Melissa Donaldson - So incredibly awesome Melissa! I love President Bush, what an honor to meet him! Congrats!
Bill T - More than a great photo, it's also a great snuggle! :)
Dana Salsbury - At the risk of getting political, I'll just say the man is all class. I hope to meet him someday too. How cool that he noticed you!
Jamesv - You make me smile. Great story and what a wonderful photo.
Sarah Sandhaus - WOW! Why was this not on the 101 goals?! ;-) This is awesome! LOVE the story. Did you really say "BFF's"? Love u, miss u, must hear more.
Christin - Lucky YOU!!! It would be an honor to get such a keepsake photo with George W. Bush! Thanks for sharing the fun story.
Bobby - That is a great picture of you and the president and I too thought he was a good president, even if I did disagree with some things. Can't wait to get rid of this one though.
Diana Gunning - Melissa, you lucky girl. I loved president Bush. I campaigned for him when he was running, and prayed for him while in office also. I think any president that asks God for daily direction is ok in my book. You have a picture you'll always cherish.
Damaris Mia - Jealous! Oh, how I would love to have a picture with George! Ahhhh! So cool :)
Brienne Michelle - Umm, AWESOME! :) I'd totally print it and frame it. You look beautiful by the way. :)
Stacy Kokes - Awww too cute. I'm a fan as well Melissa! You're not alone :)
Brooke - What an awesome opportunity! Whether people like the way he lead or not, I've heard that he is a genuinely considerate and kind person, and that he treats people with sincere respect. That is definitely a little piece of history!
Dee - What a great picture! I appreciate your honestly. Although many think this may not be a popular opinion of the former president, I wonder if we're actually the silent majority...
Sandra Jackson - Not many are brave enough to say they voted for and supported GWB. I'm proud so say that I did. I think he is genuine man with a good heart.
It's so cool that you got to meet him!
Michelle Meyer - Wow, you are friends with a lot of Republicans based on these comments. Am I your only non-GOP friend?! I'm happy for you, though, and the photo truly makes it seem as though you are special friends.:)
Melissa - SO COOL! I just moved to dallas a little over a year ago and my GOAL is to get a real george bush sighting, and not just at a baseball game :)
Katina Patriquin - I LOVE IT!!! I love it more that you spoke from your heart, after all that is kind of the true Bush spirit!!!
Boggy - WOW! I am so jelous!... Don't worry about not being popular - TOO LATE! The only thing that's left ,is to put a nice oversized framed picture in your home / office, and be proud of the moment. I now your children and grandchildren will be.
Mary - That's awesome, Melissa! I would love to meet him, too!
Charrie - That's so awesome! I'd be honored to meet ANY president also, whether I voted for them or not. Kudos to you!!!
Chaminda - way to go girl...awesome!
Autumn - Great picture of you and President Bush. You can treasure this picture forever. I like President Bush too.
Evie Perez - How awesome!!! You luck duck. Great picture.
sara - I LOVE IT! I think Bushie seems like a geniuely nice guy... so I'd love to meet him, too! I'm happy he's enjoying life a little more now... Now I just want to run into him while I'm out and about and snag a picture like yours!
Jim Rector - How cool is that? There's just something different being in the room with a President. No matter the party or whether still in office or not. I've experienced it once myself and will never forget it. Voted for him twice and not ashamed of it. He was the best choice available both times.
Digital Backgrounds Fan - Oh, I'm so excited for you!! You really do look like BFF's. I've always like him because he seems like such a genuine person. Thanks for sharing this awesome experience with us!!!
Lisa - so cool! I totally agree with you about Pres Bush...really respect and admire him :)
Stephanie - Wow!!! It's great!!!
The Charismanglican - What you do is, you photoshop this so that it looks like W took it with his iPhone. And maybe add a little duckface.
Paul Simpson - MJ, I have to admit that I'm envious of your experience... Your quote "He wasn't a perfect president but I respect him for leading from and sticking to his convictions." describes almost exactly how I feel about Pres Bush. When he said he would do something... he did it. He may not always have made the best choices, but he wore his beliefs & convictions on his sleeve, which made it easier to predict what he would do in a given situation. Perhaps not a great trait for a leader insofar as other nations may have known what he would do, but excellent for his citizens.
Keep up your awesome work... wish I could turn my photography into more of a career than a hobby, keep on living the dream!
Amy Hill - Thank you for a great talk tonight and reminder on how important my blog is! GO PRESIDENT BUSH! And go YOU for knowing all the right people. Lucky girl!
courtney - SO cool :) i am not ashamed to say I voted for him for both his terms. I really respect what he did and definitely what he stood for. Plus I just said to someone today how I thought ti would be so cool to have him as a dad. LOL He seems like the coolest guy ever. Funny and charming. :) I'm jealous you had the opportunity to meet him!
Elena - My husband would be so jealous if he saw this...
Shawna - YaHoo!!!! What fun, I would have done the same if I had the opportunity! Way to go!
Armin - LOL great story, you totally dorked out all in good fun!
Alicia -- Beba Photography - So cool MJ! : ) I really like President Bush too, even if a lot of other people didn't. I have a letter from him when he was in the White House that I've kept. I don't know if he or his assistant wrote it but it's on the official White House stationary and I cherish it. I love the Bush family and think that it's way awesome that you got a chance to meet and photograph him. Go MJ : )!
Mandi - Soo totally awesome and soo totally jealous! Voted for him too. Not ashamed.
I think he's a great man, and I believe that history will smile on him soon, I really do. :)
Great picture!
Dallas - OMG. I'm so jealous! How cool are you????
Heidi Kuzniak - I voted for him too and I say it loud and proud! lol So lucky you got to meet him! :)
erin. - WOW! I was so excited to read about your experience. Congratulations! I too voted for George W.
Andrea Brewster Photography - How freaking awesome!!! It doesn't matter what party you belong to (I'm Rep), it doesn't matter who you voted for (Bush), but it does matter that we honor and respect out leaders! I did not vote for Pres Obama... however, he is still my leader and his position will have my respect. I still pray for him and I believe that a loving God will help him direct this country. I believe when we disagree with our appointed leaders, rather than get angry and badmouth them, we could do more good by praying for them! AND... if we became a praying nation... how much better would we be individually and collectively. And... I'm off my soapbox now. Did I mention how freaking awesome!!!
Jan - Fantastic picture! What an honor! I live near DC and was able to see George W on several occasions at events at the White House, but never got a picture with him. I don't care much for celebrities (my only picture i've bother to get was with Tom Selleck) but would love to have had a picture with him. I don't agree with everything he did either, but I think he's a good person, he values life and understands evil. And he did keep us safe for the rest of his Presidency.
Courtney Howell - This is awesome! What an opportunity of a lifetime :)
Heather - He may get a lot of spoofs done about him - but he really was one of your better presidents in my opinion. Congratulations on this opportunity - a keeper for sure :D
Leslie W. - I've been a Republican since third grade, so I know what unpopular truly is! :) What an incredible experience! The President looks great and I love your big smile!
Trysha - I voted for him too! I admire him very much.
robina - A chance to meet any president so closely should be jumped at. Glad you got to have the opportunity! Sounds like a fun day :)
kindra hall - He is such a cutie! (Can you say that about a president?)
Lori Calhoun - That. Is. Awesome!
Ivy - I voted for him too girlfriend! ;) And I also admire him for the great things he stands for and protected.
larry - wow, melissa. that's so awesome! congrats!
Tira J - How AWESOME!!!! So glad you got to do this, even though Jared pushed you into the President! Ha! Great photo!
Holly - that's amazing, mj!! (i LOVE your big smile, by the way!) i didn't vote for him (canadian) but i DID pray for him during his presidency.... indeed, an absolute honour. :D
Noa - Not a big GWB fan (hey! I'm keeping it real!) but I LOVED this post. How awesome!! I would have taken a picture with him as well.
No, as for Billvis *cough* Bill Clinton *cough* -- I would die to meet him. LOL, I'm such a dork :)
chesley - Love this! I really like GW and it would be amazing to meet him!
Joanna - That is SO awesome and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I voted for George W also - I think he's a really good man!
Jenna - What an awesome experience! I like him a lot and think he is just darling!
Nicole - I have voted Democrat in every election since I was 18 but I understand how one could be giddy with excitement to meet a former president. While I was not a fan of Bush I always respected him for his strong sense of conviction and faith. I too would have been over the moon excited to have the opportunity to document one of his events.
Lisa Mathewson - He was a great president. I lived in DC when he was in office and loved every minute of it!! I am jealous, would love to meet him!
Michelle Guzman - Love this. So cool that you got to meet him. He seems so kind.
amy@fiancemeetingyouhere - This picture cracks me up. Your description of BFF is right on. You guys look like lifelong besties! What fun!
Gail - AHHHH...SO fun Melissa!!! My husband got to interview President Obama (well, he wasn't President YET) back in 2008 and I always go on about what a big deal it was. Meeting ANY president, past or present, is such a cool experience — SO glad Jared could capture this for you on camera!
Rachael Earl - I share your feelings toward former President Bush! What a fantastic opportunity!
Jennifer - This is fantastic, Mel!!!!! I voted and prayed for him too. What an exciting opportunity!!!