Curtis is the Birthday Boy today! We celebrated by going to the Mucky Duck last night and pretending we were back in Ireland. We did a pretty good job of convincing ourselves, but I wish it hadn't been quite so dark at our table.


Warren Hood and the Goods provided terrific entertainment. Give them a listen!

I did my best to find a small Irish inn or B&B to stay in, but Houston seems to have an affinity for ginormous hotels and motel chains. We did enjoy our night at the Hotel Indigo near the Galleria ...

... along with our spring-is-in-the-air walk down Hidalgo Street on a restful Saturday morning. Curtis used our walk to perfect his photo-bombing skills. Since he's the Birthday Boy, I didn't even holler at him.

Waterwall Park was only a few blocks away, so Curtis wasn't the least bit worn out for his birthday photo shoot.

This next shot was supposed to include the Williams Tower, but I stink at this sort of self-portrait. Oh well, at least I captured our adoring gaze.

Last but not least was The Birthday Cake. Have you ever seen such an exquisitely decorated cake? Kroger chose just the right garish icing colors, and I added to the gaiety by attempting to spell Curtis' name with Smarties. I share this with you not to make you jealous (though I'm sure you are), but to confirm that I have no business decorating cakes ever.

Thanks for sharing your day with me for the past 31 years, Curtis Ray. I wouldn't want to spend February 26 with anyone else in the world!

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 139:16 MESSAGE

My trip to Seattle was a quiet one, thanks to the tummy troubles of a certain Daddy of mine, but I did manage to sneak in a few final photos today on my way to the airport. First I insisted, insisted that we stop to let me get an up-close look at a pussywillow tree.


The wind was whipping around pretty impressively today, creating unusually choppy waters at the ferry dock. Too bad I forgot my surfboard. Can you see the Olympic Mountains in the top right pic?

We were positioned at the front of the ferry and got sprayed with droplets from Puget Sound. I was just glad to be snug as a bug in the back seat.

Until next time, farewell, Vashon Island!

Your eyes will see the King in His beauty

and view a land that stretches afar.

Isaiah 33:17

I'm visiting my parents, brother and sister-in-law in the Seattle area this week, and when I woke up in the wee hours this morning (about 7:15), this was my view of our part of Vashon Island:


I rushed downstairs, grabbed my camera, rushed back upstairs, and started shooting. After climbing back into bed to recreate my first glimpse of the gorgeous sunrise, I went to the window and this is what I saw:

Next I went into the other bedroom and admired the silver frost on the ground:

And finally went into the living room for a wide-angle view:

By the way, this house with its amazing views is for sale. Just sayin.

I've also been treated to nightly views of the full moon, including this one as we drove back home this evening:

And last but not least, here's one of my very favorite views of the week:

Spectacular creations, each and every one.

What a wildly wonderful world, God!

You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side,

made earth overflow with Your wonderful creations.

Psalm 104:24 MESSAGE

Tripp, Mckinnley, Matt and Katie had a big day this Sunday.


In front of God, family and friends (including quite a few Friends!), they made it official. Congratulations, Matt and Katie!

Katie requested an after-ceremony photo session with the whole family still dressed in their wedding finery. The bubbles added a nice touch, don't you think?

What a nice-looking bunch!

I couldn't resist grabbing a few shots of these gorgeous freckles and sparkly eyes...

...along with this adorable brush cut and these intent eyes.

And with this hug it became perfectly clear to me ...

... that Katie has gotten all that she ever wanted and a whole lot more.

Richest blessings on your marriage, Katie and Matt, and may your family know ever greater love and joy together!

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes,

is ever ready to believe the best of every person,

its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances,

and it endures everything without weakening.

Love never fails,

never fades out,

never becomes obsolete or comes to an end.

1 Corinthians 13:7-8 MESSAGE

Tonight I bring you proof that, at least sometimes, old dogs CAN learn new tricks.

See this dohickey? This little walkie-talkie-looking contraption? It has opened a whole new world of photography for me, one that I've been avoiding quite successfully for several years now.


My PocketWizards finally let me use flash to get the sort of lovely, natural-looking photos I adore rather than the harsh, overblown-yet-shadowy shots I refuse to shoot. See what I mean?

So I'm sure you're wondering, "How on earth did she do it?" Here was today's mini-studio setup in the Angleton Junior High band hall. Super impressive, eh? I had one PocketWizard on my camera, which triggered the PocketWizard attached to my flash, which was aimed up at a reflective umbrella, which was strapped onto the light stand.

And just like that -- MAGIC. I love these shots!

And I just love hanging out with kids. They say the darnedest things, you know. Things like (from left to right):

- "Oh, I look so pretty!!!" when they see their shots on the back of my camera.

- "Yes ma'am, it's ok," when I ask if their mom will like seeing them wearing lots of colored bracelets.

- "Got any gummi bears in there? Some gum? ANY kind of candy?" when I'm rummaging around in my camera bag looking for a memory card.

And they do the darnedest things, like sitting down and instantly striking their most fabulous pose:

So look out, awful lighting situations. I've still got more to learn, but I will not be avoiding you any longer!

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Isaiah 43:19

When you live in Angleton TX, as one person said, "about 15 feet from the Gulf Coast," these are the typical results of a

WINTER STORM!!


Repeat after me: feverish Houston area forecasts of 1-3 inches of snow (or possibly MORE!!!) will hardly ever apply to Brazoria County.

How precious to me are Your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
(and definitely the flakes of snow)
Psalm 139:17-18

Might as well start with these shots of John David. I wouldn't want to lull you into thinking, "Oh, what a nice-looking young man," and then later hit you with these two and make you fall out of your chair.


(Also, I know I should probably be calling you JD, but I've known you as John David ever since you were a little adventurer doing things like driving your mom's car through the garage wall, so John David you will always be to me.)

The old Capitol Theater in West Columbia was part of my childhood stomping grounds. It was fun to go back and look around there a bit. I half expected to be greeted by the smell of popcorn and the muffled soundtrack of a cheesy B-movie horror flick like The Legend of Boggy Creek or Ben.

We walked around the side of the building and found a beautifully blank wall perfect for using on John David's graduation announcements. What do you think?

(Also, which is worse: telling a fib or actually spraying graffiti on a wall?)

John David is an AHS varsity basketball player, so of course I had to get a shot that includes his biggest fan.

I love this marble wall! I kept shooting and shooting and shooting here, and every shot was better than the next.

Next we explored the tiny little park nestled between the Columbia Historical Museum and Chesney's Jewelry Store. It may be small, but it packs a wallop with all sorts of nice features.

(Also, the "throw your head back and laugh" trick worked better than you expected, huh John David?"

I don't know why it's taken me so long to shoot in West Columbia. Lots of the sort of spots I like, such as this one:

And this one:

Finally, what you've all been waiting for, John David displaying his Fightin' Aggie Class of 2015 spirit towel swinging skillz!

It will be hard for any Aggie to miss this particular 6'6" fellow. I have a feeling he's going to redefine the meaning of school spirit. Gig 'Em, John David!

(Also, ladies, he's a nice-looking young man AND a truly nice young man. You will love him.)


There's more to come:

We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles

because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us,

and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue,

keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.

In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged.

Quite the contrary --

we can't round up enough containers to hold everything

God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Romans 5:3-5 MESSAGE