Comments on: Give Her an Unexpected Gift Today and Nominate Her for the Seattle CONFIDENCE Photography Workshop! http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/ Established June13th 2006 Seattle / Beverly Hills / New York Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:31:40 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Winner for the Seattle CONFIDENCE, Running on Emtpy Contest! | Me Ra Koh Photography Blog http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219977 Winner for the Seattle CONFIDENCE, Running on Emtpy Contest! | Me Ra Koh Photography Blog Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:14:12 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219977 [...] have a winner to announce! As many of you know, we ask a handful of women to be the judges for our Running on Empty contest. A number of these women are also former winners. We enlist their help because there is no way [...] [...] have a winner to announce! As many of you know, we ask a handful of women to be the judges for our Running on Empty contest. A number of these women are also former winners. We enlist their help because there is no way [...]

]]> By: frank http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219967 frank Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:49:32 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219967 This is my wife's love and passion,and would be very happy to spend the weekend with you. Please help make her dream come true. This is my wife’s love and passion,and would be very happy to spend the weekend with you. Please help make her dream come true.

]]> By: Myrna Whitehead http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219964 Myrna Whitehead Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:05:27 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219964 Natalie is a great mom, wife,a great friend and a great daughter I hope that she is given the opportunity to be able to enjoy your workshop. Good luck Natalie! Love Natalie is a great mom, wife,a great friend and a great daughter
I hope that she is given the opportunity to be able to enjoy your workshop.
Good luck Natalie!

Love

]]> By: Myrna Whitehead http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219962 Myrna Whitehead Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:37:57 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219962 Natalie Whitehead is my nominee. She was born in St Croix US Virgin Islands,her grandmother was her heroe, she was a Pastor, and her best friend. Natalie graduated, and at the age of 17, she wanted to join Youth with a mission(YWAM). Natalie raised funds on her own without much help from her family. She traveled to Colorado, then to Japan, she left home and never came back. Na talie got married and had 3 beautiful boys, Josiah, Aidan,& Hudson. When Natalie was on her 5th month, she was told that little Hudson was going to be a very sick baby, and if he was to be born, life for the family will never be the same. The baby will be needing 24/7 full care, and she was given the option of an abortion, but Natalie being the fighter that she is, she decided that she will never play God. Hudson was born, and was only able to be embraced by mommy for 5 months. Being able to have more of her own children, she and her spouse decided to open their homes to children that were not as lucky as Hudson to enjoy even if for a short time being embraced by their mom and dad. Nat, and her husband has opened their homes to the adoption of 3 beautiful babies from Ethiopia Natalie Whitehead is my nominee. She was born in St Croix US Virgin Islands,her grandmother was her heroe, she was a Pastor, and her best friend. Natalie graduated, and at the age of 17, she wanted to join Youth with a mission(YWAM). Natalie raised funds on her own without much help from her family. She traveled to Colorado, then to Japan, she left home and never came back. Na talie got married and had 3 beautiful boys, Josiah, Aidan,& Hudson. When Natalie was on her 5th month, she was told that little Hudson was going to be a very sick baby, and if he was to be born, life for the family will never be the same. The baby will be needing 24/7 full care, and she was given the option of an abortion, but Natalie being the fighter that she is, she decided that she will never play God. Hudson was born, and was only able to be embraced by mommy for 5 months. Being able to have more of her own children, she and her spouse decided to open their homes to children that were not as lucky as Hudson to enjoy even if for a short time being embraced by their mom and dad. Nat, and her husband has opened their homes to the adoption of 3 beautiful babies from Ethiopia

]]> By: Sharon http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219939 Sharon Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:22:28 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219939 Is it to late to nominate someone! Man! Don't you hate when life gets in the way!! If it's not too late I want to nominate my friend Bri. I wish I was a better writer. I wanted Jeramy to help me write this because I know my words won't describe her well enough... I'll give it a try. When I think about Bri, I think, "Small and mighty!" She Is a young single mother of 5! Yes! F-I-V-E! All under 7! And she is only 27! (Oops.. Bri should I have left that part out? ;-)) Yes... she has a set of twins! ;-) I so wish I had Jeramy's gift with words, but heres what I know... I know Bri needs this workshop! She is a gifted, talented artistic woman who needs to let that out! Ever since I first met Bri I knew that she had a gift! I remember when she got her Cannon! The look on her face was amazingly beautiful! The joy she found in capturing the lives of her children and friends was infectious! I didn't say enough... I just scratched the surface. Bri has been running on empty for far too long. She brings so much life and joy to everyone in her life. She is an inspiration to so many. Not only would Bri get so much out of this workshop experience she'd bring so much too! Is it to late to nominate someone! Man! Don’t you hate when life gets in the way!!
If it’s not too late I want to nominate my friend Bri. I wish I was a better writer. I wanted Jeramy to help me write this because I know my words won’t describe her well enough… I’ll give it a try. When I think about Bri, I think, “Small and mighty!” She Is a young single mother of 5! Yes! F-I-V-E! All under 7! And she is only 27! (Oops.. Bri should I have left that part out? ;-) ) Yes… she has a set of twins! ;-)
I so wish I had Jeramy’s gift with words, but heres what I know…
I know Bri needs this workshop! She is a gifted, talented artistic woman who needs to let that out! Ever since I first met Bri I knew that she had a gift! I remember when she got her Cannon! The look on her face was amazingly beautiful! The joy she found in capturing the lives of her children and friends was infectious!
I didn’t say enough… I just scratched the surface. Bri has been running on empty for far too long. She brings so much life and joy to everyone in her life. She is an inspiration to so many. Not only would Bri get so much out of this workshop experience she’d bring so much too!

]]> By: Sara K http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219922 Sara K Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:50:44 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219922 I have been struggling with whether or not to nominate myself for the running on empty spot all week. Here we are down to the wire and even as I type this I am still not sure I will hit submit. There is no doubt that this is a perfect description of my life lately, but for reasons that it is not easy to share. I have always wanted a family and when my husband and I had our son the joy I felt was more than I could have ever imagined. Sometime in his first or second year things started to go wrong. My husband who is a doting and attentive father began to suffer from anxiety, panic attacks and uncontrollable depression. I was still in the throws of sleep deprivation that goes along with young kids and being a first time parent and full time working mom I almost didn't notice what was happening at first. Things continued to get worse and medications weren't helping until I came home one night and called to my husband and got no response. I found him lying on the bathroom floor, barely conscious with empty pill bottles scattered around him. My world was collapsing and this was just the beginning. He was admitted to the hospital and a treatment program for what they called dual diagnosis, for people with a combination of substance abuse and mental illness. The first time I got to visit him he told me they said the recovery rate of patients like him was 7%. 7% has stuck in my brain ever since. I was determined that he would be in that 7%. I was not going to let my son grow up without a father, as my husband had. This is the part where I started to get tired. I began to spend all my energy trying to control an uncontrollable situation. I was holding on so tight to my family, hoping that if I could just be the strong one and do everything and be there for my son, while my husband got better we would be ok. The problem was I had lost my husband, my support, my encouragement and there was no one there when I needed help. I was constantly worried about the effect all of this was having on our son and I tried to shelter him as best I could, at times I thought I might literally break from the stress. About a year ago things started to look up. My husband was offered a job, a job that he really wanted and I knew he would excel at, it seemed like the perfect thing for him. The only problem was it was in Seattle (we were currently living in San Diego). I wanted to save my family, so I took a leap of faith and quit a job that I loved and followed my husband to Seattle, hoping that I would find something and maybe it would be a fresh start for us. I did find a new job and again it seemed like maybe finally things were going to start going our way, but mental illness and addiction have plagued us here just as they did there and I have since realized there are no quick fixes, but I have not given up. There was something good that came from the move, I joined a mom's photography group. We meet once a month and it was the first time that I had done something entirely for myself since all this began. Just like many others have said, photography saved me. I have found something I can control to put my energy into and it makes me genuinely happy. I know that all the mom's that have been nominated are deserving of this break, and I just want to thank you for giving me the chance and maybe the motivation to get this out of my head. I have been struggling with whether or not to nominate myself for the running on empty spot all week. Here we are down to the wire and even as I type this I am still not sure I will hit submit. There is no doubt that this is a perfect description of my life lately, but for reasons that it is not easy to share. I have always wanted a family and when my husband and I had our son the joy I felt was more than I could have ever imagined. Sometime in his first or second year things started to go wrong. My husband who is a doting and attentive father began to suffer from anxiety, panic attacks and uncontrollable depression. I was still in the throws of sleep deprivation that goes along with young kids and being a first time parent and full time working mom I almost didn’t notice what was happening at first. Things continued to get worse and medications weren’t helping until I came home one night and called to my husband and got no response. I found him lying on the bathroom floor, barely conscious with empty pill bottles scattered around him. My world was collapsing and this was just the beginning. He was admitted to the hospital and a treatment program for what they called dual diagnosis, for people with a combination of substance abuse and mental illness. The first time I got to visit him he told me they said the recovery rate of patients like him was 7%. 7% has stuck in my brain ever since. I was determined that he would be in that 7%. I was not going to let my son grow up without a father, as my husband had. This is the part where I started to get tired. I began to spend all my energy trying to control an uncontrollable situation. I was holding on so tight to my family, hoping that if I could just be the strong one and do everything and be there for my son, while my husband got better we would be ok. The problem was I had lost my husband, my support, my encouragement and there was no one there when I needed help. I was constantly worried about the effect all of this was having on our son and I tried to shelter him as best I could, at times I thought I might literally break from the stress. About a year ago things started to look up. My husband was offered a job, a job that he really wanted and I knew he would excel at, it seemed like the perfect thing for him. The only problem was it was in Seattle (we were currently living in San Diego). I wanted to save my family, so I took a leap of faith and quit a job that I loved and followed my husband to Seattle, hoping that I would find something and maybe it would be a fresh start for us. I did find a new job and again it seemed like maybe finally things were going to start going our way, but mental illness and addiction have plagued us here just as they did there and I have since realized there are no quick fixes, but I have not given up. There was something good that came from the move, I joined a mom’s photography group. We meet once a month and it was the first time that I had done something entirely for myself since all this began. Just like many others have said, photography saved me. I have found something I can control to put my energy into and it makes me genuinely happy. I know that all the mom’s that have been nominated are deserving of this break, and I just want to thank you for giving me the chance and maybe the motivation to get this out of my head.

]]> By: Chelsea Pickslay http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219920 Chelsea Pickslay Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:20:27 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219920 There are so many wonderful and inspiring stories posted here that I feel a bit silly nominating myself. I don't have any terrible traumas or hardships in my life right now, but my soul feels empty and drained. I am just a mom struggling to find my own happiness. I get so much joy from my children and their accomplishments and curiousity about the world. But I struggle to find my own joy...my own talents that are rewarding and joyful to me. Taking photos of my family and documenting these precious years in beautiful photographs makes me happy and connects me to my grandfather and father and their love of photography. I have 2 beautiful children: my son who was a Pottery Barn baby of the month with a photo that I took of him (I am very proud of this!) and my lovely, passionate daughter. I worry that I am not being the best parent I can be...I want to show them how to live with passion, even as an adult with bills and responsibilities, but I fear I am not setting a good example. Photography and the arts have always brought me joy and it is my sincerest hope that by learning how to be a better photographer and storyteller for my family, that I can fulfill an emptiness in myself and to better for my children. Like many, many moms, I give all my best efforts to my children and feel that now I am needing something for me. A weekend in Seattle bonding with a supportive and compassionate group of other women while learning a new skill would be a step in the right direction for me. I hope you will consider me for the workshop grant. Thank you. There are so many wonderful and inspiring stories posted here that I feel a bit silly nominating myself. I don’t have any terrible traumas or hardships in my life right now, but my soul feels empty and drained. I am just a mom struggling to find my own happiness. I get so much joy from my children and their accomplishments and curiousity about the world. But I struggle to find my own joy…my own talents that are rewarding and joyful to me.

Taking photos of my family and documenting these precious years in beautiful photographs makes me happy and connects me to my grandfather and father and their love of photography.

I have 2 beautiful children: my son who was a Pottery Barn baby of the month with a photo that I took of him (I am very proud of this!) and my lovely, passionate daughter. I worry that I am not being the best parent I can be…I want to show them how to live with passion, even as an adult with bills and responsibilities, but I fear I am not setting a good example.

Photography and the arts have always brought me joy and it is my sincerest hope that by learning how to be a better photographer and storyteller for my family, that I can fulfill an emptiness in myself and to better for my children. Like many, many moms, I give all my best efforts to my children and feel that now I am needing something for me.

A weekend in Seattle bonding with a supportive and compassionate group of other women while learning a new skill would be a step in the right direction for me. I hope you will consider me for the workshop grant. Thank you.

]]> By: Natalia http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219908 Natalia Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:51:00 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219908 Hello Me Ra, I think most of us are running on empty for a while before we realize it. I'm not running as well as I used to. I worked full time, and juggled the busy schedule of three kids until I got laid off just over a year ago. That was a confidence-killer. Unfortunately my husband was laid off just two months later. He started his own business a couple of months later and now he travels out of state every week (yes, he's running on empty as well). So right now I'm staying home with our 15, 12 and 3 year old. It is time I cherish everyday. But I want to be able to take whatever opportunity I can to start to find myself again and redefine that person, and in doing so I find myself drawn to my camera over and over again. I have always been a story teller. In my former life it was through words and video. Now I want to take my passion for stills and tell other compelling stories through my photography. I have always been the one behind the lens and I'm positive your workshop would be my tipping point as I head out into something that is new and exciting and frankly, terrifying. Thank you for reading. Hello Me Ra,

I think most of us are running on empty for a while before we realize it. I’m not running as well as I used to. I worked full time, and juggled the busy schedule of three kids until I got laid off just over a year ago. That was a confidence-killer. Unfortunately my husband was laid off just two months later. He started his own business a couple of months later and now he travels out of state every week (yes, he’s running on empty as well). So right now I’m staying home with our 15, 12 and 3 year old. It is time I cherish everyday. But I want to be able to take whatever opportunity I can to start to find myself again and redefine that person, and in doing so I find myself drawn to my camera over and over again.

I have always been a story teller. In my former life it was through words and video. Now I want to take my passion for stills and tell other compelling stories through my photography. I have always been the one behind the lens and I’m positive your workshop would be my tipping point as I head out into something that is new and exciting and frankly, terrifying.
Thank you for reading.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219902 Jennifer Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:05:05 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219902 Hi, my name is Jennifer and I would like to nominate one of my best friends, Natalie Teabo, to win your contest. She’s a passionate, hilarious, deeply caring and creative mom of three. Two natural boys, one supernatural(adopted)girl and soon to be mom of two more supernatural kiddos coming in the spring from Ghana! Natalie and I have often joked that when we grew up we would want to be photographers. This past New Years she put it on her bucket list and her wonderful husband bought her an amazing camera for Mother’s Day. She hasn’t stopped snapping pictures since! I have many beautiful and creative photos of my children now and I can see her passion and talent growing. This class would be a wonderful weekend away learing about her passion and would be a great break from the chaos and worries that we call the adoption process. It would be such an incredible opportunity for her to learn more about photography before she travels to Africa again. The pictures that she will be taking won’t be just for practice and fun, they will forever be, for her new son and daughter, a remembrance of the home where they were born and once knew. It will keep the memories alive for them, and that is one of the most important things she could give to her adopted children. Idenity and memories:O) I believe that Natalie is so deserving of this and I hope that you will consider her for your class. Thank you so much for this opportunity to nominate my friend!! Sincererly, Jennifer Heckert Natalies address is: teabo5@comcast.net and mine is: wjheckert@hotmail.com Hi, my name is Jennifer and I would like to nominate one of my best friends, Natalie Teabo, to win your contest. She’s a passionate, hilarious, deeply caring and creative mom of three. Two natural boys, one supernatural(adopted)girl and soon to be mom of two more supernatural kiddos coming in the spring from Ghana!
Natalie and I have often joked that when we grew up we would want to be photographers. This past New Years she put it on her bucket list and her wonderful husband bought her an amazing camera for Mother’s Day. She hasn’t stopped snapping pictures since! I have many beautiful and creative photos of my children now and I can see her passion and talent growing.
This class would be a wonderful weekend away learing about her passion and would be a great break from the chaos and worries that we call the adoption process. It would be such an incredible opportunity for her to learn more about photography before she travels to Africa again. The pictures that she will be taking won’t be just for practice and fun, they will forever be, for her new son and daughter, a remembrance of the home where they were born and once knew. It will keep the memories alive for them, and that is one of the most important things she could give to her adopted children. Idenity and memories:O)
I believe that Natalie is so deserving of this and I hope that you will consider her for your class. Thank you so much for this opportunity to nominate my friend!!
Sincererly,
Jennifer Heckert

Natalies address is: teabo5@comcast.net
and mine is: wjheckert@hotmail.com

]]> By: Natalie Teabo http://www.merakoh.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-219900 Natalie Teabo Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:51:11 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/11/03/give-her-an-unexpected-gift-today-and-nominate-her-for-the-seattle-confidence-photography-workshop/#comment-219900 Me Ra, I posted previously to nominate myself, but wanted to add something. I have noticed that you have Soulumination on your site. Lynette Johnson took photos of my angel baby I am a soul mom. Thank you for sharing her site here. My hopes is that if I do get choosen (fingers crossed:) that I can give back to soulumination and take photos for families. We treasure these photos with our whole heart! Hugs, Nat Me Ra,
I posted previously to nominate myself, but wanted to add something. I have noticed that you have Soulumination on your site. Lynette Johnson took photos of my angel baby I am a soul mom. Thank you for sharing her site here. My hopes is that if I do get choosen (fingers crossed:) that I can give back to soulumination and take photos for families. We treasure these photos with our whole heart!
Hugs,
Nat

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