Brenda tells me it's GRRRRREAT! to be a granny. Of course, she loves being a mom too, but becoming Granny has completely transformed her life.


Ava arrived first, and it's easy to see how she might turn someone's world upside down.

Next came Brock, and he has made Granny's world even brighter than she'd ever thought possible.

Granny would willingly sit with them all day, feeding them strawberries and Cheerios, talking softly with them, encouraging them to play nicely with one another, and rescuing Ava from Brock's need to chew on whatever he can manage to grab.

If life is this marvelous with two little ones on Granny's lap, how much more will blessings flow when Ava's baby brother or sister arrives next month?

I for one can't wait to hear all about it!

And now, Master God, being the God You are,

speaking sure words as You do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me,

please, just one more thing:

Bless my family; keep Your eye on them always.

You've already as much as said that You would, Master God!

Oh, may Your blessing be on my family permanently!

2 Samuel 7:28 MESSAGE

Oh, hello! Maybe you haven't heard, but I happen to be the mom of two very talented kids.



They've collaborated in all sorts of interesting ways over the course of their lives, but recently they've begun writing, recording and performing music together. Really, really good music.

You can have a listen to their new EP right here.

Their very first song was written as a birthday gift to me earlier this year. Listen to that one here.

Whether they're hard at work in the studio ...

... or performing live, sometimes with their friend Chris McLeod, an equally talented guitarist ...

... Tyler and Maggie Heath are busily making a name for themselves and winning over one fan after another.

Tyler already has quite a catalog of his own music as well, which you can find here and here and here.

Since it's the Christmas season, you should definitely treat yourself to his 6-song EP right here.

Now do you see why I'm willing to use my blog to shamelessly promote my own kids? Yep, I thought you would. No need to thank me -- just consider it my Christmas gift to you!

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God...

2 Timothy 1:6

What a joy it is to catch up with young friends I've photographed before! Jack and Keely are getting so grown up it's hard to remember when they looked like this and this.



We found the perfect house to use as our backdrop for their matching outfits. (Thanks, Deena!)

And then we got down to work.

We even found Jack and Keely-sized peekaboo spots.

These are two of my very favorite shots from our session.

Oh, and here are four more!

But this one. THIS one. Just melts my heart.

Please make sure your mom brings you back to see me even after you move away, Keely and Jack. I want to hear all about the fun things you're doing and see again for myself how truly wonderfully made you are!

Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous -- how well I know it.

Psalm 139:14 NLT

Did you know that a lovely Bed & Breakfast has opened in East Columbia? The Aycock Crews House is well worth a visit, as our fall photo shoot proved to me.


Roomy, tranquil porches.

Spacious, beautifully decorated living room.

Cozy, airy dining room.

Warm, welcoming kitchen.

Bright, friendly sunroom.

And three elegantly furnished guest rooms with private baths.

From the moment you enter the foyer until the time you have to depart, you're sure to enjoy your stay.

Owners Sheryl and Flem Rogers look forward to hosting many overnight guests and special event weekends. Give them a call at 979.345.6931 or visit them online here.

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts.

Use them well to serve one another.

1 Peter 4:9-10 NLT

A second chance to say I do.


A second chance to say we support you.

A second chance to say I choose you.

A second chance to say Lord, we're counting on You.

A second chance to say you can count on us, too.

A second chance to say with this ring I thee wed.

A second chance to say I simply adore you.

A second chance to say our love has been tested and found to be true.

Blessings to my favorite re-newlyweds. I love seeing the two of you together, Michael and Jessie!

He saved us,

not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.

He saved us

through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5

Later in August I went out to LA to visit my parents, and for dinner the first night we went to Mel's Drive-In. The food was pretty good and the entertainment was even better.


We also worked in a visit with our friends Heidi, Dylan and Kate.

Can you tell that Dylan is character? You first met him on my blog a couple of years ago. Big Sister Kate has done a splendid job of awakening his curiosity and teaching him to be a wonderful kid.

Our main sightseeing outing included a trip to The Getty Museum, a serenely beautiful place set in the hills above LA. The day couldn't have been more perfect for exploring the grounds and, of course, stopping for a bite to eat in the cafe.

Mom and Dad decided to soak up the beautiful day on the patio ...

... while I went inside to check out some of the exhibits. The museum is actually a cluster of buildings devoted to ever-changing, top-notch collections. Admission is always free (although there is a parking fee).

Here's a sampling of the treasures I had the opportunity to see:

We happened to be there for the first day of an exhibit called In the beginning was the Word: Medieval Gospel Illumination. Pages and pages, books and books filled with this magnificent, painstaking handwork that preserved and promoted understanding of the gospel.

LOVE.

I caught our reflection as we were preparing to leaf. Get it?

Thanks for the tourist moments, Mom and Dad! I know I don't take normal family snapshots and often don't even think about pulling out the camera to snap quick photos. But I'm hoping these photos will remind us of the heart-expanding adventures we've shared as our love for one another continues to grow.

We always thank God for you, and rightly so,

because your faith is growing more and more,

and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

2 Thessalonians 1:3

I've figured out how to get (semi) caught up on blogging: post a set of photos every day through New Year's Eve beginning today. Check in daily for the next 3 weeks to see who I'll feature!

First, let's travel back in time to a perfect August evening at Quintana Beach. Mimi Pat had requested a beach session with her eight grandkids, which she thought would be much easier than getting her entire crew together for photos. As it turns out, eight kids + wide open beach + wind that carried away my hollered instructions = we might as well have had 392 people to corral!

Aren't these kiddos beautiful though?

We tried alternating between posing and playing so that the kids would stay interested and not notice how many photos I was actually shooting.

And we endlessly ran back and forth between the water and the dunes and the wet sand and the water and the dunes. Sometimes we all even ended up in the same place at the same time.

Not a bit of trickery was required to get shots showing how much they all love playing together ...

... or how intertwined they are ...

... or how ruggedly independent and free-spirited each one is.

Each one is awesome on their own, but together? Perfection.

Thanks for the exercise, Avery, David, Kindle, Rowan, Sadie, Alley, Race, Cane, Ella and Pat. I would gladly run around on the beach with you any evening you'd like!

Speaking the truth in love,

we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,

grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:15-16