Give and Receive!!

You guys. I am so excited. I just won a scholarship to the coolest workshop I’ve ever heard about!!!

The Love Affair Workshop is a women-only pro-photographer workshop in North Carolina, put on by some of the most amazing women. As soon as I saw it, I was dying to go. But when he saw the cost, Dave balked… I knew there was no way. Still, I obsessed over how to make it work. I kept looking at the website and dreaming. Then, lo and behold, they announced there was going to be a scholarship. There was my chance. I thought about it for days, and suddenly I got the idea that a simple essay wouldn’t do. They needed to see. So I created a slideshow.

Can I just say, that was SO worth the time I spent on it? Even if I didn’t win, I was so happy I’d done it, because it just made me love my family even more after seeing them on there. I was planning on sharing it here, but I was afraid of jinxing myself. :)

I knew my story wasn’t incredible, that it was pretty much like everyone else’s story. So I win this scholarship for all of us, every woman that is trying to pursue a passion as well as love and care for their family, trying to balance it all, wondering if she’s doing a good enough job at anything.

Man. This is going to be SO cool!!!!

This entry was written by Shannon Montez, posted on December 19, 2007 at 9:06 pm, filed under old blog. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.

42 Comments

  1. Monica said . . .

    OMG Shannon…that was so.freaking.awesome. I would have picked you in a heartbeat!

    Congratulations!!

    Posted December 19, 2007 at 9:21 pm | Permalink
  2. Holli B. said . . .

    Congratulations, Shannon! That is amazing. You did a great job and are so talented! Have a great time at the workshop!

    Posted December 19, 2007 at 9:28 pm | Permalink
  3. Rachel said . . .

    Congrats Shannon! And I just have to say that slideshow ROCKS. you are the real deal Ms. Montez. love ya! :)

    Posted December 19, 2007 at 9:57 pm | Permalink
  4. jen said . . .

    that was SO cool. you are the funniest person that i don’t know but wish i did!

    Posted December 19, 2007 at 11:25 pm | Permalink
  5. Joanna said . . .

    Oooh, Shannon, that is awesome!! I’m so happy for you! When are you going? Wish you were coming to the mountainous part of the state!!!! You will LOOOOOOOVE that cross-country flight! : )

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 6:17 am | Permalink
  6. Stephanie T. said . . .

    We’re BOTH winners! (tee hee)
    This was wonderful, creative and said exactly what needed to be said…If I’d been on your scholarship committee (the academic ones aren’t HALF as much fun), I’d have picked you too!! It positively SHINES!!
    Dave and the kids are a pretty powerful muse ‘eh? Congrats Shannon…

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 8:07 am | Permalink
  7. Lindsay said . . .

    That is such a cute slideshow!

    Congratulations on the scholarship. It will be an amazing experience!

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 9:17 am | Permalink
  8. Maureen said . . .

    I’m so happy for you!
    The video rocks!!

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 9:33 am | Permalink
  9. Tina said . . .

    I’m near tears, here, Shannon. I love what you did. Go for me, too. Have a great time.

    Congrats and merry Christmas.

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 10:12 am | Permalink
  10. Amy F said . . .

    Shannon, BEAUTIFUL job! I was laughing and crying at the same time. No wonder they picked you! But I have to say, I am a little freaked out right now because one of the women putting on the workshop is my sister-in-law and photographer extraordinare, Davina Fear. When I saw her picture pop up, I screamed! Now I’m going to have to send her an email. :o)

    ~Amy Fear

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 10:33 am | Permalink
  11. elizabeth said . . .

    I’m so, so glad you won, Shannon. You are the perfect candidate. I’m all weepy!

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 10:37 am | Permalink
  12. Mindy said . . .

    YEAH SHANNON!!!!! Good for you. YOU DESERVE IT.
    When is the workshop?
    The slideshow was beautiful. Makes me miss you guys so much!
    Merry Christmas, and Congratulations!!

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 10:52 am | Permalink
  13. Hilary said . . .

    YAY!!!! Make sure you take notes. Lots and lots of notes.
    BTW, meth isn’t so much a problem here as it is in Dublin — were you thinking of moving? :)

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 10:59 am | Permalink
  14. kellicrowe said . . .

    shannie!
    this is soooo great!
    i totally almost cried over your slideshow!

    congrats!!
    kellicrowe

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 11:56 am | Permalink
  15. Moriah Bettencourt said . . .

    That slide show rocked! Congratulations! You’re going to have a great time :)

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 12:10 pm | Permalink
  16. Joanna said . . .

    PS> Your slideshow is hilarious and lovely!!! I’m so glad you won!

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 12:23 pm | Permalink
  17. jenniferL said . . .

    yeah shannon!! i loved the slidewshow… so cute & funny!! the workshop looks awesome plus you’ll be staying at beach houses. have a fantastic time.

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 12:25 pm | Permalink
  18. candi said . . .

    sooo cool, you will be in my area. I wanted to go too, but I couldn’t cash out the dough either. lol. Hope you have a grand time!!! :)

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 12:54 pm | Permalink
  19. miley said . . .

    LOVE your slide show..and you friend….Miley

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 6:39 pm | Permalink
  20. Brenda Miles said . . .

    Oh you. Winning things all the time for your superior skills. You deserve it, chica. Have a great time!

    Posted December 20, 2007 at 10:29 pm | Permalink
  21. Julie said . . .

    That’s great, Shannon! So happy for you!

    Posted December 21, 2007 at 6:17 am | Permalink
  22. jami said . . .

    Shannon-That is really exciting! Congratulations! You are amazing.

    Posted December 21, 2007 at 8:41 am | Permalink
  23. Hailey said . . .

    That was so amazing! such a great idea, entertaining, heartfelt, awesome! congratulations!

    Posted December 21, 2007 at 9:08 am | Permalink
  24. Julia said . . .

    That video is incredible, I’m not surprised at all you won that scholarship - Congratulations!! :-)

    Posted December 21, 2007 at 10:20 am | Permalink
  25. Shaunte said . . .

    WOOHOOOO! So happy for you! Awesome slideshow!

    (I hope you come back home.);)

    Posted December 21, 2007 at 1:49 pm | Permalink
  26. Andrea said . . .

    Sister–I’m so stinkin proud of you. I can’t wait to see you in a couple weeks!!! xoxoxoxo

    Posted December 21, 2007 at 2:12 pm | Permalink
  27. melissa deakin said . . .

    i am so happy you won, shannon.
    that video totally rocks and your family is so gorgeous! :)

    Posted December 21, 2007 at 7:32 pm | Permalink
  28. Lisa said . . .

    Congrats!! That slideshow was awesome and the scholarship is defintely well deserved. You’re going to rock your photos even more than you already do!

    Posted December 22, 2007 at 3:35 pm | Permalink
  29. jamie said . . .

    that is so cool.. congrats! your slideshow rocks!

    Posted December 24, 2007 at 2:55 pm | Permalink
  30. Susan Cyrus said . . .

    That is just the cutest! CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!!! :D

    Posted December 25, 2007 at 3:48 pm | Permalink
  31. kelz said . . .

    how wonderfully inspirational! i’m so pleased that you won the scholarship - certainly deserving. WTG.

    Posted December 27, 2007 at 12:52 pm | Permalink
  32. julie c said . . .

    oh my gosh, this is so funny, you had me almost in tears with the laughing!! i thougth i was gonna pee my pants! i loved it!! so glad you won the scholarship!!

    julie in ohio

    Posted December 27, 2007 at 2:59 pm | Permalink
  33. Laurissa said . . .

    The slideshow was awesome. It reminds me that it is all worth it (parenthood, etc.). Enjoy the workshop.

    Posted December 28, 2007 at 9:57 am | Permalink
  34. Kris said . . .

    LOVED your slideshow. I was dying to go to this workshop, but I couldn’t afford it either. Congratulations!!!!

    Posted December 28, 2007 at 2:09 pm | Permalink
  35. Michelle Tornay said . . .

    Shannon, you are so talented, and your slideshow completely rocked!

    Posted December 28, 2007 at 3:33 pm | Permalink
  36. Krista Lund said . . .

    congrats!! so well deserved!!!!

    Posted December 29, 2007 at 3:25 pm | Permalink
  37. Alison Beachem said . . .

    That was pretty darn cute! Have a wonderful time (i’m such a blog stalker:P)

    Posted December 29, 2007 at 8:24 pm | Permalink
  38. ali said . . .

    Congrats Shannon! So awesome, and so well deserved!

    Posted December 30, 2007 at 10:01 pm | Permalink
  39. kent said . . .

    THAT IS SO COOL! I am catching up on blogs today and I can’t belive you won!! I remember when you were telling me about it and how sad you were that you couldn’t go and now you can!! Congrats!!

    Posted December 31, 2007 at 2:56 pm | Permalink
  40. Susi (Dragonfly Dreamer) said . . .

    Congratulations! I love your slideshow. It touched me and made me cry (in a good way). I just called my husband up to watch it. How awesome that rather than stopping at the first obstacle you used your creativity to find another way. Definitely a positive message for people like me who have forgotten about being resourceful, determined, passionate and “making it happen.” Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year to you and your family. What a way to start off the New Year!

    Posted January 1, 2008 at 10:49 am | Permalink
  41. Susanne said . . .

    I just found your site and loved your scholarship entry. If they don’t award one to you they are obviously not fit to judge true creativity and need.

    Posted January 21, 2008 at 12:59 pm | Permalink
  42. Lisa said . . .

    Words cannot describe how much I loved that.

    Girl - you are BRILLIANT! I can’t think of anyone more deserving. And I’m proud to know you!

    Brilliant.

    Posted January 21, 2008 at 4:32 pm | Permalink

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