a part of you has grown in me. and so you see, it's you and me together forever and never apart, maybe in distance, but never in heart.
- author unknown
i'm sure this quote was not intended for this type of post but...to me, it couldn't be more perfect.
max (and his family) have affected me like no other. max will always be a part of me. he teaches me to be better, be stronger and do greater. while shooting, max challenges me b/c i'm not a photojournalistic photographer, but it also rewards me like no other and that's what it's all about...i'm so thankful that they have come into my life and i can do this for them.
today, max's dad emailed me this:
Very kind words from a stranger.
We say it all the time but the gift you are giving us is priceless and we hope to have the ability to return the favor and give a priceless gift to you and your family some day.
have a great week.
Andy & Melis
----- Forwarded Message ----
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 5:46:38 AM
Subject: Mashed Potatos are yummy!
Deb,
I just wanted to thank you and congratulate you on your beautiful work!!! It is great that you have gotten close to this family and can show others what a family with a child with NB goes through. Max is adorable, he''s a beautiful boy and it is shocking to have to see him go through what he has to. My son also had NB but is now 8 years old. People really just are not aware of the truth of this life. I thank you for caring and for taking the time to bring our struggles to light so that others will become interested and perhaps further our cause of finding a cure for this terrible disease. May God continue to bless you and Max and his family.
L
Little does Andy know....they have already returned the favor tenfold.
- author unknown
i'm sure this quote was not intended for this type of post but...to me, it couldn't be more perfect.
max (and his family) have affected me like no other. max will always be a part of me. he teaches me to be better, be stronger and do greater. while shooting, max challenges me b/c i'm not a photojournalistic photographer, but it also rewards me like no other and that's what it's all about...i'm so thankful that they have come into my life and i can do this for them.
today, max's dad emailed me this:
Very kind words from a stranger.
We say it all the time but the gift you are giving us is priceless and we hope to have the ability to return the favor and give a priceless gift to you and your family some day.
have a great week.
Andy & Melis
----- Forwarded Message ----
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 5:46:38 AM
Subject: Mashed Potatos are yummy!
Deb,
I just wanted to thank you and congratulate you on your beautiful work!!! It is great that you have gotten close to this family and can show others what a family with a child with NB goes through. Max is adorable, he''s a beautiful boy and it is shocking to have to see him go through what he has to. My son also had NB but is now 8 years old. People really just are not aware of the truth of this life. I thank you for caring and for taking the time to bring our struggles to light so that others will become interested and perhaps further our cause of finding a cure for this terrible disease. May God continue to bless you and Max and his family.
L
Little does Andy know....they have already returned the favor tenfold.
peace is not something you wish for;
it's something you make,
something you do,
something you are,
and something you give away.
- robert fulghum
some of you might remember sam from before. i've photographed him a few times now--once with max, for the magic water project, and a couple of family sessions last year--and this time was the best i've seen sam look. he not only looked great, he was also in such wonderful spirits. however, his disease. like max's, has also recently progressed. a couple weeks ago, the scan showed two cancer spots on one leg, a spot on the other leg and a spot on his arm. he is now back on chemo and meds switched around and they are fighting like hell.
as i type, i think how ironic it is...sam holding up his peace signs when his body is a little war zone. he against the enemy, neuroblastoma. i'm sure that sam wishes nothing more than his body be at peace, with no more cancer. btw, the above photo is what sam did when i asked him to give me his cute look...he gave me peace signs.
and here's a shot of the boys together. such great little guys with tons of energy.
it's something you make,
something you do,
something you are,
and something you give away.
- robert fulghum
some of you might remember sam from before. i've photographed him a few times now--once with max, for the magic water project, and a couple of family sessions last year--and this time was the best i've seen sam look. he not only looked great, he was also in such wonderful spirits. however, his disease. like max's, has also recently progressed. a couple weeks ago, the scan showed two cancer spots on one leg, a spot on the other leg and a spot on his arm. he is now back on chemo and meds switched around and they are fighting like hell.
as i type, i think how ironic it is...sam holding up his peace signs when his body is a little war zone. he against the enemy, neuroblastoma. i'm sure that sam wishes nothing more than his body be at peace, with no more cancer. btw, the above photo is what sam did when i asked him to give me his cute look...he gave me peace signs.
and here's a shot of the boys together. such great little guys with tons of energy.
champion the right to be yourself;
dare to be different and set your own pattern;
live your own life and follow your own star.
- wilfred peterson
every now and then, i get one of those shots that is just screaming to be on my wall. this is one of those shots.
dare to be different and set your own pattern;
live your own life and follow your own star.
- wilfred peterson
every now and then, i get one of those shots that is just screaming to be on my wall. this is one of those shots.
never, never, never never give up.
- winston churchill
yes, we're now serving mashed potatoes for breakfast.
if you've visited my blog before, you probably remember max. well i've begun a journey with his family and am photographing max at least once a week. i wish i could photograph him daily but with three kids, a husband who is deploying (and currently almost never home) and a business, i just can't. but believe me, if i could...i would.
this is a very emotional journey for me. a journey that i'm not even sure that i can give words to. i adore max. i adore his family. they have already given me so much and i can only hope that i give them a fraction of what they have given me. i also hope that i can bring some attention to this terrible, evil disease they call neuroblastoma...a disease that is taking way too many children's lives. can you believe...every 16 hours a child with neuroblastoma dies.
i will be posting max's photos on the mashed potatoes for breakfast blog every week.
click here to view a news story about the work being done in vermont, in the fight against neuroblastoma. really powerful stuff.
- winston churchill
yes, we're now serving mashed potatoes for breakfast.
if you've visited my blog before, you probably remember max. well i've begun a journey with his family and am photographing max at least once a week. i wish i could photograph him daily but with three kids, a husband who is deploying (and currently almost never home) and a business, i just can't. but believe me, if i could...i would.
this is a very emotional journey for me. a journey that i'm not even sure that i can give words to. i adore max. i adore his family. they have already given me so much and i can only hope that i give them a fraction of what they have given me. i also hope that i can bring some attention to this terrible, evil disease they call neuroblastoma...a disease that is taking way too many children's lives. can you believe...every 16 hours a child with neuroblastoma dies.
i will be posting max's photos on the mashed potatoes for breakfast blog every week.
click here to view a news story about the work being done in vermont, in the fight against neuroblastoma. really powerful stuff.
riding into the sunset; wings of glory. graceful unity...night ride. no holds bar; freedom release reaching for the stars. grasp a wish and hold on tight; get ready for the ride of your life. golden friendship; endless summer.
- author unknown
there's this house nearby that has the best murals painted on it. i've been longing to shoot sky there but have never seemed to have the time. well, today was the day that i finally did, thanks to my friend, peta's, encouragement. the above quote is painted on the side of the house. i have so many favorites from the 15 minutes we were there.
i feel that lately, i haven't been shooting my kids enough. it's been so awesome to capture photos of them being them. thanks peta!!!
here's just a few...
- author unknown
there's this house nearby that has the best murals painted on it. i've been longing to shoot sky there but have never seemed to have the time. well, today was the day that i finally did, thanks to my friend, peta's, encouragement. the above quote is painted on the side of the house. i have so many favorites from the 15 minutes we were there.
i feel that lately, i haven't been shooting my kids enough. it's been so awesome to capture photos of them being them. thanks peta!!!
here's just a few...
there is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.
- elizabeth lawrence
my wonderful friend and fellow photographer, peta mazey, is visiting from new zealand. she's such a wonderful person and photographer. i'm so blessed to have her stay with me for a week.
we've been staying extremely busy...and last night we had a great time at the beach. it was warm and busy. and the first time this year that the kids got to play in the water...they had such a blast.
- elizabeth lawrence
my wonderful friend and fellow photographer, peta mazey, is visiting from new zealand. she's such a wonderful person and photographer. i'm so blessed to have her stay with me for a week.
we've been staying extremely busy...and last night we had a great time at the beach. it was warm and busy. and the first time this year that the kids got to play in the water...they had such a blast.
never talk defeat.
use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.
- norman vincent peale
i have begun a journey with max and his family, a journey of documenting max's fight for his life.
i met max back in december, when i photographed he and sam for magic water project marketing materials. max looked great. and felt great. but not long after that, i read on his blog that he was experiencing difficulties with his battle against neuroblastoma. i emailed his family and asked if they wanted to do some more portrait photos of max and the family, which i posted in a previous blog post.
now, our journey together has been expanded to me photographing max weekly. i was a little nervous making this offer b/c 1) i'm not a photojournalist photographer 2) i knew i was going to have to use flash (yikes!) and 3) i was afraid i couldn't give them enough (i couldn't live with myself if i disappointed them.) so jumping in feet first, i began photographing max last week.
one morning a week, i get together with max and photograph whatever is happening. last week, it was the 'celebration of champions'. this week, it was platelet | blood transfusions and radiation (i actually shot twice this week b/c steve is going to be gone next week and friday was the only day i could get to a 7 AM radiation appointment). i will be capturing the good, the bad, the ugly of his fight against neuroblastoma--a photo narrative of max's fight and the essence of what he and the family are experiencing.
max's dad emailed me last week, asking me if i would be interested in participating in a second blog of max's...a blog where my weekly photographs will be posted. max's parents and i will both post our thoughts, feelings, etc. on this blog. so coming soon...the 'mashed potatoes for breakfast' blog.
i can only hope that i can give max and his family a little bit of what they have already given me. this is a family that truly uses the words, hope, belief, faith and victory, and they are fighting with every bit of fight they have in them.
here's a few photos from over the past couple weeks. they won't all be perfect. they won't all be pretty. but they will all be real.--
to the tune of the 'chariots of fire' theme song, max running (with a torch) at san diego's 'celebration of champions'. yes, i was in tears but i'm in tears every time i go to photograph max. but i know that once i step in that door, my face of strength must be on and i hold back my tears...until i get in my car.
max showing his transfusion nurse where his current pain level is at, by pointing to one of the faces.
snuggling with mom b/c he wants the doctor to come so he can be done with his appointment and get back to drawing.
and a shot of max, giving me one quick look before my day was done.
the radiation room. max is sedated when he is radiated due to the radiation being on his skull.
right before radiation.
i will continue to occasionally post max's journey on my blog until the 'mashed potatoes for breakfast' blog is launched.
don't forget to LIVE LIFE TO THE MAX!
use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.
- norman vincent peale
i have begun a journey with max and his family, a journey of documenting max's fight for his life.
i met max back in december, when i photographed he and sam for magic water project marketing materials. max looked great. and felt great. but not long after that, i read on his blog that he was experiencing difficulties with his battle against neuroblastoma. i emailed his family and asked if they wanted to do some more portrait photos of max and the family, which i posted in a previous blog post.
now, our journey together has been expanded to me photographing max weekly. i was a little nervous making this offer b/c 1) i'm not a photojournalist photographer 2) i knew i was going to have to use flash (yikes!) and 3) i was afraid i couldn't give them enough (i couldn't live with myself if i disappointed them.) so jumping in feet first, i began photographing max last week.
one morning a week, i get together with max and photograph whatever is happening. last week, it was the 'celebration of champions'. this week, it was platelet | blood transfusions and radiation (i actually shot twice this week b/c steve is going to be gone next week and friday was the only day i could get to a 7 AM radiation appointment). i will be capturing the good, the bad, the ugly of his fight against neuroblastoma--a photo narrative of max's fight and the essence of what he and the family are experiencing.
max's dad emailed me last week, asking me if i would be interested in participating in a second blog of max's...a blog where my weekly photographs will be posted. max's parents and i will both post our thoughts, feelings, etc. on this blog. so coming soon...the 'mashed potatoes for breakfast' blog.
i can only hope that i can give max and his family a little bit of what they have already given me. this is a family that truly uses the words, hope, belief, faith and victory, and they are fighting with every bit of fight they have in them.
here's a few photos from over the past couple weeks. they won't all be perfect. they won't all be pretty. but they will all be real.--
to the tune of the 'chariots of fire' theme song, max running (with a torch) at san diego's 'celebration of champions'. yes, i was in tears but i'm in tears every time i go to photograph max. but i know that once i step in that door, my face of strength must be on and i hold back my tears...until i get in my car.
max showing his transfusion nurse where his current pain level is at, by pointing to one of the faces.
snuggling with mom b/c he wants the doctor to come so he can be done with his appointment and get back to drawing.
and a shot of max, giving me one quick look before my day was done.
the radiation room. max is sedated when he is radiated due to the radiation being on his skull.
right before radiation.
i will continue to occasionally post max's journey on my blog until the 'mashed potatoes for breakfast' blog is launched.
don't forget to LIVE LIFE TO THE MAX!
the secret is not in your hand or your eye or your voice, my aunt once told me. the secret is in your heart.
- storypeople
yesterday, kiele was presented with her 'hope of america' award by the kiwanis club. it was held at a local restaurant. the local kiwanis club was there. the school principals were there. the kids. and the parents. we all had breakfast and then the presentations began.
i knew i was in trouble when i was getting teary when the other kids were receiving their awards.
the students were called up by school.
and the principal would talk about the child.
then...it happened.
they asked the parents to speak.
i wanted to crawl under my chair.
so kiele and lillian go up and the principal talks about each of them.
and then the parents.
lillian's mom and dad. and me and the little ones (steve couldn't get off work).
the kiwanis lady passed me the mic and...
i couldn't say a single word without bursting into tears.
yep, standing in front of everyone crying.
to the point that i think snot flew out of my nose.
oh--my--gosh!
every time i have to talk about kiele in public, i get teary. okay...yea, it's actually more than just a bit teary. but anyways. tears of joy, for sure. she has exceeded my every hope and dream for her. i think i've said this before but i so believe it...i have no doubt that kiele will have some huge impact on this world when she grows up. i'm so darn proud of her!!
- storypeople
yesterday, kiele was presented with her 'hope of america' award by the kiwanis club. it was held at a local restaurant. the local kiwanis club was there. the school principals were there. the kids. and the parents. we all had breakfast and then the presentations began.
i knew i was in trouble when i was getting teary when the other kids were receiving their awards.
the students were called up by school.
and the principal would talk about the child.
then...it happened.
they asked the parents to speak.
i wanted to crawl under my chair.
so kiele and lillian go up and the principal talks about each of them.
and then the parents.
lillian's mom and dad. and me and the little ones (steve couldn't get off work).
the kiwanis lady passed me the mic and...
i couldn't say a single word without bursting into tears.
yep, standing in front of everyone crying.
to the point that i think snot flew out of my nose.
oh--my--gosh!
every time i have to talk about kiele in public, i get teary. okay...yea, it's actually more than just a bit teary. but anyways. tears of joy, for sure. she has exceeded my every hope and dream for her. i think i've said this before but i so believe it...i have no doubt that kiele will have some huge impact on this world when she grows up. i'm so darn proud of her!!
learn to enjoy every minute of your life. be happy now. don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family.
- earl nightingale
my guys...
my guys, who i so adore.
i don't often get photos of steve. well barely ever. but i need to change this. steve deploys in four months (although he'll really only be home for about three of those months due to time away for pre-deployment work-ups). unfortunately, he can't go on our cruise next month :-( and he told me yesterday that he's going to be gone seven months instead of six.
i NEED to take photos of steve. i NEED to take photos of steve with the kids.
i'm flooded with emotions. yet i often put up a barrier and fight those emotions. i just need to be strong. i can't be too sad. i can't be angry. just strong. strong for him. strong for my kids.
there's times when i wonder how i'm going to pull everything off. basically being a single mother for seven months. running a home business. but i will. i keep thinking back to when steve was deployed last time. we were stationed at whidbey island, WA. at the time, kiele had just been implanted with her cochlear implant, sky was 11 months old and i was pregnant with ryder. i was traveling to seattle 2-3 times every week for appointments and therapy and the round trip drive was four hours. plus i ended up with preterm labor at 27 weeks. i did it then. and i can do it now. you do what you have to do. and you do it well.
i go through moments of stress and sadness but then i find that inner strength that helps me know that everything is going to be fine. one thing that's for sure...i will enjoy and cherish every moment that steve is here at home with us. and when steve's gone, we will miss him so!
- earl nightingale
my guys...
my guys, who i so adore.
i don't often get photos of steve. well barely ever. but i need to change this. steve deploys in four months (although he'll really only be home for about three of those months due to time away for pre-deployment work-ups). unfortunately, he can't go on our cruise next month :-( and he told me yesterday that he's going to be gone seven months instead of six.
i NEED to take photos of steve. i NEED to take photos of steve with the kids.
i'm flooded with emotions. yet i often put up a barrier and fight those emotions. i just need to be strong. i can't be too sad. i can't be angry. just strong. strong for him. strong for my kids.
there's times when i wonder how i'm going to pull everything off. basically being a single mother for seven months. running a home business. but i will. i keep thinking back to when steve was deployed last time. we were stationed at whidbey island, WA. at the time, kiele had just been implanted with her cochlear implant, sky was 11 months old and i was pregnant with ryder. i was traveling to seattle 2-3 times every week for appointments and therapy and the round trip drive was four hours. plus i ended up with preterm labor at 27 weeks. i did it then. and i can do it now. you do what you have to do. and you do it well.
i go through moments of stress and sadness but then i find that inner strength that helps me know that everything is going to be fine. one thing that's for sure...i will enjoy and cherish every moment that steve is here at home with us. and when steve's gone, we will miss him so!
the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. they must be felt with the heart.
- helen keller
the flowers are beautiful but the story behind them is even more beautiful.
kiele had to write a mother's day essay for school. the winner would get flowers to bring home to his or her mom. kiele was really excited and wanted to do it right. she wrote the essay on the laptop and was ready for me to print it from my computer. i emailed it to myself, so i could open on my computer, which is hooked to the printer. i didn't read it but noticed that the font was something like 70...not really, but it was big. so i reduced the font and brought everything to one page. kiele was really upset, mom, i need that blank space so i can draw a pretty picture of you. sigh. i made things back to how they were supposed to be...how she planned them to be. and then she asked my friend, andrea, proof it for her. the corrections were made and she was ready to have the essay printed. i still didn't know what it said. but she did show me the picture she drew of me...so perfectly me (i wish i could share but the essay didn't come home yet). and then she brought it to school to be presented and voted on.
and...
kiele won.
friday, she came home with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers for me. because her essay about me won. sigh.
and kiele told me, i picked these flowers b/c the others just looked like asparagus.
lol.
not sure what type of flowers they are but she's right. when not yet bloomed, they do look like giant asparagus.
what did kiele write?
Kiele Mother's Day Essay
My mom is the best mom in the world. She is nice, sweet, smart and is a kind person! She takes good care of me. She gives me healthy food and clean water so I’ll never get hungry or thirsty. When I get sick she stops working and gets me whatever I need to make me feel better. She doesn’t leave me until I am feeling better. For school she helps me get my homework and school projects done on time. Also, she helps take pictures of my class for school. She is a talented photographer. She is the best! She gets me books and toys! Also, whenever I want to go to a store or restaurant, she takes me there sometime soon!
Also, my mom let’s me take horseback riding lessons, with my best friend Julie! She lets me play with my friends a lot! She is a great friend to everyone she meets. She helps me make good choices and she never lets me down. Normally I get her a card and make her breakfast in bed for mother’s day but she deserves much more than that. That’s why I want to get her a card, breakfast in bed and if I win flowers for Mothers Day. My mom loves flowers.
My mom is the best mom in the world because she is the reason I can hear! People used to say that I didn’t need a Cochlear Implant but my mom said yes I needed a Cochlear Implant and they listened to her. So, that’s how I can hear! If she didn’t exist then I wouldn’t be able to hear. Also, if she didn’t exist then I wouldn’t exist. My mom was the reason I have my dog, Charley! Charley makes my brother, sister and I very happy! My mom is the best mom in the world and I don’t know what I would without her. Those are just some the reasons why my mom should get flowers on Mother’s day.
There are many more wonderful things about my mother! And that’s the end of my essay!
i laughed.
i cried.
it touched me like no other.
i just can't believe that i am so blessed...to be her mother.
Happy Mother's Day!!
- helen keller
the flowers are beautiful but the story behind them is even more beautiful.
kiele had to write a mother's day essay for school. the winner would get flowers to bring home to his or her mom. kiele was really excited and wanted to do it right. she wrote the essay on the laptop and was ready for me to print it from my computer. i emailed it to myself, so i could open on my computer, which is hooked to the printer. i didn't read it but noticed that the font was something like 70...not really, but it was big. so i reduced the font and brought everything to one page. kiele was really upset, mom, i need that blank space so i can draw a pretty picture of you. sigh. i made things back to how they were supposed to be...how she planned them to be. and then she asked my friend, andrea, proof it for her. the corrections were made and she was ready to have the essay printed. i still didn't know what it said. but she did show me the picture she drew of me...so perfectly me (i wish i could share but the essay didn't come home yet). and then she brought it to school to be presented and voted on.
and...
kiele won.
friday, she came home with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers for me. because her essay about me won. sigh.
and kiele told me, i picked these flowers b/c the others just looked like asparagus.
lol.
not sure what type of flowers they are but she's right. when not yet bloomed, they do look like giant asparagus.
what did kiele write?
Kiele Mother's Day Essay
My mom is the best mom in the world. She is nice, sweet, smart and is a kind person! She takes good care of me. She gives me healthy food and clean water so I’ll never get hungry or thirsty. When I get sick she stops working and gets me whatever I need to make me feel better. She doesn’t leave me until I am feeling better. For school she helps me get my homework and school projects done on time. Also, she helps take pictures of my class for school. She is a talented photographer. She is the best! She gets me books and toys! Also, whenever I want to go to a store or restaurant, she takes me there sometime soon!
Also, my mom let’s me take horseback riding lessons, with my best friend Julie! She lets me play with my friends a lot! She is a great friend to everyone she meets. She helps me make good choices and she never lets me down. Normally I get her a card and make her breakfast in bed for mother’s day but she deserves much more than that. That’s why I want to get her a card, breakfast in bed and if I win flowers for Mothers Day. My mom loves flowers.
My mom is the best mom in the world because she is the reason I can hear! People used to say that I didn’t need a Cochlear Implant but my mom said yes I needed a Cochlear Implant and they listened to her. So, that’s how I can hear! If she didn’t exist then I wouldn’t be able to hear. Also, if she didn’t exist then I wouldn’t exist. My mom was the reason I have my dog, Charley! Charley makes my brother, sister and I very happy! My mom is the best mom in the world and I don’t know what I would without her. Those are just some the reasons why my mom should get flowers on Mother’s day.
There are many more wonderful things about my mother! And that’s the end of my essay!
i laughed.
i cried.
it touched me like no other.
i just can't believe that i am so blessed...to be her mother.
Happy Mother's Day!!
may 9th, 2008
military spouse day
a few days ago, president bush proclaimed that today is military spouse day. the following information was released by the white house on may 5th:
Military spouses embody the courage, nobility of duty, and love of country that inspire every American. On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to the husbands and wives who support their spouses in America's Armed Forces during times of war and peace.
The legacy of military spouses began when colonial Americans were fighting for independence. Martha Washington boosted the morale of her husband's troops by visiting battlefields and tending to the wounded. Since then, members of our Armed Forces have served our Nation accompanied by the steadfast love and support of their spouses and families.
While our men and women in uniform are protecting our country's founding ideals of liberty, democracy, and justice, their spouses live with uncommon challenges, endure sleepless nights, and spend long periods raising children alone. Many military spouses are also committed volunteers, serving other military families and local communities. Our Nation benefits from the sacrifices of our military families, and we are inspired by their courage, strength, and leadership.
On Military Spouse Day and throughout the year, we honor the commitment spouses have made to freedom's cause. To learn about ways to support our troops and their spouses and families, I encourage all Americans to visit www.americasupportsyou.mil.
Now, therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 9, 2008, as Military Spouse Day. call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities and by expressing their gratitude to the husbands and wives of those serving in the United States Armed Forces.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
these photos are two of my favorite military spouse photos. the active duty member was gone for seven months and i shot his homecoming. it was a very emotional shoot for me. to see the joy on mom, dad and child's face, while being reunited after such a long time...who wouldn't be emotional?!
this october, steve leaves for iraq. six months. he'll miss halloween, our anniversary, thanksgiving, christmas, ryder's birthday, his birthday and that's just touching the surface of what he'll really miss throughout the six months. yea, it's going to be tough. tough on him. tough on me. tough on the kids. but as a military spouse, it's my job; it's the role i promised to assume when i said, i do...to hold down the fort while he is gone. he needs to know that everything will be taken care of here at home, while he is gone. he needs to know that so that he can concentrate on his job in iraq. while steve is away, i must be strong. and one thing that i can promise him...i will do the very best that i can!
to all my fellow military spouses:
thank you.
thank you for everything you do.
happy military spouse day!
military spouse day
a few days ago, president bush proclaimed that today is military spouse day. the following information was released by the white house on may 5th:
Military spouses embody the courage, nobility of duty, and love of country that inspire every American. On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to the husbands and wives who support their spouses in America's Armed Forces during times of war and peace.
The legacy of military spouses began when colonial Americans were fighting for independence. Martha Washington boosted the morale of her husband's troops by visiting battlefields and tending to the wounded. Since then, members of our Armed Forces have served our Nation accompanied by the steadfast love and support of their spouses and families.
While our men and women in uniform are protecting our country's founding ideals of liberty, democracy, and justice, their spouses live with uncommon challenges, endure sleepless nights, and spend long periods raising children alone. Many military spouses are also committed volunteers, serving other military families and local communities. Our Nation benefits from the sacrifices of our military families, and we are inspired by their courage, strength, and leadership.
On Military Spouse Day and throughout the year, we honor the commitment spouses have made to freedom's cause. To learn about ways to support our troops and their spouses and families, I encourage all Americans to visit www.americasupportsyou.mil.
Now, therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 9, 2008, as Military Spouse Day. call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities and by expressing their gratitude to the husbands and wives of those serving in the United States Armed Forces.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
these photos are two of my favorite military spouse photos. the active duty member was gone for seven months and i shot his homecoming. it was a very emotional shoot for me. to see the joy on mom, dad and child's face, while being reunited after such a long time...who wouldn't be emotional?!
this october, steve leaves for iraq. six months. he'll miss halloween, our anniversary, thanksgiving, christmas, ryder's birthday, his birthday and that's just touching the surface of what he'll really miss throughout the six months. yea, it's going to be tough. tough on him. tough on me. tough on the kids. but as a military spouse, it's my job; it's the role i promised to assume when i said, i do...to hold down the fort while he is gone. he needs to know that everything will be taken care of here at home, while he is gone. he needs to know that so that he can concentrate on his job in iraq. while steve is away, i must be strong. and one thing that i can promise him...i will do the very best that i can!
to all my fellow military spouses:
thank you.
thank you for everything you do.
happy military spouse day!