What better way to end your work week than to look upon this adorable, smiley face?! I hope you have an awesome weekend! Me? I’ll be playing catch up with my work, painting, ripping up flooring, etc. You know all the FUN stuff you’ll all be jealous of. If you want to come join in the fun let me know! 
Last week I got to send an exciting email to let a single parent know she won this year’s giveaway. I always love doing that! Like every year I wish I was able to do this for every single person who emails in their story, but I’m so happy I can do it for one. In the years past I’ve been a bit faster getting this blog post up, but I’ve had some interesting developments in my own little family this past week (which I’ll share later down the road…so stay tuned!)
Now on to the winner, Bettye Poole.
“Even though Nolah was a complete surprise, a product of a not so well thought out decision, she has definitely been a blessing in disguise. In the short 3 years since her birth I’ve learned so much about myself and what I’m capable of. I really had no clue what love was until I became a mother and how much of an impact one little human being could have. Being a single parent has not been easy, but at the end of the day when I look at my daughter I see nothing but the greatest accomplishment of my life.
I want to give her everything including a role model she can look up to and be proud of. Last year I decided the only way to achieve this would be to go back to school and get an education. I’m happy to say that with tremendous support from family, friends, and the Single Parent Scholarship fund of NWA I’m finishing my first year of college with a 3.8 GPA!! This is just the beginning of a better and brighter future for us and I’m thankful to MJW Photography for giving us the opportunity to document in pictures this amazing time in our lives.”
I am so excited to photograph these beautiful girls. And seriously, doesn’t Nolah look just like her mama?! 
I know these two personally. Bettye is such an amazing mom….she is raising a daughter that is learning respect, and values! Bettye is leading her daughter by example. It is not easy to be mom and dad at the same time. Bettye knows how to show her child her undying attention and love, and also knows when she has to do the tough part of parenting and discipline. There is one thing that I know for sure and that is that Nolah knows her mother loves her unconditionally. I am so proud of what Bettye has accomplished in her life! It is such a honor to be a part of their lives and to call Bettye my friend.
For the past 3 years I have done this and am always amazed at the powerful stories you share with me. This year I want to share an update on our 2010 single parent winner, Andrea. Here is what Andrea wrote to me:
“At the time I won the single moms contest in early 2010, my husband of almost 15 years had just left our family for another woman. It was a sad,hard, and confusing time. However, I knew that God has never let me down, He was faithful. No matter how hopeless I felt, I knew he would pull me through. My kids are doing so much better and I would never take back the closeness that I have with them because of our struggles. I have recently been blessed with being able to build my own home through the blessings of others. It’s my first home and I am so excited! The kids and I moved in just last week and we are already making incredible memories in our new home. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have been given and I feel so empowered by all I have been able to accomplish being a single parent.”
I hope her story will give someone the encouragement they are needing today.
Make sure you share this with your friends with Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.. Let’s make sure this reaches as many single parents it can!
Andrea is a hard working mom who is devoted to her children and her walk with the lord. I am happy to see her featured on your blog.
This is Sam and his dad, Daniel, our single parent winner. I was supposed to meet them Saturday, but today was so beautiful I couldn’t pass up on the weather and light. Sam is a pretty easy going baby…at least, he was for me. He smiled at his blue doggie, danced at his daddy’s music, giggled when we threw him into the air and occasionally stopped to eat some grass. He even let us change him a couple of times. Sam has the bluest eyes and the rosiest cheeks! This little boy is going to break a lot of hearts one day.
Daniel, it was great to finally meet you. I enjoyed photographing you both and look forward to chatting soon.
Every year it’s hard to pick a winner, and this year proved no different. Thank you to everyone who sent in their stories, their lives, their struggles. This year Daniel and his baby boy are our single parent winners. Daniel has given me permission to post the email he sent in to share with you. He even gave it a title.
Congratulations! I’ll be in touch very soon.
*his email below*
How I rebuilt my truck engine while rocking my baby to sleep.
My name is Daniel I am the father and single parent of 7 month old boy. who at the time of this story was 3 months I lived in Siloam Springs and got a job in Fayetteville, about a 40 minute drive. I had to get up at 5am every morning, get ready, drive to the sitter, and then to work at 7am. At the time Samuel would wake up about three times each night and need to be feed, so sleep was precious.
One morning I was driving my truck to work on highway 412 and all the sudden it quit on me. I called the towing man and he towed it back to the house. I borrowed a vehicle from a friend for the day and got to work. that night I came home and checked the flue. It was good. I got Samuel a bottle and hung him on my hip and check the fire and it was good. I sang a song to Samuel, then went to Autozone to get a compression tester tool. I came back and changed his diaper and drug his swing outside by the truck and started swinging him to sleep while I checked the compression. The number 3 and 4 cylinder read about 60 psi but on 1 and 2 I had nothing. I called my friend and ask to barrow his van another day because I need to change a head gasket. The next day I went and got a gasket kit. Samuel was pretty fussy and I finally got him to sleep. I hooked up my air ratchet to pull off the head but when I use it on the first bolt the noise scared Samuel and he started crying. I dropped what I was doing and took him from the swing into my arms and started singing “Everything is gonna be okaaaaa” after a minute he calmed down i gave him a bottle and he went back to sleep. I held off on the impact wrench and just used a socket and ratchet. After I got the head off I noticed that the top of the pistons were cracked. I went inside and called it a night. The next day at work I saw on craigslist a guy who had a Ford Ranger engine for sale. I’m just a regular guy and I have never changed a motor. The motor was $200 and the cheapest car was $800. I only had $600 in my savings account so I went and got the motor. I ask the guy I bought it from if I could borrow his engine hoist and he rented it to me for $20 but I had to have it back by Wednesday. I unhooked the drive shaft, change Samuel’s diaper, and pull out my engine while singing “row row row your boat” Samuel was having fun I gave him the 3/8ths ratchet to play with. When I got the motor out I realized the one I bought was a different style and all the wiring harnesses did not line up to my truck. It was a mess. The next day I took Samuel to church and he really liked the music. after church I started brainstorming about how to solve the problem and desided to take the pistons out of the good engine and put them in the one that fits. I took the day off. Monday I borrowed a honer and honed out the calender walls and exchanged the pistons rings and inserts. Tuesday was my last night to use the hoist so I had to set the engine back into the truck and Samuel was fussy. I had Samuel in one arm with a bottle and I was working the hoist and equalizer with the other and by the grace of God returned the hoist Wednesday. Thursday I wired it all back in and hooked up hoses and belts, and Friday I put the fluids in. I had Samuel in the swing and I was singing to him checking his diaper, wipping up enfamil bottels, and pirioticly thaking him on walks around the block . It is a good feeling when you fall in love, it is a good feeling when you ride a jet ski or go to theme park. It is a good feeling when you drive a brand new car. But I wouldn’t trade any of those for the one I had on Saturday morning when I started that engine and the truck ran smother than it ever has. Now my son can put this on his resume that helped his dad change an engine when he was 3 months.
Praise the Lord!!!!
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