I had a very different sort of Thanksgiving this year. My husband Curtis and I took part in a mini-mission trip to Matamoros, Mexico, and we got an up-close look at the needs and the blessings currently being experienced by people there. Our church has a long history of visiting Pastor Jorge and his two congregations every year at this time.

We first stopped by the Iglesia Evangelica Los Amigos (Evangelical Friends Church) in the city, where Jorge and his wife Mari live downstairs and welcome worshipers into the sanctuary upstairs.


After a trip to Costco to pick up lunch supplies, we headed out to the mission church on the outskirts of town. We were running about an hour behind, which gave all of these nice folks plenty of time to practice being patient.

Our gift to the congregation was a hot dog lunch along with cookies, candy, gum and gifts for the kids. Here are Christine and Abby rushing to help get the hot dogs cooked and the serving area set up in the church's brand new fellowship hall.

In the meantime, worship was underway in the sanctuary next door. Jorge had asked our pastor David D. to participate in a baby dedication ceremony, and Ezekiel's proud parents brought him forward for the big event. Ezekiel thought he might grab the microphone for a quick song or two, but his dad managed to persuade him otherwise.

We also had David B. along for the trip, which meant we also had a translator. First the David on the left spoke in English, then the David on the right spoke in Spanish as Jorge looked on. The room almost (but not quite) got quiet during this time.

Next it was time to sing! Jorge led the crowd in a rousing rendition of a song that is apparently taught all over the world:

(left side of the room standing) Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

(right side of the room jumping to their feet) Praise ye the Lord!

More singing...

Followed by a moving testimony by this lovely young lady, and many many many passionate words from Jorge:

Listening took all sorts of forms, from still and quiet to squirming and ... not so quiet.

Then finally, FOOD!

Here are just a few of the precious faces we were privileged to help smear with ketchup, Cheetos and sticky sugar:

Moms doing what moms do:

New friendships bloomed quickly during our brief visit. Here are the two Pah-tree-cee-ahs, plus Abby and Christine with their new best friend Erica.

Suddenly it was over and time for us to begin the long drive back to Brazoria County. These two young friends found it particularly hard to let us go, and I woke up yesterday morning wishing that we could have stayed at least one more day.

Before the trip, I wondered what difference a meal and brief visit could make. I mean, junk food? Two different languages? 3 hours together? How on earth could that help anyone better understand the love of Christ? I don't know how it happened, but I do indeed better understand that love today -- and I think our brothers and sisters in Matamoros may have gotten something out of it as well. Yes, there is need in that community, and yes, I have more than I need. I see now that the gap between "us" and "them" is not at all insurmountable, and I know that even the smallest of gifts does make a difference. Thank You, Lord. All I have is Yours to use as You see fit.

Friends, when life gets really difficult,

don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job.

Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced.

This is a spiritual refining process,

with glory just around the corner.

1 Peter 4:12-13 MESSAGE

Can you keep a secret? If you know any family members belonging to this lovely couple, please DO NOT tell them that you saw these photos on my blog! At least not until after Christmas. Their daughter gave them a session gift certificate* last Christmas, and they're pretty sure she believes they forgot to use it. Silly girl! They're just being super sneaky!


I had so much fun photographing Greg and Diane, and we made great use of "real life" spots around their home. See you two, I told you the wood pile would make a nice backdrop!

I couldn't quite persuade Greg to skip down his sidewalk toward me, but he did agree to walk vigorously instead. Did any neighbors stop by later to ask what in the world you'd been doing with that nutty woman and her camera?

I think this last shot will make an especially nice addition to your daughter's framed photo collection. Maybe a 20x30 canvas? You know, just something simple and modest. ;-)

I'm glad you were willing to brave the crazy weather with me, Diane and Greg, and I'm really glad the sun came out at the end of our session so we could do a few more fun shots outside. Thanks for including me in your Christmas surprise!

May the Master pour on the love

so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you...

1 Thessalonians 3:12 MESSAGE


* Incidentally, Wonderfully Made gift certificates make thoughtful Christmas presents! They let your special ones know how much their unique faces mean to you. Contact me today to create a gift certificate in just the right amount for someone you love. OR help someone else choose just the right gift for YOU by putting them in touch with me!

laurieheath@sbcglobal.net

979.849.4536

Since this family is an especially fun-loving bunch, I've decided to show you only fun shots of them. First the whole gang:


And then the four smaller families:

Followed by just the youngest generation:

There are all sorts of fun things to do at Mimi and Grandad's!

My life has become a lot more fun since getting to know this family too! Thanks, Pat and David and everyone else, for letting me point my camera at you and capture just a bit of your joy at this stage of life.

So den, tink bout all dese kine stuffs --

wateva stay true,

wateva get respeck,

wateva stay right,

wateva no stay pilau,

whoeva you get aloha fo,

wateva you talk good bout,

wateva de bestes kine,

weneva peopo can say, "Dass good!" --

tink everytime
bout all dat kine stuff.

Philippians 4:8 Da Jesus Book (Hawaiian Pidgin)

You might think that these are two of the cutest people around ...


... but that's only because I haven't shown you their girls yet. Meet Hannah (with Jarrod) and Madeline (with Hayley)!

Hannah and Madeline look a lot alike to the untrained eye, but their personalities quickly show that they are indeed two unique little girls. Hannah tends to jump right in while Madeline takes a bit more time and does things her way.

But they both LOVED the perfectly girly playhouse at Out Under the Trees. They would have happily stayed there for the rest of the day if we hadn't already had other plans for them.

A spot of tea? Don't mind if I do!

Hannah found lots of pretty flowers, some with petals and some with fuzzy stuff that turned out to be good for blowing. Madeline made friends with a doodlebug!

It's nice to have friends to play with -- right, Hayley and Jarrod?

What a lovely morning we had together! Thanks for letting me get to know you, Madeline and Hannah, and let's play out under the trees again sometime soon!

Good morning, God

This is Your day

I am Your child

Show me Your way

a song my own little girl and I learned at BSF many years ago

See this little guy?


He's an adorable example of God's sense of humor and attention to detail in creating unique human beings. When He made Logan, He gave him his daddy's eyebrows and body posture, plus bright round eyes and a big grin that came straight from his mommy's side of the family.

See what I mean?

While a portrait session wasn't Logan's first choice for the morning's activities, he warmed up and enjoyed getting to hang out with his two favorite people.

I think his folks enjoyed hanging out with him too!

And who wouldn't?

Logan, thanks for making your dinosaur noises for me and pointing out all of the trucks that went by and snuggling and giggling and making your daddy and mommy smile for the camera. Every little thing about you is exactly perfect!

...even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Matthew 10:30

I think I may have discovered the next Carol Burnett. Last week I did school photos for a local preschool, and Gina was my very last subject. I told her where to stand and was about to ask how she wanted to pose when she eagerly leapt into action:


I should have known something like that was coming. After all, just a minute earlier Gina had opened our session with this series of shots:

With the rest of her class getting restless and her teacher running out of ideas for keeping them contained, I tried one last round. "Just look at me and smile an everyday smile. Umm... just look at me and don't smile. Come on now, everyone's waiting. Ready? Here we go!" And Gina just kept doing her thing, very much enjoying her time to shine in front of the camera.

To get four mom-pleasing poses, I shot a total of nearly 100 images. At the time my back was aching, I was sweaty and out of breath, and I was looking forward to collapsing onto my couch with a cold bottle of water. I had no idea how many fun and wonderful photos I'd managed to capture of this little character, including this one that calls out, "Put me on stage and give me an audience!"

I'll be on the front row, Gina. Thanks for the biggest post-shoot belly laugh I've had in quite a while!

I praise You because of

the wonderful way You created me...

Even before I was born,

You had written in Your book

everything I would do.

Psalm 139:14-15 CEV

"Sugar and spice and everything nice" doesn't even begin to describe this little miss. Maryn is so beautiful and alert and patient that I ended up with three favorite favorites from our session:

Really there are even more favorites, including this one with Maryn's mommy and daddy:

Oh, and these two showing how kissable she is:

Along with this one that told us, "I have had it! Please stop pointing that clickety thing at me!"

But perhaps my very most favoritest favorite portrait is this one of Maryn's perfect swirl. Her mommy asked if I would get a shot of it, and I'm so glad we did.

Leah and Demitri, thank you for giving me the opportunity to create these lovely images with you and your sweet girl during her first visit "home" to Texas. I hope we get to do this many times throughout her growing up years!

Every good and perfect gift

comes down from the Father

who created all the lights in the heavens.

James 1:17 CEV