I'm so glad I got to take Justin's senior portraits! We first met a couple of years ago when I did a session with his whole family, but this time we got to focus on just him.

The Master Gardener's Center just seems to bring out the best in every subject, and Justin was no exception. I love this old barn and would do every shoot there if I could get away with it.

We also wandered around and found some purple flowers blooming. Hey -- they match Justin's AHS class ring!

Justin's friendly smile never wavered, not even when I insisted that the frog bench must be in a few shots. Hey -- those smiles sort of match!

Is it just me or does Justin rock the manly arms-crossed pose?

Up until this point, Justin had pleasantly done pretty well whatever I asked him to do for the camera. But when I showed him how handsome he looked in this shot, he suddenly lit up and became SuperJustin!

Off to the train tracks we marched, a new purpose in Justin's step. We had fun playing with the light of the setting sun to get a cool burst of colors.

We risked our lives sitting on the tracks, hoping that we'd hear a train in plenty of time to scuttle into the grass.

And for our grand finale, Justin struck a series of poses of his own choosing. Only a couple of cars had to wait for the performance to end so they could cross the tracks.

What a star you are, Justin!

On your feet now -- applaud God!

Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence.

Know this: God is God.

He made us; we didn't make Him.

We're His people, His well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password: "Thank You!"

Makes yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank Him. Worship Him.

For God is sheer beauty,

all-generous in love,

loyal always and ever.

Psalm 100 MESSAGE

What's this? A Wonderfully Made Black Friday Sale?!! YES INDEED.

Friday 11/26 and Saturday 11/27 only, I'm saying thank you to my past, current and future Wonderfully Made portrait subjects by taking

$50 off any session fee, print order or digital CD!

Already completed a session anytime during the past 4 years?

- Place a new order for any prints, cards, books, albums, brag books, calendars, canvas wraps, collages and/or digital files and take $50 off your total!

Looking forward to a portrait session, mini-session, buddy session, wedding or special event in the next six months?

- Prepay your session fee and save $50! This applies to gift certificates as well!

But hurry -- this sale ends at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 27!

Contact me ASAP at 979.849.4536 or 979.215.6924 or laurieheath@sbcglobal.net.

Operators are standing by.

You know that age we all reach when one minute we look like a little kid but then the next minute we catch a glimpse of ourselves from another angle and OH MY GOODNESS WHEN DID THAT YOUNG WOMAN GET HERE? That must be exactly what Elizabeth is thinking these days. I promise you, she was three years old only about two weeks ago. Okay, maybe seven.

Now look at her. Playing the oboe and clarinet ...


... twirling in her ooh-la-la dress ...

... standing there with her pearls and her long blonde hair blowing in the breeze.

Even her smile and direct gaze have a new, grownup feel.

And she's suddenly become an outdoor girl who's able to withstand chilly temperatures and gusty winds ...

... and isn't afraid to take her surfboard out in those conditions!

"Don't you need a wetsuit?"

"Nah, I won't be cold."

Turns out she was cold but she toughed it out until her mom and I called her back to shore. What a trooper!

How impressive you are, Elizabeth, in so many ways.

I'm glad we braved that gusty afternoon together, and I'm really glad to see how God is shaping you into a young woman who feels more and more free to be 100% Elizabeth! OH MY GOODNESS WHEN DID THAT YOUNG WOMAN GET HERE?!!

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, You watched me grow from conception to birth;

all the stages of my life were spread out before You,

the days of my life all prepared

before I'd even lived one day.

Psalm 139:15-16 MESSAGE

One sunny morning at Sunny Hearts, two little fairies came to visit the Pumpkin Patch. Madalyn, the big sister fairy, showed off her rainbow-striped wings, while Cora, the little sister fairy, mainly tried to wriggle out of her wings.


They said hello to one of their own kind who stood waiting for them under a magnolia tree.

They flitted over to the pumpkin stand and picked out their favorites, hoping that the mommy fairy might let them take a couple home.

And then, oh my! Each little fairy began to do her own perfectly choreographed and executed dance. Madalyn's dance was very serious and passionate ...

... while Cora's included experimental steps and newfound delights.

For their grand finale, the two performed a lovely duet. I think it's one they've practiced since Cora was just a baby, as you can see here.

Not long afterwards, their lovely wings carried them back to their secret fairy home. (sigh) What a nice treat it was to see them out and about!

Keep me as the apple of Your eye;

hide me in the shadow of Your wings.

Psalm 17:8

FINALLY I'm getting around to sharing these family photos taken at the Brazoria County Fair last month. Could someone please get me some Geritol, stat?!

This really was a fun session. Mark and Melissa had already planned to take their girls to the fair that day, so I just tagged along and caught them in action. When you have little ones, there really is no discussion about where to begin upon arriving at the fair. The petting zoo, of course!

Micah was in heaven, shrieking with delight when animals nuzzled up to her, petting baby animals sweetly, and obviously feeling perfectly comfortable no matter what sort of furry thing randomly bumped into her.


Mia, on the other hand, was much more wary. Her nearly-four-year-old mind knew that those animals might jump on her or bite her or knock her down, so she preferred not to give them any opportunity to do so. In fact, the one animal she was thrilled to see was not really a living animal at all but a pretend cow that could be pretend milked. No chance of that thing jumping or biting or knocking anyone down.

Next up were the stick horses and barrel racing arena. Micah quickly learned how to ride and gave everyone a run for their money. After putting the horses away, Mia got into a very deep discussion with a couple of them.

Whose genius idea was it to put a big pile of loose hay in this area? I thought we might stay there for the rest of the afternoon, Mia loved it so. And look! A really big animal for Micah to get up close and personal with!

In a word: adorable.

One last farm experience awaited us in the egg hatching display.

Then it was time to hit the midway. Micah was bitterly disappointed to be told she was too small to ride the kiddie rides (the nerve!), but Mia did an awesome job of driving her hot rod.

And the carousel is always the best ride anyway.

What else could we possibly need to complete this perfect day? Yep. BLUE COTTON CANDY. Thanks, Daddy!

Sticky hands and blue faces. Now all is right with the world!

Do you think Mia and Micah had a marvelous time?

I'd say they all did!

Note to self: be sure to pester at least one family every year and talk them into letting me follow them around at the fair with my camera. There's nothing like seeing it all from a child's perspective, and there's no need to coax anyone to smile. Thanks, M4. I hope you had as much fun at the fair as I did!

We will go with our young and our old,

with our sons and our daughters,

and with our flocks and herds,

because we are to celebrate a festival to the Lord.

Exodus 10:9

Still searching for just the right Christmas gift for that special someone on your list?
Hoping to help them see how much you treasure having them in your life?
Wondering what sort of meaningful, lasting, truly personal gift would make them smile?
Then has my little friend Grace got a tip for you!

Wonderfully Made portrait package gift certificates are another way of saying:

- "I want to look at your beautiful face every day!"

- "I just love seeing you with my kids, Mom and Dad!"

- "Why yes, I would be delighted to dress any way you like and have fun new family portraits made. Anything for you, dear!"

- "I want to capture this moment in our lives -- the joy, the insanity, the hugs, the grubby faces, the sheer perfection of it all -- and hold onto it forever!"

Portrait packages begin at $150 and can be customized to suit any price range and occasion. Contact me today and let me help make your special someone's Christmas merry and bright!

laurieheath@sbcglobal.net

979.849.4536

979.215.6924

For all of those who voted to help a family win a photo session, here are the results of the winners' session!

Anyone who knows the Millers understands that they're a family of five uniquely gifted individuals.


I like the way that no one feels pressured to be exactly like any of the others, and they accept one another as they are.

Sometimes peaceful.

Usually active.

Easily identifiable parts ...

... that make up one beautiful whole.

These three faces tell an undeniable story, don't they?

That each one is confident and secure within this circle of five.

You're a winning combination, Miller family. No wonder so many folks were willing to vote for you!

For just as each of us has one body with many members,

and these members do not all have the same function,

so in Christ we, though many, form one body,

and each member belongs to all the others.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

Romans 12:4-6