.
In 2012 my husband and father both pitched in and bought me my first DSLR camera. I began taking pictures immediately even though I had no idea “technically" what I was doing. I love seeing life through he camera. I read everything I could on how to use my camera and practiced daily. I learn best through hands on experience and reading wasn't enough. I planned on saving up and taking a class and someday being able to not only lean how to use my camera in manual but also edit my photos. I crave the ability to fully express my love for art through the camera. One of the first photos I captured on my new camera (besides my children) were my mothers tulips for the story I wrote. It will be forever be one of my most treasured images. A dream of mine is to create portraits and use art to enrich the story of the photo.
If I were to be chosen for this workshop, It would give me the confidence to start taking care of myself again and not be afraid. My life has been on pause and Ive put everything aside to heal not only my family but myself. I haven't been creative in four years. Im tired of being on pause and just trying to survive and not actually live. I want to use what has happened to my family to help others. Im not sure how I can do that yet because Im still healing but I know having the guts to do things before you feel like you're ready is a sign of putting your strength in God. Just writing this and actually hitting the submit button is taking a huge leap way out of my comfort zone. For all the mothers who nominated themselves for this workshop…I see you and Im so proud of you. I know how hard it was for me…my hands are still shaking and hence, I apologize for all the grammatical errors and run on sentences. Im typing this as fast as i can before I get too self conscious and delete it.
Theres an old proverb that says, “ They tried to bury us, but they didn't know we were seeds..”
I love that. Thank you for giving us moms ( the ones who feel buried) the courage to grow and bloom.
Thank you Me Ra for teaching us confidence even before we pick up our cameras. xo
Dearest Jaime,
This was an amazing story. I just sent you an email, so I hope you get it. Thank you for this powerful metaphor to what life is all about. Your words touched me deeply.
Much love,
Me Ra
Thank you for all the beautiful entries for this Scholarship! We have notified our winner and will announce her name soon once we get all of the details worked out!
Each and every woman represented here is beautiful and wonderful in her own way! It is always SOO difficult for our past winners to choose just one winner. Every one is so deserving!
To the women who stepped out and took a risk, THANK YOU!! Keep stepping out! Keep risking! Keep taking leaps of faith! Like Me Ra said, “You are WORTH IT!! You are worthy of ALL life has to give!!”
Big BIG Hugs!!!
Janna
Workshop Coordinator & Touch Point for Me Ra (and former Scholarship winner)
What a humbling feeling to know yes, I didn’t get it but some other well deserving mama did! Congrats to the winner and thank you to Me Ra Koh, Brian, Janna and your team for the opportunity. Love, Tamara from Jersey ? 🙂
There is no question I’m from NJ, HAHA! Don’t know how the question mark snuck in there 🙂