On the road to Thailand
Posted on April 6, 2012
“So what are your plans for next year?”
It’s a question I love asking seniors as I’m taking their photos. I get lots of answers: heading to college here, heading to college there, heading into the service, heading into a new job, heading to Thailand.
Thailand?!
Yep, that was Taylor’s answer to my nosey question!
She’ll be spending a year there as part of an exchange student program.
She was given about three destination choices, and Thailand was the one that sounded most exotic to her. I’ll say!
Taylor has a gentle way about her that is sure to serve her well during her travels. She quietly lets people know she’s interested in them.
Active adventures? Sure!
Calm and quiet? Not a problem.
Charming smile and winsome personality? Got those covered.
Whatever exotic things next year may bring, Taylor is READY.
We can see it in her eyes.
Blessings, girl. May you go out and BE the blessing.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12
From guarded to giggly
Posted on March 30, 2012
I spent most of last week taking photos of preschoolers. By the end of each morning I was sweaty and grubby and nearly too achy to move.
But OHHHH how I loved seeing each transformation from “wait a minute, I don’t know you and I don’t want you to point that thing at me and what do you mean smile?” to “why yes, I AM silly and this is so much fun!”
One little character let me capture that transformation in a particularly expressive fashion:
Lord, thank You for these precious babies, and preserve their tender, genuine, monkeyish little spirits!
God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Preserve my life through Your righteous ways!
Psalm 119:33, 40 MESSAGE
Stretching a bit
Posted on March 22, 2012
Here’s something new I was asked to do recently for The Baker’s Rack, a local company producing gluten-free products. Martha Stewart, eat your heart out!
Well, Martha probably would not be all that envious of these shots, but I’ve enjoyed branching out into a new area of photography.
And who knows?
Maybe someday you’ll see an exquisite food shot on the pages (cover?!) of Martha Stewart Living, wonder “who took that?” and find Wonderfully Made / LaurieHeathStudio.com listed in the credits.
Yep, I’m a dreamer.
God can do anything, you know —
far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!
He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us,
His Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Ephesians 3:20 MESSAGE
I’ll have some more Blessing, please
Posted on March 16, 2012
Curtis and I stepped a few decades back in time today when we stopped by the Hotel Blessing in Blessing, TX. I love old places, especially old places that aren’t fancy but down-home. This place fit the bill perfectly!
We had fun ambling down the hall from the main entrance to the Coffee Shop (our main reason for dropping by). The overnight accomodations seem to be a throwback to the threadbare ’30s …
… and there are an awful lot of deer heads sticking out of walls.
You thought I was exaggerating again, didn’t you?
But the Coffee Shop was well worth the trip! Not because the food was like nothing I’d ever had before, but because it was like gathering at grandma’s for a big family dinner.
Meals are served buffet-style on the stove …
… with desserts waiting at the end of the line.
I wanted to take photos of the variety of customers there — hard-working farmers in semi-grimy jeans and shirts, polite ladies visiting quietly together, a man and his son in matching workclothes, and the man and woman who later joined that table with about 10 little kids — but I didn’t want to be too much of a nuisance. Fortunately Curtis loves getting his picture taken.
We tried to make some sense out of all the stuff surrounding the cash register as we paid our bill …
… then headed out to take one last look around before making our way back home.
This place has stood the test of time for more than 100 years.
It’s a landmark I’m glad to have finally visited.
I do believe I will return for another helping of Blessing someday soon.
Give away your life;
you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back — given back with bonus and blessing.
Giving, not getting is the way. Generosity begets generosity.
Luke 6:38 MESSAGE
Every inch a star
Posted on March 12, 2012
Christine is approximately 6 feet full of loveliness!
I remember the first time I ever saw Christine. She must have been about 2 years old, and her big sister was taking swimming lessons at the old Angleton City Pool with my oldest. Everyone within earshot knew her name because her mom spent most of each lesson saying things like “No, Christine, come back here” and “No, Christine, stay away from the water” and “No, Christine, we’ll get a snack as soon as we’re finished.” She was wide-eyed and busy and curious and not about to be held back by anyone simply telling her no.
I’m so glad!
From the very beginning Christine has consistently marched to the beat of her own drum, and that clear sense of self has led her on a unique path. Many of you have seen her in all sorts of roles: a Disney princess at a party, a ghoulish figure at a haunted house, a sparkling star on a local stage, a beautiful singer in a choir, or a statuesque beauty on a runway.
Indeed she is all of those things, but in my mind I also still see her little girl self: very theriouthly and earnethtly thinging every thingle word of “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid, completely trusting her Vacation Bible School teachers when they tell her to tie herself to her magic storytelling carpet so she won’t fall off in space, and dancing along humming to herself in the middle of a crowded room.
Can’t you just picture it?
Someday we will see this young woman on a Broadway stage and/or the big screen. Take a good look at her now so you’ll be sure to recognize her then. She won’t be hard to spot because she’ll be stealing the limelight!
Thanks for letting me share this milestone with you, Christine. I loved getting to catch up on all of your latest adventures and grand ambitions!
With your very own hands You formed me; now breathe Your wisdom over me so I can understand You.
When they see me waiting, expecting Your Word, those who fear You will take heart and be glad.
I can see now, God, that Your decisions are right; Your testing has taught me what’s true and right.
Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight! Just the way You promised.
Now comfort me so I can live, really live; Your revelation is the tune I dance to.
Psalm 119:73-77 MESSAGE
I had a berry nice day at Froberg Farm
Posted on March 4, 2012
My friend Jessie and I had a berry nice day at Froberg Farm today.
Practically everyone has been talking about going out to pick strawberries at Froberg’s, and I was a little worried they’d already be picked clean. Not hardly!
Acres upon acres of strawberry plants are waiting for YOU to stop by. Even though buckets upon buckets have already been picked, the next wave will be ready soon.
We left plenty of berries for you that should be perfect in a couple of days.
I loved seeing all of the stages of development within a single cluster.
And I can vouch for how perfectly sweet these strawberries are. Even the tiniest ones!
If the lady at the gate tells you it’s worth walking all the way to the back to get the biggest, ripest berries, do exactly what she says. The fields are enormous, and most pickers (especially the youngest ones) stop at the very first rows.
Beware of being overtaken by the feelings of deja vu and pouncing on the first berries you see. You are not at an Easter egg hunt, and there will be more than enough for all!
On your way back in, be sure to take time to check out the rest of the goodies at Froberg’s. No telling what you’ll find there that you didn’t even know you needed!
On a gorgeously crisp spring day, or even on an overcast or muggy day for that matter, Froberg Farm is a place that just sets your soul aright.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see — how good God is!
Blessed are you who run to Him.
Psalm 34:8 MSG
Footsteps Fun Facts
Posted on February 23, 2012
Good news, Footsteps dance moms and students — I’m really NOT trying to drive you all crazy! In case you haven’t seen any of my emails yet, here’s how to view your child’s class gallery:
– click on CLIENTS right up there between my logo and banner photos
– click on FOOTSTEPS and the day of the week of your child’s class
– click on the class link such as ADVANCED AWESOME BALLET
– type in the day and class time as the gallery password in this format: sunday530 (all lower case, no spaces, no colon)
As of this very minute I have all of the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday classes posted. I finally stopped to count: that’s 14 classes and 786 images! SO FAR! I will keep plugging away until I’m finished, so don’t give up on me if your child’s class isn’t there just yet. If only these dancers weren’t so lovely, I might have been able to a) shoot less and b) toss out more… 🙂
I’m with Jane
Posted on February 20, 2012
This picture really does tell the whole story!
But why stop there? I know you want to see all the details of Jane’s Putt-Putt Party.
She’s been hinting and asking and begging for someone to PLEASE go and play putt-putt golf with her since they moved to LA a few years ago. Finally she just had to plan her very own birthday party there. It was truly a day fit for a queen.
Queen Jane has a knack for making friends with kids of all ages. Here’s Avery again, fresh off of his Oklahoma! performance and sporting a brand new haircut. He brought along fellow kids Pat, Mindy and Isaac.
Trey had a great time with his own bunch of kids (mom, dad, grandmom and granddad) as he played his very first round of putt-putt golf.
Kate didn’t let a spooky old house slow her down one bit.
In fact, that house seemed to give her an extra shot of adrenaline and she whacked her golf ball right past it.
Dylan helped Jane improve her aim by creating a vewy big bwidge for her to hit her ball through. It worked!
What a threesome!
And what nice big kids (grandmom, dad and mom) Kate and Dylan brought with them to the party.
But these two kids were still my favorites.
Happy Birthday, Jane! We love you!
Now step away from the cupcakes!
And take me home, please! My feet are killing me! xoxooo
Celebrate with me, friends!
Raise your glasses — “To life! To love!”
Song of Solomon 5:1 MSG
LA Art Scene
Posted on February 18, 2012
I’m in LA visiting my parents, and already I’ve been treated to great art in two unexpected places. First we stopped by The Great Wall of Los Angeles, a half-mile long mural painted along inside the Tujunga Flood Control Channel (a.k.a. manmade concrete river). It was uncharacteristically blustery that day, so we only spent a few minutes peeking through the fence at a tiny portion of it. What an ingenious use of concrete!
Our second fine arts adventure turned out even better than we could have anticipated. Mom’s friend Pat’s grandson Avery (got all that?) attends The Turning Point School, and Pat invited us to attend Avery’s middle school production of Oklahoma. The school is to die for, including this professional-grade theatre and set. (Get used to that head right in the middle of every single shot. I was a visitor and was not about to rove around for great shots but instead stayed put in my seat. Behind the head.)
As you may know (I didn’t), Oklahoma is a tale about farmers, cowboys, farmgirls, and the tensions between them.
The cowboys and farmers could really sing …
… and their fancy footwork was enthusiastically impressive.
Most people in the audience thought the hero of the story was a cowboy named Curly (the tall singing cowboy in the black hat a couple of shots earlier). However, those of us who came to cheer on Avery knew that he was actually the main character. He had a fight scene and everything, with a fight choreographer, no less. You’ve no doubt already figured out that Avery (“Slim”) is the fiery farmer in overalls.
Middle-schoolers bring a unique charm to these roles. What to do if a gal is a head taller than her feller? Why, put him up on a hay bale, of course!
And who should play the two oldest characters? Why, the two smallest actors, of course!
I’m thinking that a certain actress named Nicole may make her mark on the Broadway stage someday. She was a terrific Aunt Eller.
And honestly, every single actor in this production gave their all throughout the entire show.
Just. too. adorable.
And awesome.
MUCH more than OK!
My new friend Buddy
Posted on February 3, 2012
Ohhhhh, sweet Buddy. I could gaze into your warm golden eyes all the livelong day.
How gentle you are! How patient and quiet!
You and your Cassie and Andrew suit one another very well.
And your hair coordinates so nicely!
Even though you reallllly wanted to run over and play with the other dogs in the park …
… you graciously and glamorously posed for me a little while longer.
Ohhhhh, sweet Buddy. I’m so glad to have come into your circle of friends!
A sweet friendship refreshes the soul.
Proverbs 27:9
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