And now a few words from Leah:

I have a new baby! Wanna come see him?



His name is Isaac, but I call him Baby Isey.

He is a nice baby. Mostly he sleeps and cries and eats. My mommy feeds him, not me.

He had his pictures taken when he was seven days old just like I did. He is itty bitty now just like I was then.

Look -- my eyes were sleeping but Baby Isey's eyes are open!

I like to give him nice pats. I hope he will want to play with me soon. Do you think he will get to be as big as me?

Daddy and Mommy love Baby Isey so so soooooo much.

They love me too! I'm glad because I like to play and snuggle with them.

I'm happy Isaac came to live with us. This is going to be fun!

I think about the heavens.

I think about what Your fingers have created.

I think about the moon and stars that You have set in place.

What is a human being that You think about him?

What is a son of man that You take care of him?

Psalm 8:3-4 NIrV

If ever a young man was born to be on stage, it would be Terrence.


In fact, just this past weekend Terrence "razzle dazzled 'em" as part of the AHS Show Choir dinner theatre cast (more production pics to come soon).

His hands are very expressive, aren't they?

Truly everything about Terrence is expressive!

Here are a few more looks just to show his full range for any casting directors who may be stopping by the blog:

Drama or comedy, this guy does it all with style and grace.

Thanks for always entertaining me, Terrence. It's a joy to watch you throw your heart and soul into everything you do. Now here's a soliloquy to work on for your next audition:

The God of gods -- it's God! -- speaks out,

shouts, "Earth!"

welcomes the sun in the east,

farewells the disappearing sun in the west.

From the dazzle of Zion, God blazes into view.

Our God makes His entrance;

He's not shy in His coming.

Starbursts of fireworks precede Him.

Psalm 50:1-3 MESSAGE

I've been wanting to take pictures of Madison since the day she was born! It took us awhile to make it happen, but I'd say this session was worth the wait.


Madison brought her whole family to run around Out Under the Trees. Summer, you did an awesome job of pulling everyone's wardrobe together!

Madison's two favorite playmates are her big sister Lyra and her cousin Christian. These three make a great team!

While the girls inspected the playhouse ...

... the guys did what guys typically do. Well, except the whole piggyback thing. I made Cody jump on Christian's back just so we could be impressed by their sheer muscle power.

Madison was enthralled by the cows. Every time they mooooooed (which was often since they apparently thought they could persuade us to feed them), she looked to see where they were. Like a good daddy, Cody took her over for an up-close visit, but she did not especially care to get close to them.

Big brown eyes passed from mama to baby girl? Check. Gorgeous smile too? Yes indeed!

I'm so glad we finally got to do this session. It didn't hurt a bit, now did it? :-)

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.

And cultivate thankfulness.

Let the Word of Christ -- the Message -- have the run of the house.

Give it plenty of room in your lives.

Let every detail in your lives -- words, actions, whatever --

be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God every step of the way.

Colossians 3:15-17 MESSAGE

So back to Ben and Dillon -- I just got an email from Dillon's mom after she saw his gallery. She says, "If I wasn't already in love with my child, I certainly am now!" That's exactly the sort of response I hope for when I shoot photos, especially when working with seniors. I always hope that our time together is going to build love between the people in the photos and everyone who's already crazy about them.

And call me a sap if you will, but I always get attached to the folks I photograph, too. Maybe it has to do with spending so much time looking into their eyes while I'm shooting and choosing and editing and posting their portraits!

Aaaaaanyway, here are some of my favorite heart-swelling shots of Ben ...

... and his buddy Dillon:

You guys are terrific on your own, and even more fun when you're together!

Blessings to you on your coming big adventures! You will never walk alone.

God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course.

Give me insight so I can do what You tell me --

my whole life one long, obedient response.

Guide me down the road of Your commandments,

I love traveling this freeway!

Psalm 119:33-35 MESSAGE

I know, I know. I promised more Ben and Dillon, and there will indeed be more. Tomorrow. But first I need to share these photos of Luke, who will be a senior himself in the blink of an eye. Need proof? Take a look at how much he's grown up in just one year!


Last year Luke was all about motorcycles and trucks and things that went vroom vrooooooooom. This year it's cowboy boots and hats ...

... and ESPECIALLY baseballs and gloves and helmets.

Mama still ranks pretty high on the list as well!

We're really getting our picture taking routine down, aren't we Luke? I wonder what new interests you'll be actively pursuing next year. Whatever it is, I know you'll be great at it!

Clear the path for long-distance runners

so no one will trip and fall,

so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle.

Help each other out.

And run for it!

Hebrew 12:13 MESSAGE

Since I know a couple of moms are anxious to see these, I'm rushing to share these shots of two guys who've been buddies for years and years. Dillon, on the left, is the wiry, rapidfire-talking, quick moving, always grinning basketball player. Ben, on the right, is the solid, bass voiced, deliberate, calmly smiling shotput/discus thrower. Put them together and a whole new dynamic emerges.

A very reliable source tells me that Ben has been the mastermind of all sorts of mischief throughout their friendship, but Dillon is the one who typically gets the blame. My response: Mischief? These two could do anything other than be perfect angels?!

They're not fooling you either, huh? But like me, I'll bet you wouldn't mind following them around to see what they get into next. Stay tuned for individual shots from their buddy session.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17

Rounding out the Sunny Hearts cast are Katie H and Kayla, both radiant and talented young ladies. First Katie H:

Katie is headed to A&M in the fall along with a good portion of the AHS Class of 2010.

She's taking it easy here but has worked hard as a true scholar-athlete, spearheading the soccer team while scoring a high ranking among her graduating class.

Our friend Kayla is wrapping up an equally distinguished high school career.

If you were at the last Brazoria County Fair Parade, you might have gotten a wave from her as she glided by on the Fair Queen candidate float.

Kayla plans to become a bilingual teacher after she earns her degree at the University of Houston.

Light shines from each one of you, Katie and Kayla. You're lovely on the inside as well as the outside, lit from within and generous in the way you share yourselves with others. Great coffee is only a tiny part of the reason your customers love coming into Sunny Hearts!

I'm happy from the inside out,

and from the inside in, I'm firmly formed.

Now You've got my feet on the life path,

all radiant from the shining of Your face.

Ever since You took my hand, I'm on the right way.

Psalm 16 MESSAGE