I was invited to speak this past St. Patrick's Day at the Aurora Christian Women's Club about my photography business.  I had spoken before about the artistic part of my life and chose this time to take my photography equipment and set up to demonstrate and take some personal portraiture of the ladies in attendance. The York Chapter came to share the event with Aurora and they brought a wonderful vocalist whose first song was "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" and everyone joined in to sing along. Then she went on to sing "Daddy Hands" and then spoke of losing her father at the age of three, which of course made me think of my own dad who I miss on a daily basis and were it not for him I wouldn't know the power of improvising and making do with what you have.  At this point I was tuning in further to this program and its message.  The vocalist's last choice for a song was "Via Dolorosa" and she sang it beautifully.

Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street But the crowd pressed in to see A Man condemned to die on Calvary He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head And He bore with every step The scorn of those who cried out for His death (chorus) Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King, But He chose to walk that road out of His love For you and me. Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary. Por la Via Dolorosa, triste dia en Jerusalem Los saldados le abrian paso a Jesus Mas la gente se acercaba Para ver al que llevaba aquella cruz Por la Via Dolorosa, que es la via Del dolor Como oveja vino Cristo, Rey, Señor Y fue El quien quiso ir por su amor Por ti y Por mi Por la Via Dolorosa al Calvario y a morir The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men Made its way to the heart of Jerusalem. Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King But He chose to walk that road out of His love For you and me Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

The main speaker for the evening was Debbie Anstein, former Mrs. Nebraska 1998.  Debbie gave us all an inside view of the pageant world and the demands that come with appearances and titles.  She also spoke in tandem about her life and the "being too busy setting" that we all create for our selves. She spoke about adopting the saying "will it matter in 10 years" to daily priorities. Pointing out as an example her choice to make an appearance for Mrs. Nebraska or attend her sons basketball game. She chose the basketball game. She too spoke of loss in her life and her path of finding her way. And, along with finding her way helping others to find theirs. Proverbs 27:17 -As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. She recommended two books, neither had I heard of, and both I want to read now: The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey and Strengths Finder by Galluphttp://strengths.gallup.com/110440/about-strengthsfinder-2.aspx  She encouraged us to close the gap in our journey in life and walk with purpose. It was a very eloquent and powerful message.

The evening was made more perfect by the fact that some of the ladies in attendance allowed me to photograph them, I talked to them about their families and grandchildren and that is why they have smiles on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes.  The ladies in the following gallery are the backbone of our communities and families, and are the very fabric of our nation. I know you will recognize some of them.