Heroes...

In a world where every little boy (and sometimes the big boys too) wants to be a superhero, there are real heroes that stand out.  They are the ones who lay it all on the line.  Over the past several months, I've been praying for Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is being held in an Iranian prison because of his faith in Christ.  His wife and two kids are here in the United States, sharing his story and advocating for his release.  I really felt like I was supposed to reach out to Naghmeh (his wife) and kids, but wasn't sure how.  Then it hit me, if I was missing my husband as much as she must be, having a pendant with my favorite picture of him would be a true blessing.  So, I contacted her and asked her to send her favorite picture.  She did, and I went to work.  Today, I mailed off a package with a portrait pendant for each of them, along with a "Save Saeed" pendant.  While this isn't much, it's my way of letting her know that she's not alone in this tough time of their lives.

September 26th, 2013 will be the 1 year anniversary of Saeed being taken into custody. Fellow believers and supporters around the United States are being asked to participate in a prayer vigil for Saeed and other persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.  I'm in the process of setting one up for my town, and I would love to see others do the same.

Another hero I'd like to recognize is Lt. Matthew Blankenship, of the Marshfield Fire Department.  On July 13th, 2013, he was fighting a fire in a neighboring town.  Conditions in the home deteriorated and he sustained critical injuries.  After a week in the burn unit, he passed away on July 20th.  He was a volunteer, he didn't *have* to go in there.  His livelihood didn't depend on fighting fires, he did it because he wanted to serve others in his community.  His wife and 3 kids are being blanketed in prayer and support from far and wide, and will continue to need prayer in the days, months and even years to come as they learn to live with the new "normal".

Both of these men are heroes in my mind.  I consider myself blessed to have the opportunity to give back to their families with the gift of portrait jewelry.  While the Abedini family waits for Saeed to be released from prison and while the Blankenship family mourns their loss, knowing they'll see Matt again, I pray that these small tokens of gratitude for sharing their heroes with us will help them through the tough days.  I would like to ask that you remember these families in your thoughts and prayers.  They are greater heroes than any superheroes that DC or Marvel could create, and their lights continue to shine brightly!

It's that time of year again...

As much as I want to slow down time, the 2013-14 school year is quickly approaching!  Local seniors only have a small window of time to get their initial senior sessions done (but don't fret, with my senior package, you get 2 more mini-sessions to use throughout the year to capture the whole senior experience). 

 I'll also be offering "back-to-school" sessions with a vintage school desk, globe, antique books and of course, an apple to give the teacher.  These are especially fun for your little one that is starting kindergarten.  School pictures just don't show the personality of your little ones.  I will probably even do one for my soon to be 5th grader, since this is her last year in elementary school.  

It's also a great time to be thinking of Grandparent's Day and Christmas, both of which are a great time to give custom portrait jewelry!  

One last thing, don't let autumn creep up on you without scheduling family portraits. The colors around Webster County never fail to amaze me.  Portraits can be used as gifts and I will even design a Christmas card for you!

If you would like more info on any of the services or products I offer, I'd love to hear from you!  jphillips@HisFingerprintphotography.com