First, we had to catch up! John has had me come along side his foundation and others for the past, oh…I’d say at least 5 years.

Fund raisers, sporting events, Campus Crusade rallies, Food Drives, Lens Crafters event for inner city kids…all awesome events!

I adore John and his drive for community. It’s infectious!

Well, John recommended that we meet at a favorite neighborhood restaurant of his, Cafe Ena, on 46th & Grand in Minneapolis.

Wow! What a great find! Tucked back a few blocks west of 35 W.  Menu is simple and delicious. The Ower and Executive Chef is Hector Ruiz

I adore John and his drive for community. It’s infectious! I want to surround myself with more folks like him. It doesn’t get any better than giving! John always says, “Let’s get together and dream.” LOVE that!
That said, John recommended that we meet at a favorite neighborhood restaurant of his, Cafe Ena, on 46th & Grand in Minneapolis.

Wow! What a great find! Tucked back a few blocks west of 35 W. Menu is simple and delicious. The Ower and Executive Chef is Hector Ruiz.
Run, don’t walk (but remember that the 46th exit is temporarily closed at 35W). So exit
on Diamond Lake Rd, take a right on Nicollet, head to 46th, take a left on 46th and go about 4 blocks..it’s up on your LEFT at the corner! FYI, they only serve beer & wine
but have an enormous selection. Buen Provecho!

Yay! I’m so excited to share with you my newest toy.
Well, first there was the fisheye lens a couple of weeks
ago but NOW I have a new site in which you can view &
purchase my stuff. I’m still playing around with it a
little but here it is ~ SmugMug.
I’d love to know what you think. I mean about things like
the functionality of it and all (well the images too, go
ahead and comment on them as well!).

I had the most FABulous time yesterday morning with
Jenn & Andy. I had them meet me in St. Paul Sunday morning
and we traipsed around for awhile and even ended up at
the Farmer’s Market. Jenn and Andy were so awesome!
They were willing participants and were open to suggestion.
We hit this grungy alley way and had some fun. LOVE St. Paul!
Well, I plan to work on their images this week so check back
in a few days I’m certain to put up some teasers for you.

I’ve had 2 really extraordinary opportunities
this week. First, finally meeting Jo down in
Albert Lea…Second, on that same day, I got to
reconnect with my cousins, aunt & uncle. Had
so much fun, I stayed over night in Owatonna
and really caught up!

Then, today I met up with Kelly Read.
I met Kelly and her husband (and their daughter
Alliah) last December 8th. I was called to photograph
their daughter, born still, for NILMDTS.

We’ve talked about getting together and finally
today was the day. I was so excited and nervous.
How would this go? Our only connection is one of
sadness, I thought. But Kelly’s face lit up as I
entered the Caribou at 8000 Norman Lake Dr.
Kelly revealed that she feels a positive connection
with me. She also shared with me that, in all reality,
I was about the only other person that actually saw
Alliah. How intimate is that? I felt nervous and
felt myself ramble. I grabbed her arm from across
the table and said…”I’m so sorry, I feel so
nervous!” Kelly put me at ease and shared so much
more with me including her passion to go forward
and try to help other families with losses such as
theirs. She wanted to plant that seed with me and
with whom ever else might want to get behind her
or beside her in her efforts to help others heal
and to continue on her healing journey as well.

Kelly and her husband are, again, pregnant. This
time with a boy, due the middle/end of March.
She says this pregnancy feels so different and
her past has made her proactive for the days, weeks
and months that lie ahead of them.
Pray for this family, that they find strength as
they approach the anniversary of Alliah’s passing,
that they draw closer to God, their faith and as
they gather with family and friends on that anniversary.
Pray that they feel peace in knowing that she is
with the Lord and find hope for the future with
their new son.

Well, like I said..it’s only Thursday and already
I feel so blessed and grateful this week to be apart
of the lives of these ladies and to know that God
is doing wonderful things with me. I can’t wait to
witness what’s next!

I managed to make it to St. Paul yesterday
to photograph a family of 12. Four are
their own and then they adopted 6 others.
2 of the adopted boys suffer some of the effects
of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and that’s why I made
the treck to their home. They will be in the
pages of the annual report for MOFAS.
Gorgeous boys with beautiful smiles.
Thanks for welcoming me into your home!

Today I am on call for NILMDTS.
I can only pray that it goes as well as Sunday
when there were no calls in the west!
NEXT Thursday I have a NACE event that is at
the new Westin Hotel in Edina near the Galaria.
I get to meet Sylvia Weinstock! I’m pretty excited about that.
I LOVE cake! I hope she brings samples!

Well, I’m going to try to make something of
this day and I trust you will too.

70 and sunny? I’ll take it!

It’s FRIDAY!!
I have a Hilton family to photograph later
today…without Pedro!
Becky, you should come along…you haven’t
been in on one in awhile!

The Minnesota Twins are in FIRST PLACE!!!

I’m shooting a fabulous wedding in St. Paul
tomorrow….Pedro….ya jealous!!??
What a week it’s been already and I still
have 2 days left and Fan Appreciation day
at the Dome on Sunday with Gary and his family.

Kip & Susie, I am deeeeeeply sorrowful for your
loss. I am hear…WE are here if you need even
the smallest thing.
(((((((((((((((the springers)))))))))))))))))))

Then, later this afternoon, between storms, I
will head north to Blaine to photograph a family
for the same project.

Tomorrow morning, I’ll head back up that way to
photograph a teacher in district 287 @ Hosterman.
(I need to get a new ear piece for my car!)

This is an exciting project and I’m so happy that
Emily found me. After working with Emily at Urban
Ventures on another project, Emily called me up
when she joined forces with the Minnesota Organization
on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and asked for my help.

Thanks Emily!

p.s.I met Tom Petters at the Starkey Gala this
passed summer. Here he is pictured with Steve
Chepokas…Tom is in some deep dooty! Huge FBI raid
yesterday at his Minnetonka based business! yikes!

Sorry. Just wrapping a ton of things up.
I’ll be FREE TO BLOG more very soon.

Did y’all see this???

Thanks Dawn Davis for all your lovely comments!
Nikki, the bride pictured, submitted her wedding for
editorial consideration last spring and told me that
it might make the fall/winter issue…and it did!
Thanks Nikki Butts!! It was the first wedding I ever
shot for Bella Pictures. YAY!

That said, I have to remark that I have
indeed read many books but
I also must add that they are never in the
“novel” category…I am most likely to read
a biography or a “how-to” or even a, oh, I
don’t know….a DIET book or 4 (who’s counting).
So I think that I’m not really convinced, at
this stage in the game, to shell out the $400
to just “look cool”. For now, I’d rather get 7
tanks of gas!

Moving on.

Today I am going to meet with an old friend
for lunch. His name is Dan Butter. Our families
grew up near one another and we attended then,
and do now, the same church. Dan has an interest
in photography and wants to discuss career moves
with me. I was flattered when I got the call.
I look forward to seeing him later today and I’ll
share more on that tomorrow.

How about Twitter? I love that application.
Do you twitter? Staja Studios just started!

So, here’s a shot I took of Pat Benatar at the Starkey Gala last Saturday.

My friend, Cheryl MacLennan, made mention that
one or more of my images would get published.
How cool is that (at the risk of tooting my
own horn!)??

Have a great day…we need the rain that’s coming
but Iowa doesn’t….Pray.