Another talented local artist held a CD release concert this weekend. Bo Carter performed songs from "Reality" at the Center for the Arts and Sciences, and he was joined by a full crew of great musicians.


During Bo's acoustic set, he played the guitar custom-built for him by Richie Pierce, who also added mandolin to one song:

Bo thanked everyone in the crowd who had encouraged and supported him throughout the years ...

... and then he closed the show with one last song dedicated to his creative muse, wife Leslie.

Thanks for a great show, Bo! We love your music, your message, you.

I have always tried to preach

where people have never heard about Christ.

I am like a builder

who doesn't build on anyone else's foundation.

It is just as the Scriptures say:

"All who haven't been told about Him will see Him,

and those who haven't heard about Him will understand."

Romans 15:20-21 CEV

Sunny Hearts was the place to be this past Friday afternoon. They hosted an outdoor concert and CD release party for Tyler Heath's "We're All in This Together" (click here to listen to and/or purchase the CD.) Tyler's lifelong friend Chris McLeod lent his own prodigious talents to most of the two-hour set:



It was neat watching the crowd grow from a few faithful fans (YAY Courtney, Trisha and Cheryl!)...

... to a gathering of well-wishers (including the private tuba teacher who worked with Tyler for 7 years and helped to develop his overall musicality) ...

... to an honest-to-goodness crowd!

Tyler's music drew listeners of all ages:

And some of his biggest supporters were there in the back of the audience, humming along to his songs:

Take a good look at this guy. I really do think he's got a shot at getting his musical message out into the world, and I'm not saying that just because I'm his mom.

Fan into flame the gift of God...

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,

but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:6-7

I just flew in from LA, and boy are my arms tired! (Sorry. I had to.)

I really did go to LA this week, mainly to visit my parents (aka Actress Granny Jane and Chauffeur David) but also to meet and/or reconnect with some other friends who live in the area. On my first night in town, I had the joy of seeing one of my high school classmates after a 32-year separation. I think it's possible that we like each other even more now than we did way back when! Here's Amy with Kevin, Jocelyn and Ava:


The next day I got to meet Dylan, whose mom Heidi is one of the key people who encouraged my mom to become Actress Granny Jane. Heidi is an actress, acting coach and practitioner of loving fully. You can read more about her project here, and you can see one of the primary recipients of her love right here:

Actress Granny Jane has been working diligently to convince Dylan that she's trustworthy enough to babysit him now and then. I think she's making good progress!

The third day of my visit brought a photo shoot with Actress Granny Pat, one of my mom's running buddies and frequent competitor for acting granny roles.

Pat and Mom have many things in common, including their Texas twangs, former elementary school teaching careers, and ever-ready senses of humor.

In between shots of Pat, I also grabbed a few nice photos of Mom...

... and her handsome driver David. She's working on getting him into show business as well since there have been several opportunities for them to audition for couple roles.

And really, who could resist these two?

All in all, I'd say this was a very memorable trip! I'm looking forward to returning to LA in the spring, when Mom and Dad will probably be too busy shooting commercials and starring in sitcoms to drive me all around town. No problem -- I'll just sneak backstage and capture all of the excitement for you, dear blog readers!

In all my prayers,

I ask God to make it possible for me to visit you.

I want to see you and share with you

the same blessings that God's Spirit has given me.

Romans 1:10-11 CEV

Alan and Brandy got married last weekend, and I shot a few photos for them as a wedding gift.


While Alan was trying to wait patiently for the ceremony to get underway...

...Brandy's future sister-in-law was putting the final touches on her hairdo:

Finally it was time for the ring bearer and flower girl to lead the way into the sanctuary:

I think this was my favorite shot of the day, maybe because I'm partial to that young preacher feller:

A new family was born that day!

May your lives together bring you joy, peace and much, much love!

I want you woven into a tapestry of love,

in touch with everything there is to know of God.

Then you will have minds confident and at rest,

focused on Christ,

God's great mystery.

Colossians 2:2 MESSAGE

Mornings at Danbury's Skrabanek Park are becoming a regular thing for me, which is just fine now that the worst of summer seems to be behind us. (Dare we hope?)

I met Kiersten and Trace there, along with their mommy and Aunt Tammy. We had a good time running around and playing. Let me clarify: Trace had fun playing while Kiersten ran around and around and around, all the while carrying her brand new favorite stick in the world.


Every now and then Kiersten's orbit crossed paths with Trace's general vicinity:

When you're Trace's age, Mommy's lap is a very nice place to be.

When you're Kiersten's age, you have to be lured into grabbing range. Her mommy has that game down pat:

Here Kiersten is laughing at us for being silly enough to imagine that she might join the group for a photo. But I guess this shot proves I had the last laugh, now didn't I?!

It really is fun to spend time with little ones and search for ways to connect with them in their language and in their timeframe. We may never achieve classic poses, but I get a glimpse into their priceless uniqueness, and that's what matters most to me. Thanks for sharing your kiddos with me, Deanna!

You are the one

who put me together inside my mother's body.

Nothing about me is hidden from You!

Even before I was born,

You had written in Your book everything I would do.

Psalm 139:13, 15-16 CEV

I think Dennis finally has Eileen figured out. For her birthday this year, he conspired with all of his kids and arranged a family portrait session, something she's wanted to do for a long time. They did a great job of showing everyone how to pose:



It was no small feat to coordinate the schedules and clothing of all of these folks!

It's no secret that Eileen's favorite part of the session involved rolling around on the ground with her four grandkids, all ages two and under. I don't remember my grandparents having this much fun with my cousins and me!

Here are Eileen and Dennis's kids and their families:

And here are their parents, definitely some of the cutest great-grandparents I've ever seen:

Put them alllllllllll together and you get the best birthday present ever!

How blessed you are, Eileen! I hope these photos made your birthday extra special, and may the time we all spent together be treasured as a sweet memory.

And now you are living stones

that are being used to build a spiritual house.

You are also a group of holy priests,

and with the help of Jesus Christ

you will offer sacrifices that please God.

1 Peter 2:5 CEV

Here's how having a buddy standing nearby changes your portrait session. You start off being all tough and serious-like, then your buddy makes you crack up. Voila! The real YOU is captured:


I've enjoyed watching Marquis grow up since he and my daughter were in Mrs. Skinner's first grade class together. He's a smart, multi-talented guy, and he cleans up pretty well, don't you think?

I'm really glad he agreed to be one of my senior reps because everyone LOOOOOOVES Marquis. (I'd put an exclamation point after that statement, but Marquis is too cool for that.)

And even though he's not flashing his usual million-watt smile, this next shot is a new favorite of mine:

Thanks again, Marquis. You are truly one of a kind.

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.

Galatians 5:22-23 MESSAGE

You really haven't had a good laugh unless you've spent an hour or so with Marquis and Dillon. Unlike so many guys, they not only agreed to be AHS senior reps for me but actually enjoyed getting in front of the camera -- mainly because they also got to take turns being out of the picture and making fun of each other.

I'm looking forward to seeing how many other fun-loving senior guys they can point in my direction. I think they're up to the challenge, don't you?

Here are just a few of the great shots Marquis helped me get of Dillon:

Of course, it didn't hurt that Dillon has a personality just made for the camera.

Dillon, thanks to both you and Marquis for your cooperation and sense of fun. I had a great time shooting these photos of you, and I hope you have fun showing them off and making me look good!

All of you seniors out there can thank Dillon and Marquis, too, because they've inspired me to offer something new just for you:

BUDDY SESSIONS!

Book your senior sessions together and pay only $75 each.

Session fee includes an online gallery of 30-40 edited individual shots plus 5-10 of you and your buddy.

Offer good for up to 4 buddies.

Contact me at 979.849.4536 or laurieheath@sbcglobal.net to schedule your Buddy Session today!

Regarding life together and getting along with each other,

you don't need me to tell you what to do.

You're God-taught in these matters.

Just love one another!

You're already good at it;

your friends all over the province of Macedonia are the evidence.

Keep it up;

get better and better at it.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 MESSAGE