The ever so beautiful Deborah Ouzts, the most loving person, mother, and best friend you will ever meet. She is a super multitasking workaholic who is always serving others bending over backwards for everyone she knows. She endures it all with a happy countenance. More people like her are needed in this world.

My friend Vanessa deserves this more than anyone I can think of. She's taken on the role of sole-provider for her family and works her rear off running her photography business and teaching dance lessons, all while being an awesome friend, wife and mom of 2!

My mom remarried last year after losing my dad to cancer and relocated across the country. Excited to be a newlywed again, she soon found herself raising his 2 grandsons instead. She has been through challenge after challenge and always seems to be the one giving of herself instead of asking of others.

Wow. I came on here to nominate someone else but then I read Ann's comment above and now I want to nominate her mom!! Of course I don't know her name; I don't even know who Ann is! But I think her Mom sounds like an angel and she deserves this time for herself so I nominate Ann's mother!

My very courageous, recently-divorced, just-started-working-after-16-years mom (Pam) TOTALLY deserves this more than anything. She moved works about two hundred hours a day, she just got us moved into a new house, and despite the fact that she's swimming in stress, she keeps the most friendly countenance ever.

I'd like to nominate my sister, Nancy. She has given of herself for a year and a half to take care of her daughter with leukemia, as well as be there for our dad who recently died of cancer. She has rarely had time for herself or alone time with her husband since this all began.

I would like to nominate my daughter Brandy. She is an amazing person that has had some really hard trials but always trys so hard to be positive and learn from them. She has just gone through the invetro process for the second time and just found out that once again it did not work. It has been such an emotional journey I think her and Mike could really use a night away!!

I would like to nominate my friend Jana Kofford. Jana tragically lost her four year old son Cooper this summer, something that as a mother I cannot imagine experiencing. While going through the many difficulties that attended the tragedy of her son's death, Jana has been a beacon of hope, thoughtfulness and strength. Jana is a brilliant business owner, a thoughtful friend, a loving wife and a fantastic mother of six! If anyone needs a night of pampering it is Jana Kofford and her sweetheart Quinn.

I nominate my beautiful wife Rachael Schirano who day in and day out, sacrifices her personal needs and sanity to ensure that our family of six (including teenage daughter and 2 yr old triplets) is happy and healthy. If that isn't enough, she has battled several large obstacles in pursuing her passion for photography, and I feel that she could use a little light at the end of the tunnel for all that she does for us.

My friend Spoken, gives and gives and gives, she works 14 hour days and goes to school for 9 credit hours this semester and is scheduled for 13 next semester, she rarely complains and is always giving and helping and doing for everyone, If I could buy this prize for her I would. If I could make her dream chasing easier I would.

To be honest, I seriously thought about nominating myself, but after reading the other nominations, I would like to nominate Jana Kofford as well, even though I don't know her. My son is almost 4 and we have a lot of struggles with him. As frustrated as I get with challenges we are facing, I'm so thankful that we have him. My heart hurts for her and her loss.

I nominate my girl's dance instructor, Deborah Skinner. She runs a dance studio, a non-profit theatre group, and a pre-school program that works with typically developing and learning disabled students. She is ever so busy, has the biggest heart, the best intentions for everyone she holds dear to her (which is a lot).
Anyhow. After this years production of the Nutcracker that her theatre group is putting together she will need a night away!

I would like to nominate my best friend Michelle Fahlgren. Our friendship had such an unlikely start, but has found a way to last through the years no matter how far apart we live. I have never met such a beautiful and giving person. She is a wonderful wife, mother, and friend.

Angela Ruddy will be the one I nominate for this contest! She is an amazing mother and is struggling to help put food on the table and pay bills. She is constantly running a million miles an hour and doing things for everyone else. She has sacrificed so many things on her part to just help her little family survive...this would be so perfect for her!

I am nominating Marta, a woman I don't even know. She responded to my blog (http://www.nicoleneffphotography.com/blog/?p=1546#comments) and this really tugged at my heart. These two sentences say it all:
"I recently started doing photography for experience and extra money, but it took off faster than I was prepared for. I was soon pulling all nighters (once I stayed up over 38 hours, skipped 2 classes just to get caught up) and booking up to 6 photo shoots a weekend.... it started interfering with my relationship with my husband real fast, my 3 year old daughter was going to bed at night crying that she missed me and she didn't want me to do pictures anymore."

I nominate my mom Tammy! She has recently sent out a missionary and is now preparing a wedding for my sister on December 18 and then going to send my other sister off on a mission in february! Through everything she hasn't taken the time for helself and really needs a break! My mom is the best!

I would like to nominate my very good friend Sarah Goodman. She is the mother of 5 kids all under 8 and she runs her own business. I know that her life gets crazy and overwhelming and for some reason she is always so so happy! She is a great example to me and I just love her!

I want to nominate my sister Maria de Jesus Smith. She is the mother of 6 amazing children (ages 3 - 17) and gives her heart and soul to them often to the detriment to her personal sanity. She is an amazing mother, sister and friend and I would love to see her get a break.

My beautiful, (pregnant) wife Mikki who works relentlessly each and every day. Works 8-5 at a job, then comes homes to photograph sessions most nights, every weekend and most holidays. It's a team effort for sure but I know she is stressed, overwhelmed and ready for a small break. (before the baby comes that is:) Then it's hopefully full time photo for her after that- she's worked SO hard to make it to this point!

Another nominatiom for Jana Kofford! I cannot imagine the pain of losing one of my 6 children.My littlest boy was 4 yrs old this summer and I can't imagine a day without him by my side.
Rita