Ella Mae turned 10 this year.

Ella and her family are those effortless kind of friends- the kind we can go without seeing for months to almost years and still pick up right where we left off. The kind we always invite to our kids birthday parties because it’s an excuse to get together and it wouldn’t feel right without them there.

When we got the invite to Ella’s party this year, and I saw it was at Skateworld, I thought it might be a fun challenge for me to photograph her moment. Skating rinks are terribly dark and black lights are definitely NOT as psychedelic on camera as they are in person, but I’m learning that memories don’t wait for ideal conditions.

The moments worth remembering are often as forgiving and unfussy as our family friends. We invite them back, year after year…

An interview with Ella, 10 years old:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a marine biologist in Hawaii.

What’s something you did in this year, that you feel proud of?

I went skiing for the first time.

What challenges you? (something that you’re working on?)

Working on my new room. My emotions are challenge.

What do you want to do in the next year that you’ve never done before?

I want to go to Paris.

What annoys you the most?

Max.

Who you do you trust more than anyone?

God.

Who’s your hero?

Amelia Earhart

When you pray, how do you picture God?

I picture Him well and fair.

What do you think heaven will be like?

Big and clean and where there’s no more sin that can break through the walls of heaven.

If you could change the world, what would you do?

I would change world hunger- no one would feel hungry anymore and no one would die of starvation.

Ella’s Favorites:

Color- teal

Animal: Dolphin

Sport: Skiing

School Subject: Science

Song: Lost Boy

Movie- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fear

Book- Harry Potter Series

Breakfast- Waffles

Dessert- Ice cream cake

Holiday: Christmas

Board Game: Wits and Wagers

VideoGame: MineCraft

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