Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! That seems so simple, but it's from my heart!

I love the way that Augusta E. Rundel describes this wonderfully sentimental holiday. "Christmas--that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved."


My mind recalls so many beautiful and magical and wonderful people this time of year. I love to recall how when my sister, Tracy, and my brother, Paul, and I would giggle and talk way into the night wishing to see Santa. We'd lie awake until our eyelids were made of lead planning our re-enactment of the birth of Jesus we wanted to perform on Christmas morning. I laugh at us now and know I have remarkable parents...they never even cracked a smile as they listened or watched...we just had to be hilarious...but we were serious and they always respected that!

Jesus is the center of my life. I pray that you will be blessed and know that you are loved from this day into forever!


SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT! SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE, Y'ALL!


Merry Christmas everyone!

Laura Beth

Family Fun!

Meet the Creel family! December is such a happy time for families! I have had the pleasure of spending time with some really great-looking and fun-loving families this fall and holiday season. I love to watch families interact and play together and am looking forward to doing just that during the holidays! I'll be posting more of my family favorites soon! Meanwhile, go giggle and snuggle with yours and I'll see you soon!

JHS Most Beautiful pageant

The annual JHS Most Beautiful pageant was tonight! Pretty girls everywhere! Of course, I couldn't be a judge! This is one I took after the pageant of my daughter, Caitie! She was so relieved that it was over that she wasn't even disappointed! I think the high heels were getting the better of her! I think she was gorgeous as were all the others. I'll try to post more soon!

Thanksgiving 2007

We had an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving this week! We traveled to Vicksburg, Mississippi where both my mother and father grew up. Both sets of my grandparents lived there and I grew up with soooo many precious memories with deep roots in that town. Along with my sentimental attachments to Vicksburg there are, of course, the well-known and some not-so-well-knows historical spots that my family and I have to hit throughout the year.

My Gramma Millet was my last living grandparent. She passed away last May just as school was ending. She is one of the toughest, tiny ladies I know! Our family has always said she was full of that old "Pioneer Spirit" and truly she was! We are all so fortunate for the beautiful journals she and other members of our family kept. It's like being able to view pieces of who you are before your were! Some people will get that last sentence while others won't...oh, well!

My Uncle Gary and Aunt Pat now live in the house that Gramma and Grampa once loved so much. As they have been cleaning and repairing and sorting and organizing they have come across so many little things that mean so many big things to me! My four daughters and I went "shopping" through some of the things this week as we celebrated Thanksgiving. With each piece I saw, I grew ever thankful for the heritage that comes from both my Millett and Eikert ancestors. We took home tiny treasures and keepsakes that will be forever cherished in our home.

For the last few days my heart has been saying, "God, I am thankful for all of my family both past and present. I am so blessed and I am thankful. You are so good!"

As I close tonight, I'm sharing a watercolor that they found tucked away that Gramma had done. I know to some it's not great work, but to me and mine it is a most wonderful piece of our hearts!

Those Gorgeous Fall Colors!

This was a busy week! Yay! I got to play with Darby, Johnna and Blake Wednesday in those pretty fall leaves! It was great fun and reminded me to get out of the house and go play! The day was absolutely gorgeous and the leaves were perfect! They had just fallen to the ground and hadn't yet turned brown! I wanted to share a couple of their fun images in hopes that it might inspire some of you to get out and go play! Discover your inner child! See what you can find extraordinary in the ordinary!

Lederhosen!

I had a really fun session Saturday with a fine young man of four! His grandmother lives in Germany and he was attired in his adorable lederhosen. Hmmmm....I had to find out what the word meant and it turns out that it means "leather pants." You know, now that I think about it, it kind of "sounds" like it means that. When I looked I could only find them in short pants so I'm thinking that maybe that's the only way they come.

I had a great time and learned something too! His parents, Michael and Yolanda were super nice and I know they're proud of their little man! Without further adieu...I introduce you to Clay!

Detecting Certain Types of Cancer With Flash Photography

I love kids! They are so full of energy and life and curiosity! My profession as a teacher has allowed me to be around some of the best kids in the world. Really, I mean it! Sure they're "challenging" at times, but who isn't?

Education and information can help better the lives of everyone, especially children. Recently I received an e-mail from the Professional Photographers of Louisiana that I believe is worth sharing. When you click the image of the poster you can view it in a larger version. The poster can be passed along and who knows, maybe it'll help someone somewhere.

I am including the link that describes how flash photography can aid in the detection of certain eye diseases and cancers. Take a few minutes to check it out. I think I might not look at another red eye quite the same again! All kids deserve a healthy and happy life! Let's take care of our kids!

http://www.daisyseyecancerfund.org/eyeclinic/eye/photography.html

Fall is in the Air!

I don't love winter, but I do love fall and spring! So many people here are harvesting cotton, the golden rod is absoluetly gorgeous next to those fluffy fields of white! Catahoula Lake is about to have it's annual migration of ducks and geese and hunters! People are building and brushing blinds. Kids are excited about carnivals and hayrides. I'm having a ball with all of the fun things to photograph!

This past Tuesday, I had the privelege of being with the Case family from Jonesville/Harrisonburg! Havana seems as sweet as she is beautiful and Evan is as cute as can be! I always feel for the kids his age when it's time for pictures. Try as they might, it is so hard for them to relax. I empathize with them. Any time I know someone's watching me, it makes it almost impossible to chew gum and walk at the same time! His cute, playful personality really shows in this picture from their session. It is one of my favorites. Judy and Britt, once again, thank you for the opportunity to share with your family! These memories will last for a lifetime and I truly enjoyed the time spent with you!

Homecoming 2007...I love Caitie and Emily!

This is my little nut! Always on the move!

Always playful and dear to my heart!

I LOVE you, Cait!

Go seniors! Emily and Paige, you were beautiful!

Dr. Tarpley, great car!

"Hail to thee our alma mater...God keep safe thy name!"

I pray for you each day!
Amen!

The backdrop this year was fabulous! Everyone that took part in its creation should be commended!

You sure put a lump in my throat.

The words above the door are the actual ones from the front of our old building which was lost to an arsonist's fire last December.
The bare spot where it used to stand looks so alien to me!

This is Em, my niece!
She is as sweet as she is beautiful!
I was so tickled for her to receieve the honor of being on the homecoming court. To everyone that voted for her, good choice!

Roger, Nora Dee and Sylvia did well too! ;o)

Turn off the music player before watching "The Seven Wonders of the World."

Before you click "play," turn off the other music player on this site. This slideshow has it's own music. The music player is on the top left of the blog page.

A very dear friend sent this to me in an e-mail today. It came at such a perfect moment...it came in the midst of so much negativity in the world...it came with a message that touched my heart. None of the photographs are mine, but I wanted to share it with you. I hope that it will remind you as it did me...to slow down...to recognize the people and things around us each day and to use the gifts that God has given us to enrich the lives of each and every person that we come in contact with. Every day we see a variety of people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs. Although we see them, many times we pass by without even a nod or a smile..."Those people wouldn't even notice if I did," we tell ourselves...and in some cases we would be right. There are some though, that are so lonely, so sad or so hurt inside...they may keep it covered very well...maybe your nod, your word or your smile will give them the encouragement, the strength to try again or to keep hanging in there. Just maybe your smile or kind word would reach out to them in ways you may never see...besides, I've learned that when I smile at someone else, it feels really good! Smiles are free and so are kind words...join me in trying to remember to share the gifts of kindness and caring with those around us.

Welcome, Jansen!

I spent the morning with a beautiful new baby boy!

Jansen is absolutely precious!

Thank you, Carla and Tracy, for inviting me to share in welcoming your new bundle of joy!

Happy Anniversary Caylon & Alan!

Caylon and Alan have an anniversary coming this September! I hope they have the best ever! They gave me the priveledge of shooting my first big wedding. Their trust and confidence mean the world to me. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

If you didn't go, you missed a very uniquely beautiful event. They were married at Indian Bluff in Nebo overlooking our infamous Catahoula Lake so the setting was one of a kind. What gorgeous flowers too...green ones that I think were called Bells of Ireland mixed with green orchids and woodsy eucalyptus and moss with berries. Mix that with a group of great people and you have a wonderful time. It was beautiful.

Happy first anniversary and thank you, Caylon and Alan!

Love you!

Back to School in LaSalle Parish

Construction on the new building for Jena High School has begun...well, they've removed the ruined part of the school and are preparing to rebuild. I suppose the actual construction is not underway yet.

This photo was taken shortly after the fire that destroyed the main building. It gives me a strange feeling to see my Alma Mater gone and know that something totally different will take its place. I have many memories attached to the old building just like everyone else that roamed the halls of JHS! When I was little I loved to look through the yearbooks and see what was going on at JHS and who was doing what! When I was finally old enough to go there myself I had a ball with my friends. We spent quite a bit of time decorating for dances, painting the casket, the road and the wall. I worked on the annual staff as well and will never forget my times there. We were there sneaking around to paint the road before it was "legal!" I'll never forget the night we did it...Doty, Jennifer, Stacy, Cindy, Linda, Denise...I'm not sure who was there...but I remember sneaking a bucket of Seafoam Green paint from Nana's that was left over from painting her house. Don't ask me how I remember the color, for some crazy reason Seafoam Green just stuck in my head! Some of us went in Jennifer's new car and I kept getting scared that we'd spill some in it! We had a ball, I'm sure we weren't as sneaky as we thought we were... I remember hiding behind the bushes in the front of the school with Denise each time a car would come and giggling our heads off with our hearts pounding! The people passing by probably thought, "Gah...I guess they think they hidden over there!" Anyhow, we weren't too color coordinated with the road. Picture Seafoam Green giant footprints with the words "'84, say no more!" Yeah, you gotta laugh! Hey, but we get points for being creative! Our wall and the casket looked great to us! We used Pink Floyd's "The Wall" as our theme.

My wish for the students there this year and into the future is that their memories be as good and as special to them as mine are to me. Sure, there were some not so great ones, but for the most part, when I think of my friends and teachers there, I smile! To all of them...I think of you often! Get in touch!

My Cait is a Senior!

I can hardly believe my Cait is a senior!


Starting this month, we will record her senior year in pictures. I thought I'd start by using her as the star of my first formal ad!

Let's get those senior bookings going! Seniors are so much fun to be around. Each one is so different from the last! I love the way each personality reveals itself!
Watch for more posts of Caitie's senior year! This should be fun!

Helping High School Football

I recently started helping with our local high school football team. I will try to keep this short...RIGHT ! Anyway....so I am a graduate of Jena in 2005. I played football all four years of high school. I have always felt like I should give back what I learned in my four years. So, recently our school got a new head football coach. He was a coach previously when I was there, but he had moved off to start a new program elsewhere. So when I went by to welcome him back and catch up on how his family was I made the comment, "If you need any help this season give me a call." Well, right then I didn't realize what I had just said. So anyway, YES...they needed a little more help than what I was thinking at the time. They needed some volunteer coaches. Well, I don't know if I would call myself a coach....but I do get a team shirt. I have been helping for the last two (2) weeks and didn't realize how much I miss being out there on that ol'practice field. So anyway, that just put my schedule in OVERDRIVE and booked up most of my evenings and every Friday night. I can't wait till our first scrimmage next Friday Night in Vidalia.....Come and watch, should be pretty interesting ! For now this is Blake Phillips signing off !!!!!!!

Find Your Inner M&M!

Meet our M&M family!

Go turn yourself into an M & M using the link below!

http://www.becomeanmm.com/

Yes, I know this is pretty juvenile! But it sure was fun. You can go to the following website and create a charicature of yourself as an m&m.

So....how'd I do? Gotta have that coffee and "teachery" look. Don't forget the sandals!

Fish on "Death Row" Gets Last Meal

Not to make light of a serious subject...but I couldn't help myself.

You know how fish stories go! They sound unbelieveable and usually grow the more they are told...sometimes they even turn into urban legends! But, I've got proof! Wait, maybe the urban legend I'm referring to is actually about a pet alligator that got flushed away...anyhow, I digress...sorry :0).

The other day my daughter, Caitie, and her cousin, Beau, were fishing in her grandparents' pond. They caught several bream and four bass. They had the fish waiting on "Death Row" in the traditional bucket full of pond water. Plans were to eat them for supper.

To their surprise, when they began cleaning them they discovered that the largest bass had decided to have his last meal on the spot! He had begun to swallow not the smallest fish in the bucket! He succeeded in making decent progress when I assume he choked to death! Nah, I don't know if he choked or not, but it sure looked like it!

I assure you this fish tale is true. They didn't force that fish into the other one's mouth!

May the fish RIP!

Pray for Those in Minneapolis, Minnesota

I am saddened and thankful all at once. I pray for the people that were on the Mississippi River Bridge and their families and friends. I am thankful that my cousin, Karen, and her family are all ok. They cross that bridge often and in fact, had crossed it today sometime before the collapse. My mind whirled for the short time that I wondered about their safety. I cannot begin to imagine the terror and concern that many are experiencing right now.

This blog entry is to request your prayers for the people in that area. At the same time, please give thanksgiving that my extended family there is well.

Karen, Brian, Laura and Melissa, we love you and are glad you are safe.

Considering Offering High Quality Jewelry

These are just a few of the jewelry items that I am referring to in the poll to your left. They are of the highest quality and come in sterling sliver, 14kt, with precious and semi-precious stones. They are water proof and sealed to last a lifetime. I thought this might help me get better input from you! I really like them and think I'm going to take the plunge!

They offer so many items and as a big thank you to my photography clients, I could offer a nice little discount! Hey, maybe they could become part of my senior, baby, and wedding packages!

Feedback, please?

Lake Hamilton, Arkansas

Our family recently visited Hot Springs, Arkansas. We had the pleasure of staying at Five Points Resort on beautiful Lake Hamilton. It was really nice. It seemed as if we were far out of town and deep in the woods when actually we were quite close to the historic downtown district.

"FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH"

I don't know who this couple is by name, but they tugged at my heartstrings. I felt a little guilty, but could not seem to keep my eyes off of them. They were wrapping warm towels dipped in the therapeutic waters from the springs around one another's feet. It was, to me, a very touching moment. They were very friendly and told us about the "other side" by The Arlington that had cool water.

"BIRD ISLAND"

As we cruised around the huge lake at dusk we stumbled upon this tiny island loaded with birds roosting for the evening. We tried not to get so close that we would disturb them, but it sure was tempting!

"TIMELESS BEAUTY"
This was in a room at Fordyce Bath House that ladies used to dress and rest in after their spa treatments. The light was so soft and added a dreaminess to our glimpses into the past. I absolutely love old things. They seem to speak to my heart and my imagination. I could just imagine the lady that might have worn this.

"MEN"

This was in the men's section of Fordyce Bath House. There was a lovely stained glass skylight directly above it. I'll add pictures of it if I get a few spare moments.

"PERFECT END TO A PERFECT DAY"

The sunsets on the lake were better than any movie! This is my Uncle Tommy on our way back from dinner at Fisherman's Wharf. It was great. Thanks, Uncle Tommy, for treating us all to such a nice supper!

"LUCKY FISHERMAN...GIRL"

Speaking of fishing, my kids had a ball doing just that!

"FRONT PORCH"

This was the lovely view "up" from our front porch! I drank my coffee there each morning and listened to the sounds of the lake and the birds.