Laurie Heath Studio: Wonderfully Made

I did a very special birthday session this week for my boyfriend* Curtis. Of course, that wasn't really his intention when he agreed to walk around exploring the old buildings of downtown Wharton with me, but having spent nearly 30 years together he seemed to take it in stride pretty well. And just look how cute he is!

* For those of you who've asked or perhaps silently wondered, my boyfriend has been my boyfriend since 1980 and my husband since 1982! ;-)



Ever since discovering that Wharton boasts one of the nation's few surviving TeePee Motels, Curtis had been wanting to stay there. What the birthday boy wants, the birthday boy gets:



Can you tell what he's doing in front of this incredibly realistic teepee?


Maybe it's a little bit easier to see in daylight. Curtis learned all of these moves when we visited the Alabama-Coushatta Reservation long ago and has been waiting for just the right opportunity to use them:

We also took some time to prowl around nearby Glen Flora, where the 1912 Emporium is still in operation as an antique store filled with treasures. Just inside these huge green doors is the open air elevator for lifting all manner of big things sold in the store way back when.

Just next door to the Emporium are the remains of two more old buildings. If only Glen Flora and Angleton were just a little closer together, I'd be doing all of my portrait sessions right here. Hmmmmm.... I think I'll suggest this spot for a certain bridal session coming up in the next few months:


We got creative and captured these shots to show that we were both there together:

I'd say that Curtis makes 50 look pretty doggone good, wouldn't you?

But what happens when we live God's way?

He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard --

things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.

We develop a willingness to stick with things,

a sense of compassion in the heart,

and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.

We find ourselves in loyal commitments,

not needing to force our way in life,

able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Galatians 5:22 MESSAGE