Our Champion!

This year's PTA Reflections Theme was "Diversity Means..."  Ruth really wanted to enter the contest and she REALLY wanted to do Photography.  The theme was really difficult this year.  It's hard for even an adult to try to explain exactly what "Diversity Means..." But she was determined to figure it out.  Keli and I set out one afternoon with Ruth and her camera.  We walked all around the neighborhood and the woods behind the house pausing every few minutes for Ruth to take some pictures.  Our thinking was that once she got the "perfect" shot, her vision for the theme would work itself out.  We came home feeling sad and defeated.  Nothing inspired her.  Then we opened up the pictures on the computer and found a number of pictures that would work!  This is the one she chose to enter in the contest:  

Ruth titled it "Diversity means finding beauty in everything" (or something like that).  In her statement (explaining her vision) she described how this picture shows the girl enjoying the beauty all around her even though it is all so diverse (something about the weeds and the sky being different but both beautiful)  I can't remember exactly how she/we worded it, but that's the basics of it.  

Anyway... last night was the school's Reflections Awards Night.  We were pretty excited to attend (I knew in my heart that Ruth would win).  Ruth received a trophy and a certificate for her entry.  Which means she won!  (In her age group/category).  This means that her photograph will move on to the District level and be judged again.  If she finishes in the top three of her age/category, she'll move on to region, then to state, then to nationals.  Honestly, we don't expect her to go all the way, but it's fun to think about.  Ruth's just happy she got a cute little trophy to display.  (It even has her name on it!)

Ruth's Picture is at the top.

Waiting to find out if she won.

After she got her trophy, she was very pleased with herself.  We were pleased too.