It seems to be always something to keep us busy here in Ballard. Things are rich and full of life's ups and downs. I photographed 2 beautiful weddings this weekend and as always people chat with me about the work of Soulumination. With the recent article about the expansion of the mission in the Seattle P-I, it brings the work of Soul right to the forefront in people's minds. Kristen Dizon did a wonderful job of explaining where we are with the project right now. I do want to say just how radiant my friend Vicki was at her last visit here at my studio, granted it was hard for her to walk but she just kept her amazing love shining first and foremost and never let her own struggle deter her from being an amazing parent, wife and friend. My friend Julie is still at home and being lovingly cared for with the help of her amazing friends and with hospice support. If you missed the article you can read it here on the site by going to "News".

I will share today current photos of my little pal Victor. He is such a dear and handsome little guy and since he lives nearby I hope to pop over sometime when he is really in a playful mood. Doug and I spent time again with our young friend Sarah and her mom. This time Doug bowled with Sarah and then we went to Cupcake Royale, all before dinner time last night, life is fun when you don't follow the rules so much!

I got the sad news that we had lost a dear baby girl this week. Please hold her parents in your hearts as she was their only child and she was such a lovely reflection of them. When I met this family I just felt such warmth and devotion. Another of our new little ones is fighting his way through the recovery from a major surgery so enegy sent his way would be lovely also. His family is another one that just shows the essence of unconditional love. I worked with a third lovely baby last week and got an opportunity to see her a second time without all the tubes and I am anxiously awaiting those prints as even the ones with all the gear show her radiant beauty.

We have a number of possible shoots on our radar and are excited to welcome new photographers and volunteers into Soulumination. Things are definately moving forward and one small thing that left me beaming in all the hubbub was a phone message from our dear friends the Behrens----Emily and Mianna were singing me a rowdy and wonder version of Happy Birthday. It seems impossible but its been 2 years now since I first met Emily and she is free and clear of cancer. No one could ask for a lovelier gift. My own daughters will be home this weekend to celebrate another great year of middle age life so blessing abound. In love and peace, Lynette

Happy hearts on my desk remind me of all the love that surrounds me. This week I have been touched by offers of help from so many of you. Really, dozens of you have stepped forward in ways that will make this foundation continue with purpose and compassion. Please know that you are so appreciated and that your warmth is such a comfort. We are delivering some special treats today to Wallingford Photo, Moonphoto and Annie's Art and Frame to again thank them for all they have done for us.

This past few days has also brought me to Children's Hospital for three new little babies who are so beautiful and so tender that I hope you will today keep them in a special place in your hearts as you celebrate Valentine's Day. Each one of these babies is tenderly loved and has devoted parents who are so hopeful that possibly things will work out so that their precious child has a chance at a glowing future.

Tonight I will return to Children's and will meet yet another new face to Soul. I love Valentine's Day and offered my camera skills on this evening to remind myself that following my heart might bring some bit of joy and peace. I hope to also see my dear young friend Jess and her mom tonight as they are in town from Arizona for a second bone marrow transplant. It would be so wonderful to get updated photos of these two and just give them a big old Valentine hug.

I am posting a couple of shots of adorable Channon that I snapped at the Eleanor Henry Reed Guild Fundraiser for Children's Hospital. I thank the Hopsons for sharing their story and for always having such amazing grace.

We are starting to lay the groundwork for expanding the mission of Soulumination and again the volunteers have allowed the first steps to be strong and firm, and I tip my hat to Brenda, Lois, Ruth, Julie, Lisa and her sister Andrea, for stepping forward with purpose and for making it seem not only possible but just so darn right.

I can never thank my husband and daughters enough for their love and support. Happy Valentine's Day. In love and peace, Lynette

Spend a restless night just not able to really sleep as I found out that one of my beautiful brides, a lovely friend, has lost her battle with cancer. Vicki Piha Ashberg married my friend Jay and I have been their family photographer, which means I have had the ultimate pleasure of recording their beautiful wedding and watching them parent one magic little boy named Mitchell. I met Jay at a wedding and we hit it off and over his courtship with Vicki I have worked with both of their families. My heart breaks with this loss, of course, and it shows me that indeed the expansion of Soulumination into working with parents of young children at the end of the parent's life is indeed the right path to take. I am so happy that I got to see Vicki in November and record the three of them. My heart is with her family, as I so admire her parents and chuckle when I think of her sister and her husband as they always bring such joy into my life. So Vicki, my dear friend, this new work of Soulumination will keep you close to my heart, and I know you are so loved and so missed. Minutes after I heard the news of this loss, the doorbell rang and another Vic in my life was arriving for some updated Soulumination photos. It seemed like a little nod from Vicki that the work is something important. When Vicki first told me of her illness, she said it was discovered in the loss of her own angel baby and that the loss of her second child was when the doctors discovered the cancer. I am posting a photo today of Vicki and Jay at their wedding, and in looking at this I realize that Vicki looked just as beautiful in the years after her wedding as she did on this enchanted day.

So I proceed today with so many tears and such sadness but determined to be available to families to give them photos to help create a lasting legacy. I am so excited to welcome all the new photographers who have suddenly been emailing to offer their services. We are blessed to welcome Maude May as a volunteer admistrator and coordinator for some of this foundation work. She and Deb our new bookkeeper are just such boosts to Sarah and me here in the office. This project continues to be guided by the grace of the work and the lovely souls that seem to watch over us.
I am excited to share with y
ou lovely Alexis Grace. She is shown here today and will soon be in our gallery. I met her a few months back when she had a full head of dark hair, but you see her today bald and radiant in amazing photos by my friend and Soul photographer Tara Clark. Alexis' mom is understandably delighted by the outcome of this photo shoot! I thank her for allowing us to share her lovely daughter, who is battling liver cancer.

Today I joyfully introduce you to my new friend Marin. This young lady knocks my socks off with her radiance and just angelic air. She is 16 and battling a brain tumor. I wrote about her in a previous blog, as she and her family lit up my studio and courtyard with their wonderful ways. Marin is learning to knit and taking a photo class, and of course those activities are two of my most favorites. So enjoy the loveliness of both Alexis and Marin and hold them in your hearts as they continue to show us all how to meet great challenges head on with such unbelievable strength and beauty. In love and peace, Lynette

I just want to let you all know that both Annie's Art and Frame and Moonphoto in Greenwood continue to be such heroes in the work of Soulumination. I encourage you to support these two businesses that have been supplying gifts of beautiful enlarged prints (Moonphoto) and custom frames for each of our Soul families. We are so thankful for their generosity, and they deserve kudos and our support for being so generous. If you visit either of these fine establishments please give them an extra pat on the back.

I had the absolute pleasure of watching Channon and family tell about their experience at Children's Hospital last Saturday night at the Eleanor Henry Reed Guild Fundraiser. Both girls were absolutely radiant, with Erva and Chris sharing such heartwarming words. I am proud to have been of service to this family and am so thankful for the service they give to others. They have been very generous with time and donations, making sure that others receive photographs and support. It was Chris that set the wheels in motion for me to meet my dear friend Francisco. The Hopsons live their life in such a way that it is no wonder that Channon is a little fighter and a radiant miracle in our midst.

I must share the great news that dear Emily is now in remission and is totally off chemo. When I met her two years ago on my birthday, there was no hope she would live until summer. She met Channon here in my courtyard this summer and they are beacons of hope for other families.


I hope to see a little friend of mine tonight over at McDonalds here in Ballard. She is one of our dear children with epilepsy, and Doug and I are both very fond of this kid. Tomorrow night, handsome Victor will be over for some updated shots that I will share with all of you. Check out the gallery to read more about his battle with epilepsy.

My dear friend Sarah Mattingly and I are definately on board to present the work of Soulumination at the National Tay-Sachs and Related Disease Family Conference in April. I will fly to Boston and we will send a portion of the Soulumination Collection on ahead to be displayed at the conference. We will get to meet and record the children and families that are part of this very solid foundation that supports the Tay-Sachs families.

I also got the poster for a Conference on end of life care that will also be held in April in Bellingham. I am presenting along with Stuart Farber, MD, Denise Dudzinski, PhD, MTS, James Green, PhD, and Renee Katz, PhD, MSW. I am honored to be part of this conference for health care professionals. Our own dear Hailey, who is indeed a survivor, was chosen to have her photo featured as an example of the work that we do here at Soulumination. Again, check out Hailey on our gallery to just remind yourself of her spunk. I am posting her delightful face her today.

We are beginning the process of adding to our mission with the help of our attorney, Heather Roy. Heather is a friend of Emily's and volunteered her services shortly after we first met Em. I am so thankful to her for sticking with us. Today we added a wonderful new volunteer who came to us through the recommendation of Zoe Bartlett. Deb Bluestein will be doing all of our bookwork and I can tell this successful and vibrant businesswoman, owner of Modeles, will be so perfect to get us up to speed in our new Quickbooks program. I also want to mention that I had a new group of volunteers over yesterday to make the lovely trifolds that are a gift to each family. They were so amazing, and I had the best time working with them. They offered to take all the supplies home to help keep us stocked, and I am so grateful. The photos from the recent shoots by Susan and Tara arrived today and I am so pleased and proud of their lovely work. I must run to fix some dinner before McDonalds as their fare is just not on the diet of two middle-aged business owners! In love and peace, Lynette