It is amazing the number of friends and supporters that have gathered around this project. Today I heard from Timothy's aunt in Viriginia. She held a private fundraiser in honor of Timothy and will soon send money that we will use to work with more families. I feel blessed to do this work knowing that one wonderful baby generated enough love and care that we now have the funds to provide service to more deserving families. Timothy will be featured on the cover of the AMAPediatric Archive Journal on November 7th. This young Tay Sachs child now has a baby brother....I have now worded with three Tay Sachs children, starting with Joey Wes over 10 years ago, then Timothy in Tulsa and Elise in New Jersey. This path is never easy but the grace of the babies carries me forward.

We are getting ready to mail the invitations to the show at St Marks Cathedral......your attendance of this showing will honor the parents and add to the legacy of those children who are part of this collection. The show opens Sunday, October 30 at 2:00pm and runs through the month of November.

I was reminded today by one of my brides who is now a mother of two fabulous boys, that she remembered me saying that I wanted to take my work to a new level, to show my daughters that women at 50 have more to offer and the power and foresight to grow, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be at the head of a foundation with such strength and meaning, that I would have a new studio and home to allow me the freedom to shoot through the grey and rainy Seattle weather and that I would have a blog that allowed me to share the work of this project with the nation. I humbly thank you for your support and I ask you to keep the babies in your hearts. In peace, Lynette

Tonight I visited Children's Hospital and it never fails to amaze me that the nurses and doctors there really work so hard to offer the best of care, complete and amazing kindness and skill that is a pleasure to watch. The parents tonight remind me that each time I visit a family with a child who is ill that there is always hope and with this couple the love and compassion flow so beautifully. I am honored to offer them this little gift of photos and their daughter a record of how it is at this time. It seems the parents always give me so much more than I offer them. As I dropped the film off for developing I sent it down the drop slot with a special wish and prayer that I have captured the essence of the love and beauty in the room. This child and every child so lovely and so loved. I hope for a night's sleep filled with the sweetness that was in that room.......I will think of those young nurses and how they do their best to offer the ultimate in good care....When I speak at future fund raisers for the hospital this night will serve as the basis for my speech......with love and in peace, Lynette

The passing of 9/11 is a time for me that records the loss of my friend's son Janus, now 21 years ago....He is one of the two babies that my work is dedicated to. I never met this baby but his life and passing is etched so clearly in my mind that he is a part of me.......It is amazing to think that much time has gone by and now I have this foundation that is growing and becomming a force in this nation......In the past few days I have been receiving emails from Connecticut and the midwest saying they say an article in their local paper, I am amazed as I had no idea that the article from the Times would reach other newspapers----at least that is the article I imagine to be showing up across the country. Daily I am still receiving offers to help from the airing by the Today show.

We are currently in the middle of our move to the new studio/office in Ballard.....We are on the corner of 52nd and 11th Avenure NW---you won't miss it.....our address will be 5201 11th Avenue NW Seattle 98107.....Todays photo shows my hero husband and daughter who have been amazing in creating this space and moving us without mishap......Doug's entire crew and subs have been outstanding.......I feel so blessed to be moving to a place so wonderful.....We will be in by September 24th, just days from now. In setting up the phone service to be moved, I called our carrier and talked to a man in Denver, I told him I needed a new line for the foundation and he asked what the foundation was about, to my amazement when I explained the mission of Soulumination, he replied that he knew me from recent publicity. Its not something that I would have thought possible 4 years ago when I started this work, infact to this day the story is not about me, its about the families of Soulumination, but I will do my best to be the vehicle through which the story of the children is told with honor and dignity.

This past week a number of my clients have shared stories from their lives that are related to this project. I am honored to hear about their past and present journeys and I can tell you that these people are so strong and so inspiring to me that I feel blessed to know them. Their stories will help carry me through the times when I need to be reminded that even though the work can be so emotional for me, its still small compared to the daily burden carried by these parents. Lastly, I am keeping two friends who I met through my work in my thoughts and prayers as they journey toward health, I love to think of the fun times I have had recording their children. Rich and Muff you are well loved.

In peace and love, Lynette

I feel that tonight my life changed once again......this morning I answered a phone call from a women whose friend's baby would be a lovely candidate for some Soulumination photos, we arranged some time next week and I went off to my daily shoots.....later in the day I had a few minutes between shoots and checked the messages to discover that the family might need me tonight......with quick arrangements we agreed that my wonderful new friend and board member, Pat Kern would drive me to Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma to work with this beautiful baby girl. I arrived to find that it was indeed close to time to remove the vent and the family wanted some photos of their little baby without tubes and tape covering her beautiful face. I stayed and was present for this life changing moment.....my heart is breaking for this family, but I am thankful that they trusted me to be with them. They allowed me to record the hardest moment life can deal....and now to sort through this loss and find the way to move forward, to continue work that has become so close to my soul that I can never turn my back on the demands that are humbling, uplifting, sorrowful and soulful.

With the move so close I have not been able to visit my meditation class and the young nun who has filled with me with so many wonderful and simple pieces of wisdom......I long to return to that hour of peace and hope that in the next few weeks I will have the time to make that a priority.

I am thankful to the Seattle Times for the lovely article they ran yesterday on Soulumination. We are so blessed that the media has embraced this work.......We are also blessed by having Corbis join us with support for the show and have hopes that Costco may join us in the future......With all that is happening the funding is very important so that we can honor every request, mount a show that will change the face of grief and loss in our city and hopefully across the country, and move toward a documentary and an educational component as I start speaking for Children's Hospital Fundraisers next month......I have a group of supporters, volunteers, board members and powerful friends that are rallying to make this work something that we can be proud of now and in the future.

My heart is with my father tonight as he celebrates his birthday, with the family in Tacoma, and with the people of the gulf region as they try to find a way to put their lives together. Peace and Love, Lynette

I am in the middle of a busy wedding weekend, but was so happy to arrive home to find the signed releases for photos of a new Soul baby. His name is Judah and he is at home with his family just North of Seattle. It was a warm and high overcast day when I met Judah which allowed us to shoot outdoors with lovely lighting. I am honored to share this beautiful baby with you all.
It is very busy with our move coming up very soon, less than 3 weeks now. I will be so excited to welcome my family, friends and clients to such a wonderful new space. I am a lucky woman to have such a devoted husband putting it all together. I am blessed with amazing clients, one of which has offered to do the legal work pro bono to get our name safely trademarked. I am so thankful for this generous offer. I hope this finds you all enjoying the long weekend. Peace and prayers to those in the hurricane zone, Lynette