project childhood

karmen jumps on board...

Karmen's Studio & Gallery just entered two shots, so be sure to check out the main site. In Karmen's words (which I lifted from her cool blog):

"Today is just a feel good day.  It feels so good to give especially when you have the chance to see the people it will benefit personally. Today could not be a better day!"

Be sure to stop by Karmen's place and show her some love... If you're counting, there are only 8 more days until the deadline. I can't wait to see all your entries and hear all the cool stories you keep sharing.

 

check out this cool slideshow...

Ria Lee from Ria Lee Photography surpised me with a slideshow documenting her PROJECT CHILDHOOD sessions, but unfortunately, my Mac was being tempermental, so she made a special one just for me.

I have to say that I am so overwhelmed with this community and how amazing and selfless and heartfelt and giving each and every one of you is with your time and talent. When I say this please know that each day I gain joy and happiness in my life because of the difference that each and every one of you is making in the lives of so many children. Thank you doesn't feel like enough, but I'll say it anyway: THANK YOU.

Please click here to check out Ria's slideshow. If you would like to download the original version click here.

can you say splash page?

Melissa Zihlman Photography just donated one custom splash page design which includes two concepts, and up to three revisions, as well as installation and minor search engine optimization (SEO) work. I caught up with Melissa and asked her to jot down a few words as to why she felt compelled to join PROJECT CHILDHOOD:

"I've been a memory maker of sorts for as long as I can remember, but before deciding to turn my passion into a business, I was an elementary school teacher.  I worked with children from all socio-economic backgrounds, but the bulk of my school's population fell below the poverty line.  I've had students in foster care after being taken from drug and abuse infested homes, children who slept in their cars, those that came to school hungry, and those that just needed to know someone cared about them...

"And although I taught them, they were really teaching me each day.  Through their extraordinary strength and hope, they were able to come to school and just be...
...ten years-old,
...someone's best friend,
...the class clown,
... loved...

"So when I learned about PROJECT CHILDHOOD, I couldn't help but get involved.  Thank you to all the memory makers who take on this challenge, may you be forever changed."

Melissa, you have a beautiful soul. Thank you so much. Be sure to check out all the cool splash pages on Melissa's site.

two moments with my superstars...

As adults, it's so easy in the hustle and bustle of everyday life to often lose sight of those tender moments when we were little kids looking at the world with wonder in our eyes for the first time--moments that Blake called upon in The Songs of Innocence--but today, I found peace in the little things. Little things that were new and exciting to my own children. Gina was actually photographing a young boy today for her PROJECT CHILDHOOD entry so Madeleine and Ryder and I hopped in the car and went TRAIN CHASING. For the record, Ryder is fanatical over trains, so to see the real thing brought so much joy to him, to his sister and to me--and of course, I had my camera.

While we were searching for trains--we hunted down eight total--Madeleine was singing tunes from High School Musical, and at one point, I heard her singing one of Gabriella's songs, and say to myself, hey, she's hitting all the notes and singing it word for word. When the song was over, she smiled and said: "Hey, Daddy, I got all the words right!" She was so ecstatic! So amazed with herself. So happy. Little things, right?

Do you remember the first time you saw a train up close and personal or sang a song all the way through without messing up? If you have a cool story, send it my way and I'll try and post it. in the meantime, I can't help you with the song part, but here's a short video my son and I put together tonight... no offense, but who needs Thomas the Train?

connections...

One of the amazing things--as I have already mentioned--about being behind the scenes is being able to hear such inspiring and heartfelt stories about everybody who has connected with PROJECT CHILDHOOD in one way or another. Most of the correspondence is with photographers, but every now and then, I'll get an email like this:

"These are my children. A few years ago I divorced their mother and now see them every other afternoon after work for four hours and every other weekend. I bought a house around the corner from their mother in order to be closer to them. We both love our children, but even with loving, devoted parents, the divorce has been painful for them. I have watched them form an extremely close bond over the intervening years: loving, nurturing, protecting each other from the pressures of growing up between two very different homes. I know the divorce was the right thing to have done, but when I look in their eyes, I still wish I could have made it work...for their sake."

check all three out...

Lynn Michelle Photography just added three beautiful studio pics to the gallery over at the main site. If you get a chance, be sure to check out Lynn's web site. What a super-cool and fun design. There are just some really neat buttons to click on for inspiration (I like the groom pic the best).

a special story...

One of the great benefits I have of being behind the scenes at PROJECT CHILDHOOD is coming in contact with so many special people--each with his or her own special story. For those of you who have been keeping up with the blog, you know that I like to highlight special stories that touch me in some way. Well, take a moment to hear Shannon Wermer's story about joining PROHECT CHILDHOOD:

"If it wasn’t for a great friend of my husband’s and mine, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of knowing nor participating in Project Childhood. I received the email, opened the link and BAM! It hit my heart and I was completely drawn to this idea! So, I sat down, wrote to Christopher and jumped on board.

"Now, where to start? Since we are a military family…we move a lot and I’m somewhat new to this area. So, I thought that I would contact my church and other surrounding churches to see if they had a family in need that I could help out. Surprisingly, they couldn't think of anyone, not even my church?!  Well, hmmm...nobody could think of anyone? Well, not that, that's a bad thing....of course, it’s great! Now what?

"Where do I go from here?  I know it is God - when I flip the T.V. on and they are doing a story on our county helping homeless families get back onto their feet; by donating housing and helping them find jobs. This is it, I thought! So, long story short......I contacted the Family Promise Foundation. I'm excited that our community wants to help get these homeless families off the streets and giving them the tools they need to provide a stable environment for these kids. 

"I can't wait to give them their kiddo’s portraits to put on their new home's walls!! My donation will go toward our local Children’s Hospital’s - Children’s Cancer Foundation.

"Children are so precious, innocent and honest….sometimes brutally honest; but that is what makes children so fun to be around! It's such a blessing to know that so many people care."

Beginning with one photograph,
Shannon Wermers

“Having children is God’s way of letting us relive childhood.”

 

two more entries

Take a glance at the latest entries on the main site from Kim Beasley Photography--a photographer and mother of seven who will be donating two session fees to Childhelp.

the entries are rolling in...

Be sure to check out Leah Lund's entry at the main site. Wait until you see this little girl's beautiful eyes!

jewelery anyone?

Tannis Bray of Beadoozle Lampwork, Glass Art, and Jewelery just donated some bling to the prize package. Here's the Beadbreakdown:

• Grand Prize winner wins 10 glass picture frame ornaments
• Second Place gets to walk down the catwalk in a glass white flower necklace
• Third Place will get to sport around town a new turquiose lampwork bead wrapped with silver necklace