Prom Paparazzi Winner, Her Essay, and Photos (of course)

My name is Rose, I am a student here at Agua Fria. I just started attending this school at the beginning of the semester and at first I didn’t know anyone since I came from a different state. After my first few days here though I noticed that the students here are all very nice and I have not personally seen any form of bullying here. It appears that all the students are connected and all together supportive of each other. If we had a way to show our support of a good cause such as anti-bullying the vast majority of the school would show this support together.

We can show our support in different ways, my proposed way is something smalls and should be easy to obtain. As a symbol for anti-bullying encouragement I would be willing to hand make support bracelets. It would be a non-verbal way to say that the person wearing it is against bullying and wants a change. This small start is one step forward towards a bigger goal to raise awareness. These bracelets would be sold through the schools for a very small profit, with a paper explaining what the bracelet represents attached. The profits could go to an organization for teens such as a Boys and Girls club. This all may not sound like much at first but if even 100 people buy a bracelet, that is a start and more kids would hear about this thru the grapevine, plus those hundred kids would have just helped give $100 to the Boys and Girls club or whatever organization needs it. Little things can make a change.

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Sweet Salon donated hair and make-up services

A corsage was donated by Thompson's Flower Shop

And her beautiful dress was donated by Molina Bridal

...And of course Bright Photography was there to capture it all, even the Prom!

I am so happy to have made a new friend and I can't wait to do this all again next year! Congratulations again Rose, you are awesome!

My oldest daughter is getting baptized!

So, my oldest daughter Sadie is getting baptized. I had seen another photographer take their child to the temple for baptism photos and I wanted to do the same.

Sadie picked out this dress online. Even though she is 8, the dress is a size 6 because she is so small.

Sadie is actually the smallest child in the 2nd grade, coming up to her peer's chins. 

 I drove her and her siblings out to the Mesa Temple on Saturday at 9am. The other kids behaved alright. Most of the people there were doing volunteer landscaping as the Easter Pageant is just around the corner.

 My Three White Dresses

Elder L. Tom Perry shared this poem written by

his daughter which she read at his granddaughter's baptism.

My mom bought me a white dress,

Not red or pink or blue.

She said it was a special dress

Like very other few,

There has been just one before,

A dress now put away,

That I wore some time ago

Upon my blessing day.

As a little baby clothed In my first white dress, 

My dad held me in his arms,

There to name and bless.

So pure and clean was I just then,

With time to grow and learn

About the Father's plan for me.

My glory I must earn.

Now I've reached the age to judge

The wrong road from the right,

And I am here to be baptized

In this dress of white.

So once again I'm free from sin.

The path is clear to me.

I'll grasp the rod and hold on tight, I vow with certainty.

Just as mud would stain my dress,

Sin would stain my soul.

The key is to repent or bleach,

For whiteness is my goal.

And if I try my very best,

Then richly blessed I'll be,

Wearing inside God's holy house

White dress number three,

So today I make this pledge:

I'll strive to choose the right,

Through this sacred baptism ordinance

In my second dress of white. (Linda Gay Perry Nelson, 1993)

 Sadie being sassy. There were no clouds that morning, but the sky was dingy from air pollution. One of the reasons we look forward to rain out here in the desert.

 In our church, we practice the ordinance of baptism by immersion. My husband, Sadie's father, will be the one to baptize her. It will take place in a special baptismal font at our church building this Saturday. We have  invited friends and family to come witness and support her choice.

 Sadie will then be given the Gift of the Holy Ghost which she will receive by the power of the priesthood, by the laying on of hands (on her head) by her father, uncles, and grandfathers.

 Much like Communion is in the Catholic church, we believe at the age of 8 that a child is able to determine the difference between good and bad. Partaking of the sacrament on Sundays will be like a weekly baptism. It is a chance for all of us to redirect our lives back to Christ.

 Here is Sadie standing outside the front of the Mesa, Arizona Temple. This is the same temple where my husband and I were married and sealed for time and all eternity. I cannot say whether she will get married here too, but it would be neat. She will be able to go inside at the age of 12 to do proxy work baptisms.

Prom Paparazzi Winning Essay Entry!

My name is Rose. I am a new student here at Agua Fria. I just started attending this school at the beginning of the semester and at first I didn't know anyone since I came from a different state. After my first few days here though, I noticed that the students here are all very nice and I have not personally seen any form of bullying here. It appears that all the students are connected and all together supportive of each other. If we had a way to show our support of a good cause such as anti-bullying or vast majority of the school would show this support together.

We can show our support in many different ways. My proposed way is something small and should be easy to obtain. As a symbol for anti-bullying encouragement, I would be willing to hand-make support bracelets. It would be a non-verbal way to say that the person wearing it is against bullying and wants a change. This small start is one step forward towards a bigger goal to raise awareness. These bracelets would be sold through the schools for a very small profit with a paper explaining what the bracelet represents attached. The profits could go to an organization for teens such as Boys and Girls Club. This all may not sound like much at first but if even 100 people buy a bracelet that is a start and more kids would hear about them from the grapevine, plus those hundred kids would have just helped give $100 to the Boys and Girls Club or whatever organization needs it. Little things can make a change.

                                                                                                                          

Rose has already chosen her dress generously provided by Molina Bridal

Hail the Tiny Prince!

Jaxzen looks so adorable in his crocheted crown by Naturally Sweet Surprises. 

The crown has been passed down.

Due to extenuating circumstances, the title of Cutest Kid Ever has been passed down to the first runner-up Jaxzen! I will be taking his photos this morning and can't wait to see how cute he is in his crown!

He is a bit older now ;-) But look at that smile and his beautiful hair!

Valentine's Mini-Sessions

I am finally at a point in my career that I can offer mini-sessions. What is a mini-session? Mini-sessions are offered about 3 times a year at specified locations. They are generally for children only and are booked back-to-back at 30 min. time slots at one location with the same props. Because they are shorter sessions, the fee is smaller too! I am also offering a free 8x10 print for these sessions only. The theme for the first one is Valentine's Day. I am actually opening this up for the first 2 Saturdays in February; one in Goodyear, and another in Phoenix. One of the props on hand will be a little kissing booth, it is so cute!

Update- Giving is Awesome Winner Announced!

Here is the winning entry-

I am writing to nominate a family for the free portraits. I am a 911 dispatch supervisor for the Snowflake-Taylor Police Dept. in Snowflake AZ  I have a woman by the name of Summer pierce who works for me. Summer is married and has 3 children a girl 13 and 2 boys Jake who is now 7, he was diagnosed with leukemia 3 years ago and her husband had his own business but because of the economy had to file for bankruptcy. He has not had work since then. He has stayed home with the kids while Summer works full time. During the 3 years since Jake was diagnosed summer has continued to work full time while running back and forth the 300 miles to Phoenix children's hospital. at first it was twice a week and then once a month. They did not have a real good vehicle at the time but somehow always made it. they have since been able to get a better vehicle. She has also been home teaching her children at the same time, since Jake could not go to school for fear of getting sick. she is one of the strongest woman I know. she has done all of this without ever complaining about any of it. she is also one of nicest people I know. she would do anything to help anyone who needs help. she loves her family so very much and I know she would love to have some wonderful pictures of her family. Jake is now off of chemo and is doing well. He only has to go for checkups every 6 months. 

Congratulations Summer!