Wordy Wednesday: an Homage

And we have a winner! Or as my daughter says "many will enter. One will win." So, many thanks to all of you who played along. Many thanks to all of you who voted. But we have found the Queen's fool:

And it's Teri from Let Me Think On It.

Let me tell you a little about Teri. We have known each other for about 8 years. We met at church. When I used to help out with the craft night. I know what you all are thinking. But that's what they callled it. I would bring my scrapbook supplies on Wednesday nights while our kids were in choir. And the moms would work on albums. Teri would skirt the room. Checking it all out. But she didn't participate.

But then...before I knew it, she became one of my biggest supporters. Launching herself into album making. And telling everyone else that they needed to be doing the same thing.

When I had Madalyn, she gave me a gift of a photo session with her. And I am now blessed with amazing photos of my girls from over the years.

She endured long sessions with me because I have very uncooperative children. The family picture below includes one of my all time favorite pictures of Katie. Now. Then, not so much.In this one, we were trying so hard to get a picture of both girls together. But Madalyn wanted to run. And Katie wanted to watch TV. Finally when I was ready to beat them...Teri offered them some goldfish. And they climbed into her husband's office chair...and a great photo was born. You can see the bag of gold fish they have between them. And then the bottom one of Madalyn. Oh...she had had enough. She was standing at Teri's door. Screaming "bye-bye!"

We did some sessions at her house, and some at mine.

And then we branched out to local parks. And you wouldn't even know that most of these pictures are taken with me smiling. AND threatening my children. Telling them that they had better smile. Pretend to be happy. I think that Gap should have hired us this year.And when my father unexpectedly passed away in December of 2006, she agreed to my strange request of photographing the service. And the all of the guests that came to honor him. And we even managed to get someone to take a picture of us.

A few months ago, I did a give away of scrapbooking supplies here on my blog - and I emailed a few of my friends to tell them to enter the contest. I think that was Teri's first taste of the drug that is blogging. She read my blog. She got it. And not too long after that I was getting emails on how exactly she could set up her own blog.

And then she started writing. I've read Teri's journaling before...and I knew she had some great stories to tell. From her love of Donny Osmond. To her strange eating habits (that she submitted for this contest). To her desire to win a crown as she begged all her readers to come and vote for her.

So, Teri...I am thrilled to finally bestow a tiara upon you. Wear it proudly!

(And thanks again to Rhea who inspired the contest, and created the bling!)