Week 21: This Blog is Brought to You by the Letter F & the Number 7

This week's blog is late...for very good reasons... But don't worry, the length of this blog should more than amply make up for the delay...Let me warn you, if I was thanking the Academy, I'd be yanked waay before this blog ends...but the picture for this week is at the end for incentive.

Week 21: This Blog is Brought to You by the Letter F and the Number 7...Seven is the number of terms it took me to get to the F which stands for Finished. Fin. Finals are over...Finally. And I am officially done...as of this past Friday. For real. Yes, ladies and gents, I have nothing left to do but await my very hard earned diploma's arrival in the mail! Yea!

So, I'd like to take some time to think back over the last two years and thank some very important and influential people...

I'd like to thank my parents: for always wanting me to follow my heart...even if I take the long, hard road...and for giving me a place to live (and a big dining room to take over every time finals rolled around) while I went to school...not just any old place, but a lovely, sunshiny large room that I filled to overflowing with my life...I know it hasn't always been easy on the eyes...

I especially want to thank my mom, the ultimate homemaker, for always keeping great food around and for keeping all the necessities on hand from computer paper and ink to hole punchers and paper clips...You always have everything together. In the last week of my push to graduate you were the ultimate production assistant looking over my designs, offering feedback, helping me mount 17 pieces, and pulling it all together for both my Wednesday and Friday deadlines.

I also want to thank all the rest of my family...my sister, Natalie...for always believing in me, even when I doubted myself...and for staying up with me all through the night helping me with finals crunches and, just like mom, being an indispensable production assistant...I'll never forget the 2am run I sent you on to get a design book bound...You didn't just get the book bound, you came home with caffeine and snacks...amazing, thoughtful, encouraging...as always.

My sister, Vanessa...for commiserating with me as we both went to school at the same time...for loving every design I did...even when they were junk...I know you were really just telling me that you love me....and for always being up for sushi celebrations...

My nephew, Joey, for the best hugs in the whole world...for asking me if I am studying and how my homework is going...and for stating the very obvious when you saw my matte boards on the floor of my bedroom: "Aunty Sarah! You have giant homework!!" Yes, my boy, it was giant...but I beat the giant.

My brother, Gabe, for being a terrific consultant and sounding board...and for always reminding me how important finishing really is...and my sister, April, for always cheering for me and remembering to call me during finals to tell me you were thinking of me...and for giving me a namesake niece this week! Welcome, Aurora.

My brother, Jay, for always trying to wear me down to watch a movie or have some fun...I almost always shot you down, but you never gave up trying. Thanks for always wanting to be fun and have fun...

My Dad, for reminding me that the world is huge and full of things to be admired...both in people and places...for taking me out of my routine and into the beauty, especially natural beauty...on our walks and our day trips. I always came away refreshed, inspired and with a better sense of perspective.

My Naomi Dawn and Mister Doty...for a sanctuary in the mountains...for always leaving the door open and a light on...for our times on the deck...for cheering for me and checking on me and pushing and praying me on to bigger and better...for believing in my love of photography and encouraging me to follow my heart...for shopping dates and Star dates and coffee dates and zoo and bio park dates...and for taping What Not to Wears and then watching them with me...I know that was a particularly large sacrifice for you, Fred, and I love you for it.

My Monday night girls: May, Vanessa, Bernadette and Cory...Getting together wasn't always easy, but I loove being with you. May, I'm so glad we started and I'm glad we brought more girls in. Thank you for opening your heart and your home on a regular basis and for never caring how I looked or if I came over in my pajamas...and for even buying me super cozy pajama pants!

My Tuesday night girls: especially Dawn, Amy, Jeannie, Pat, Annie, LeAnn, Kim, Val, and Deb. I didn't always make it every week, but I know I always had your love, support and prayers. I love you and the times we've shared all through Isaiah.

My standing Saturday night date: Lisa. Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow (ha). Knowing you were there saving me a seat kept me going...in more ways than one. I appreciate you understanding when I couldn't make it or when I had to run...and I also appreciate all the great conversations as well as your amazing high kicks and Jennifer Garner/Alias moves. They're awesome. So are you.

My school comrades who have been there through thick and thin...especially the kids I started out with: Casey, Rebecca, Jonathan, Rita, Reggie, Kyle, Annie, and Teresa. You have no idea what rowing the same boat together did for me. Each one of you has inspired me, made me smile and pulled me through at least once.

Casey, thanks for always being my DJ in drawing classes. Jonathan, thanks for always giving an honest critique and wanting to give me tweaking tips. Rita, I'm so glad we met in Drawing 110 in the dungeon. I don't know how we did it, but we made it out the first time. Reggie, I love your brilliance...and I love you for installing programs on my laptop that allowed me to end my days living by the lab hours and working on school computers.

Kyle, I love you for falling in love with me as soon as you saw my ribbon watch. I'm so glad we're friends forever...can't wait for our next outing! Annie...how many times did we vent together? I'm so glad we could be honest with our frustrations and concerns while encouraging eachother to keep going. And, T, how on earth would I have made it through all those computer classes without you and our coffee breaks? I'm not sure I would've. Soo glad we met and paired off in InDesign. You are amazing and I look forward to seeing where the future takes you!

To the kids I met along the way...Daisy, my bff. ;) I loved trying to make you laugh and watching your Batman creations come to life...Molly, I love your satirical commentary and constant facial expression. You are so amazing and I am in awe of your talents. Cory, so, so glad we got assigned to Vermeer in Carol's art history class. You are a treasure to me. Dubes, I loved our times in the dungeon quoting movie lines to eachother till we cracked up...I might've cracked if it hadn't been for you and T being there with me...

Amanda Dain, I loved our photo class together, especially our hours in the darkroom. You are such an amazing peer, friend and mom...keep going! Ashley Benjamin: I hope your shrimpatitis gets better soon... :) I love your weird brain and great sense of humor, Friendy Friend. Katie Fox, the rockstar. I know you're going to be a great designer somewhere amazing...

To my instructors, especially Joe, Elisa, Marissa, Carol, Jiron, Pettigrew, Diane, Judy, Tara, Tak and Dave. I can't believe the last two years and all that happened during that time. Thank you for refining my eye, for laying such a solid foundation of skills, and for teaching me the rules of design (and how to break them). I promise to never use Comic Sans or a starburst or gradient without your permission.

Diane, you once instructed me to never apologize for any of my work...That one piece of advice was a turning point in my school life and my life life. Thank you. Judy, your patience and creativity is unbelievable. Thanks for always trying to think of another way to say something and another way to see something. You gave me perspective that translated into all of my life, not just what was on the paper. Thank you.

And, Dave. Wow, what a term! I think I learned and grew more in the last term than all six previous combined! Thank you for bringing the last two years of work and my portfolio to a major culmination. I'm so thankful that you were constantly driving home the universals. You always made me evaluate and reevaluate so that I was not satisfied with "okay." Over 100 emails full of support, critiques and questions led to this past Friday's success. Thank you.

And to my lifelong friends who were there with me all the way...

Cassie Montgomery aka Florence aka Dorinda Lee aka you-know-who-you-are... ;) I don't even know where to start... For always admiring me attempting art school; as you termed it, "the ultimate in subjectivity." For all your cards and phone calls and texts and emails and Starbucks cards and care packages. For coming for Balloon Fiesta. For our roadtrip to Durango. For car sing-alongs. For always welcoming me in sunny SD. For great music discussions and new artist discoveries. For celebrating my 3oth with me in OR. For your thoughtfulness and laughter and sarcasm and love of irony and fun heart...and of course, your love of camera. Oh, how we love Princess Kiwi and The New Girl and all our other machines past, present and future. I'm so glad we started our photo adventures together that New Year of 2004.

Schmee. For always being interested in what I was learning in school. For brainstorming with me. For watching me finesse the blade and keeping me company during finals. For asking me to explain "the process"...which only further ingrained it into my mind. For zoo walks and taking me to the glass graveyard and meeting me for coffees and sushis. For my Shuffle that got me through long hours of computer work. For sending me awful Engrish translations you ran across. For listening. For loving. For being you.

My Sweet Georgia Peach. For being someone I can be myself with. For wanting simple things. For loving simple things. For talking...and talking. For this past August. You are so special to me. I'm so glad we're doing the same thing with our careers. It's going to be awesome to see where it goes!

Schaefer and Dotyhead Kimberly...for cheers and verses and phone calls and walks and quick visits and for dropping in to raid the fridge. Thanks for understanding limited schedules and for working with it and making yourself comfortable in the house as soon as you walked in. And for falling in love and getting married. I'm so happy and proud and inspired.

Svetlana Marmelade, the girl with eye paint like a rainbow trout! I loove our emails and phone calls and walks and sushi dates and dinners at your house...I'm so thankful for our friendship being revived and all that the last two years has brought. I know our instant recognition of one another that late December afternoon was no accident. Thank you for being a huge supporter of continuing education and my endeavors to pursue it. And thank you for reconnecting me with my love of Elvis. It made me remember why I love what I love, even if it doesn't turn out like I thought it might...and it made me realize I am not broken, just an elitist. :)

Joyce E. I think I'd have to do interpretive dance to show my joy over being in your life again. I love you and your beautiful family. Thank you for walking up to me at the Star and inviting me back into your world. It's so awesome to see where life takes us. And I am honored to have been your photographer for some of your life over the last year. Knowing you are rooting for me means a lot.

The Wards. I am still amazed that I've had a friend for 23 years...How is that possible? Leesh, thanks for keeping me in your life. You are so beautiful and it was great to catch up a bit in person this past summer. You're enthusiasm toward my work really meant a lot. Love you.

Tiff, you are inspiring...even in your lowest moments...or should I say, especially in your low moments. Thank you for loving so fiercely and being such an encouragement. I love when we find time to connect and I love you so.

To my Kauai friends at home...for always loving me and reminding me of that love...by phone, by email, by text and by plane ticket. :) I love you, Miss Morning Glory, Annie Wildcat, Lisa-Faye-who-momentarily-is-Jane-Doe, Michelle, Sophia, Rachel, Kim and Wade and all my CCK family. I love that you run to me with open arms and smiles and laughter and prayers when I get to go home. I look forward to being together again sooner than later.

To all my CCBC friends from the first time I went to college...especially Schtephanie, Amanda, The Pettys, The Smithers, Dear Debs and Kitten...Thanks for the emails and blog comments and visits and invitations to visit...

To all of you who are kind enough to read my blog...and even kinder to comment...I love my Project 52 Fans...

To all my supporters at the Star, especially Mary, Jackie, Caroline, Richard & Wendy, Matalie & Bonnie, Litton, and Uncle Joel & April. Thank you for asking how school and life are going and for acknowledging that the kids working the counter are real people. I'd especially like to thank Mary for looking at my work and giving me feedback. I admire you and your work tremendously. Thank you for sharing.

To the kids at the Star who have supported me and been there with me through so much...Thank you for all your laughter and fun and singing and camaraderie, especially Vanessa, Stacey, Jeremy, and, of course, my girl, Kelly. Thanks for being so flexible with schedules and helping me stay my course. And thanks for all those openings together with the tunes and the talking, Kelly. So glad our soundtrack for the last two years has John, Adam D, Jack, and Adam L singing to us in the background.

I'd also like to thank the other music that ran throughout the last two years...especially the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack, Anberlin, Landon Pigg, Rosie Thomas, John Mayer, Josh Radin, Fernado Ortega, the Nutcracker Suite, George Winston, The Weepies, Imogen Heap, and the wonder of Pandora.

I'd like to thank Stacy and Clinton of What Not to Wear for being so fun and making me laugh. Steve Carell, John Krasinsky, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson and the rest of The Office cast for making such an incredible, painfully funny show. Emma Thompson for Sense and Sensibility and Stranger Than Fiction. Will Farrell for Elf and Stranger Than Fiction. Without my entertainment escapes I wouldn't have made it or stumbled into inspirations for concepts.

And to all the people who have asked me to be their photographer in the last year...You have all helped me to figure out what I was meant to do...Church Alive, the Burchard/Atencios, Tom and Mindra, Gabe and April, The Almarez Family, Judy and Sophia, The Martins, The Kornegays, Luke and Amanda, and the Flemings, to name a few. I am so grateful and honored that you chose me to capture priceless moments. Thank you.

I could go on and on, but I think I've gone on long enough...If I didn't name you specifically, it's not because I don't love you enough...I'm just blessed to be surrounded by truly amazing people in every facet of my life....

And now, this week's photo. I love this picture because of the flare and the play of the light and shadow. This tree is in my parents' backyard and it is lovely.

Merry Christmas.