WINNERS! Giving Is Awesome Contest (Roseburg, Oregon–Family Photographer)

Caleb is so excited for the winners of the Giving Is Awesome contest! He can hardly contain himself . . .

Here is the nomination letter I received from Kathi Kinnan:

There is this awesome family here in Camas Valley (not so far from Roseburg) who would make perfect candidates for a family photo giveaway. They most definitely cannot afford it. They began as a blended family in a little shack that could be a poster house for poverty in America. I doubt they even ever grumbled. Instead, they went about their business giving to the community time and time again: dad on the school board and mom coaching girl’s volleyball and basketball, and both very involved in their church.  They came together as dad and his two boys and mom and her two boys; all boys around the same ages.

A couple of years ago mom lost both her mother and father in the same year, quite coincidentally, and she was able to purchase a double-wide trailer for the family with the little money she received from the sale of their home. They parked it right next to the little shack and moved in.

Not long after that, or before it, I don’t really remember the time-frame, one of dad’s boys was in a football accident that required an x-ray. That x-ray changed their lives. The boy was diagnosed with bone cancer. The boy went through chemotherapy and had many hurrah moments, but then the cancer moved to his lungs. Their faith is strong, but their road has been longer than I can even imagine to this point. Because of the many trips back and forth to Portland for chemotherapy and checkup after checkup, dad has been unable to work as much as he would like, and his work is sporadic anyway.

A couple of weeks ago they made one of their trips up for a checkup where another couple of spots on the lungs were found. The boy is now 20ish and has decided on his own that he no longer wants chemotherapy. They have ordered an expensive juicer with some left over “Make a Wish” and community monies, and are currently looking at a couple of clinics (one of which is in Mexico) as a possibility, in which some serious fund raising would need to be undertaken–but no doubt would be accomplished.

The boy’s name is Dennis Wolfe. His father is Richard Wolfe and step mom Amy Wolfe. They are a most deserving and humble family who remain positive and hopeful. This family would make fine subjects for your artwork, of which would quite nicely fill their home.

Please consider this family in your holiday give-away. I love them so much.

Congratulations, Wolfe Family!!!!!! I can’t wait to set up your photo session and spend some time with the 6 of you.

And thank you to the family of judges who made this tough decision, you are SO appreciated and loved!