Blessed By Brenna-Calling All Angels

*Remember to have your music turned on! Give it a few seconds to get started!

Happy 1 Year 
Blog-Day Birthday 

A Day In The Life 

(Cue the Music, Streamers, Balloons, and Champagne!) 

It was a year ago today that I started this blog, and what a documented year it has been! We have had tears and fears . We have had fun and sun! And we have had birthdays, babies, and more babies, anniversaries, family reunions, and weddings. We have also had the difficult time of saying goodbye to our grandmother, but this is our life, and I am thankful I have this "new aged" way of documenting the Days In Our Lives...sounds like a daytime soap doesn't it? :) (Click any of the blue linked words to see some of the blogged past)

I wanted to plan something special for our big 1 Year Blog-Day Birthday, but I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Since last week was a difficult week with the loss of our grandmother, I decided to take the kids outside on one of the unseasonably warm days and get some fresh air. It is amazing how some fresh air and some quality time with your kids makes you realize what is really important in life!... 

Missing Lennon while he was at school!

Between the bike riding,...

dancing shadows,...

...and hopscotch, my mind just couldn't stop thinking about a fellow local photographer and her family that have really been on my mind lately, and what I/WE could do for them!

Courtney Westlake is a fellow local photographer. I do not know her personally, but I have seen her work and have always respected her work as a photographer, and the fact that she attended the same high school I did and is raising a family and working on the side, just as I do.  My sister drew my attention to Courtney's Blog a few weeks ago, because Courtney's daughter was born on December 19th, with an extremely rare skin condition called Harlequin Ichthyosis. In Courtney's own words, "Brenna's skin lacks a certain protein which helps it form correctly, and instead it was formed as thick, white scales with ridges all over."  

At 10 days old

Three Weeks Old With Her First Hair Bow!

 Everyday as I read about Brenna, I have been asking myself, "What can I do to help the Westlake family?" They have spent everyday since December 19th in the hospital trying to help Brenna so that she can come home one day in the future.  

It is going to be a long road for Brenna, and I know my Day In The Life readers are ready to help. I reached out to Courtney last week, and asked her if there was a place to send donations, and I explained to her that I have a blog and it was going to be our 1 year anniversary, and that I just know, anyone that has heard or read about Brenna would want to help! How could you not?!!!!!

And as the song is saying, I am "Calling All Angels!"  

I know after reading Courtney's blog you are asking

"How Can I Help?!"

Well......DONATE!!!!!!


THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DONATING TO THE WESTLAKES, PLEASE VISIT THEIR BLOG:
http://blessedbybrenna.blogspot.com/

I have made it easy and anyone that donates at least $10.00 to Blessed By Brenna, will be placed in a drawing for a 
FREE Spring or Summer 2012 Single Family 1 hour Photo Session by Tara Long Photography, and I will also throw in a $50.00 free print credit as well! 
So here is all you have to do.... 

1) Make at least a $10.00 donation by clicking the "DONATE" Paypal button below: (Paypal is really easy to set up if you don't have an account! It will take just a few minutes to sign up and make a difference for the Westlake's) 

2) After you make your donation, either come back to this blog page, or send me a facebook message (Tara Long Photography), or send me an email taralongphotography@hotmail.com and leave your name and say.. 

"I've Been Blessed By Brenna!"

*Your name will then be added into the drawing. The contest will continue until Thursday, January 19th, and the winner will be announced Friday, January 20th! (This is based on the honor system, so please don't post until you have made your donation!)

I am asking all my family and friends, especially those of us with children, to reach out to this local family and show them the love and support that we are able to give. If you aren't able to donate, that is ok too, but send the Westlake's a message and let them know that you are praying for their family. And spread the word...share this  blog link with your friends on facebook and email and let's show the Westlake's how much we care and how much we want to help and how much we can donate to help this family!!!!!

The Westlake Family  

We have had over 7,700 page views since I started this crazy journey! Thank you to everyone for taking the time to read this and those that have followed A Day In The Life this past year!  I can't wait to see what this next year holds for us! Now please open your hearts and donate! 

This has been another

Day In The Life 

of a community Blessed By Brenna!

 Tara Long Photography

http://www.taralongphotography.com


You can follow more on Baby Brenna on Courtney's Blog called Blessed By Brenna

http://blessedbybrenna.blogspot.com/