In Memmoriam

When I chose to go to Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio), where I got my business degree, I had to make a hard decision. While I knew it was the right school for me, I had to give up my dream of playing Collegiate Volleyball and turn down my chance to play for another University. While I easily made the decision, it wasn't easy to give up playing.

When I got to the University I quickly became involved in the Fieldhouse as a medic for the Rugby and Soccer Teams (Our only sports teams then) and Intramural Sports program. I also met some other Freshman girls that year that were in the same boat as me and we would dominate the Volleyball teams every year.... My Junior year talks were made and we worked ourself into being a NCAA D-III provisional school. That same year myself and the 2 girls I entered with became the Captains of the first ever Franciscan University Womens Volleyball team. That also marked the first year of Cross Country and Softball. The year or two before we had begun basketball, soccer, and baseball teams.

Yesterday, Tuesday August 19th, around 4:30pm a SUV carrying 7 members of the Cross Country team are thought to have swerved to miss a tire on Rt. 22 between Steubenville and Pittsburgh. The SUV lost control, went through a guardrail, down a hill, and flipped several times before coming to rest in the trees. A sophomore Political Science and Business major, Kelly Roggensack, died instantly. 2 students were airlifted to UPMC and the rest were transported to a local hospital.

With having only 2,000 students representing 36 majors, we are a very small school. Our athletics department is even smaller. One of the great things about the school is whether you know personally all 2000 students, you know either their name, or face. While I did not know this student, as I really don't know anyone there anymore, I know what happens on the campus when we loose a student. And it's beautiful.

While many people choose to focus on the sadness of the loss of a person we, as a student body, are blessed to see the glory that they are now experiencing is beyond that of what we have here on earth. Not to negate the sadness or sense of loss, or that there are no tears. There will be many tears, however, from those tears will also flow tears of joy that one of our sisters has... in the words of St. Paul, Run the race and fought the good fight. In fact, in Kelly's case how true are those words, that in her travels to physically run the race... she also completed the greatest race of all.

Please keep Kelly's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as well as the entire University family.

Thank You.
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Ryan and Beth

Saturday marked the wedding for Ryan and Beth. One thing I loved about shooting their wedding was that between their engagement portraits and Beth's bridals I really had a chance to get to know them. By the time I stepped to the venue on Saturday it felt very relaxed and just good to see everyone again. The whole day was beautiful as well as carefree and full of fun. I really have enjoyed working with Ryan, Beth, and their families over the past 6 months or so....

Chris and Julie

As you all know, I was in Rochester last weekend for the wedding of Chris and Julie. I've already spoken about it quite a bit but I had such a wonderful time there. Julie looked absolutely STUNNING and we had a full day of fun. We did have scattered thunderstorms all day long, but it all scattered perfectly! It rained when the hair was being done, but stopped to leave. Rained during the ceremony, but stopped for the end. We had a rainbow followed by an amazing sunset... and then it rained some more. Julie was not worried though. It rained or snowed on the wedding day of 2-3 generations... and everyone's lived happily married full lives.

First off, it was getting to the salon to get hair done and ready. I've never seen a woman do so many updo's so incredibly fast, and they all stayed the entire night long! No worries about this first image though, this is only partly done ;-) This is Cindy, one of the many fabulous bridesmaids Julie had.


Julie's hair was perfect






When Julie saw the veil on it was pure emotion that quickly came. It was beautiful and I don't think there was a dry eye.




After the girls all got ready we were all a bit hungry, so naturally, we all went to Subway ;-)
































Fist Kiss as man and wife :-)




























And of course, the Rolls Royce


Julie's Uncle (before becoming a Psychologist) used to do floral design. Well, I for one tried to convince him to do a lot more of it than jut a handful of weddings a year. His flowers were amazing.






Check out the amazing sunset we had over the vineyards!








THIS was a first for me! Usually, the guy who catches the garter puts it on the leg of the girl who got the flowers.... well... this girls PARENTS came and supervised. It's OK, it was all in good fun and EVERYONE got quite a laugh out of it.








Everyone was still smiles at the end, even though the rain washed of EVERYTHING they had just written on the car... 15 min. earlier!


This was leaving the church but I felt it fit better here at the end. Congratulations Chris and Julie! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your "weekend."