First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone that sent in nominations for Giving is Awesome. There are some wonderful and extremely thoughtful people in our community! I received many nominations and every single one was heart wrenching. My review team was made up of 32 fellow photographers and let me say that they ALL agreed that this was an extremely hard decision.
This year’s recipient of my Giving is Awesome photography session and $750 package is the “R” family. This family has been through a difficult 2009 and the problems and grief just continue. As of this writing, Valerie R. is in the hospital due to complications from a car accident in September. My thoughts and prayers go out to this family as she will be spending Christmas in the hospital. I hope this gift raises her spirits even slightly.
I have included the email I received from Kristen Stamm nominating the R family. As the nominator, Kristen and her family will receive a free photography session and a $100 print credit. Thank you Kristen and thank you to the R family for touching all of our lives and hearts. I wish you all the very best Christmas and New Year and I will continue to pray for the R family during this very difficult time. Giving truly is AWESOME!
Please note that full names have been removed to protect the identity and security of the family.
I would like to nominate the R family.
Nicholas, Valerie, and their daughter Ashalyn (16 months old).
Beautiful family, beautiful people. I went to high school with Nick and Val. They were a year below my graduating class. They have a sweet love story. They met in kindergarten and were friends all through their school years. A few years after their high school graduation, their affection for each other grew to be more than just friends. They were engaged and married soon after. People thought they moved quickly, maybe too quickly in their action to get married. But Valerie’s response was so sweet and sincere to those strongly opinionated people in the small town where we grew up. She said “We’ve known each other since kindergarten. How much more time do we need?”
They knew they loved each other and did not want another moment apart. They got married in November of 2007 and had their first daughter (Ashalyn) in August of 2008. When Ashalyn was just 5 months old they found out they were expecting again! When many families might feel overwhelmed by that news, they leaped for joy!
They found out their next expecting baby was a little girl too. They named her Miranda. They prepared their home and hearts ready to embrace their second daughter into their lives. But two weeks before Valerie’s due date, they were in a car accident and Miranda did not survive (Sept. ‘09). Instead of greeting her each morning in her prepared nursery, they frequently place beautiful flowers on her grave site.
It is such a sad part of the story yet the strong love and devotion these two people have for each other remains so strong. Even in the midst of their storm there is a rainbow that shines so brightly through them.
Nick’s leg was severely injured and has been off work for the past few months. Their income is low and their medical bills are high.
I know they would love the gift of your photography. They had come to me about a month ago and asked if I could take their family picture for their Christmas card. The hospital had given them a bear and that has become an object of remembrance of Miranda to them. They wanted the bear included in their family portrait. And while the pictures did turn out semi-satisfactory for the amateur that I am, I know it is no where near the amazing gift that you, Kim could give them.
