This morning I am sharing some more photos of dear Conner. His memorial service was the day before yesterday and I wanted to share this amazing face with all of you once again.
Last night was my night to take my staff out to dinner and we combined Soulumination and business staff for a fun and loud evening out at a Ballard restaurant that is really a find and a favorite for Doug and myself---Senor Moose Cafe. It has better Mexican food than most places we have tried in Puerto Vallarta. Its small and unique and not been fully discovered, prices very fair and service is excellent. I must say I have the best staff, they are not only great workers but they are really some of my best friends. I am one lucky woman.
There seems to be a misunderstanding that the Artist Sale is this weekend. Its not until the 9th and 10th so be sure you have the correct dates. I met another of the artists yesterday, Patti Shaw. She is such a talented woman and her pieces for the show are small handpainted portraits on lavender pillows. They are truly special. My good friend Sidni has completed many of Sydney Coxon's doggie cards and this Saturday Sydney's mom and 2 great friends will be over to work on more. They really are charming cards and over time we will also offer them for sale on the website.
Our good friend, Alex Mercier is working to expand Husky Nation support into the U's basketball program. If you have any connections there at all please put a good word in for Soulumination as we would love to produce a tee shirt to sell and need support of the current sports.
Our board member, Kelley dropped by yesterday and brought cupcakes. We always love to see her and I am so thankful for the support and guidance of my wonderful board members. On Tuesday I have the privilege of speaking to the Mercer Island Rotary. Its always an honor to share some of the stories of our amazing Soul children.
Those of you who know me realize that relaxation is something that often escapes me as I can't seem to stop moving ahead in many directions. But on Tuesday I had the most amazing facial by a young woman who really reminded me of myself when I started my photography business. She loves her work and she doesn't have a listed phone number and she doesn't advertise. She salon is in a loft above my hair salon in Wallingford. She calls it Tangerine and its in the loft at Salon Metro at 1714 N. 45th. Her name is Katie and her number is 206-790-3846. She does a great job and I highly recommend the 90 minute facial. I thank her for helping me step outside the hustle of this crazy whirlwind and just spend time without a care.
I am also sharing today a photo of my little friend Victor. He lives in Ballard and will soon be shown on the gallery. If we move forward with the Huskies, he has agreed to come and meet some players and share his story. I look forward to seeing him again. His parents are such great people and its nice to have new friends here in the neighborhood. I close as always, in love and peace, Lynette

I have waited a couple of days to share the sad news that Conner passed away. I found out early the next morning after returning from Mexico and dreaded sharing such a sorrowful blog when I didn't have my own computer to feel comfortable when writing. His memorial service is tomorrow and our dear friend Sarah Mattingly will most likely be attending. I met Conner and his family when back in Washington DC for the opening of the show. Sarah was kind enough to drive me to the shoot when Kelley was unavailable. Sarah has connected with this family and spent time photographing him a few days before his passing. She set up her studio lights in their home and let his mom work with her camera also.
Conner is our third Soul child to pass away from the ravages of Tay Sachs disease. He was born in January of 2005 which makes him our youngest victim of this tragic disease. His parents have been amazing supporters of our foundation, sending us donations that they raised through Conner's Way Foundation. We all join them in mourning this beautiful baby who brought love and light into our lives. You can see from the photos that I will post as soon as I have my own computer back,that is his such an angel. His face just stunningly lovely to look at and his whole demeanor one of grace.

We are working hard to make the art show a success. We are hopeful that with a good turnout we can concentrate our efforts even more fully on the families and not have worries about funding. Our good friend and Soul mom Cathy Off is working on writing a grant for . We are so thankful to all who have donated to make this work possible. I am especially touched by the donations that come in memory of one of our beloved children. It touched my heart to see that a grandma in Alaska had sent a donation thru Paypal on Thanksgiving Day. When I saw her name it took me right back to the time I had with her granddaughter at Children's Hospital and it filled me with such a soulful feeling as that baby was loved and honored by so many adoring family members.
I close thinking about Conner and his family and hope you all will keep them in your hearts and that you will take a minute to visit the Tay Sachs web site and learn how to be tested for this disease and how we can make strides toward eliminating this genetic nightmare.
In love and peace, Lynette

We just arrived home from Mexico and I must say it was great to have family time in the sun and also it feels so good to pull up to our place here in Ballard and start the holiday season right here at home. While I was gone I checked messages a number of times and was thrilled to hear that our own favorite Husky football player, Alex Mercier won a community service award for his work with Soulumination and the Husky Nation Project. I am very proud of him and also heard that 'our' Huskies did an outstanding job in the hard fought Apple Cup victory. You can see him here with a smile on his face as he lifts Courtney's sister in the air.

I was working on my own art projects for the show while we were away. I am looking forward to this coming Saturday when I welcome Sydney Coxon's mom and good friends to my studio to work on the notecards that will be part of the show.

I am working from a PC while my Mac is in for a tune up and I am finding that I am a bit lost without my own files...so I am struggling to post photos of dear Courtney with her new friends of Husky fame and her sisters,I finally accomplished this feat, but heck its hard to teach an old dog new tricks. On the top photo you will see our friend JR in the upper middle, he worked so hard selling discs for us over the course of 3 days that I tip my hat to this outstanding young man.

Things look great here in the office as we finally rented a storage space for the lovely prints of the Soulumination collection. There are now stowed in an orderly fasion and we will be able to gather them as needed quickly and efficiently for future shows.

Our friend EJ is being considered as another candidate for a segment on Miami Ink. He is Taryn's father and originally saw the work of Soulumination on Miami Ink and contacted us about portraits. I am hoping he will be chosen as he is such a caring dad and special person that we would be honored if he shared our story. I can't tell you how often clients tell me that they saw the Miami Ink segment of Elise's dad getting his tattoo.

There is much to be done but all is well. Keep Conner and Charlotte in your hearts, things have been tough for these two little ones and their families love to feel the support and caring. We hope to see you all here in Ballard for the art show and sale weekend after next. Both of my daughters will be home during this event so I am extra thrilled with how things are shaping up. In love and peace, Lynette

I received a lovely message from little Trevor's mom about how much the bracelet we gave her means after his passing. I was very touched and am glad the new jewelry gifts are arriving tomorrow. I am posting another shot of dear Trevor, honoring the grace his family brought to my world (unfortunately, I can't always understand the world of blogging, so you must click the question mark to view the photo). Little Blake's mom is working hard at finding a way to create bracelets in the future. She is such a wonderful woman, and Blake's legacy grows as she reaches out to other moms by her efforts to create something so timely.
I am posting one of the latest photos of dear Emily. I think you will see the spunk in this little girl; it is such a joy for me as she moves ahead and is now talking and sharing her delightful sense of humor in many unique ways. Emily is a beacon of light, and she and many others offer that ray of sun and hopefulness that is so important.
I hope to have the photos of Isaiah Stanback with my friend Courtney and her sisters to share before we leave for Mexico. Courtney has never posed so still for a camera in the years I have worked with her. One could tell she liked the three young men that surrounded her and there was this little smug way she had. She seemed to feel the warmth of the situation and how special it was that she was able to bring her little sisters to meet these talented athletes. Both sisters left with signatures on their arms to show their friends at school.
Yesterday was full of client shoots that had such treasured moments. I am so blessed to know so many wonderful families and from morning until evening I had the pleasure of recording young people that I have watched grow into the most marvelous teenagers. It was so amazing to see my former bride and friend, Jennifer, pick up the photos of her now week-old baby girl who is just so darned beautiful and so like her older sister who passed away just days after birth. To share time with amazing people and have them return year after year is such a reward in this career. Thank you to all who have added to my memories while I help capture theirs.
I am posting today a photo of a little
duck that is created by one of my(again the question mark)

best friends, Michael Peterson. We will be selling his charming creations at the sale on the 9th and 10th. I am so excited that I will be able to work with Sydney's mom and friends to assemble the cards for the show that feature Sydney's creative efforts with her pup.

Thank you to my good friends Sidni, Tammara, and Lori for their help this week. Christine has been putting in such an amazing effort as our administrator and we are hopeful of finding some capable interns from the UW to lighten the load of the work with the Husky Nation Project as well as the Art Sale. Christine is a gem and has helped us move forward in so many ways.
I close as always, in love and peace, Lynette

I don't usually write so frequently but I wanted to share that we lost our little pal Trevor early this morning. I will post a photo of the dear boy. He was born with Zellweger Syndrome and lived 7 months and 7 days, passing peacefully by his parents' side.
I was most impressed with the way this lovely family integrated the challenges they were faced with into their daily lives. They lived fully in the moment and allowed Trevor every experience and all the dignity any child could ask for. I salute them and am thankful for having met them. They now live in the midwest, but I hope someday to see them again.
I am also posting two photos of my

little friend Brielle from her recent photo shoot at my studio. Brielle is Blake's sister and happens to be Mayan like our dear Francisco. While I was doing her shoot, my friend Dan Wilson stopped by to pick up his family photos, which was so great since his son Abe is Mayan and the Wilsons had became great friends of Francisco. We were showing Dan the photo of Blake and Brielle that is now part of the Soulumination Collection when Brielle came over and kissed her brother's photo. I quickly picked up my camera and we took her out to some nice light and she proceeded to hug and kiss her recently departed sibling in that photograph. It was quite a moment for all of us.
Those of you who know me realize that I can be a bit exhuberant, and when Dan shared with us that he and his entire family are going to work at an orphanage in Guatemala in the spring, I suggested they go visit Francisco's family in their village outside of Guatemala City. So true to her nature, Annie Wilson is excited about the idea and we are busily connecting them with people who know Francisco's family, so they are hopefully going to make this all happen. I believe there will be a photo of Dan and Annie's son with Francisco on the Moyer Foundation's upcoming calendar.
I visited my parents in Sequim today and shared with them many of the happenings of the foundation. I also saw my dear friend and sister-in-law, Sally Elliott, who along with her neighbor, Pati Olson, has been making the most amazing scarves and table runners for the foundation. Her daughter, Lanie, is my niece whom we lost nine years ago. I am so touched that Sally is giving back in such a hands-on way, as she is not normally a seamstress. She was showing me their amazing creations at a coffee shop this morning when the women seated next to us each purchased a scarf, appropriately the first sales for the foundation. Thank you Sally and Pati, I will go to Children's to work with a new family tomorrow and will have Lanie, as always, in my heart. I am showing one of their creations used as a table runner.
It's been a busy day, so I must go have some quiet time and think about my tiny angel friend Trevor, in love and peace, Lynette

I am waiting for our dear Emily and family to arrive at the studio for photos with their new baby boy. Emily has been doing well so I can't wait to see that little champ and her sidekicks. I received another email from Charlotte's mom, and Charlotte's legs are really in bad shape, so keep this little darling in your hearts and prayers. We lost a little boy this week and my heart is heavy. He was such an angel, as radiant a face as you could imagine, and he was surrounded by loving and beautiful family members. I visit Children's on Monday for a new family and have another to be scheduled in the weeks ahead. Kurt Smith will work for the foundation this coming week in the Everett hospital, and Michael Good is doing his best to schedule a little guy who has been in and out of the hospital.
On Monday, we meet to move the Husky Nation Project ahead and work with Courtney and her family to create some images of Court with Isaiah and Alex. I am delighted that Courtney's younger sisters are available to join in the fun.
I am pleased to say that Channon Hopson and family will be honored by the Eleanor Henry Reed Guild in their upcoming fundraiser for Children's hospital. Channon's parents are such dynamic people that I know they will help raise funds in the best of ways, by sharing their triumphs!
I am sharing two artists' work today, who will be part of the Artist Show and Sale: Jessi Taylor, jeweler, and Lily West, baker, who will have wonderful cookies at the sale. I am going to get the supplies to start assembling cards of the work of artist and Soul child Sydney Coxon. I am honored that her parents have agreed to let us sell Sydney's work. The cards feature her pup Mugsie dressed in various outfits and tweaked in Photoshop. I will show one of the six, which Sydney titled, "Diva Mugsalena."
I must be off to run errands but will have the Husky game tuned in until I leave
for my final wedding of 2006. It's a week from today that Doug and I leave for Mexico with our Llewelyn, and McKenzie will meet us there on Monday. Sun, my daughters, books and relaxation with Doug by my side sounds incredible right now. I close as always, in love and peace, Lynette

I had a wonderful evening at the Sand Point Golf Club last night. I was invited to speak at an event for Delta Delta Delta and found myself in a room with charming and warm women. My friend and client Lisa Holloman was in the group and it was great to chat with others who knew of the work of Soulumination.
I am pleased to say we delivered photos to Children's yesterday of the baby I met last week while speaking there. Such a charming little baby and his photos showed such wisdom and so much soul that I said he reminds me of a tiny jazz musician. Each of the children of the project has such beauty. We will deliver photos to the family that Tara most recently worked with and I know they will be loved, as Tara did such a great job. I have another family at Children's next week and am working on setting up another Husky Nation Shoot for next Monday with Isaiah Stanback. He is pictured here today with two young women who enthusiastically sold cds for us at the last Husky game. These young women are UW track athletes and good friends of Alex Mercier. As work to expand the Husky Nation project I hope I will have the pleasure of working with them with a very special little friend of mine named Courtney. Isaiah has graciously offered to participate now that his injury has taken him out of a game that he played so well.
My thanks to Bettijean Collins and Cathy Off for coming to a meeting yesterday to work on grant writing for Soulumination. Being a new foundation, there is much to learn and organize, so I am most appreciative of their efforts.
Today I start sharing the artists that will be participating in the Artist Show and Sale that we are holding here on December 9 and 10th. We are hoping to make this an annual event that will be great for the artists and for Soul, and an asset to my new community here in Ballard. I hope you will attend and support this effort.
I am showing a doll by Bainbridge artist Danna Watson and the clothing of longtime friend
and supporter Tammara Stroud in a photo I took a few months ago for her business, Baby Nouveau. Both women have been successful in their art for years and I am so pleased to have them join in this event.
We got two emails this week that I would like to share, as one Soul mom asked for prayers for her daughter Charlotte, who has some fractures that have to be set in casts, and this is a sad explanation for why dear little Charlotte was in such pain. It was finally diagnosed and is yet another indication of how fragile this life can be for Cha Cha. I also heard today from dear friend and supporter, Lisa Files, that Ellie Jo's new house in North Bend is flooded. One bit of good news in this is that their photos are safe. Please keep this family also in your heart.
I close as always, in love and peace, Lynette

Yesterday I spoke at Children's Hospital to nurses who were attending a seminar on bereavement, end-of-life care, and legacy building. It was a powerful time, and in getting up to speak, I could feel that I would at times be overcome by emotion. As I played a slide show of some of our images, I could see the emotion on the faces in the audience and hear the gasps of recognition as the nurses saw their patients' lovely faces emerge. These same nurses are often the people who so graciously help me get the shots the parents so treasure. They help with tubes and clothing and tape, and they do it with calm and loving actions. I salute them and I thank them for their outstanding efforts.
After speaking, I was privileged to meet yet another beautiful baby. This little guy was so cute and such a tiny fighter that he made my Halloween something very special. I later returned to our old neighborhood on Capital HIll to go trick-or-treating with our dear friends on the 'gold coast' of trick or treating, 17th Ave East. It took me back to the years of my daughters dressed in costume, enjoying each and every effort by the home owners to create a magical night in that neighborhood. Seeing the crowds of beautiful children and their adoring parents filled me with those feelings that remind me just how lucky I am to be part of this life.
A few days ago I got an email from Jessica's family stating that she will be back in Seattle sometime in the future for another bone marrow transplant. I show her photo here today and ask you to keep her in your hearts, as this latest development of course brings challenges. This little girl is so full of hope and light, and she brings a spirit of grace when she enters your life. I think of her and her family often and I will be honored to visit her when she returns to Seattle, and will update her photos at that time.
Thank goodness Christine returns to the office tomorrow. She has been in Italy for two weeks and it has been a challenge to keep a semblance of order here. I can keep the work with the families moving ahead on my own, but wow, is it a lot of work to keep a foundation running smoothly on all fronts! Thank heavens for Christa, Deb, and Mary, or the office would be in shambles.
I again salute the efforts of those selling Husky Nation discs. It is vital that we keep our funding at a level allowing us to answer each and every request and those of you who purchase a cd and those of you who sell are such a big part of making this happen. We hope to expand the Husky Nation into all the sports at UW and am meeting to set up some goals to accomplish just that. Hopefully in the near future we will welcome other athletes for shots with our Soul kids. I have my fingers crossed that the dynamic QB, Isaiah, will be joining us soon.
Michael Good and Kurt Smith have pending shoots coming up here shortly and we will see Tara's latest work with a new baby in the next few days. I will visit Annie's Art and Frame later today to pick up a framed photo for Blake's family. I feel we are truly honored by the generosity of Annie's and Moonphoto, in that they donate a framed print for each and every family. We hear from the parents that they are so thrilled when this gift arrives after the prints and is such a surprise and delight.
I close as always, in love and peace, Lynette