Today, I photographed Addyson, who is participating in our Once Upon A Lifetime Program. I was in for a treat. Right in the middle of our photo session, Addyson, whio is 3 months old, had a nap so I was able to get a great sleeping shot! This beautiful child smiled non-stop during the outdoor and indoor session! She was a pleasure to photograph and I am looking forward to her 6 month appointment!
Dear Readers:
I met the Kelley family when they participated in the Once Upon A Lifetime Program for their youngest son, Landon. Here he is at his one-year session with his siblings.
It was during this time that I learned of their story. They lived every parent's nightmare...the loss of their son, Brice to cancer. I am humbled by their story, their strength and their courage. They took a tragic event in their lives and turned it into something very positive, "THE BRICE KELLEY CLASSIC" a fundraiser for Children's Cancer Research. Please take a few moments to read the following letter and if you or your company would like to participate, please copy the registration form and mail it to Brice Kelley Fund, 106 Rilian Court, Grasonville, MD 21638.
Dear Sir or Madam,
Thank you for taking time out of your day to let us inform you about the fundraiser we are planning in memory of our sweet little boy, Brice Kelley, who is now an angel above, after losing his battle with cancer several years ago. At 6 months of age, in April of ’03, Brice was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma. Throughout his precious little life, he endured chemotherapy, a stem-cell transplant, radiation, tumor resection and 3F8 monoclonal antibody treatment. He did reach NED status (No Evidence of Disease) in 12/03, but 5 short months later, the cancer had come raging back. When it did, we were told he only had months left to live....when in fact, he only made it another 3 weeks. We awoke on the morning of Memorial Day ’04 to find that Brice had passed away in his sleep.
The event we will be holding is the 7th Annual Brice Kelley Classic. This is a golf tournament 1st started by friends and family of the Kelley’s when Brice was still alive to help raise money to offset the daunting medical bills for Brice’s treatment. After Brice’s passing, the family began the Brice Kelley Fund and continued the Golf event to help raise funds for Children’s Cancer Research. All proceeds from the Classic will go towards this cause. The Brice Kelley Classic will be held on Friday, October 8, 2010 @ Bowie Golf & Country Club in Bowie, Maryland.
In an effort to raise as much money as possible for Children’s Cancer Research, we will have a silent auction, hole-sponsorships, raffles and prizes. We are hoping your business would be able to either contribute an item, or items, to be used for these purposes. Monetary contributions would also be greatly welcomed to help offset some of the costs of the event.
As the Kelleys are very connected in the local community (Annapolis/Baltimore/D.C.), we fully expect the event to be completely booked. Your contribution will be highlighted to the 150+ participants, volunteers, etc. during the event. This is an excellent opportunity for the community to learn more about your business and your dedication to not only the community, but also special causes like children’s cancer research. No other precious child (or family) should have to endure what Brice and the Kelleys did and your organization really can help give them a fighting chance.
If interested in contributing, please contact Chris Kelley via email or phone (provided below). Additionally, if you would like to learn more about neuroblastoma, or children’s cancer in general, we would encourage you to check out these websites: HYPERLINK "http://www.cncf-childcancer.org/" http://www.cncf-childcancer.org/ AND HYPERLINK "http://www.childrenscancer.org/" http://www.childrenscancer.org/ .
On behalf of Brice, our family and all children battling cancer (and those yet to be diagnosed), we thank you in advance, from the bottom of our hearts, for your help and consideration.
Sincerely,
Chris Kelley
Angel Brice’s Daddy
Benefiting Children’s Cancer Research
October 8, 2010
9:00 AM Shotgun start
(arrive by 8:30am for registration)
Bowie Golf & Country Club
7420 Laurel Bowie Road (Rte. 197)
Bowie, MD 20715
$500.00 Per Foursome or $125.00 Per Individual
Includes Golf w/Cart, Food @ the Turn and Dinner Buffet, BK Classic Takeaway, “beverages”, Door/Raffle Prizes, and one heckuva a good time! 8-)
GOLF Registration
Please complete the following entrance form and return with a check (payable to the Brice Kelley Fund) no later than:
September 17, 2010
To:
Brice Kelley Fund, 106 Rilian Court, Grasonville, MD 21638.
______Name/Group______ Phone Number___ _____ Email__ _____ Handicap__
Golfer 1: ___________________________•_____________•_________________________•___________
Golfer 2: ___________________________•_____________•_________________________•___________
Golfer 3: ___________________________•_____________•_________________________•___________
Golfer 4: ___________________________•_____________•_________________________•___________
HOLE SPONSORSHIP
We are seeking companies and individuals to sponsor holes. The $100 minimum donation is greatly appreciated and will include a sign with your name (or company’s name) neatly displayed on the tee box of a designated hole.
Please complete the following form and return with a check (made payable to the Brice Kelley Fund) no later than:
September 24, 2010
To:
Brice Kelley Fund, 106 Rilian Court, Grasonville, MD 21638.
Name (if individual) _____________________________________________
Company Name_____________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________
Phone Number _____________________________________________
What would you like the sign to read (40 character maximum)?
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** Contributions for Door/Raffle Prizes, Silent Auction items, VOLUNTEERING **
Please email Chris at HYPERLINK "mailto:ckelley71@gmail.com" ckelley71@gmail.com if you or your company would like to contribute items for prizes, raffle items, silent auction OR if you are interested in volunteering.
Here is a series of photos of Christian and the pear!! Just another way of framing beautiful images of a boy who is most pleased with picking his pear and stowing it away. And, checking just to make sure, it didn't disappear!!!
Photographing family sessions at the farmhouse becomes an experience and by the time the children leave, we are all friends and most don't really want to leave. Why? Because there is so much to see and do and to have fun while doing it! We have a tree swing, a front porch with wicker furniture, secret gardens with butterfly bushes and a pond that is the Renaissance Man's pride and joy! It attracts a family of frogs who entertain us all day (and night), lots of dragon flies, butterflies and birds (watching a robin bathe is so wondrous!) But mostly, photographing families who truly enjoy our farmhouse/gardens in an almost-remote area with acres of fields around us, makes us smile and fills us with joy! Oh, I almost forgot the pear tree, branches so laden with fruit that they nearly touch the ground. Having a farmhouse is all about sharing it, especially with children. (One child asked me if I liked living in a farmhouse and when I replied "yes", he said, "Well, Ms. Linda, your house kind of looks like a barn!" Guess that just about sums it up!
Here are some samples of happy, happy families/childen enjoying our wonderful yard...
Here is what was posted on Facebook (with permission, of course!)
"These are amazing!!!! I don't know which one is my favorite....they all are actually!! Jim and I are so happy we got the chance to do this again with you. Every time it is more and more fun and somehow the pictures keep getting more and more beautiful! I am not sure how you outdo yourself on every shoot with our family! They are beautiful!"
"Linda, you have so captured the essence of each of our boys! Thank you for such an enjoyable afternoon, where we get to watch our kids run and play and you capture the most amazing moments. Thanks to your amazing talent, we will be able to relive these precious moments every time we look at each of these beautiful photos! We are so excited and can't wait to see the rest of the pictures!"
OUR ROOMMATES
I almost forgot to mention that the Renaissance Man and I live with 3 dogs and 2 cats (well, they are barn cats in the summer!) Our dogs are quite a trio. One is Zoe, our Newfoundlander..well, she isn't quite ours, she belongs to Stelsie but Stelsie may have to fight us to give her up, and then there is Casey, Michael's gift to me..our Yellow Lab, who is very excitable, quite jealous but is definitely Michael's companion. And, then there is Dixie, our cocker spaniel who is a mess but quick on her feet and is very intelligent. She wishes that all the other animals would just disappear so she could have the run of the place for herself. Sorry, Dixie. Anyway, I mention the dogs because Zoe, our Newfoundlander, helped two children overcome their fear of dogs. She came out to meet them and after the necessary photo session, Zoe got down on her back (her size alone would scare anyone) and she showed the children that all is safe with her. It was transforming!
The Renaissance Man promised me a pond to be built this summer and he did not disappoint! In addition to building a pond, planting roses, building a bridge, landscaping, digging, weeding, mulching, he did an outstanding job! In addition to that, he cooks, he prints my images, he makes any ordinary meal into a meal that would wow any chef. In short, he is my RM! Thank you for being you, Michael, and making my dreams come true!
Here are some photos that I took today of Erica, my trusty intern in and around our gardens and our front porch!
This is a great spot for families, a high school senior and children hanging out by the waterfall. Erica is a great model, right down to her colorful and coorindated socks!!!
Erica is standing on the bridge the RM build and truthfully, it looks like I took this photo in a park. The bridge is right over a mini-waterfall, perfect for little ones with fishing poles. They will be enchanted by the family of frogs who live there!
Another great spot and I take credit for this one! I was never one to garden (just ask my boys and they will tell you that I didn't know a flower from a weed), so one day I planted a garden right out of a magazine and voila, here we are! I love this photo of Erica as it looks like she is taking time out to enjoy the view!!!
Close up of Erica in "my" garden!
The RM and I were driving by a nursery on the corner of 450 and 424 (I can never remember its name) and I saw this gate! We did a turnabout and bought it on the spot and had it delivered the next day, not knowing where we were going to place it. We manuevered it (well RM did most of the work!) between the rose garden and my little garden and thus, it became the entrance to the "Secret Garden!" I love this gate as it has proven to be a great prop for children, high school seniors and even families! Children love the "Secret Garden" as it is very small, very private and has butterfly bushes, bird feeders and winds itself around to the pond.
And, here is Erica on our front porch, all natural lighting! I rarely use a flash as the lighting is always so very flattering!
The 2011 Little Angel Calendar is now on sale and can be purchased online here. We will be accepting sales until October 15 so that you will receive your calendar well in advance of the holidays. Rememnber these make wonderful stocking stuffers for family and friends and great gifts for co-workers who will remember you all year 'round. Proceeds benefit AAMC NICU and the New Peds Unit!
