I know you guys are dying to see some photos from your special day, so here’s a little preview for you:

So sweet to see the love Michael has for his new bride. He was SO giddy with excitement!

Karly’s dad wrote a very special song that he sang during the ceremony. Talk about amazing . . . it was beautiful!!

There was the threat of rain during my time with the Beatties, and it was pretty chilly, but we all had a great time. As you can see from the pictures, Bruce & Mary have some serious love between them and they stay cozied up while the boys ran all over the place (I won’t mention who was texting, ahem). There is just such joy within this family that I think it’d be impossible to spend time with them and NOT have a smile on your face! And no, Bruce isn’t extremely short, Mary is just standing on a crate.

One of my favorite pictures from the day!

Thanks, Beatties, for such a fun day! Can’t wait til next time!

Then I started reading about kids with cancer. Kids who are in the hospital more than they’re at home. Kids who undergo horrific treatments all in the hopes of reaching remission. So, in 2006, I donated blood for the first time and lemme tell you, it was a piece of cake!

People need blood products for many reasons . . . liver disease, hemophilia, surgery, physical trauma, severe infection, sickle cell disease (along with other forms of anemia), and people undergoing treatment for cancer/leukemia.

Only 38% of Americans are eligible to donate blood and of those, only 8% do. That’s only about 3 out of every 100 people.

My friend Sara organized a blood drive in Roseburg last week and I was able to tag along and document the process.

Here’s Sara after the iodine prep which is done to cleanse the skin. (Notice the look of fear on her face) She squeezes the ball in her hand to get the blood pumping in her arm, which makes the donation go smoothly.

Here she is as the needle is inserted into her arm. She was too busy chatting with the phlebotomist to notice it was “that time”.

Cracking jokes with the rest of us . . .

This is the bag that holds the blood as it’s removed for donation.

The final product . . . The Gift Of Life!

And check out what you get as a “thank you” from the Red Cross.

Here’s Sara filling out her “donor satisfaction survey”.

And because it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen, I thought I’d post a pic of Sara’s shirt!

Pretty funny, eh?

The donation process takes about 45 minutes, with the actual donation taking about 10-15 minutes. While I was there, there was talk of a donation speed competition and one of the men set a new personal record for donating in under 5 minutes. (Seriously, people time it and compete with others? whoa!) I was loving it!!! There was no fear about any part of the process, just kind people chatting about their everyday lives while helping to save the lives of others. One blood donation can save up to 3 lives–wow! check out http://www.redcrossblood.org/ for more information and to read about eligibility requirements.

Please consider donating blood and giving the gift of life. You’ll be glad you did (and you’ll get free cookies and juice too)!

To kick off my blogging experience and to bless someone this Christmas, I thought a contest was in order! So, here’s the deal . . .

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who is dealing with an illness, recovering from an accident, or discovering their new “normal” after the death of a loved one. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography. The winner will be awarded a free 2-hour photo session (to take place in 2010) on location in the Roseburg area, a $200 print credit, and a disc containing all the artist-approved images from their session. Whether it’s a storyboard, canvas, prints, or standouts, it’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season. Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $50 print credit from a future session. This is a good time to show some love!!!

The winner will be chosen by a team of 5 judges ranging in age from 10 to 40.

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside within the Roseburg area. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me their story: amy@amyholst.com

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve — get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries! Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.