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I'm working on getting more of my work out here so that you all can see what I've been upto lately!!!!

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Seeing Biltmore Estate through my lens...

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Welcome 2011...

2010 is now a thing of the past...I had a very difficult year personally as 2010 brought a lot of drama, sadness and heartache. I lost another cousin in December when she was still in the the beginning stages of her adult life. Sadly Rachel was only 23 yrs old and just recently achieved her dream of becoming a teacher. She taught first grade at Herrara Elementary School in Houston Texas. A brain aneurysm caused her to be on life support due to no brain activity and sadly her mom had to make the decision to take Rachel off of life support on Dec 23. So needless to say Christmas and New Years were sad due to the funeral services and what have you. Along with the sadness came some joy in knowing that Rachel had achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher and I'm positive she had a great impact on her students and left in their dear little hearts and minds much wisdom. Nothing can convince me otherwise after being privileged enough to read the heartfelt letters her 1st graders sent to my Aunt Linda and and a new year has arrived full force...Since 2010 went out like a Lion roaring and growling and snarling we hardly noticed 2011's sweet gentle Lamb like arrival. Here's to hoping for a year filloed with love, financial stability, and great memories!

Falling for fall...

There are just some things that you don't want to miss. Fall in my beloved beautiful Smoky Mountains is one of those things...Seeing all of the beautiful colors in the trees and landscape is breath taking. The days are growing shorter and the air has a crispness to it that you can't mistake for anything but fall. There are pumpkin patches and corn mazes springing up everywhere, not to mention the haunted trails and the Halloween decorations in all of the stores. I love everything about Fall. The candy corn, and the pumpkin rolls, the smell of cinnamon and apple...The Fall festivals always have something for everyone. Fall just seems to be a time of year when everything seems so carefree , it's a great time to make special memories with your loved ones. From now until Nov. 30th I'm doing Fall portrait packages for $75.00. For that $75.00 you will get a one hour portrait session at the location of your choice any where within 50 miles of Knoxville. You will also receive 2-8x10's, 4-5x7's and 24 wallets. For an additional $25.00, you can get all of your images on a cd that you can take anywhere and have additional portraits printed. Gift certificates are also available for Holiday portraits! Hurry and Schedule your appointment today as sessions times will fill up fast! To schedule an appointment please send an email to photographybymelinda@gmail.com or call me at 865-258-4027

Finding myself...

I just had a birthday on September 5th.Where does the time go? I can't believe I'm now 31. It's so odd to think about me being out of high school 12 years. Next year I've been out of school as many years as it took me to get through school...I've always been a dreamer...In highschool, I made all of these plans and goals for my life...It's taken me some time to realize how far off base I've become because somewhere along the way I lost myself.I forgot about the thought out goals and dreams for my life, I started living for others, and all of a sudden, my life goals and dreams just sorta faded away into the background. I've had some time recently to reflect on what I want from my life and decided it's time for me to smarten up and do things simply because I want to do them. You could say I'm working on finding myself.I'll let you know what I discover!

R. I. P. David...May you soar with the angels!

A tragedy happened in my family yesterday morning. My 16 year old cousin David Fox took his own life.Everyone always says, "My child would never do that", really, do you want to gamble on that fact? If this kid could do it then anyone's could. David was an exceptionally bright and even gifted child. He was respectful of his parents and teachers, he never had anything bad to say about anyone, he never touched a drug, or drank a drop of alcohol, he came from a stable loving home, he was infact the center of his parents entire world. This boy tutored his classmates and younger children because he always wanted to be helping people. I've heard so many people say about their children, that my child just isn't the type that would take their own life, just so everyone knows, death doesn't descriminate. Talk to your children, let them know that they can come to you with any problem and at the end of the day you are still going to love them. Give your kids room to grow and make their own mistakes, if you notice that you child is not him or herself seek out help for your child. Never say my child would never take their own life. My aunt and uncle are in a state of grief that most of us will never comprehend this morning because they never thought their child could take his own life. Please keep my family in your prayers, especially my aunt Fleeta and uncle Thurman Fox. Rest in peace David, may you soar with the angels!

Hi Handsome, My name is Rose...

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being..

She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze..

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.

She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'

'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me..

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets..'

She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.'

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those months ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

'Good friends are like stars..... .....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.'