Ta-daaaa!
Posted on August 22, 2012
The next time you come to Sunny Hearts, do me a favor — stop just before you step in the door and turn around.
Do you notice something different?
It’s me!
Open the door and stay awhile! You can have a seat in my cozy natural light mini-studio …
… or have a look around at my gallery.
Lots of loving care has been given to all sorts of details, including my handpainted desk (thanks, Kim!).
In fact, the little details help make this one of my favorite places to hang out.
The view beside my desk whispers PEACE, BE STILL, and the soft light streaming in all of the windows is absolutely heavenly.
You are welcome to visit this wonderfully made space anytime you’d like!
I love the house where You live, O Lord, the place where Your glory dwells.
Psalm 26:8
Follow the clues and come find me!
Posted on August 19, 2012
Would you like to come and see my new Wonderfully Made studio? Yes? Good! Just follow the clues below to find me.
Once you’ve figured out where I am, challenge yourself — send me an email telling specifically where each one of these details is located. Every person who gets all 19 wins a tasty treat of your choice! Fire away: laurieheath@sbcglobal.net
Can this really be happening?!
Posted on August 17, 2012
Someone would tell me if I’d died and gone to heaven, wouldn’t you?
I’m asking because I can’t believe my eyes as I look at the beauty surrounding MY NEW STUDIO OFFICE!
Before I tell you my exact location, here are some clues. If you’ve been here you may recognize some of these beautiful details. Can you identify this wonderfully made place?
And look who I found 10 steps outside my door!
If this is indeed heaven, I intend to stay awhile. Specific directions for visiting me will follow soon!
This is too much, too wonderful – I can’t take it all in!
Psalm 139:6 Message
Paula + Kent = L O V E
Posted on July 7, 2012
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be close to you….
Oh wait, maybe this one is better:
Love, look at the two of us
Strangers in many ways
We’ve got a lifetime to share
So much to say
And as we go
From day to day
I’ll feel you close to me….
I don’t normally feel the need to burst into songs by The Carpenters (I’ll spare you We’ve only just begun), but for some reason this couple inspires me to sing a little bit.
Paula and Kent’s day began with the usual preparations.
Each one was surrounded and supported by many of their favorite people.
And each group took a little bit of time to play and try to relax.
In the last few minutes before everyone took their places, Paula tiptoed out to surprise Kent with a kiss. Best man / brother Adam provided key assistance here.
Then it was time to get this show on the road. Paula and dad Michael waited happily while the ring bearer and flower girl carefully followed instructions.
And before we knew it, the transfer and new covenant were complete.
Sweet post-ceremony hugs were exchanged …
… and treasured family portraits were captured.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Kent and Paula — dashing groom and radiant bride!
I wish you a lifetime of blessings filled with only the most beautiful songs!
You’ve captured my heart, dear friend.
You looked at me, and I fell in love.
One look my way and I was hopelessly in love!
How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend.
Song of Solomon 4:10 MESSAGE
Aaaaaaah, springtime in L A (in July)
Posted on July 6, 2012
I just returned from probably my last trip to visit my parents in Los Angeles, since they’re planning to move this fall. God gave us absolutely delightful weather – temps in the 80s, cool evenings, brilliant blue skies and, best of all, no mosquitoes. Aaaaaahhhhh.
We always manage to find neat things to do while I’m there, and this visit was no exception. Our biggest outing was to Griffith Observatory on Mt. Hollywood. From the entryway …
… to the grounds …
… to the outdoor and planetarium vistas …
… and the view of the city, this is a true LA icon and well worth a visit.
An especially nice treat is tucked away just below the observatory: Fern Dell in Griffith Park. We walked through part of this lovely trail just to confirm its reputation for making visitors forget they are in the heart of the city. It definitely worked for us!
On my way back home to Texas, I had a three-hour layover in Phoenix. What to do with all that time? My longtime friend Vickie had the answer: a whirlwind driving tour of the city! We ended up at the Arizona Biltmore, I place I’d definitely like to return to for several days. Even trotting through while watching the clock so I wouldn’t miss my plane, my eyes were drawn to countless beautiful details.
I especially loved these ladies featured in several prominent spots throughout the resort. No two sprites are alike, and you can read more about them here.
I’m so thankful for opportunities to explore new places AND hang out with beloved travel partners!
From now on every road you travel will take you to God.
Follow the Covenant signs; read the charted directions.
Psalm 25:10 MESSAGE
Spring Catch-Up, Part 2
Posted on June 21, 2012
Don’t worry, guys – I didn’t forget about you! Here are the remaining Class of 2012 members I was privileged to photograph.
We’ll begin with Taylor, a young man hoping to apply his great ideas and his family’s multi-generational farming experience to designing bigger and better equipment for John Deere. I’m confident he really will make this happen.
And his cousin Darren will be only too happy to serve as chief tester for each one. Darren is comfortable pretty well anywhere outdoors, particularly when he’s behind the wheel of gigantic tractors, and he hopes to use his sharp mind to solve crimes as a law enforcement officer.
Chase’s area of expertise is the golf course … and the football field … and the books … and just life in general, it seems. He’s headed toward a teaching/coaching career and surely will bless lots of young lives.
Ryan also excels at many things, but for the past couple of years he’s been especially focused on this beloved truck. Rebuilding, customizing, tinkering and racing have not only brought him joy but have helped him prepare to soak up everything Mechanical that Texas A&M has to offer.
And finally, Nathan is better than anyone in the world at being all Nathan, all the time. He is also a drummer extraordinaire as well as a ninja, obviously.
What a fun bunch this year’s grads were! I’m glad they shared their interests with me and let me hang out with them for a while. The sky is the limit for you, guys, so get out there and go for it!
So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught. May Jesus Himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 MESSAGE
Mission: Spring Sessions Catch-Up
Posted on June 12, 2012
I’ll admit it. I’ve been holding out on you for months, dear blog reader. I didn’t really mean to do it, but I’m going to try to make things right.
Because really – it’s cruel not to share these gorgeous seniors with you.
I’ll begin with Erika if you’ll promise not to let her beauty stun you into looking no further. We wandered all over Bar X together, and she made every single spot look good.
Next up is Mollie, whose lovely eyes bid us to look deeply into her poetic, artistic soul. Just by being 100% Mollie, she added extra sparkle to an already splendid day at Brazos River County Park.
Sherry was right at home during our session at Sunny Hearts. Whether relaxing on the front steps or demonstrating effective cymbal crashing on the back patio, that great old house never looked sunnier.
Lynn and I could not have asked for a more perfect evening. The sky’s soft pinks and blues made a special appearance as we captured final memories of her Galveston growing-up years.
And Meagan was a joy to work with at the Brazoria County Master Gardener Center as I completed this year’s senior season. We did our best to shoot only a few, but who could keep from getting carried away with this wonderfully made girl in front of their camera?
SO thankful to have gotten to work with these young ladies and capture a bit of their personalities at this stage of their lives. Actually, it hardly seems fair to even call this work! Blessings to you, beautiful girls, and thanks for showing me the real YOU.
Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God.
Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who You are, what You do — they can’t keep it quiet!
Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us — You’ve been so good to us!
Psalm 89:15-17 MESSAGE
Just one more!
Posted on May 29, 2012
One final thought on becoming a dancer:
IF YOU’RE NOT ONE YET, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.
These folks know how to have a good time, and they span a wide range of dance experience. Want to join them? Check out the summer and fall Footsteps School of Dance class schedules and join the fun! Hmmm, maybe I should take my own wise advice….
Invigorate my soul so I can praise You well!
Psalm 119:175 MESSAGE
Finishing touches
Posted on May 28, 2012
Footsteps School of Dance has a group of students who have progressed to the senior level, and they are a bunch of hard-working, dedicated young ladies. On Monday evening they help with younger classes and then stay for tap.
On Tuesday night they throw themselves into jazz, and when I say “throw themselves into” I mean something more along the lines of “hurl themselves around the floor with marvelous abandon.”
Their teachers set the pace by dancing with as much energy as they ask from their students …
… and they establish the disciplined precision necessary for growth and expression.
There’s more on Tuesday but we’ll come back to that. First let’s take a look at Thursday, the girls’ evening for technique, leaps and turns.
After an hour of all-out effort …
… everyone is finally too worn out to do much more than gasp for air.
That’s because years of dance classes have taught them to give each rehearsal hour everything they’ve got. On Tuesday they had also progressed in ballet, beginning as always at the barre …
… moving into their beautifully expressive recital piece …
… polishing their pirouettes …
… and seemingly floating in mid-air.
Then.
THEN.
Then they did what every young dancer dreams of. They carefully stretched their arches and toes, and slipped on their toe shoes.
This group is still transitioning into pointe, but they are making steady progress.
Each dancer is working to find exactly the right balance point as she builds up the strength in her delicate yet powerful feet.
Their determination is fierce and palpable.
How are dancers created?
Inspirational teaching, careful training, obedient perseverance, sweaty repetition, and joyful determination.
Sounds like steps that apply nicely to most things in life. Thanks for giving us such a clear picture of beauty and grace in action, Footsteps dancers!
You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow His directions, doing your best to find Him.
That’s right – you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road He set.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now You expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course You set.
Psalm 119:1-5 MESSAGE
Steadily advancing
Posted on May 17, 2012
The intermediate dance level is a sweet place to be. By now these students have been dancing together for several years and they’ve become good friends. They enjoy taking a few minutes at the beginning of class to share their week’s highs and lows before hitting the dance floor.
They not only accept stretching exercises as part of the routine, they are proud of the results of all that hard work.
Then it’s on to the business of developing jazzy looseness …
… and ballet-y precision.
Such elegance. Such control. Such strength.
I love seeing next-step-up dancers being encouraged to help train younger students. It shows that growth does indeed happen with practice, while teaching assistants get the chance to demonstrate what they’ve already mastered.
These two tappers are busily developing their skills to pass along to some of the youngest dancers …
… and they’re having a pretty good time together along the way!
At this level, dancers also have the opportunity to branch out beyond ballet, tap and jazz.
This hip-hop class requires and inspires constant high energy …
… matched only by the antics of the musical theatre group.
If these three weren’t characters before beginning this class, their teacher is certainly molding them into her image!
Doesn’t this look like fun? If someone in your household thinks so, it’s not too late to contact Footsteps School of Dance and register for summer and/or fall classes!
I set Your instructions to music and sing them as I walk this pilgrim way.
I meditate on Your name all night, God, treasuring Your revelation, O God.
Psalm 119:54-55 MESSAGE
Laurie Heath Studio 