HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
As we consider 2007 and all that it held, we count the many blessings that came our way. It was a year of challenges and adventures that helped us grow and expand our vision.

Normally at this time of the season, we are in MO but things were a bit different this year. The last several years, with our girls being older, we would have a few gifts under the tree to open on Christmas morning, then have a treasure hunt for shopping money! I would write "an adventure" with clues to finding the hidden treasure. It would always begin at the tree and the girls would work together to figure out where the clues would lead. Whatever they found they had to split equally. On Christmas afternoon, we would pack up and head to Kansas City, taking our dinner with us. The morning of the 26th, we would hit the stores at the opening bell, to get the best after Christmas deals, using the "bounty" found in the treasure hunt. You talk about some fun shopping!!! After a day of great deals (well, some years had better deals than others) it was on to the Christmas celebration with Ron's family. After a couple of days in KC, it was on to Jefferson City for the celebration with my family.

Last year was the first Christmas without Ron's mom and this year, we could not make the normal trip. We had to delay a few days, but we are making the trip this evening. No shopping this time, but certainly looking forward to the celebration!

Looking ahead to 2008 (that sounds far away...but it is here!) we anticipate a wonderful year. We begin the new year with Taryn and Rodney's e-session, then off to Tampa for DWF! We are so excited about meeting friends from the forum! Then back home to an e-session with Alicia and Jakob and Lindsay and Stephen's wedding. The month finishes at the AR Democrat Gazette Bridal Fair on Sunday, January 27 at the State House Convention Center in Little Rock. It is always so much fun being with new brides and grooms as they plan for that big day! They generate so much excitement that the energy is contagious.

As the New Year dawns, it is a time of new beginnings. I'm so thankful for new beginnings! We pray God's richest blessings on each of you and wish you health and prosperity through out the year!

GRADUATION!
Last night we attended Natalie's graduation from Touching America School of Massage. She has a gift in her hands that is quite amazing. Whether you need therapeutic massage or relaxation, she can accommodate quite well! For those of you that are looking for that last minute stocking stuffer, consider a gift of massage for that special someone! You will be the best "Santa" ever.

Her hands work well for talking, too. :)

The entire class. Quite an intimate group.

Congratulations Natalie and girls on a job well done! We wish you all the best as you gift others with your skills.

GO FISH
Now many of you have played the card game, but how many of you have heard of the singing group? NO? You are missing out! If you like fun music with a message, you will like these guys! They were in Conway tonight (minus some luggage) putting on their best.

The first time we knew of the GO FISH guys, was about 3 years ago when we started using their music in our children's worship. Then they agreed to come to the Toad Suck Daze celebration and what a celebration they made it! Jamie, Jason and Andy have a love for kids and families that shines through everything that they do. Someone has even put a video of them on YouTube with their new Christmas song called Christmas With a Capital "C".

If you did not get to attend, this evening, make it a point to check them out. I don't believe that you will be disappointed.


Natalie did not get to see them the first time they were in town, so we had to get a picture of her with the guys! Amber was one of their "Superstars" the first time.

Jason

Andy
Jamie
Thanks guys for giving so much and making the evening a wonderful time for all of us! We do hope that your jerseys turn up!
Renee :)

Kim & Patrick

Saturday brought several new beginnings...the beginning of a new month...the beginning of a new year of marriage for Ron and me (celebrating 28 years)...and the beginning of a new life together as husband and wife for Kim and Patrick! What an honor it was to share the day with this terrific young couple. The sun was shining and the temps were so pleasant...unlike Missouri on that date in 1979. That day brought beautiful sunshine, but a temperature of 2 degrees! We have decided that we like AR temps in December much better.

First, the bride...


then the shoes...

The ladies...

The gents...

The ceremony... The reception was held at the Agora Conference Center in Conway. They did a beautiful job with food and decorations.

The first dance as Mr. & Mrs. Patrick McCormack... "I loved her first...I held her first..." Patrick and his mom..."my wish for you...""ta-da!"

And then, all of a sudden, the evening is closing and it is time...

to go...

Thank you Kim and Patrick for allowing us to share in your new beginning! Each year when we celebrate another year together, you both will be close to our hearts. We wish you well and life's richest blessings!

Thankful and Blessed
Yesterday was an incredible day! Now that Natalie and Dillon are married, we have new extended family. This was our first time to spend a holiday together as this new family. It was a wonderful time! Words cannot express how blessed we feel. This is a family that loves our daughter as though she were their own...something that we had prayed for our girls their whole lives. Ann, Jim and Lucas Banning are precious people.

We have a Thanksgiving tradition that before we pray the blessing over the meal and then eat, we go around the table sharing something that we are thankful for. Always, it is more than one thing for everyone and it can be a bit emotional.

Thank you to all of you who are friends and new clients who have become new friends! You have enriched our lives by just being you.

Ashlie & Jonathan E-session
Monday started in downtown Conway with Ashlie and Jonathan's engagement session. We met these two at the August Arkansas Democrat Gazette Bridal Fair. Ashlie is about to graduate from UCA with her degree in dietetics and Jonathan is a surgical nurse at Baptist Med Center.

They were great fun and willing to just show off!

...and climb buildings...

Ashlie & Jonathan will be exchanging vows July 4, 2008 in celebration of that being the day they met two years ago, and then getting engaged on that same day, this year! Thank you guys for sharing such a great morning with us!

After lunch, a young lady that had been corresponding with us since mid summer was home for Thanksgiving from Dallas. Taryn McGhee and Rodney Echols brought Taryn's mom and one of her bride's maids to check us out in person. We came to an agreement, that we were a good match for each other to document this coming year, leading up to their nuptials next August. Taryn teaches 7th grade Science in Dallas and Rodney teaches and coaches in Pine Bluff. Teachers are some of my favorite people in the whole world. They hold the future of our young generation in their very hands and you can tell in both of them that they love what they do and they take it very seriously.

We could not have begun our Thanksgiving week in a better way! We are very grateful for the families that have come into our lives through our photography. They each leave fingerprints on us and we hope to leave very positive fingerprints on them. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Madison's Birthday Bash!!!
And what a bash it was. We began this morning with Mandy and Madison to get birthday and Christmas card shots...what lovely ladies...inside and out.

Then on to the party! And party is exactly what happened at Hippiti Hoppiti in Conway. Madison had chosen Ooh La La Spa as her theme for this year, along with the Moonwalk/Bounce House. Karen Bernard does an excellent job so, if you want a care free party with lots of fun...

Madison did a great job of greeting her guests...

A few of the activities...every young lady must have custom flip-flops!

Then we move to the spa treatments...after getting into robes and turbans, the hands were first...

then the feet...I have to admit...I was a bit jealous!

and then the face...

girls could be friends for life with treats like this...

It was time for pizza, but some were not ready to give up the cucumber treatment...so...they did both!

Themed cupcakes for all!

Making a wish...

What a fun day in which to participate. We visited with several old friends, as well. Happy Birthday to YOU, Madison! We hope you had a superb day and it looks like you did.