We are safely home and refreshed after a week with our wonderful daughters in Mexico. Our youngest was joined by Ray who flew from Pennsylvania to be with us. This is the third time we have had the pleasure of having Ray with us on this yearly trip and he fits into the scene perfectly. I must say I did nothing on the trip but eat and read and play with some art projects. A very nice client friend of mine and her family just happened to be staying at the same resort. She has taken a course in nonprofit work and it was great to chat with her about strategy for Soulumination.

We took the show down today at St Marks and brought it here to the studio for storage until I show 10 pieces at a Children's Hospital fundraiser on the 5th and then onto the show at Glazers after the first of the year. It was a bit sad to dismantle as the power was so obvious in that space. As I came to the photos of Charlotte, there was a note from her mom tucked next to them. I am always amazed and thrilled by the love showered on me by such incredible people.

We all agreed that working with Heather at St Marks was such a pleasure. She was professional, but loving and fun and we couldn't have asked for more. She told us that throughtout the show they got calls from individuals and groups about hours of viewing. Truly the notes left in the guest book thrilled me. Standing in that beautiful space of St Marks I must admit that I felt blessed and moved and honored to share these children and my little project with such a community. From the bottom of my heart I thank all that were involved with this show and I know that it was the start of a beautiful relationship with St Marks and the perfect launching ground for the Collection.

I am posting a photo of a new tattoo that one of the Soul dad's had artfully added to his life. I met the beautiful Elise and her family when I was on the East Coast working with the Today show. John flew to Florida to work with a special tattoo artist that specializes in portraits. He and the artist may be featured on TLC show Miami Ink. I am touched and moved as this is the second Soul dad to have a tattoo of one of my photos.

This Friday I meet and work with a new child to Soulumination. She and her mom are driving up from Vancouver, so pray for safe roads and a lovely drive for these two. I can tell by the mother's comments that these two are special indeed and that once again I will have the pleasure of watching love in action. Please also keep Channon and her family in your heart. She will be back at Children's to have another tumor removed and will be there over her first birthday. Lets all have the kind of faith that will move her through this will courage and love. I am honored to be working with another Soul mom who lost twins and who is now writing powerful words which give me such a clear prospective on how it is to live with such loss. Dearest Lori, if you read this I want you to know that your talent in sharing your heart is so immense.

As we enter this holiday season I feel the presence of the angel babies in my soul, those with us and those now literally angels all guide this project with power and honor, in love and peace, Lynette

During this week of Thanksgiving, we thought it would be nice for us to share some of the words of encouragement and thanks that we received in the guest book at St. Mark's Cathedral regarding the Soulumination Collection. We feel so thankful to be supported by so many people's kind and beautiful words.

We hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by loved ones...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ I work at Children's Hospital and see many children who are loved, cherished, and adored by their loving parents. Your approach and mission is a very special gift to parents facing a life filled with struggle, challenges, and pushing the limits and boundaries of unconditional love. Keep up the good work!

~ Thank you for everything you do. We now have everlasting memories of our nephew...

~ Beautiful souls, each and every one!

~ This project moves on wings of its own - Thank you for giving us the chance to share these photos with you.

~ Thank you, Lynette and St. Mark's for sharing a little more about the sanctity, joy, grief, sadness, hope... that is LIFE.

~ Very grateful for your images, they stir my soul and awaken my spirit. Thank you.

~ I rarely cry. Thanks for the tissues.

~ Your photos remind us that one can look for beauty even in the midst of pain.

~ A wonderful poignant mission... so powerful... so necessary. Thank you for your artistic work in helping us all to feel love and heal pain.

~ Seeing the collection, as a whole, in this holy place is breath-taking. The showing has a power beyond the pictures. Best to you on your mission.

~ Again, thank you for the priceless gift of "memories"...

~ At whatever age we reach, we are, by the laws of nature, divine nature, children, someone's child. Let us all choose to faithfully live, whatever time we have, in justice and love. Thank you to the parents, artist, and this faith community for this reminder.

~ What an amazing spirit you're sharing where it is needed so desperately!

~ This is a moving meditation that makes me realize what is valuable.

~ Simply, thank you.

Lynette is in Mexico with her family this week. We hope that she is recharging and relaxing, absorbing every second with her precious daughters and husband. We felt that Rev. Janet Campbell's words were so beautiful when she spoke at the Soulumination Collection Opening. We wanted to share them.


SOULUMINATION OPENING
Remarks by
The Rev. Janet Campbell, Director of Liturgy and the Arts,
Saint Mark’s Cathedral
Sunday, October 30, 2005


I’ve eagerly awaited this day
since I first saw a newspaper article
about the compassionate ministry of Lynette Johnson
months and months ago.

Hers is exactly the kind of work
for which
the Arts at Saint Mark’s
seeks to provide a public forum –

art that opens a window for us
into the sacred mysteries of
what it means to be human beings,
children of God,
living and loving in this world.

Lynette and these children
and their families
have much to reveal to us
about birth,
and life,
and death,
and love,
and the very ephemeral nature
of our being.

It is appropriate that
these children
have come to dwell
in this sacred space
this November.

As the natural world around us
flames forth with Autumn’s glory
only to die
into the quiet grays and browns of winter,
the worship of the Christian community
brings us face to face
with the last things –
our mortality,
the fragility, the uncertainty of life,
the inevitability of death,
early or late,
and the certainty of God’s love for us,
and our love for one another,
which,
through God’s mercy,
transcends this life.

November begins with
All Saints Day,
when we remember the Saints with a capital “S”
whose ways of following Jesus Christ
we celebrate
and seek to imitate in our own lives . . .

and All Souls Day,
when we remember the saints with a small “s”,
the ordinary, everyday saints
from our own lives,
whom we celebrate and love and
whose passing we grieve.

In November,
we build an altar of remembrance
in our worship space,
and adorn it with the faces
of the Capital “S” and the small “s” saints.

This November,
these children and their families,
our sisters and brothers in God’s love,
saints with a small “s,”
have come among us,
our guests,
to share with us
the secrets they have learned
through the joys and sorrows they have known.
Still,
knowing all this,
I couldn’t have guessed the impact
on my heart
of these faces,
these children,
when I walked into the cathedral
early this morning
and saw them for the first time.

Each child –
precious,
loved,
honored,
remembered,
some already gathered into the heart of God –
all speaking to us
of the infinite value of every life
in God’s eyes.

“Children search the eyes of grownups,”
author and educator Jonathan Kozol
said this morning
in his sermon.

I found my eyes being searched
by the eyes of these children
as I made the acquaintance of each one this morning.

“I am who I am,”
each seemed to say,
“a mystery and a miracle of human creation
and God’s imagination.”

Lynette Johnson
has braved our fear of death
and entered into a sorrow that didn’t have to be her own,
in order to honor these children,
and give to their families and now to us
the gift of joy in their very being.

She and these children
and their families
invite us to brave our own fears
and rejoice in the gift of life
and the strength, the endurance
of love.

Welcome, Lynette.
Welcome, dear children
and mothers and fathers,
sisters and brothers.

And thank you!

Today we received the releases for our new Soul baby, Claire and I wanted to share this amazing baby with all of you. Claire was born in April and 6 weeks later was taken to Children's Hospital, Intensive care unit where eventually she was diagnosed with a rare condition called Diamond-Blackfan Anemia. She is receiving wonderful care and love both at home and through the devoted and talented staff at Children's. She is in stable condition and and has options for great treatment ahead.
As I follow this path I continue to be amazed at the number of purely good and selfless parents that I have had the pleasure of meeting. They inspire me to be a better parent and to lead this foundation into ever greated goals and standards.
While I am in Mexico my assistants will be posting more photos from the Soulumination Collection opening and the speech that was given by the Rev. Janet Campbell as well as some of the remarks from the guest book. Closing with wishes for a loving and peaceful Thanksgiving, Lynette

I am very happy to say that we have lovely photos to deliver to the hematology department at Children's Hospital tomorrow where our newest Soul baby is having her transfusion. I am hopeful that the photos and the gift of a pretty album that was handmade by loving volunteers will brighten the day of one amazing mom. I will post photos of this dear baby as soon as the mail arrives with the releases.

I am leaving for Mexico this coming Saturday for a week with my dear husband and most lovely daughters. We will be joined by long time friend Ray Curanzy who is a never ending supply of fun and laughter. This time will be even more sacred as I will take time to think back over the amazing events of this year. It is hard to grasp all that has happened and how my life is so full of love and support.

When I return I hope to work with 3 new Soul families, one with three children, the youngest one fighting leukemia and the whole family dealing with being homeless. I just heard last night about a girl of 8 that I would love to meet and capture on film, I hopefully will hear soon from her mom so we can set up a time. We wait for Timothy to get well enough to return home to Arlington from a long stay at Chilren's Hospital so I can capture him with his beautiful sister. Keep all of these families in your hearts over Thanksgiving as its a time to truly count the blessings that surround us so completely. Two of the Soul children are due to come back for updates in their photos, it is such an honor and joy to see them continue to grow and live so joyfully.

I must take a minute to again thank my amazing board......these 5 people give tirelessly, I often worry that they will grow too weary to continue, but hope that the work fills them in some way that will allow them to stay with me. Their talents are varied and their minds so sharp. With Thanksgiving approaching I salute them and I am tearfully thinking of them as I type and often wonder at their goodness and marvel at their abilities.

My hat is off to the women of Stratagem who so bravely entered into this very new foundation and after hours of work came back to us with so many ideas, so much hopeful planning for our future steps. It is amazing to see this project through their eyes. I stand in awe at the fact that they see the Soulumination Collection as traveling to DC to hang someday in the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian. I again tear up as I think of the future and the children that will be in front of my lens and what it would mean to these families to consider such a showing. The women of Stratagem do not see this as out of the scope of this project, so I will take their lead and will trust that someone will read this blog or see the show or hear about the work that will take this to such a place. . I close today with a quote that opened the booklet that Stratagem provided for us:

"Nothing is ever wholly lost. That which is excellent remains forever part of this universe." Ralph Waldo Emerson

as always, in love and peace, Lynette

Yesterday I visited a new Soul family on the East side and my good friend Kris Travaglini was kind enough to drive me there and back. By now it doesn't really surprise me that this new family is beautiful and loving and so full of life and hope. They have some good options for treatment for this stunning redhead who suffers from Blackfan Diamond Anemia. This little girl has eyes that are brown and big and full of depth, truly a lovely baby. She has two older brothers who are delighted to be with her and who sport those mischevious freckles that melt my heart. It was such a sunny day and their strength and goodness came shining through like that November sun. I am thankful that they invited me into such a place of love.

Today I chatted with my friend Heather who owns Zanadia in Wallingford Center. Heather and Nabil have been great friends and supporters since I first started photographing. She told me something so touching about her feelings about being at the opening on November first. She felt it was like when she and her husband and girls were travelling to the East Coast to settle the twins into college. It was right after 911 and Heather said she had never incountered such kindness from strangers again until she came to St Marks. She felt it a room full of people opening to each other with love and compassion. The attached photos are by my friend Jeremy and were taken at the opening.

Each day we receive emails and cards about the show. I am so thankful for your support. Again, I am humbled by your generous donations and promise to use them to serve each family that we work with to the best of my ability. To the Fran Nordstrom Guild, my sincere thanks for allowing me to tell the story of Soulumination in such a wonderful venue. I am delighted by the fact that your attendees were so very generous to Childrens Hospital. A number of the guests have written to show their appreciation for all that the Soul families are handling in their lives. I close tonight as always, in love and peace, Lynette


"If because of your generosity and love
a few humans find your lives, what do you think will happen?" Rumi

Yesterday I received the sad message that we lost our angel baby Judah. His condition meant he could not survive long term, but with his parents loving care at home he was with them many weeks longer that the doctors had predicted. He was with us at the show at St Marks and I am so touched by that fact and his presence more touching than words can say. I am posting his photo along with two of his brother, Caleb, his dad and I that Kurt took at the opening.

Last nights speech went well indeed and I am pleased to say they raised $100K for uncompensated care at Children's Hospital. People were so respectful during the slide show, many moved to tears by the images of such beautiful children. The guild is made up of wonderful women who have raised over 2 million dollars in their 20 years of existence.

Its a busy day today so I am off to start my day the usual way on the bike. Please pray for Judah's family, their faith very strong indeed and I know they would love to know that prayers were being said honoring Judah's life. In peace and Love, Lynette

Getting set to ride that crazy excersize bike, my daily workout to try to insure that I will be working in photography for many more years. Doug and I went to Starbucks this morning and we were talking about how incredibly generous Starbucks was with their involvement with the opening at St Marks. I am touched by their care and commitment to our community.

Todays photos are by Kurt Smith and I am so thankful for his amazing work. Will have more of his and Jeremy's on the site soon, just need to get them scanned and organized. Both men truly captured the emotion of the day. It is delightful to see Channon with hair, to see Francisco's amazing smile and the lovely faces of great friends Babs and Megan who are such wonderful people in Sydney's life.

Tonight I speak at the Fran Norstrom Guild fundraiser for Children's Hospital and I have been trying to put into words the feelings that I have for the work of the hospital. My sister and I were both patients at Children's so with that in mind and the fact that this is where the work of Soulumination started and that I was a member of this guild, I am sure my emotions will be running high again. Its hard to feel calm these days when so much is happening, so I am hopeful that soon I will return to the sanctuary of the meditation classes that I miss so much.

My heart is with the family of Janus Reijnen as they are all heading to California for the memorial for Derek's sister. This inspiring woman was murdered and it is just so difficult for all and especially for her daughters. Keep them in your hearts and prayers as she was a light and guiding force for so many young people.

As always, in love and peace, Lynette

Its hard to sleep with all that is on my mind, so for today I will just give it up and start the day before the sunrise. I can hardly wait until 10 am when Wallingford Photo opens and we can pick up the work that is waiting for Soulumination that was taken at the opening on Sunday by one of the finest photographers and friends I will ever know, Kurt Smith. The photos that are shown here today and yesterday are by the talented Jeremy Leffel, another friend of the first degree and a rising star of great talent and heart. I can't thank them enough for sharing their talent and their goodness with Soulumination.

I was back at St Marks last night with a group of Soul supporters, we were hosted by Malone family and started the evening in their amazing home that is near the cathedral. It was powerful to walk quietly through the photos with a small group of people that are willing to lend support to this foundation. Most of the guests were long term friends and clients and I am so thankful for their generosity and wisdom. Their guidance will lead us to a strong and far reaching organization. Heather and Janet of St Marks were there to greet us and told me as we departed that St Marks will be hosting 700 members of the Episcopal church from across the United States in 2 weeks. It will be amazing to have the babies of Soulumination part of such a conference. I thank Colette and Erich Behrens for their presence and for sharing their thoughts about their beautiful and spirited daughter, Emily.

I spent some time writing thank you notes yesterday to some of the people who so generously gave to make the opening a success: specifically-- Tom Douglas Catering, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes, the Total Experiance Youth Gospel Choir, Butler Valet, Zopfi Production, Solomon Event Planning and Maxine's. Each giving from their talent in such a heartfelt way. I thank you and I hope you all know that you honor the families and the work of this foundation in way that will not be forgotten. In the crowd at St Marks were my friends from Wallingford Photo who have been intimately involved with my work since I started shooting and have printed much of my work that is a gift to each family of Soulumination. They are a group of people that have treated me with respect and dedication throughout the project, from the day I took the first shot at Children's to today.

I close as always with a full heart and in peace and love, Lynette

The magic and power of the show opening leaves me breathless and so thankful to all who made it possible. The entire day was one of love and mystery. You could feel that space in St Marks filling with love and compassion as hundreds of people came to honor the Soul children and their families. The music, the faces, the energy was moving, both sorrow and joy, tears and laughter, the essence of humanity in that space and in that time.

To each of you who made this possible I thank you from the depth of my soul. I honor you and am humbled by your dedication. To see the faces as I spoke, to have my daughters by my side, to look out and see the smiling face of my husband was to know that I was in a place of holiness and grace.

The work of Soulumination moves forward with new energy and new hope. I think that day will stand out in the minds of all who have participated as a time when we came to know that the mission is one that will endure beyond our years.

To see little Emily sporting red curls, Channon with a full head of glorious hair, baby Katie so beautifully reminiscent of her brother Benny, little McKenna so sweetly reminding me of her kissing Hannah Rose for the last time, Franciso telling his story to an eager crowd, Ellie Jo with her radiant smile, holding Brandon in my arms and feeling his warmth, to kneel by Charlotte and know she is taken care of with an energy that is purely goodness itself, to see little Judah with his family and know that they have provided the most loving atmosphere for this tiny being, and then to remember that Elise and Timothy are home across the country was in itself a blessing beyond my desires. The souls of Joey, Janus,Lanie, Adam, Benny, Derek,Josiah, Serena Joy, Tanner, and the children I worked with before it became part of the public awareness, so present in my heart and in the faces of their adoring parents. The faces of Babs, Maryann, and Megan there to honor Sydney who is now a favorite friend of mine and who I pray will have many love filled times ahead, all reminding me that this path is never going to be easy but it is always clear that the way will be marked with love and hope and memories.

I hope to write a bit each day this week to thank those who worked to fill this space with love and caring, in peace and hope, Lynette