Seniors! Let the season begin...

As we launch into another year of high school seniors, I want to look back at some of our memorable spring sessions...

Print Competition

Photo titles: "One Last Look at Home," "Generation X" and "Stormy."


Every spring I enter print competition with the Professional Photographers of America. Each of these three prints received a "worthy of merit" ribbon. In photographer's speak, we say "it hung," which means it qualified to be featured in a gallery of the best photos from Washington Photographers for the year. It's a short gallery - only open one day! It's really a peer thing, but it means a lot to each of us to see our images acknowledged and honored.

As a member of PPW, I spend a lot of time each year attending conferences and classes, always seeking to improve my skills and keep at the tip of the edge in technology and style in the swiftly changing field of photography. I hope my work reflects both my passion and my education. I'm doing this for you, my clients, to give you the best I can be. Thanks for trusting me with your portrait needs!

林 佩璇 from Taiwan with Pizazz

Lynden Christian High School always has a lot of exchange students - I love that! I was an exchange student in Germany 30 years ago. I still keep in touch with my host family. We also had a German exchange student 9 years ago - Karsten. He is our dear friend. We visited Karsten and his family and my host family when we traveled Europe in 2003. Karsten and his brother Matthias came to visit us, and Karsten ended up studying at U Victoria for a year. These are wondrous bonds with friends far away and from different cultures.
Lisa is from Taiwan, and one of about 30 exchange students in the LC school system. She's been here since 8th grade and I was privileged to take her senior pictures. She is full of life and the glow from within is so bright it spills out all over! You can guess I loved taking her photos!

A Fresh Start

Samuel jumped the gun on his entrance into the real world, but he's strong, healthy, and taking the world by smiles.

LOVE is in the air

We've had the studio up and running for over a year now, and I've been tossing around the idea of doing studio specials. Well, I'm actually doing one these next three days! I will be photographing "Be My Valentine" photos. Details are on my regular web site - I'm posting here the sample Valentines I put together. The studio shots will be a blast - I went crazy buying hearts, pink princess dresses and cool red bandannas for the boys and "love" tattoos for their arms (something along the lines of "wild thing, you make my heart sing.") Gabe spray painted bows and arrows gold for me, in case I have any cupid wannabees! Come on by and get yourself in a Valentine!

Happy New Year!

Here's wishing you the happiest, loveliest, and joyfullest New Year ever!
Pictured Above: my kids from youngest to oldest: Leo, Gabe, Laine and Ben, and my kids together with each other and with me.

Blessed by Bargens and Byles.

This summer I photographed the Bargen-Byle family at Cedar Springs in Sumas. Cedar Springs is a gorgeous Christian retreat center tucked in the foothills and surround by hills of flowers, flowering trees and little to nooks to find respite. John and Jeannie Bargen are the force behind the center, which John began with his first wife years ago. Jeannie, also widowed, came to work at Cedar Springs and love bloomed alongside the flowers. The families have grown and represent numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren as pictured. The family gathered for John's birthday, coming from as far as Turkey.
I've known Jeannie since I was a youth group leader for her son Warren, and she helped me work through my own grief when my husband died. Since then I've come to know others from these 2 family lines and they are all excellent people who continue to bless me. I'm so glad I got to meet all 38 of them.

Twin Christmas

The DeLisa twins come all the way from Bonney Lake to get their pictures taken, and I am so glad they do! (It's possible they also come to see their grandparents :) ) I love these shining-faced girls! Last year I photographed their Christmas cards at StoneyRidge farm in a snowstorm, and today we did it again, but in pouring rain. We ended up moving indoors. Can you believe how much they've grown?!
I'll be there Dec. 6 for most of the day taking Christmas pictures. Come and join me! For $50 you can have a photo on a disk to take and make your own cards, or I will design and make 25 cards for you. In the meantime, have a lovely Advent season!

A Lummi Star Rising

Dustin Tom is one of my most athletic seniors this year. He is the star quarterback for the Lummi Blackhawks. His season ended yesterday, but his record will remain for a long time. Dustin owns the eight-man single-season records for yards and touchdowns in the state, according to the Bellingham Herald. Today's Herald story says, "Dustin finished with 5,268 yards in Lummi's 12 games, or about 439 yards each game. His 64 touchdowns raised the state record to a level that will be hard to match, as he averaged 5.3 each game, including nine in a victory over Crescent - the second-highest single-game total in state history."

Am I proud of this boy, or what!? And I only got to take his pictures. He also won a gold medal for basketball in the Cowichan 2008 North American Indigenous Games.
Congratulations, Dustin!

Ethiopian Treasure

I wrote earlier about the Moldendyk's and their adopted son from Ethiopia. Now I have another lovely adoptive family to show you - the Bodes. Monte and Kelli added Ermias to their family last January, also from Ethiopia, and you can see from the photos that he fits right in. We have a growing community in Whatcom County of kids in particular from Ethiopia and Ghana. I am full of adoption envy! God bless all of you who have taken a child into your home.

Love, again

Two weeks ago I had the lovely job of photographing a senior citizen wedding. Both widowed, Mary Alice and John found love again in each other, and you can see the proof of it in their shining faces. To love once is a good thing - to love again is divine. It is a gift and a confirmation to themselves and to the world. I wish them God's blessings.

Yearbooks, cont.

Yearbook Mania

Yearbook season is here, which means the end of senior photos until next spring, and a rush to get all of the yearbooks in on time. Here are the first, Lynden Christian and Squalicum. Are they not an exceedingly good-looking group?!

True Love Hopes

I met Bobby and Stephanie through a friend and shared an hour with them while they played on the beach with their twin one-year-old girls, Halley and Avery. The girls are little heroes, fighting an unknown battle with humor and perseverance we could learn much from. Their determination shines in their bright faces, with eyes adorned with eyelashes worthy of Venus. The tubes in their noses feed them with as much protein as a 3-year-old requires, yet their little bodies have trouble retaining much at all. Bobby and Stephanie spend much of their time at Children's in Seattle and hope to leave soon for Ohio, where specialists will continue to probe the mystery of their illness. If you want to follow their progress, check this link: http://www.carepages.com/carepages/HalleyandAveryBrooks.

Growing up in the Wild

I mentioned my Aleut mom (only 1/4, but still!) back in my June 4, 2008 blog. This weekend I spent several hours with my parents and brothers perusing and sorting family albums. I found two pictures which confirmed my childhood suspicions that my mom was indeed an Eskimo! Both were of her at age 3, one with her sitting on a dead wolf in the snow with a rifle nearby, and the other pictured her in a rugged sled with sealskin boots up to her knees! My mom did indeed grow up in the wild, at least until age seven when her dad was given a legislative appointment and wound up in Washington, D.C., that other wild place.
On Thursday I photographed EllyRose, another girl growing up in the wild, only this time on 200 acres along the sloughs and dikes near Samish Bay in Skagit County. EllyRose's growing up was filled with flocks of ducks, mounds of fossils, visiting whales, rodeos, and more. I captured a few of these wild spots with EllyRose. Afterwards, her mom sent me home with fresh corn and 2 crabs! I have the best job in the world!

Spreading the word

The number-one force behind our growing business is people spreading the word. This year it seems nearly every senior has brought along another after their session. We love the referrals and we know that those people coming in know what to expect - a fun, easy photo session and amazing portraits afterwards. We reward our clients with spiral-bound copies of their proofs when they give a referral. We also have senior reps at some of the high schools, and we load them with free goodies so they can share their photos with their friends. Addeson, pictured here, is our Meridian rep. He was a blast to photograph! Thanks seniors, and thanks parents of seniors for making my job so much easier!

We all have to grow up

One of the pleasures and blessings of my job is watching people grow up! Sometimes that means babies turning into preschoolers, kids graduating, and even parents becoming grandparents. We all still have growing up to do!
Rob & Alicia Wurm first hired me to photograph Rachele, who was beginning her musical career while still in high school and needed cover art for her 2nd CD. After that graduation photos, family photos, more CD art, and now her little sister Heather is graduating and I had the privilege of photographing her at Boulevard Park this week. Enjoy :)

Growing a Family

Last spring I joined an adoption organization, "Celebrate Adoption." My role is helping adoptive families by photographing them for free, giving them a free set of framable proofs and 15% off any additional orders.  I finally got my first call and on Friday I photographed Mike & Kristi Molendyk's family along the Nooksack river.  Mike and Kristi and their biological kids, Brielle and Trey, welcomed Trevin into their home 7 months ago from Ethiopia. I am privileged to have watched and photographed this happy family at play. May God's blessings be on all of you parents who have adopted children. You are among my heroes.

Family Affair

Recently I had a profusion of grandparents accompanying my seniors, along with parents, siblings, boy and girlfriends... while pondering this I realized how much I love having "cheerleaders" along at the session! My own favorite language of love is "words of encouragement" and I love hearing adoring family and friends encouraging and admiring the senior I am photographing.
Two of my favorite recent sessions involved such loving grandparents. Jessica's grandparents hiked all the way to the beach at Larabee State Park, which is a difficult trail. Then when I asked Jessica to climb a boulder in the sea her grandfather was ready to hike into the water to give her a leg up! (dad beat him to it :).
Ellie brought along 2 sets of grandparents to Boulevard Park, who communicated words of cheer and told passerbys about their beloved granddaughter.
Hurrah for grandparents! You are so welcome to tag along at any of my photo sessions!

They're Back!

July brought the first round of 2009 Seniors!
Here are 2 of the first, John & Dirk. You gotta love 'em!

Snuck in, just in time

Yesterday I was in the car with my 7-year-old son Leo, and I was telling him about the global food crisis and how Compassion International was having a day of prayer for the poor people of the world. He said, "Let's pray right now!" Then added, "You don't have to close your eyes." He prayed and then I prayed. I was impressed by his sense of urgency to pray and his complete lack of hesitation. It reminded me of a couple of months ago when we were visiting my college roommate Christi and her family. Christi, Lainie and I were praying and Leo and Jaden, Christi's 6-year-old daughter, were playing nearby. As we prayed the kids gathered around us. Christi prayed something like this, "And God, thanks so much for sneaking Leo in just in time..." Leo immediately turned to Jaden and whispered, "God snuck me in just in time!" May God bring help to those who need Him so desperately, and just in time.

Milestones, not millstones

Photos: My mom in Alaska; Gabe at 13; Gabe at 18; Gabe with his buddies before graduation.



This week marks three major milestones in my life. Today is my mom's 80th birthday, and if my husband was still alive, it would have been our 25th anniversary. Tomorrow my third child, Gabe, graduates from high school.
My mom is a wonderful woman. She prays for us and cares for us with devotion and love. Jewell Lee was born in Valdez, Alaska, was given a mine for her 6th birthday, and later her hometown slid into the sea during the tsunami of '64. I believed she was an Eskimo when I was little, and later learned that her grandmother actually was Aleutian! Her grandfather was a Russian Orthodox Priest. My mom has had a full life. She stayed home with us until I reached junior high, then became a realtor with my dad. She was raised a Christian Scientist and became a Christian while I was in high school. She oversaw the careful feeding of my dad, a life-long diabetic. At 82 and still going strong, my dad is a poster child for the diabetes association, and I give my mom much of the credit for his healthy, happy life. Her influence led me to stay home with my kids. I didn't work full time until Leo died, and even then I have continued to work out of my home so that I can be near little Leo, now 7. My mom took what she was given and made a beautiful life from it. I hope I will always do the same.

My own life changed when my husband died of a heart attack at age 41. I was pregnant, and we had great plans for more adventures for our family. I've tried to take what I have and give back to my kids what Leo and I would have given them together. Some things I have never been able to do again on a serious level, like kayaking and backpacking in the wilderness. But we did backpack together (all 5 of us!) for 9 weeks around Europe, and we've traveled to New York City and Budapest as well. Leo and I had 17 years of lovely marriage. I've had nearly 8 more years on my own, and although I miss him like crazy, I'm glad for all he gave us before he left that has enabled me to carry on.

Finally, Gabe finishes his high school years tomorrow night. I homeschooled Gabe through the 7th grade, though he took over most of his education after Leo died. I'm putting together a photo album for him, and I found a picture of him when he was 13 years old, asleep on the couch with two dictionaries and Chaucer under his arm. That sums up much of Gabe's education: always learning, reading, researching, recording. Gabe never let the loss of his dad stand in his way, or used it for an excuse. He is a scholar, an artist, and a dear, dear son and brother. His affection for Leo and the time he has spent with him could never be overstated. We will miss him so much!

Siblings

This year I have had the privilege of photographing siblings of former seniors, who are now seniors themselves. I am featuring two here: Elsbeth '08, and Sam Doesburg '06, who are not only siblings, but young people I have known and loved since they were preschoolers; and Heidi '08, and Rob Ehlers '05, who I met through their mom four years ago in my grief support group. Like us, the Ehlers lost their dad at a young age. Heidi and Rob both had their photos taken at Larabee State Park. Sam's were taken at Hovander Park, and Elsbeth had two sessions, the one featured is in Winthrop where we were camping last fall together. If you want some unusual senior pictures, we will be on Oregon coast this summer and in Eastern Washington in the fall! Join us!

LITTLE!

I've told you before about my acting kids, well now Gabe is writing, directing, set designing, music writing, etc., and it's on stage tonight, Thursday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 8 at 2:30 and again at 7:30, at Lynden Christian High School. The show is LITTLE, or Not so Happily Ever After. It is a musical based on Rumplestiltskin. Overheard last night from parent reviewers: "Gabe is the next Tim Burton!" Come see for yourself. Share my joy with me!
love,
Karen

Oh Baby!

One of the great things about babies is that they are born year round! As much as I love high school seniors, I only work with them seasonally, whereas babies just keep coming.
Another great thing about babies is observing their amazing personalities - and they are loaded! Lassen is our newest Blessings Collection baby. He is four months old. In my one hour with him, I got to see everything from rage to joy and all the fun curious spots in between. Here are just a few of his memorable expressions - you gotta love this guy! I'm excited to see him again in a few months and see how crawling and standing rocks his world!

My Thespian Kids

Something about the word "thespian" makes me cringe a bit, but there it is: at least two of my kids are born thespians!

This week my middle son, Gabe, is performing at Lynden Christian High School's "The Scarlet Pimpernel." He has 4 roles, beginning with the Executioner in which you can only see his cold hand of death clinging to Madame Guillotine. After a short scene dancing at a wedding he plays his two best roles, and as he noted himself in his bio, the only 2 roles which really exist: the leader of the French during the Revolution, Robespierre, and the leader of the British, The Prince of Wales. For Gabe, much of the fun is in the frequent costume changes and portraying two violently different characters.

As I've written previously, my daughter Laine is studying in Uzbekistan (you look it up!) at a theatre conservatory. She grapples 6 to 7 days a week with character development, fencing lessons and elocution, all in Russian. She's comes home at last in July to finish her degree at UW and face the world of auditions. We can hardly wait! To see lots of photos of her and her classmates in action, check out her blog at http://lainemullen.blogspot.com, or just click on her link to the right of this column.

Among the great joys for me in having kids who love drama, is that I get to be involved with the productions (at least the local ones!) and photograph the kids. I love teenagers, and I love watching them grow and shine. Seeing these kids on stage is a thrill for me, whether they are my own or not.

I invite you all and watch them perform their spectacular rendition of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," with shows on Feb. 5, 7 and 8 at Lydnen Christian High School. See you there!
Karen

Love Grows

Almost 2 years ago I flew to Switzerland to photograph my best friend's daughter's wedding. Chari met Christoph at an international church in Zurich while she was working as an Au Pair (nanny). The wedding was fabulous and they loved their album.

Today they still live in Switzerland and have added baby Jack to their loving famiy. I photographed Chari, Chris and Jack this week while they visited Chari's family in Lynden. My heart melts with this privilege – recording the loving embraces between a father, mother and their precious child. Through my work I am blessed, and I hope I bless others as well.
Karen

Joy to Your World

I've been struggling this fall with a lingering viurs. I found myself whining the other day, and God brought to mind how small my trials are compared with what He has allowed others to endure. Here are three families I love and intensely admire for their strength, endurance, and joy in the midst of it all.

Scott Sessions was our paster for several years. We loved him and his family and when my husband died, Scott was there to help me cope and get some firm ground underneath me. Last year Scott was diagnosed with ALS, often called Lou Gehrig's disease. Unless God provides a miracle (oh please do!) Scott is going to die young. His courage and perspective, and his wife Julie's grace, have been a light for Whatcom County this past year.

Jennifer and Craig have a six-year-old boy with more than 18 serious illnesses. Dominic was born 16 weeks premature. Taking care of this precious boy is more than a full time job for them - it's a life-long, every day, every night commitment. Their steadfast love and willingness to devote themselves to their family in a way most of could never imagine is an inspiration and admonition to me. What is really important in this short life? I think loving those God has given us with the same kind of love He has lavished on us.

Finally, my dear friends Sam and Brie Russell found their lives in a spin cycle this year. Sam, whom I've known and loved since he was 2, was riding his bike at his workplace for Trek Bicycles when he hit a jump too fast and crashed head-first into a tree. Sam is paralyzed from the waist down. They have three daughters under the age of 6. Sam pushes himself so hard he is already hop-walking with braces and has ridden an arm-peddled bike! Brie is so focused on finding joy in their trials that reading her blog makes you think she is superwoman in disguise as a mom and wife. They've been in and out of ER so many times, yet Brie says they are glad for the cable TV time!

May we all find joy this Christmas in our family, our friends, our lives, our loves, in sunshine or rain, in good health and in trials. God's blessings pour upon you this Christmas and New Year. Karen

p.s. the photos picture Scott with his daughter, Jody; Jennifer and Craig with their kids; Sam and Brie with their kids and Sam's folks, and me with Nancy Russell, Sam's mom. If you want to read Brie's blog, contact me and I'll give you the details.

Christmas Card Keepers

This year we are offering Christmas cards for the first time! They are exceedingly cool and worth keeping.
By way of Merry Christmas (a bit early, but I want you all to know about this!) I am posting here our combination Christmas card/ad. Have a fabulous holiday season, hopefully with those you love and cherish.
Karen

My Sabbath

Tonight I left my home full of stress and confusion. I've had a difficult fall season - business is great, but I cannot keep up with my normal speed of delivery. For the future, I will adopt the motto that art takes time, and give myself and my clients plenty of waiting room for their portraits.

So back to tonight... my studio is almost finished, my yard and home are in mayhem, and my family is coping. This evening I noticed someone in the front yard and found my friend Jody with her son and a friend raking my front lawn! A great rage of conflict stormed my mind. How wonderful, how amazing, how embarrassing that I need help, how lovely of God to meet my needs through this friend, how come I can't do this on my own? And as I tried to join in and help she put her arms around me and told me to go back to work – inside, on the computer. Tears escaped my eyelids - a rare sight from me, the "strong one." My little son Leo and his friend helped bag the leaves, while inside, I made doctors beautiful. I left an hour later, frazzled and fatigued, for a Healing Network leadership meeting at church. I don't do much volunteering anymore except for leading a support group for grief recovery. At the meeting I couldn't muster enough strength to share a prayer request. Then the lesson began... the importance of taking a Sabbath. And I listened and saw myself, a recent Sabbath truant, on account of work and the studio. No wonder I am so tired.

So join me in taking a Sabbath - maybe on Sunday, maybe just a lunch time away from the desk, strolling down a quiet path. Give yourself time for rest and refreshment. And listen to God. He sometimes speaks in a whisper.

These photos are from a Healing Network retreat last spring. We took an hour Sabbath, and I used my time for a photo Sabbath - away from work, and into creation. Enjoy.

Ages and Stages

One of the many fun things about my job is getting to know people over a period of time. Three and a half years ago I photographed Cheryl, a senior at Lynden Christian. She was awesome - focused, smart, and a blast to photograph. Last spring I had the privilege of photographing her wedding. She is still as focused as ever, heading for a degree in law. Her new husband knows what a treasure he holds. You can see it in his eyes. Congratulations Cheryl & Andrew!

Blog again, Blog again, jiggety jog

I am finally back – after many months of craziness!
In the meantime we have been converting our garage into a studio. We hope it will be done in a few weeks. We really, really hope! We've been living in severely cramped quarters while studio supplies pile up.
On the brighter side, we've had a great time photographing many lovely people. I'm going to highlight some of them in the coming weeks.
Thanks for your patience!
Karen

Budapest Report, part one

We are home after rendezvousing with my daugter Laine in Uzbekistan. The trip brought together that which I love most: my family and travel. Okay, I also love God, but He is always with me!
I have trimmed down my 500 + photos to a few favorites. I'll add more in another post.

"I'd do anything, for you dear, anything..."

So says the Artful Dodger in the musical Oliver. And that's how I feel about my kids. And I'm blessed beyond imagination to fly with my three sons to rendezvous with my daughter in Budapest this week! Laine is studying theatre in Uzbekistan (next to Afghanistan) for the whole school year. It's a tough place to live - see the link to her blog on the right-hand column and you will understand a bit. And I do miss her so! We will stay in a youth hostel near the Danube River. You will see post-trip photos, but for now, here is Laine on San Juan Island last summer, ready to conquer the world.

Why I Photograph High School Seniors

Just look at these young people, shining like stars in the galaxy. They have come so far and will grow so much in the next few years. They are at the edge of an adventure that, God willing, will take them through their retirement RV touring years. I love their fresh spirit, their soul-searching, and their breaking free of childhood fears.
God put a love in my heart a long time ago for teenagers. I worked with Young Life during college and later a youth group at church before my own kids multiplied and called me home. I am blessed to spend time with high schoolers while I photograph them. Looking into their eyes and cajoling them to turn this way and that, their character and light pours out and colors the digital media that becomes a portrait.

Madalen's Many Faces

Madie, age 3, is the proud big sister of Adrienne, born Oct. 28. Madie posed for me with her mom shortly before the big event. Madalen's mom was my teenage next-door-neighbor years ago. Today she is a wonderful woman with a loving husband and two dear daughters. You will meet Adrie soon!

Growing up Fast

Babies come through here three or four times a year and I have the joy and privilege of watching them grow. Bennett is pictured here at six weeks and again at one year. He's been a jolly guy since day one and Leo and I always look forward to seeing him.
Speaking of growing up fast, Leo is in kindergarten now and is pictured here as a pirate dog for halloween!

Twins Double the Joy

These twins bring such joy to me - their fabulous personalities, their loving family, and their family story of loss and love. Their aunt died of cancer before they were born. These girls have brought incredible hope and happiness to their extended family. Thank you God for the gift of new life.
Our own family's gift is little Leo. He was born 6 months after his dad died. Here he is at our final StoneyRidge Farm day - 5 years old and full of love and spunk.

Senior Mania!

As yearbook deadlines come and go, seniors are piling through here to choose their best portraits. Here is a crazy review of this week's senior choices. What a great looking bunch of kids! And they are pretty awesome on the inside as well.

Indian Summer

The rain has returned, but oh what a wonderful Indian summer we've had.
This week more clients became friends... we really have a good time together! I love the beautiful people I have the great privilege of photographing.

Here are a few who chose their favorites this week - Ashley, in the sunset at Semiahmoo, Casie with Lex in the grass, and my my dear friend's grandkids, David and Megan, at StoneyRidge Farm.

Another happy mom :)

Cody and his mom came over last night to choose their favorites. Here are three:

Above all, joy.

I see that my last post came out way too depressing! Please be assured that joy reigns in my life 99% of the time! I consider myself the luckiest woman alive - I have four incredible kids, a beautiful home, amazing friends and family and the best career imaginable!
So come rejoice with me - God is so good - He fills all the gaps.
love,
Karen

A crazy, difficult, joyful week

Welcome my friends to blog #1!

It's a crazy week to begin this, but I am filled with emotion and may as well let it spill a bit.
This week marks six years since my husband, Leo, died suddenly of a heart attack at age 41. This time of year is always tough, but I was determined not to go into a tailspin. Then a friend of mine died in a motorcycle accident. Toby was 46 and one of the dearest, most earnest Christians I knew. Working through his death, spending time with caring, mutual friends and his widow really helped me process my own grief a step further. Grieving really never seems to stop; it goes away for a season, and then washes over you like an unexpected wave. Then I also spent two days with my folks and my youngest son, Leo, at Roche Harbor. I needed nurturing, and I received it. I'm usually a pretty tough cookie, so I think it was a shock for my parents to see how much I needed them.

Back to reality on Saturday! I photographed at StoneyRidge Farm for the first time ever - I love this family! Debbie and Derrick Gavette took this farm from a dilapidated potato farm to a thriving tourist business in Everson, Washington. They have pumpkins, scarecrows, hay rides, farm animals, caramel apple pie, and on and on... all worth a visit at least once every October. I'll be photographing every Saturday there from noon to 2 p.m.

Later I met with two of my favorite client families for slide shows. Geneva will be interning with me this year for her graduation project! I've known her family since we were in a 4H club together about 10 years ago. They always make me feel like I am somebody special. Brittany comes from one of the funniest families I've ever worked with - their mirth and mutual love are obvious and overflowing.

Finally, I ended the night at the 6th annual KAFE Leisure Suit Convention - a crazy 70's dance. I went with two widow buddies. It was amusing, but quite a stretch for me. It would be more fun with somebody to dance with...

Until next week!
Karen