Today has been a wonderful birthday!  Edie Grace and DeWayne have had lot’s of surprises for me.  First they helped me check off another item from my “things I must do before I die” list - vertical skydiving!  What a great birthday gift!  Talk about loads of fun - suit up and get into a wind tunnel and experience skydiving with a safety net.  I still encountered 120 mph winds and the feeling of flying - but I did not have to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.  I did this at Sky Ventures in Orlando.  As you can see from the pictures - this was much more physically challenging than I assumed.  It was a lot more fun than being slimed yesterday however!

Last night we ate at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville but it was much past 5 o’clock.  I thought that was my birthday dinner.  Little did I know that they had a special dinner planned for me in St. Augustine.  We ate dinner at the Conch House out in a private cabana up in the air overlooking the ocean at 5 O’Clock tonight.  They prepared me a special rum punch that reminded me of the Windjammer cruise in the British West Indies a few years ago.

What a great birthday.  I want to thank those of you who have called and emailed me today to with birthday wishes today.  I was very surprised when I logged on this morning and saw the blog entry from DeWayne and Edie Grace.

By: Cheri Alderman - Ellabell

THE ROCK

T- here were many things going on that day?

H- e wasn?t feeling well and we all knew it?

E- ven Lori experienced the blunt force of his harsh words?

R- arely in his last days did we see the man we all loved so dearly?

O- nly in our memories would that amazingly strong man live on- until?

C- aptured in an everlasting, treasured portrait?

K- ing of our family! Smiling ever so slightly, that sweet, gentle soul peeks through?

My grandfather, Hubert Lee, was THE ROCK of our family. Our generational portrait was taken three months before he went home to Jesus. Unbelievably, the man we knew and loved stands out in this portrait despite the great pains he suffered. I am truly blessed to have this portrait treasure displayed in my home and even more blessed to have the fond memories it brings to mind.

Words by Cheri Alderman

Memories captured by Lori Grice

Today is Lori’s 38th birthday.  She is spending the day with Edie Grace and me in Florida - but she would like nothing more than to hear from you.  Birthday’s have always been very special to Lori.  This birthday is especially special because it marks the date of her first cancer surgery five years ago on her 33rd birthday.  I am not sure why God has blessed me so richly to have a wife so unbelievably special as Lori.  Every day is challenging, creative and exciting in a wonderfully special ways - thanks to her.  Please join Edie Grace and I in wishing Lori a Happy birthday today.  All you have to do is click on the comments link below this story and type your birthday wish to her.  She checks these comments personally daily.  Your comment will be very special to Lori and I know each of them will touch her in incredible ways - like she has touched each of you.

Each month Lori spends hours hand signing and writing a personal note to you, your spouses and children.  In fact, last year Lori signed and mailed over 2,500 birthday cards each one including a gift from her.  This is the fourth year that Lori has done this.  Every month several of you call or email Lori to thank her for the card and let her know that she was the ONLY person to remember you on this special day.  I am stunned at how few people take the time to celebrate one of the most special days in your life - the day you were given life. 

If you appreciate this then let Lori know today - how much!

Thanks for your friendship and continued support of Lori and her artistry.

DeWayne and Edie Grace

Day three and we have entered the world where KIDS RULE!  For those of you who know Edie Grace are probably wondering what makes this day different from any other day in her life?  Every day DeWayne and I say that old folks like us probably should not have kids.  We were both teenagers before we went on our first trip to Orlando.  Edie Grace has traveled more in her first six years than DeWayne and I did until we were married.  In fact, my first time flying commercially was our honey moon.  Knowing I had never flown commercially and knowing that my parents would not allow me to go on a quest trip to Europe in high school - DeWayne surprised me with the most romantic honeymoon any girl could ask for - a week in London and a week in Paris.  That is another blog story.

The complex we are staying in is a Nickelodeon theme Holiday Inn Suites hotel.  With over 700 rooms - all suites - this place is like a city within a city.  Each room has a different Nick character theme.  Edie Grace chose a Rug Rats theme room.  She is SO excited because she has her own room with bunk beds!  The rooms surround two large water parks.  The highlight of the day was being slimed.  You will see pictures of the crowds waiting to be slimed - but our camera was a little slow to capture the real sliming.  Edie Grace and I did participate - so I have been “officially” slimed. 

I have to marvel at the marketing power of Nick.  Hundreds of family’s pay lots of money daily to stay in a Holiday Inn and then wait in large crowds to be slimed!  Genius - simply genius marketing.  Who would have ever thought?  We have had a wonderful three days and tomorrow I will celebrate my birthday in a place where kids rule!  I am enjoying a birthday that some said I would never see - enjoying a precious gift- Edie Grace - that many said would never come.  WOW!!- is God good or what??

While we were checking in today - in front of us was a little girl who was seven. She had no hair and physically looked very weak.  She was a “Make a Wish” child.  When I looked into her eyes - I have NEVER seen more life than existed there.  She is a beautiful, special girl.  She was standing there to remind me how fortunate I am and the burden of responsibility given to me.  Luke 12:48 popped into my mind, “To whom much is given, much is expected.”  I hear you God and I will do more!

We ended our day at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant in Universal’s City Walk with an early birthday dinner.  It is five o’clock somewhere - right?

By: Kelley Chester - Statesboro

Lori did a portrait of my son, Taylor Chester, around Easter of this year.
It was our first exposure (no pun intended) to a professional portrait studio.  It was a wonderful experience for Taylor.  When we drive by the studio, most times Taylor will say while pointing, “Ms. Lori took my picture there.”  He also reminds me that Ms. Lori has bunny rabbits in the studio and why can’t we stop to play for awhile.  The portrait we chose to display in our home shows my little man standing with one hand resting on a bench and the other in his pocket, such a cool little dude.  Taylor celebrated his 4th birthday this year, a birthday we weren’t completely sure we would see.

At the very young age of 6 months Taylor contracted RSV and landed himself in pediatric intensive care on a ventilator because his body was too sick and worn out to breath on it’s own.  Since then he has been in the hospital 3 more times.  His first airplane ride was on a life-flight jet from a hospital in Carrollton, GA to the children’s hospital in Birmingham, AL. One thing I will always remember about that day is that the nurse on the jet took his picture with her camera phone so that we would be able to look back and know that our little boy was safe.  That fuzzy photo is one of the pictures of Taylor that I truly cherish. 

Since his first day home from the hospital and even before he was sick, we have been “picture-taking fools”.  We must have more than a thousand digital pictures of Taylor and our family.  So, we have always had a great appreciation and love of pictures of our little one.  Lori’s portraits of Taylor mean so much to Heath and I because she captured something that we don’t usually capture when we take photos.  I can’t explain it, but he glows… It sounds strange I know, but he has this healthy and happy look about him that makes me forget that he was ever sick.  So, thank you Lori for capturing my beautiful boy at his best.  I will cherish your work always.

Kelley Chester

  I am writing this tonight so you know that I have not decided to join the circus and run away.  In this case the circus would be Discovery Cove.  What an amazingly wonderful experience!  Today, Edie Grace and DeWayne joined me for a day in fulfilling my long time dream of being a dolphin trainer.  We knew this was a super exclusive experience - but I had no idea that there would only be 24 total “trainers.”  The group of 24 was broken out into three groups of eight.  Our official Discovery Cove trainer was Shannon Snyder.  Shannon LOVES her job and it shows!  Can you imagine what a day at “office” must be like for Shannon and the over 100 other trainers that work at Discovery Cove?  Well thank goodness today was as routine as could be.  I started to say that this day was ordinary - but honestly there was NOTHING ordinary about this day or Shannon’s job.  As you will see in the pictures, the creators of this experience have done a phenomenal job making you feel like you are in the ocean with dolphins, sting rays, mullets, sharks and many, many more exotic fish from around the world.  I have been fortunate to travel the world (Europe, Mexico, Caribbean, Jamaica, and the British West Indies to name a few) and swim with dolphins once before in the Caribbean and this experience rivals any of my trips.  Best yet, it was only a five hour car ride!  Immediately as we were paired with our other members of our group, Edie Grace met her match, Joy Lynn Anderson who is seven and from Houston, Texas.  Joy Lynn was accompanied by her mother Joselyn and Aunt Nell.  For those of you who know my mom, may not realize that her name is Joy Lynn also.  So I knew that this was going to be a fun and exciting day for Edie Grace also.

We began the day with a series of briefings then had an opportunity to go behind the scenes and see how much work it really takes to make this place run as seamlessly as it does.  We even were taken to the food preparation area and see the level of detail and care given to each dolphin’s specific diet.  After that we had an orientation swim with the dolphins.  This was so much fun.  I am not sure who enjoyed this more - me or Edie Grace.  As you can tell - she jumped right in.  I think it was interesting how Shannon made this fun and interesting for six year olds as well as old folks like us.  After the first swim with the dolphins we enjoyed a gourmet lunch and then we met the Sharks, Sting Rays, and other exotic fish up close and personal.  We were allowed to feed the Sting Rays and other fish - not the sharks thank goodness.  I could see them lowering me into that huge pool in a small cage - like on the TV commercial.

After this we headed for our final swim with the dolphins.  We were allowed to choose from a series of swims.  Edie Grace actually rode on the Dolphins belly, I did a two foot push (two dolphins with their nose on each foot simultaneously pushed me through the water) and DeWayne did a two fin pull (where he held on to the fins of two dolphins as they pulled him through the water).  Forgive me Shannon if I did not get all the names correctly of the different dolphin swims but hopefully the description was correct.  Thanks to the wonderful photographers at Discovery Cove we have pictures to share with you so you can get a feel of how incredible this was.  There is no way I can put it into words.  If you love the water, enjoy snorkeling and like adventure - this is a MUST DO trip for you.  It is so hard to believe we were in Florida!

Edie Grace sure hopes that we have the opportunity to experience another adventure soon with her new friend Joy Lynn.

I encourage you to add this to your life list.  Of course, now that I have checked this off I must replace it with something new.  Tomorrow will be one on Edie Grace’s list - being slimed at the Nickelodeon Hotel and water park.  We will report in soon as our adventure continues.

By: Dr. Michael Guido - Metter

We are so excited, Lori, over the portraits you took of Audrey and I in our garden. Never did I dream any one could do what you have done. I was astounded, but I shouldn’t have been because you are so brilliantly skillful.  Thank you for taking such a wonderful picture that made Audrey and me look good.  Every one who comes into the studio loves it.  Each person asks who took it.  We rejoice in telling them about you - the best photographer in the south!  God bless you, Lori.

Praying,

Dr. Michael Guido

   Another hard day at the “office”.  Most of you know that I do not usually work on weekends.  But for a special client, I have made an exception.  For the next few days I am shooting on location in Florida.  Today we had the opportunity to spend some time at Sea World.  I have not been to Sea World since I was a little girl and has it changed!  Edie Grace and DeWayne are traveling with me to assist me on this “special” assignment.  Sea World gave us VIP treatment today as you will note from the location of the pictures at the shows.  All of the pictures I took from our seats.  Tomorrow I am getting a little early birthday present thanks to Sea World.  I have always said that if I had not chosen photography that I felt I would have been either a TV weather girl or a dolphin trainer.  My 38th birthday is on Tuesday, July 31.  I also celebrate five years of cancer freedom on that day.  To mark these milestones tomorrow I will become a dolphin trainer for one day at Discovery Cove.  If you do not hear from me again - you know it went very well and I expect all of you to travel to Orlando and visit me often! 

Every day is a gift.  With God’s blessings - every thing I check off my life list is one more thing that was not suppose to happen.  Fortunately, God had a larger plan for me.  Because of your friendship and confidence as my clients you allow me daily to expand my life list.  THANK YOU!

Tomorrow - training Dolphins.  Monday - being slimed at Nickelodeon.  (well maybe this was not on my original list - but Edie Grace is a pretty powerful persuader and helps me update my list often) Tuesday - Enjoying another birthday, celebrating another year of battling cancer and WINNING!  Wednesday - creating more legacy portraits for you, telling your story in ways that will speak, move and motivate generations and work to inspire every woman reading this blog to dream bigger, work harder and conquer whatever it is standing before you - so tomorrow will be victorious for all of us!

P.S. Add riding on the nose of a Killer Whale - the top of the food chain - to my must do life list.                                                               The flamingo paddle boats I took for my friend Patsy Bobo of Statesboro.  Patsy I know you will figure out a way to get these added to Mill Creek Park.  They have you written all over them!

 Thanks Mrs. Josette Walker for making Edie Grace look like a real native of the Caribbean! Mrs. walker has worked for Sea World for five years and has a beautiful 2 and 5 year old.  She is a wonderful example of what makes Sea World such a great place!   Below is our warm up for tomorrow.  Edie Grace and I are holding fish to feed the dolphins.  Edie Grace is a natural dolphin trainer it appears!

By Amanda Kicklighter - Statesboro

Nothing can tear at a mother?s heartstrings more than watching her child suffer and being able to do nothing for her child except pray. All seemed well when we left the hospital with our second daughter, Isabella. However, at 7 days old she was back in the hospital with RSV. Never have I been so numb to what was going on. All I could do for the 2 weeks in the hospital was hold her, and trust that God would heal her, and He did. A couple of months later, Lori took one of my favorite portraits of Isabella. It is a hand-colored b&w and she is lying on her tummy with a flower wreath and a tutu on. I love this picture because her eyes seem to dance with life and it reminds me that each day with her is a gift. I call it, ?I Hope You Dance?.

By: Sheri-Lyn Owens - Rincon

Finalist

We dreamed of having a child for eight years before she came.  After a tragic miscarriage and many visits to Doctors, we were facing a grim outlook.  We continued to pray and many prayed for us.  Finally, God gave us our daughter through the beautiful path of adoption.  We were there when she was born, and indeed she is the most precious gift we have ever received.

Weeks before Sydney was born, we contacted Lori Grice about her Baby’s First Year program.  After such a long journey to receive the gift of this child, we knew Lori was the one to document her life through the art of photography.  Hours after we arrived home, we were in Lori’s studio.  She patiently and masterfully captured this first image of our daughter with a gift tag on her toe.  This portrait reminds us constantly that Sydney is a precious gift “…from God.”

Love,

Sheri-Lyn