As you know, the picture Ann submitted was a black and white but I thought I would use the opportunity to try my hand at first coloring a black and white and THEN painting it.???? I assume though that Ann wanted the picture painted in black and white since that is what she submitted so here is the bw version with the same blue selective colors as in the original.
And here was the picture Ann submitted just for reference:
Hope you like this Ann!?? :)???? Just let me know which version of the painting you want printed – color or black and white selective.
*************************
Ann was kind enough to email me the story behind the above picture as well as send a frontal picture of her sweet kids.
From Ann…..
Our son in the wheelchair ??? Jack, was born with a congenital muscular dystrophy and has been ventilator dependent since he was 4 months old.?? We lived in St. Louis when Jack was born (having moved from Phoenix to St. Louis in 1996 so that our oldest daughter, who is deaf, could attend one of the best oral schools for the deaf in St. Louis). After having child number four in 2002, we moved back home to Arizona so I could be near my family again.?? Because Jack is a medically complicated kid, we continue to travel to St. Louis every year to see all his doctors at St. Louis Children???s Hospital.?? We must use our vacation time from work to make the week long trips to St. Louis every year (we travel by car because of all Jack???s equipment) and, therefore, don???t have much vacation time left over for fun family trips.?? After a very involved and complicated spinal fusion surgery in 2006, we decided that we needed to take a year off from making the trip back to St. Louis.
The picture I submitted was taken in 2007, on our first family vacation in over five years.???? The location is the beach of the Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island.?? I had in my mind???s eye the picture I wanted of my kids. It was quite the challenge to get Jack???s wheelchair down to the water???s edge.?? We borrowed a sand wheelchair from the lifeguard station to get Jack down there, then carried his (very heavy) wheelchair to the surf?? – then transferred him. I kept telling my husband ??? as he was unhappily lugging the wheelchair – that it really was going to be worth it. I was really fortunate to capture the moment I had envisioned!
Jack???s siblings in the picture are his sisters, Hilary and Mary and his younger brother Eric.
I???ve been following Doni???s blog for many years, having found the link from another micro-preemie???s blog.?? I admire and respect Doni???s strong faith and convictions and, as I told Doni, I believe that we can all learn something from every person who touches our lives ??? even if it???s only a ???cyber-touch???.?? Thank you Doni for the amazing gift of painting my picture and thanks to all of your readers for their very nice comments.
Anyone interested can follow Jack???s journey on our family blog at www.jack-schrooten.blogspot.com
14 responses to “Winning Painting”
I’ll bet the farm that 26 other hopefuls are now glad this was the picture chosen. Thank You and for your story.
Beautiful job, Doni. And thanks, Ann for sharing your story. Its an amazing picture.
Oh Doni, they are both beautiful!! I’ll have to show my husband and family and get their opinions on which one I should have printed. Thank you so much!
Touched my heart…..Thank you.
Ann – what a gift to have had that time for fun and refreshing and a family! You’ve got a VERY special picture to commemorate the event… and now Doni has added her own special touch to it too. (WELL DONE DONI!) Thank you for sharing your story Ann… we pray with you that Jack and all of your children have good health and lots of joy, laughs, and hopes.
Love Heidi Jo
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, the story and the painting. I am so glad now that I heard the words behind the picture that I voted for that one. Its something Ann will cherish FOREVER.
I agree beautiful picture and story. Awesome Job Doni (as always)
STUNNING picture! 🙂 Great job with the painting Doni!…. and, Ann, thank you for sharing your story. Like I said when I voted, if I weren’t voting for my son’s picture, I would have voted for this picture hands down…. the picture drew me in and made me want to know more of the story. So… I’m glad your husband lugged the wheelchair down to water for you. I completely agree with you – we can indeed learn something from everyone who touches our lives – even in cyber space.
Blessings to you all,
Kari
Oh my goodness!!!! It is so so awesome, Doni! And to you ANN, Thank you so much for touching us by sharing your family’s story with us. It is a beautiful picture/painting of your beautiful family and a cherished moment for you all. I am so thankful Doni could do this for you!!! I don’t think I could pick which one I like better: )
Oh it is absolutely beautiful and so is the story behind it. Thank you Ann for sharing, you truly have an amazing family. I am all choked up with tears of joy:).
I think that the picture turned out beautiful and I am sure that it will be a treasure to Ann and her family. I am soooo glad you shared your story with us Ann. How fun to make friends thru this modern age by computer, and an even bigger blessing is to be able to share our hearts, hurts, joys with each other and know that we can help share your burdens and bring our concerns before our Father. Job well done my Doni. We expected nothing less and enjoyed being a part of your giving a blessing to Ann.
That is beautiful!!!!
A beatiful painting of a beautiful family. Love the color version. I loved reading Ann’s story, too. It makes the appreciation of the moment that is captured in the image so much richer.
Thank you to Doni for doing great work, and to Ann for sharing her story! The picture is perfect in any format–I would have a hard time figuring out which one I wanted, too! Whichever version you choose, it will be something you’ll be able to hang in your home and always remember the great family times you had together. I’m so happy that your picture won!