Today I celebrated another birthday.  Even though I am still in my 30’s – birthdays just are not as exciting as they were when I was in my teens.  I had a wonderful day which began with a wonderful "gourmet" breakfast prepared by Edie Grace.  It included all of my favorite breakfast foods including chips, peanut butter, nutella and marshmallows.   Edie Grace prepared the breakfast completely by herself.  Edie Grace had a great day planed for me with DeWayne’s help.  For lunch we ate at the dog house – Edie Grace’s favorite hot dog stand in Statesboro.  Then on to Savannah for some shopping for school clothes for Edie Grace.  In fact she got TWO pairs of tennis shoes – because they were both so  cool you simply could not choose just one.  After our "birthday" shopping trip we went to Chuckie Cheese to play some games and then back to Chops in Statsboro where I met my dad and step mother for dinner.  Like all of my days – even my birthday was a little aggressively packed.  We accomplished it all and I had a blast.  Edie Grace is such a great birthday planner.  If you need any creative ideas for your next birthday – give her a call.  She will be happy to help!

ALL 500 backpacks were given out in under two hours Saturday morning at Believer’s church to kids in Kindergarten through 8th grade.  This is the first time we did this project and everyone, myself included, was overwhelmed at the crowd.  We had some of the coolest kids in town bouncing, eating hot dogs and doughnuts, getting faces painted, seeing a fire truck, getting a kid’s i.d., and learning that God loves them!  Edie Grace’s age group, "Believing Kids", helped stuff the bags.  After they stuffed the bags, they prayed for the child that would receive it to have a great school year and put a personal note that they had stuffed the bag and prayed for them.  She thought that was pretty neat.

People were in line at 7:30am to receive the free backpacks.  What a reality check about how much people need a bit of a helping hand right now.  Earline, our minister to children at Believer’s, told us that many kids miss the first few days of school because school always starts here at the end of the month and many people are not able to afford the supplies they need to send their kids back to school. 

DeWayne told a wonderful client in Atlanta about what I was doing Saturday morning and in less than an hour she had her Sunday School class organizing  their own backpack outreach project.  If you have a group that would like to help some kids visit Somebody Cares Tampa Bay .  That is the source Earline used to buy the backpacks.

Our world has really changed quickly lately.  Kids need our help…not just in Africa…but in our own towns too!  Jesus said, . . . I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40, NIV).

 The dad is quite a celebrity.  You may have seen him on many commercials through out the years.  We know him as Bubba – you know him as "Bubba San".

His commercials are creative and very successful.   They have a beautiful family and home.  This week we updated their family portrait while we were creating their son’s five year portrait.  We shot on location at their home.  You will see those soon.  But here is a sneak peak into "Bubba San’s Crib".   This is proof that all the celebrities decorate their homes with a Lori Grice.  In fact a new client told me that a measure of success was based on how MANY Lori Grices you have hanging on your walls.  I can not think of a better measurement of success.  More importantly there is no investment in art more valuable than a Lori Grice created exclusively for you of your family!

"Miss Shay" is Edie Grace’s ballet instructor and welcomed to the world her second beautiful boy a few weeks ago.  In the next few days, every member of Statesboro School of Dance will be receiving this beautiful birth announcement.  Edie Grace was SO excited to help with this session and can’t wait for all of her friends to meet Rhett through her mom’s beautiful pictures.   In addition to stunning me every time I attend a recital at how she is able to make scores of young children follow her commands in unison – she also makes beautiful babies.   

Erk Russell was more than a football coach that developed a collegiate program that won four national championships in Division I-AA.  He became an icon that changed a small Georgia college and the surrounding community.  Come celebrate this giant of a legend! 

Directed by Dr. Rebecca Kennerly.

August 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 2008 at the Emma Kelly Theater

Sponsored by Wachovia Securities

There is another reason you should mark your calendar to see this wonderful community play – other than being an Erk fan.  DeWayne has been cast to play Dr. Bill Perry, the former pastor of First Baptist Church of Statesboro, and the pastor who married us.  No, this is not a joke – DeWayne is really playing a pastor in the play.  I know what your thinking – but they had a read through this weekend and I must admit he makes a pretty good pastor.  This play will be a must see for lots of reasons.  Hope to see you there!

Call 912.212.ARTS for tickets

Sunday, Believers Church put together a very special surprise party to honor our pastor on his 50th birthday.  Seven years ago God gave Scott and his wife Janet the vision to start Believers church in Statesboro.  From its humble beginning God has really blessed our church.  Now with over 500 regular attendees, it is one of the fastest growing churches in our area.  I grew up Baptist.  Was Baptist in a Baptist church, got married in a Baptist church and christened Edie Grace in a Baptist church.  Never in a million years did I ever feel God would lead me to be part of a non-denominational church – but he did, and I am thrilled.   With a real evangelistic mission, our church reaches our community like no other church could or would.  No matter if you’re in a church or are             un-churched, I would encourage you to visit us one Sunday.  It is an experience you will not soon forget!

Scott deserves the recognition he received tonight and so much more.  He is very special to me and our family.  I wish him much more success in the future.

You hear me say over and over that very few portraits are more important than your five year portrait.  This is truly the heirloom portrait.  The last portrait of your son or daughter before they loose those little girl or little boy characteristics.  Once they loose their teeth, it is amazing how fast they change.  The portrait I am featuring today – many of you have seen in my front window the last week or so.  This portrait was shot on location at his home.  I think it is beautiful!  I can imagine him showing this portrait to his grandchildren one day and sharing all the wonderful stories about his childhood and the “home place” where he grew up.  I have had the pleasure of photographing this handsome young man since he was still in his mom’s belly.  Fortunately, they have lots of great places for many more portraits as their family continues to grow!  Of course, while we were at his home – I simply could not pas up this opportunity to add his twin siblings in for a fun/artsy image.

   This couple met at Georgia in college and you can say they do bleed Red and Black.  They are working on another great “Georgia” project.  Mom and Dad are both pharmacist with pharmacies in Richmond Hill and Hinesville.   They have had a long journey to get them to my studio for their expecting images.  They are such a sweet, cute couple and I know this project is going to be a GREAT success! 

Happy Birthday LEAH!  Your SCOOPS birthday party was a blast! 

(Hey Moms, Mrs. Marcia, SCOOPS’ owner, has  made Birthday parties’ e-z-breezy…invites, pizza, icecream, arts & crafts and games for one price!  Check it out!) 

Learning more about Savannah has become my hobby lately.  Boy, there is so much history, art and culture!

This past Saturday night I enjoyed Art Squared’s Palette to Palate Gallery Hop.  Four trolleys traveled around 15 different art galleries in downtown Savannah.  I especially enjoyed seeing the Mapplethorpe and Annie Leibovitz images at SCAD’s Art Museum and the Bird Girl from the cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil at the Telfair.   All evening local musicians serenaded us while we enjoyed food and beverages and took in the art.  What a great evening!

Savannah has become a mecca of art…come take it in!