Summer already?  I’m not ready.

My oldest daughter graduated High School.

My oldest son graduated Elementary School.

I can feel the winds change, ‘the times they are a-changing’, to quote Bob Dylan

And since the song is in my head, here are the words, but whatever you want to say about Dylan, he is a poet first.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

Denial will not help me with this one, it’s happening whether I like it or not.

I scheduled a photo session for my family, to record us as we are NOW, before the shifting of the family unit as we know it today.

That is what photography mean to me, preserving the today for tomorrow.

Here is a share from the session with Stephanie Badini.

It was a great experience being on the other side of the lens

Every year I give away a few sessions to support great organizations that need to raise money.

This is the last opportunity to win a session this year via chinese auction. Purchase your ticket today, May 10, 2011 to double your chance.  The event will take place on May 18th, 2011 and is supporting my sons school.

Click here to purchase your tickets

And because I’m posting I want to share a lovely Mother’s Day tribute to an amazing Mom, Chaya and her girls.

I want this blog to be a happy place to visit, a place that you know you can turn to and you will smile.

But sometimes we all need a little reminder of how lucky we are and we need to reflect on all the wonderful things we take for granted by stopping a moment to see what we can do to help those less fortunate.

This is the story of a young boy, Leizer, just 6 years old, that was burned on over 80% of his body in a terrible house fire. The family lost their home in Israel to this tragedy and have relocated to the United States for treatment for their child.  As a result of the devastating fire, Leizer lost both legs and as has so far undergone 16 surgeries already.

Leizer and his family need our help.  You can help by joining us this Motzei Shabbos, January 22 and come to Life Plex for Leizer.  Lifeplex and their staff have generously donated their time so every penny goes directly to helping Leizer.

Take this opportunity to try an exercise class and do a chesed at the same time.  Sign up for as many classes as you can (and then sign up for a few more!)  Bring all your friends, bring your daughters, bring your bathing suits!

It’s a great way to spend a Saturday night and you can feel good knowing you are helping others.

If you can’t make it, you can participate by purchasing a raffle ticket, I’ve donated a session and prints with yours truly.

Hope to see you there!

Decisions…. the Big Giveaway 2010.

I got beautiful, touching and worthy submissions from many of you.

Mothers nominating daughters, daughters nominating mothers, neighbors writing about how selfless and giving their neighbors are.

It was a very tough round this year.  I wish I could just choose them all.

In the end there were 4 finalists.  I shared those 4 with a panel of selected women I respect and asked them to help me decide whom to give the session to.

Everyone on the panel choose a husband who wrote about the trials he and his wife went through before their wedding and how disappointed his wife was with the wedding photos as a result of their trials.   The romantics in all of them were overcome.

But there was one other nomination that really touched my heart.

A story of a couple that couldn’t have children and after many years adopted 2 boys.  I decided to give them a session as well.

It was a pleasure to have your help in this.  I know that there are small things we can all do for each other to make someone’s day.  Sometimes it’s a friendly call or card – so let’s spread goodness and kindness with all!

And since I can’t post without sharing some photos…  Here she is, Tamar.

This is the third annual Giveaway and once again I am asking you for your nominations.

I want to give a gift to someone YOU know.  The gift will be a free portrait session and prints valued up to $2,000.  Yes that’s $2,000!!!

You might know someone that would love to have custom portraits but is too busy or selfless.  Someone that always come thru for you or someone that is going thru a difficult hardship.  Let’s give them something they will cherish forever.  Together, you and I will let them know how special they are.

The best?  If your nomination wins you will get a free session and an 11×14 print.

The fine print:

-Send your nomination to dini@dinigroner.com

-Subject topic must say ‘Giveaway 2010’

-Tell me why you think your nominee is worthy of the Giveaway

-You cannot nominate yourself

-The photo session must take place in Rockland County

-The deadline is December 31, 2010

Winner will be announced January 16, 2011

It’s that simple!