Picture Story: Kasey Ryan

One of the other stories that I thought about submitting, but ran out of time to do so, was on Kasey Ryan, a recently-divorced woman who was embarking on several new beginnings in her life: beyond being newly single, she was opening a new restaurant and had recently gotten baptized into a new faith. This picture story highlights her journey:


Kasey Ryan unpacks some of her glassware as she works to ready her new business on Sept. 24, 2009. Recently divorced, Ryan recently decided to open a restaurant as an extension of her catering business as a means of supporting her family of 4 children.


Ryan (right) scrubs a window clean as her friends from her church group help clean and organize in preparation for her restaurant's opening in 2 weeks. The restaurant will be an expansion of Ryan's catering business.


Ryan pauses from working in her restaurant to search for her ringing cell phone, on Sept. 24, 2009.


"Coming Soon: The Chef Connection" declares a recently hung sign on Ryan's storefront, alerting passersby that the space on 10th Street had been let and would soon be open for business.


Kasey Ryan prays with her new church family after an evening of working in her restaurant, on Sept. 11, 2009. From left: Nick Shelhamer, Camilia Rusher, Jarod Newland, Ryan, and Kim Olson. The group spent their Friday evening working on Ryan's restaurant.


Kasey Ryan smiles up at Rachel Touchatt as Kim Olson reaches for a towel, on Sept. 20, 2009. Touchatt and Olson helped to submerge Ryan during her baptism.


Ryan is momentarily overwhelmed with everything that she still has to do before her shop opens in 2 weeks, on Sept. 24, 2009. Ryan had paused to rest for a moment and to drink a bottle of root beer.


After cleaning in preparation for the upcoming restaurant opening, Ryan and her 4 children gather up their things before leaving for the night, on Sept. 30, 2009.