I've thought long and hard about it. I wondered how myself, a couple friends, and Dana of Vita Dolce would be able to send 306 boxes of chocolate to everyone who responded to the Gift Basket Giveaway, but we've drawn a blank. Your stories were joyous, poignant, and painful, but they are also strung together by hope and love. As Dana aptly pointed out, we all need to share our stories as part of the healing process so she understood how chocolates and this blog became a catalyst…it really seemed like readers just wanted to share.

For this, thank you. Thank you for sharing your lives–the triumphs, the losses, the peaks, the valleys–in the name of unity. Your stories brought me to tears and while there is a lot of pain in the world, I also know pain causes change. Changes to love more. To forgive. To cherish.

The winner of the Vita Dolce Gift Basket was nominated by Sabrina White and her story is as follows:

My husband is a youth pastor and while he would make a great nominee, I actually would like to nominate one of our youth, Nicole. She is a senior and just turned 18. Her and her family moved to the DFW area about a year ago from NC. About 6 months ago her mother had a serious stroke which left her hospitalized for about a month. Nicole's dad is a truck driver and provides the main source of income for the family so he HAS to work but because of his occupation is never around. So Nicole being the oldest (she has two twin 14 yr. old brothers…YIKES!), has taken the responsibility of BOTH parents in the house hold. Her mother is home now but not able to function on her own. She walks w/ a cane and falls often and can not even cook for herself anymore. So Nicole has had to give up the golf team (something she really enjoyed and was good at), and balances working at Chilis to help with finances and college, taking care of her mother, cooking, cleaning, driving her brothers around and taking care of them. She is also the one who has to discipline her brothers, including having to go to their school for a recent suspension. Oh and did I mention she is taking 5 AP HONORS classes on top of all this stress! She is a leader in our youth group and an incredible inspiration and encouragement…And she gives God the credit! Through tears this past Sunday she spoke of how hard it has been caring for someone who has cared for you their whole life and because of the situation her family is in has decided not to go away to college in the fall, (although that's what she'd really like to do), but to go to a local community college so she can continue to help and be there for her mother and two “trouble maker” (said w/ love) brothers! Whew that was long, sorry but you needed background as to why this barely 18-yr. old girl, (her b-day was last week), deserves a bit of encouragement in the form of yummy chocolates!

Thank you to all who opened your lives and provided a window to your souls.

Here's a photo from this weekend's wedding at Don Cesar in St. Pete's Beach, Florida…and be warned…I'm gonna get all photo geek on you. Check out cool the Canon 5D, Mark II is…I've been shooting with this camera for a few months now, but just had the opportunity to have a little fun with the high iso.
f/1.4, 1/40, 3200 ISO

Happy Monday!