Fall is for Families

Summer fades, and the autumn breezes start to reawaken our tired thoughts.  Labor day always excites me.  It’s time to turn our attention to so many things on the horizon; all of which I find exhilarating.  The back to school routines are a welcome relief to the unstructured schedules of summer.  Football games, carnivals, Halloween parties and preparations for Thanksgiving and the following holidays remind me that we are indeed a blessed nation.  All of these activities bring smiles to my face as I picture our friends and families gathering to celebrate.  However, I cannot help but be reminded of so many people that are not as fortunate as we in the Memorial area.  We have beautiful smiles and beautiful faces with which to share our smiles.  As we prepare our smiles for our holiday cards, I challenge you to think about how to make your smile go around the world.  Take a minute to peruse Operation Smile’s Website, operationsmile.org.  Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip. This organization gives free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.  It will tug at your heart to see the opportunities that lie in this one website alone.  As a member of the Professional Photographers of America, I have been moved to be a part of this charity.  This month, a portion of your session fee will be donated to help a child find their smile.  It will change their life and I hope change yours.  I would love to help you plan a portrait session that brings a smile to your home and a smile to children all over the world.

Final Tribute to Mother

ILMA BERYLDINE BROADDUS LYNN

Ilma Beryldine is not a common name but then again the woman whose life we are celebrating today was not a common woman. She was an extraordinary woman of noble character like the one described in Proverbs 31.

She actually had several names. My dad would introduce her as “My Lady”. She loved being called that so much that when she found silverware with that name, she bought it. When he walked in the door after work, he would sing out, “Honey Chile, I’m home.” My cousin Mollie and then her children called her Aunt B. My children and grandchildren called her Grandma Beryldine. But I got to call her Momma. As one of my friends said, “You got more than your fair share of a mother. “

It is so fitting that we would have this service here in this church. I grew up steeped in church and church people. Momma was the minister’s secretary and I have very vivid memories of being at the downtown location and being with Bessie Hart, Hayes Williams and Mrs. S.H. Boozier. I can’t remember her first name, but I remember how she made me feel---loved. Dr. Robinson told Momma that he might as well baptize me because every Sunday, I tugged on his robes and asked him if I was ready and would he do it. Momma surrounded me with people like Rella Nugent, Connie Stark, Mr. & Mrs. E.L. Hunter and all the great Sunday School teachers that taught God’s word. Momma and Daddy’s pew was right over there. Momma said that she never felt closer to Daddy than when they were sitting side by side in church. I can picture Daddy serving communion with his big strong hands holding the small juice filled cup as he prayed. I was always so proud that he was an elder. Gary and I were married here and as we knelt to pray, I couldn’t quit crying. Dr. Robinson leaned over and said that I had to quit crying because he couldn’t keep praying. If we weren’t in church, church people like Mary Lou and Joe McGregor and Iris and Gerald Wherry were at our house playing bridge. So I want to thank each of you that helped shape me and thank my momma for picking out such good role models. Even my dance teacher was Dixie Dice who belonged to this church. Dixie could rock and roll with the best of them and I loved every sequin that Momma sewed on those costumes so I could be in one of Dixie’s productions.

There are so many qualities that I admired about my Momma:

She loved to work at the church, but she refused to work past 3, so that she could be there when I got home from school. She said that the first 30 minutes after I got home was when I would tell her the most about my day and that she didn’t want to miss anything. I do not remember walking into an empty house.

I loved how Momma guarded her reputation. She and Daddy used to count the money from the offering plate. One year at Christmas Daddy bought her a mink coat. She took it right back the day after Christmas because she didn’t want anyone to think she had bought it with the offering money. She valued a spotless reputation.

Momma always put me in lots of activities. She would say, “I want you to go out and learn how to be with people”. And then she would add….all kinds of people. She always found something good in anyone she met. My cousin Mollie said that no one could greet a child like Aunt B. One of my friends in Houston, Jan Griesenbeck, said that anytime she was with my Momma, Momma made Jan feel like she was so glad that Jan was in the room. Jan said that Mother shared her gift of encouragement with everyone and always left you feeling uplifted and just so blessed you were able to spend time with her. She was a terrific listener. People would drop in to the church office and need to speak to Dr. Robinson or Dr. Bridwell. If the minister wasn’t available, Momma would listen to the person and before long that person would decide that they didn’t need to talk to the minister so badly after all. Instead, they would leave saying, “just tell him I came by.” All accomplished just by her listening. One of my friends came by the studio on Tuesday before Momma died on Wednesday and shared some things with me. As she left the studio, she stuck her head back in and said “Thanks for listening. I feel better.” I had the sweetest feeling, as if the torch had passed and I was honored to be following in Momma’s footsteps.

Momma was an avid walker. She and Lena Braudt would walk around Western Plaza daily. One time Lena couldn’t go, so she went to walk around Memorial Park by herself. She looked up and realized that Daddy was following her in the car to be sure that she was safe. I admired her self-discipline and healthy ways. I remember when she was about the age that I am now, she and Vernon Stagner would spend time discussing the latest healthy information. She loved grapefruit and coffee. Just a few weeks ago when she was hardly eating or drinking anything, she asked Gary to get her a cup of hot fresh coffee. The one she had was neither hot nor fresh.

I don’t remember ever really being in trouble. Once Momma told me that I was grounded, but after about 30 minutes she stuck her head in my room and said that Carol was here and did I want to go get a coke. I remember thinking that she really didn’t know how this grounding thing worked. I really think that Momma just couldn’t stay mad very long, she never held a grudge and she was always up for me having some fun. I once learned that that one day while I was at Tech, Momma came storming through the den saying that she was going to call me and tell me that I was wearing my skirts too short. Daddy never put the paper down but calmly said, “I don’t believe that I would do that if I were you.” She didn’t, but some how I knew about the incident.

About 1994 she decided that she needed to quit working at the church before someone asked her to quit. She decided that she would move to Houston before she had to move to Houston and in time for her to make friends in Houston, be close to family but let us have our own lives. She participated in all of the activities at the Terrace. Her stated attitude was that if the workers at the Terrace were going to go to the trouble of having activities, she needed to be there to attend them. She made new friends, but I don’t think they ever took the place of those that were in Amarillo. She welcomed new comers to the Terrace and invited them to sit at her table. She never participated in gossip. Once someone was talking about someone. “What is it that we don’t like about her? Momma’s answer was, ”I don’t know.”

Most of you could fill in your own stories of how she lived. Let me tell you how she faced the last few years of her life. She would always tell me to “keep on keeping on”, hold on to the faith, be kind to each other and “don’t worry your pretty little head” about something. But almost three years ago, I was presented with a situation that I couldn’t help but worry about. As Hurricane Ike approached and then hit Houston, Momma came to our house to stay for several days. Being with her day AND night for those several days, I came to realize that her memory loss and confusion was much worse than I had realized and that it was no longer safe for her to live alone in her apartment or in my house that was empty all day. I had to take her to a memory loss center. She went with such resolve to like it. When I would visit she would say that it was such a nice place to live. All the helpers told me how very pleasant she was and that she never, ever complained. In January I moved her to a personal care home and she went with the same great attitude again. She told me that she was leaving up to me the decision of what was best for her. About six weeks ago the hospice nurse told me to hurry out because she did not think Momma would make it through the night. Each week the hospice nurses told me that she would not be there the following week. About four weeks later, they quit saying that and said that they had no explanation. She was very clear for someone that had dementia. We had many short, but good conversations during the last six weeks. She continued to say that it was such a nice place to live. The nurses – both at the memory loss center and at the personal care home - told me how sweet she was and how she always complimented them on their attire, etc. Each one of the nurses fell in love with her and every one of them wanted to be the one to check on her. She always knew Gary and me and never failed to say something nice about how we looked. On last Tuesday, she was doing things that told me that the end was near. I told her that I wanted to be with her when she passed from this life to the next. The next day she would shake her head no when the attendants would ask her if she was ready to go. When I got there, I told her that we were going to do this together and that I was not leaving. I would hold her hand, pray with her, sing her hymns and read her scriptures. She shook her head “Yes” when I asked her if she heard me. Twice more she said “yes.” I told her that she would be part of that great cloud of witnesses that would surround us mentioned in Hebrews 12. Gary and I were with her when we heard the last puff of life while Priska, one of the nurses, was praying. One of my friends said that it is at times like this that God stretches the veil so thin that we can almost see through and get glimpses into eternity.

The day she died the Bible was open to Psalms 62:11.

More than once I have heard God say

That power belongs to him

And that his love is constant.

You yourself, O Lord, reward everyone according to his deeds.

When I arrived at her bedside six weeks ago, I prayed something about God showing his power and making his presence known. I believe that he did just that and that Momma died like she lived….in the shelter of his wings.

Proverbs 31 talks about the Wife of Noble Character. Solomon talks there about many things, but what caught my eye were the last few verses:

“Her children arise and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her;

Many women do noble things,

But you surpass them all.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned,

And let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

BLESSED IS MY MOMMA, ILMA BERYLDINE BROADDUS LYNN

Dear World

My grandson, Jack, started pre K this September. When asked if he liked his teacher, he replied “I like Mommy better.” The first day is hard on everyone. The moms met in the cafeteria after dropping off their little ones. It was called Coffee and Kleenex. The moms were given a letter entitled “Dear World”. It was a letter for the world to be gentle on “my son” as it begins to teach the lessons that “my son” will have to learn. It ended with “He is such a nice little boy, my son.” Margo made me a copy and by the time I finished I was crying. By the time, Coach (Gary’s grandfather name) finished he was REALLY crying.

About the same time Jack started Pre K, I took my mom, Ilma Beryldine Broaddus Lynn, to a memory loss community. After having her with Gary and me, it was absolutely apparent that she had to go. Just like Jack had to start school, I had to take Mother. Fighting it was harder than doing it, I discovered. Here is my “Dear World” letter.

Dear World,

Today my mom, started the grandest leg of her journey. She went with a positive attitude and was determined to “like it”. Oh world, how I wish that you could see her before she became so frail and forgetful. If you look in her “memory window” outside her room, you will learn a lot about her and from her.

She was born in Missouri but moved to Texas when she was about three years old. She was born to Thomas Martin Broaddus and Mabel Faye Davis Broaddus. A story that I always liked about her parents was that my grandmother was not allowed to date my grandfather because he drove his HORSES too fast. She did it anyway and moved away from her family to that dusty Texas town of Amarillo. Family, obviously, became very important and my memories of my grandmother are wonderful. (My grandfather died in June before I was born in October.) My mother began working at the young age of 14 by driving a woman around. She was a secretary at Magnolia Oil and Gas Company and then worked at the church as the minister’s secretary until the ripe old age of 75. She decided to quit before they ask her to quit. Mother knew everyone and their relatives that went to First Christian Church. She headed off many problems for the senior ministers by simply listening to the person “Needing to see Dr. Robinson, Dr. Bridwell, or the rest of the ministers. She moved to Houston and worked another ten years for me numbering negatives in my photography business. You will learn a lot from Mother by being a hard worker and a good listener. She NEVER participated in “office gossip” and always listened without judgment. Many a person that unloaded their problems on Mother while waiting to see the minister, left without ever talking to him. (it was “him” during that era”). They would leave deciding that they didn’t need to talk so badly after all.

Mother was an avid walker. She would walk everyday without fail either at the park or the mall. She entered into many activities that kept her thinking. The doctors still don’t know what causes dementia, but Mother did everything she could to stay sharp. The comment that helped me the most was that “God has designed our bodies to fail.” Her body is failing, her beauty has moved more on the inside, but her smile when she sees the ones she loves is as radiant as ever. Lord, please help her to remember us and caretakers help her with our names and remind her that we are coming to see her more than she remembers.

My Mother was a sister to Evelyn Louise Broaddus Sheldon and to Glenn Davis Broaddus. She was the middle child and I would describe her as a child caught in the middle. My Uncle Glenn was a practical joker. I heard stories of him loosening the girth of the saddle so that Mother would fall off the horse. He would hot wire the seat of their Model T and would shock Mother every time she was in the passenger seat. He used to love to laugh about how she would wiggle and squirm as he shocked her as he drove. Mother always wanted me to pattern myself after Aunt Evelyn. She admired her younger sister’s abilities and wanted me to be just like her. She just knew that I would learn to cook and sew like Aunt Evelyn when I grew up. Evelyn learned and so could I. I’ve been married for 40 years and I am still waiting for the wave of homemaking skills that Evelyn seemed to possess. The quality that you will learn from my mother is that she never thought more highly of herself than others. She never held a grudge and always pointed out the good qualities of others.

DO YOU REMEMBER HOW PAUL HARVEY USED TO SAY “AND THAT’S THE REST OF THE STORY.” Well, I never finished my tribute to my mom two years ago. My husband found it on my computer several months ago and brought it to my attention. So over the next few days, I will give you the rest of the story.

Love,

Cindy

One of the first things that people ask after they've booked a shoot at our studio is, "Where should we take the pictures?" Since we are in Houston and are blessed with a good climate (minus June through August!), outside photo sessions are easy to come by and we provide a great deal of choices for outdoor settings. Cindy sometimes shoots at City Centre, which is full of lovely gardens, structures, brick walls, metal and glass...it makes for a very unique photograph done not too far from home! Other options? Well, in April, we are going to Belleville, Texas for photo sessions in the bluebonnets at a private residence (there is still room for you to have a session - call us). This is where we captured a timeless photo of two brothers chasing each other down a dusty trail lined with bluebonnets. But if you don't want to travel that far, we can always capture something lovely, right in your very own backyard. Such was the case with Carol Hedrick and her extended family. It was a busy session with lots of young children, moms, dads, and Carol and her husband. This photo below was captured of Carol in a quiet moment, at her home. They say home is where the heart is, and we think this photo of Carol attests to it. Here she is relaxed, and happy at home!

There are times in Houston when the weather does a peculiar thing and surprises us with freezing temperatures, rain, hail, or gasp, snow! On those days, sometimes it is necessary to move the shoot inside the studio. This senior picture of Emily Waldrop was taken inside our studio. You would never know that she is leaning against Cindy's desk in the floor of our studio. It is a gorgeous photo full of color and texture, captured in the comfort of a warm and toasty studio (it was COLD that day in December!).

Photo sessions are always interesting because of the great people who are in the shoot, but they can be made even more fun with exploring different settings and backgrounds. Call us today and we'll capture something wonderful for you here at the studio, around town, or in your very own home.

Past and Present...We've always provided choices for you!

One of the joys of this studio is watching children grow. Kristen, (not my daughter, Kristen) has always been good about photographing her precious daughter, Josie. Here are some images of Josie when she was little. Here are some that we did in late 2008. Josie’s grandmother, Sharon (who is one of the prettiest women you will know, both inside and out) came in today to order from Josie’s pictures that were taken when she was little. She never could make up her mind which one to choose and so ten years later she still did not have a picture up of Josie as a little girl. We talked about how many cute images there were and how each one would have been a good choice.

Here’s the back-story. I have always wanted to give you lots of choices. This comes from my experience with my children’s first visit to a professional photographer. The photographer was just doing what he always did. Kristen, my daughter, cried most of the session and there was not any time allowed for her to become comfortable in front of the camera. This resulted in an “I guess this one will do.” decision of her one-year-old picture. I decided that my business would give people choices. I still stand by that decision, but I am considering the fact that too many choices leads to indecision, confusion and frustration. So here’s the point of the blog: I will still give you choices, but I will do a heavy edit to distill it down to the very best of the best. Feel free to give me input. If you like lots of choices, that is what I will give you. If you prefer a minimalist approach, I will hone them down to my very favorites. I promise that we will have some beautiful images for you to put up on your wall that will bring years of pleasure and the process will be memorable, as well.

Leaving the Nest

We loved photographing Wilson, Trudy, and Chris Gaw. As you can probably tell, they are a close knit family. When Trudy called the studio in December about having Chris's senior pictures made, she let us know that she wanted to have a family picture made as well.

This image of Chris Gaw and his father, Wilson, was expressly chosen for Chris's senior album because, as Chris remarked when he saw this one, "I love this photo because my dad has his arm around me." It is true what they say... a picture is often worth a thousand words.

This spring, as graduation draws near, many moms and dads are realizing that as their son or daughter goes off to college, the family will never quite be the same again. It may be a great time to capture a senior picture and at the same time do one last family picture before your son or daughter leaves home and enters the adult world. Cindy can appreciate how busy families are, so if you would like to capture a senior portrait and do a family portrait at the same time, we'd love to help you.

Good Times in the Bluebonnets!

Spring is in the air! You can feel it in the gentle breezes that blow through Houston on these cloudless days. In April, we will see our beloved bluebonnets dotting the roadside along the way to Austin. The arrival of bluebonnets seems to make spring official in Texas. Each year, along with bluebonnets come the other events that spring brings… antique festivals, graduation, spring formals, Easter egg hunts, the end of the school year, family vacations, crawfish boils…good times. When we were at the Wilchester Elementary Art Expo, Cindy asked each group of students when they arrived at her booth, “What do we take pictures of?” One young man had an interesting comment, “We take pictures of good times.”

At Cindy Crofford Photography, we advertise that we shoot pictures of families, babies, and Seniors, but honestly, what we are really photographing are good times. What good times have you had lately? I think in my family good times are birthday parties around our big dining room table, or grilling out on a warm spring night. Other good times are when we take road trips on sunny spring days with the windows rolled down, and our hair flying everywhere. We pile our kids into the car and drive down Texas highways, through places like Gruene, Bellville, Brenham, Columbus. We always have to stop at Bucees to get jerky, fudge, and kolaches. From the backseat, the kids make up games and jokes, and laugh so hard that their orange soda comes up through their noses. As for me, I sigh and enjoy the scenery, knowing that for a few hours, the kids are buckled in, and don’t need anything for a while.

We invite your family for a road trip with us on the 3^rd weekend in April. We are headed up to Bellville, Texas so that we can offer photo-sessions of your family in the bluebonnets. We feel certain that you will have fun making a day of it, and we’ll be on hand to capture the memory of your family’s “good times.”

Rush-ography

Senior girls and their moms are starting to call us about Sorority Rush pictures. In this region of the country, Sorority Rush is a bit more involved than in other areas, so if you are planning to join a sorority at a southern school, plan to pay close attention to the Rush process. Cindy has photographed hundreds of girls for Rush and knows the ins and outs of “Rush-ography,” to coin a term. The most important thing you will need for Rush are the photos that you will submit to each sorority. First impressions are so important and these three photos will speak volumes about you before you even step foot on campus!

Cindy offers this advice on Rush photos:

You need three photos with different poses: a closeup, a full length and a 3/4 length pose. We of course offer digital retouching on things like blemishes, under eye circles, and stray hairs, so you need not sweat your closeup!

Your clothes for the Rush photos are important as they reveal a lot about who you are. Be a little understated but not boring with your clothing choices. At the studio, we can recommend where to shop for clothing lines that photograph well, and also give you names of store consultants who can pick out the perfect ensemble for your photographs. Keep in mind that medium colors are the best choice for clothes as light colors make you look heavier and dark clothing often photographs with no detail. Similar color tones on the top and bottom make you appear taller and slimmer, while contrasting color tones on the top and bottom look choppy.

When preparing for your photo shoot, give attention to the small things that will matter in the end. Check your highlights if you have them, and make sure they are well maintained. Get a manicure and pedicure – no chipped nail polish! Lay out your three (or so) outfits with jewelry and shoes to double check that each looks complete, and, more importantly, looks like YOU. Bring your jewelry, touch-up makeup, brush, and hair spray to the shoot. And the most important thing to remember during the photo shoot is to be yourself, and smile!

Urban Photography for Seniors

We did one of our urban sessions this weekend. It was so much fun and so inspiring. We did a few photographs around the studio and then headed into the city where we found a great view of the downtown skyline. Brad is hoping to attend Belmont in Nashville with a major in music engineering. I didn’t even know that major existed. I particularly loved this image with Houston downtown in the background and with Brad looking toward Nashville. Houston is where he has been and Nashville is where he is going. Seemed a little symbolic to me. We finished at a warehouse with amazing textures and edgy backgrounds. Take a look at the images and see what you think.

Our urban sessions take a little more time and we are scouting for unusual locations. If you are looking for something a little out of the box, give us a call for details.

We Love Our Teachers!

Rhonda blogging today for Cindy. I just had to share a picture of my son John at the 100 Days of School celebration on Tuesday. Each student was asked to wear a hat with 100 items on it -- John wore one with 100 words on it. The 100th day of school really sneaks up on you. It comes right after the Christmas holidays, at which time we are all shaking our heads, wondering how the school year has passed so quickly, and marveling at how big our children are getting. When you think about it, our children spend about 8 hours in school each day, so our teachers have a pretty large hand in molding and shaping the thoughts, attitudes, and aptitudes of our kids. We've been so lucky that all four of our children have gone to school at Wilchester Elementary, a perfect little bubble of a school. I walk my John, Katie and Cullen up the same sidewalk that I did for my fifteen year old son several years ago. I count us blessed to be able to have teachers, school nurses, and other staff that can comment how much Joey looks like John, or how different Katie is from Cullen. They have an interest in my family, and we also have a history with these folks. One special teacher in particular has been Beverly McKenty. All of my children have grown accustomed to Ms. McKenty's familiar face in the halls at Wilchester. We photographed Beverly in the studio at Cindy Crofford Photography last week.

Ms. McKenty's portrait is going on the "Wall of Fame" in the new school building at Wilchester, having been a teacher at Wilchester for over twenty years. Twenty years! Imagine the stories Ms. McKeny must have. I think that all teachers, new ones and veterans, all belong on a wall of fame in my book. There is Ms. Stovall the kindergarten teacher, who taught first Joey, and then seven years later, Katie, to read chapter books. There was Mrs. Penner who would call to check on us if we were sick, or running late, and even asked moms to bring meals to us when we had a sick baby in the hospital. Ms. Dailey has taught all of my kids Health Fitness, and each day in the carpool line, she plucks John from his carseat to help him to class. I can't forget Coach Heathcock and Coach Thornton ("that's not gonna fly son!") at Memorial Middle School, who took a 7th grade boy who had never played football and turned him into a hard driving, football loving machine. My daughter loves her teachers like Ms. Bielik, Ms. Morgan, Ms. Luong and regularly makes cards for them or incorporates them into her fiction stories. My son Cullen thinks that Ms. Farahani is the most fun teacher he's ever had, and I can't thank Ms. Marks, Ms. Palkot, Ms. Dionne, Ms. DeLeon, Ms. Pope, Ms. Finley, Ms. Painter, just to name a few...you are forever engrained on my child's heart...and mine. Thank you for all that you do!

Its Marathon Time

Rhonda here, hijacking Cindy's blog. If you live in Houston, you know that there is one Sunday in January where the whole town goes a little crazy over running. Yes, folks, this Sunday, January 30th, the Houston Marathon will be happening! At Cindy Crofford Photography, we feel as though we have a vested interest in the marathon this year due to our photo session and profile on "marathon mama" Jennifer Alpard. Jennifer represents a huge number of Memorial area moms who will be taking part in the race on Sunday. The running boom continues to grow in rapid numbers, especially among moms. As a runner myself, who will also be running Houston this Sunday, I think that in these busy times, we have realized that running is just about the quickest way around to stay fit.

When we had our Girl's Nite/ free Facebook profile night at the studio, groups of women were discussing training for one race or another. Over wine they would ask each other, "When's the next run?" Who's running and what time?" Running truly has become a culture in and of itself. Designers such as Stella McCartney have rushed to design running gear for women. Nike has built its very own marathon around women, and you can bet there is plenty of Nike women's gear for sale at that particular race in San Francisco. Favorite gear includes Nike capri running pants, and the ever present track shorts. Lululemon is also a favorite brand of running attire among women, with shorts that make any girl look good coming AND going.

It is true, the clothing and shoe companies, the gadget companies, etc. are all trying to capitalize upon the women's running boom, but the truth is, to run, all you really need is a good pair of shoes. In fact, when I first started running, I had to make a fast exit out of my houseful of three young children or else I would not get the run in, so I would simply slip on my running shoes and run through the dark in a pair of khaki shorts -- no kidding! Yes, I was THAT lady. But as I got better at running, and wanted to show off more and run in the actual daylight (much safer by the way!) I took the attire up a notch and bought running shorts and singlets. For whatever reason, those new clothes made me run faster...

That said, running is not only a great, fast way to get into shape, but you can also look pretty boss (as my sixteen year old likes to say) while doing it, given the right running gear. So, to recap, running is fast fitness, it is fashion, and did I mention the friends? Some of my best friends I have made by running. There is my uber fast friend Casey who always encourages me to just run one more mile...fast. My friend Jennifer who makes the fun of fundraising while running contagious, and my friends Kristie, Christine, and Nancy, with whom you can share things while running that you would otherwise never share! What gets said on the run STAYS on the run! And how can I forget to mention my dear friends Marion, and Amy, who have gotten me back onto the road after injuries, and burn out. I love all you running girls! Good luck to us all as we take to the streets this Sunday!

You're Never Too Old...

Happy New Year everyone! This is Rhonda, hijacking Cindy's blog again. Have you made your New Year's resolutions? I know I have. I am a sucker for making a good list of resolutions, no matter what. I truly believe in the hope of a new year, a clean slate, and a new attitude. There's a quote I read recently by George Eliot that says, "You're never too old to be the person you always wanted to become." That's right folks, you are never too old for a do-over. For starters, my "do-over" this year is to change my eating habits by chowing down on more fruits and veggies. I knew my diet was getting pretty bad when the drive thru lady at McDonalds and I were on a first name basis. Did you know that the average person includes only about 8% of produce in his/her daily diet? I've always been so busy trying to keep a "balanced" diet that I think I ended up skimping on fruits and veggies. I think I will try eating an unbalanced diet for a while that is overloaded with produce. I was particularly motivated to do this when I learned that former president Bill Clinton has become a vegan. A vegan! This is Bill Clinton, folks. The same Bill Clinton who was parodied on Saturday Night Live stuffing McDonald's fries in his face after his daily jog. Once a self-affirmed junk food addict, Bill Clinton, now in his mid sixties, is embracing a plant based diet, shunning meat and all dairy products. After he conducted his own, personal research into veganism, he discovered that you can naturally unclog your arteries with a plant based diet. I have to figure that if Bill Clinton can eat better in his sixties, then I can too on the eve of my fortieth year.

And as for Cindy, her resolutions are to work out one additional day at the gym. She is already hitting it hard, 3 days a week, so she wants to add a fourth. And this is the one, that I am particularly excited about...she is planning to walk/run a 5K. As a runner, this makes me very happy! We are always trying to recruit new folks :) Cindy is one of the most positive, pro-active people I know. Her enthusiasm is contagious. I know she will meet her goal!

Heather, Cindy's assistant, also has her own New Year's resolutions. She is going to train for a 5K as well. They are going to use the Runner's World Couch to 5K program at www.runnersworld.com. Check it out! Heather's other project is to participate in Project365.com, which is to take a photograph of her life every single day. I'll bet she grows fitter and fitter in each progressive picture.

What are your resolutions? Tell us! We'd love to hear from you. And, incidentally, when you succeed in your resolutions, be it weight loss, a new exercise program, quitting smoking, or spending more time with your kids, Cindy would love to photograph that smile on your face.

But I Don't have Time for a Portrait!

This is Rhonda on Cindy's blogspot today. Today is Thursday, and I can say without reservation, that I am so glad tomorrow is Friday! It's been a long week for me on the homefront, driving carpools in my car with one hand on the wheel, while the other hand clutches a Diet Coke, washing mounds of laundry but never finding socks that match, fighting battles over clothes, dinner, and this week, specifically, duking it out over hairstyles! I plopped into a chair at the studio yesterday and looked at Cindy and said, "No offense, but what family has time to get their pictures made?" Who were those organized moms in Tory Burch shoes that were able to waltz into Cindy's studio with perfectly groomed hair, and kids to match? In my mind, those were the people who had portraits made. I have ten pounds to lose, my ten year old just got a mohawk yesterday, my husband works all the way in Baytown, so not only do we not have the time for a professional portrait, but we don't have the hair for it now either.

After my comment, Cindy looked at me thoughtfully and said, "You know, it's really not about finding the perfect time or moment, but about making the most out of the moment you have." And after turning that comment over in my head, I've begun to realize one thing: yes, we are busy, and yes, life is not perfect, but my kids aren't getting any younger. If I want to capture memories of these 4 fabulous children of mine who are at such different ages and stages, that I must essentially "meet the camera" at wherever we are in life -- mohawks, and all. In fact, I think I'm going to bring my kids in next week for Cindy's In and Out special. It's a condensed version of a full portrait session. I like this idea. The sitting fee is only $70 and since we have mohawks going on in our family right now, I don't feel as though the cost is a huge gamble. Cindy promises to get my kids' holiday photo taken in about fifteen minutes. Granted, In and Out is not one of Cindy's full blown portrait sessions, and in one of those you get fussed over by Cindy for at least an hour or so, but for a mom with no time on her hands, and four busy kids, this option will be perfect! We'll keep you posted on how they turn out. I can't wait!

I Love My Job!

There are so many ideas and thoughts roaming around in my head that I can’t seem to get a hold of one. I think it is because our lives seem busier than ever. I never thought that I would be this busy at this stage of my life.

I absolutely love what I do. I love the whole process of photography. I love to learn and take classes to stay current. I love all the different people that come into my studio and know that it’s time to stop time and create a memory. I love helping them beyond simply thinking, “We need a portrait.” And help them take the next step, whether that is talking through clothing ideas, bringing the clothes to the studio and laying them on the couch to discuss, finding a date that works, canceling that date to find a new date, rescheduling because of thunderstorms, finally getting to photograph, waiting for the pre-session jitters to go away and getting into the zone of shooting and the rhythm of being comfortable in front of the camera or even being camera unaware, editing for the very best images, projecting those images and discussing all the possibilities for the best impact, taking great care to edit the image for printing and combining the images for a story, studying the images for retouching and other enhancements, sending the order to the retoucher, sending the order to the lab, sending the order back to the print finisher (who is the same as the retoucher…..and is awesome, I might add….the best in the business, as far as I am concerned) exploring packaging and then watching the faces as they light up with delight. I love the whole process and I love the people that make the process necessary.

Thank you, thank you for a wonderful opportunity to see the beauty in everyone that walks in that door. So don’t wait until the perfect idea comes; instead, come in and we will make the idea perfect. But as my friend Judy said before Kristen’s wedding, “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be perfect.” …..including blogs.

Staying Young

This is Rhonda, Cindy’s assistant. Today I’ve hijacked her blog and am filling in for her on the blogspot. I’ve worked in Cindy’s studio for almost two months, and have been able to meet some fabulous people. Most of the people who come in are Memorial moms, like me, but sometimes you meet a woman, or a group of women who are just so out of the ordinary, that you continue to think about them after they’ve left. Such was the case with Mary Wallace and her three sisters. “There were four sisters that came into the studio yesterday,” I said to my girlfriends on our morning run. “And they were in their sixties, seventies, and eighties… they looked so beautiful and vibrant...” and then I told my friends that Mary Wallace and her sisters were exactly how I wanted to look when I was well into my sixties and beyond.

What is the secret of aging gracefully? I think these sisters have found it. The secret is...are you ready for this? The secret is that there is no secret. There is not a product, a procedure, or a price for looking younger. As I approach my forties, I am coming to understand that aging gracefully is all about attitude. It's an attitude of living deliberately. Mary Wallace and her sisters understand that social connections, connections with family, like beloved sisters, are what keep us young. I'm starting to think that, in spite of our busy lives, having a social life and staying in touch with family is not an option -- it's a prescription. The power of human connection is what keeps us young, healthy, and alive. Staying young is about laughing over a glass of wine, sharing a secret, getting up before the busy-ness of the day begins to meet your friends for a run or a walk...its about making sure you attend bunco night, or the Happy Hour, or make the effort to go to the neighborhood party.

If you are like me, you are so busy your head spins. I have four children all still at home, a husband with a demanding job, and commitments like crazy. Sometimes when I get an Evite, or another invitation, my first impulse is to blow it off. But what if, from now on, we sought out people? What if, at least once a day, we tried to reach out to someone, to make a phone call or take a walk with an old friend? I don't know that the lines on my face will disappear. I'm sure my hair will still be gray, but I'm almost certain my countenance will be changed.

Blogettes

Have had several things on my mind and my response was what a perfect time to blog. The days get busy and all of the sudden, it is “quittin' time." At any rate, here are a few "blogettes" that have been floating around in my head:

We left for Beaver Creek, Colorado for the Ellis wedding. Quick recap: we missed our plane because baggage check and security was insane. No problem, got right on the next plane after a “not too bad” wait. Lawyer husband left his blazer that he was going to wear on the plane and to the wedding laying on the bed. No problem again - went to Joseph Banks when we landed and bought not only a blazer, but a great pair of pants, shirt and two ties that I think are wonderful. While waiting for the pants to be hemmed, we went to a great new restaurant called La Sandia. The food was delicious and the service at the restaurant was as good as getting the pants hemmed on the spot. I told the waitress that I thought the chips and salsa were the best ever. I wanted to know if they sold the salsa. They didn’t, but when we got ready to leave, the waitress came with a big smile and a box full of chips and salsa. She thought we needed a roadie. As my favorite book says, “it takes so little to be above average.” I’m stilltalking about this smiling waitress.

Back home from the chilly nights in Beaver Creek and back to the business that I love. Getting ready for our Dog Days promotional and looking forward to the sweet pets, or "furbabies" as Ann Monteith, friend and past president of PPA calls them. Tuffy and Trooper came in again this year. They brought a Christmas tree, a package and a Fitz and Floyd Santa. Claudia had made little Christmas bowties with holly for them to wear. Oliver, the long haired Chihuahua, got the Bravery Award. He was so tiny and little, but just posed in spite of his fear. He definitely could try out for the Wizard of Oz. Mona and Lisa were two beautiful twin Dachshunds that just sat quietly as we dressed them in their “Desperate Housedog” sweaters. Feeling like pushing our luck, we added a few tutus that made for a different look. These dogs are now eleven years old, but I was able to hear all about their one year old Yappy Birthday party at Three Dog Bakery. They had hats with the number one on the front and all the party guests wore Scooby Doo hats to complete the celebration.

Sophia, our next customer, was so sweet and calm. It was very obvious that she had been to etiquette classes and passed with flying colors. She even brought in her mink throw to be photographed in it. Every now and then she would forget her manners and let her tongue slip out, but will forgive this because she was so fabulous, and her hair was too. In fact, I'm thinking of taking Sophia with me the next time I need mine colored/highlighted! Finally, Sherlock came in Tuesday for a headshot. He (yes, Sherlock is a dog) works at an Eldercare law firm and is in charge of marketing and homeland security. Hey, maybe barketing is a combination of marketing and security. Sherlock was so regal. His ears were about as long as he was tall. How could he have been abandoned by his previous owner? He loved it when I meowed.

My last blogette has to do with my sweet granddaughter. If you have read any of my earlier blogs, you know that I love Chanel Number Five. Aunt Evelyn wore it, I love wearing it and I have “encouraged” granddaughter # 1 to dab a little behind her ears for special occasions. I was talking to her on the phone and she had come up with an idea. “Cease, when Jack, Daddy and Coach go to a football game, can you and Mommy and I go get our nails done? AND…..when we are finished can we put on some Michelle Number Five?” Chanel will never, ever be the same. Why is it when it comes our of the mouth of someone we love, it becomes something so precious? Sarah will probably grow up and call it by its correct name, but for me….from here on out, it is Michelle Number Five.

“Well, Mary Lou………..!”

As my sweet daughter-in-law, Margo, says, “That’s what women do…..they catch up.” That is exactly what happened this morning when Mary Lou, my mother’s long-time (Since 1946, to be exact) friend from Amarillo, went to see her. Mary Lou said she had not seen my mother since we moved her to a memory loss center soon after Hurricane Ike. Mary Lou was here for a brief time last Christmas right after her husband, Joe, died; but, for “a good ole visit,” as my mother would say, it has been over two years. When we walked into the room, my mother was sitting in a wheelchair. I have never seen my mother in a wheelchair and it took me back. I was glad that I had Mary Lou and her daughter, Shirley, with me. But the sweetest moment came when Mother looked up and immediately said, “Well, Mary Lou!” Mother recognized her without any prompting. It was straight from the heart and the conversation was peppered with “remember when” memories. Here is what I took away (bullet points in honor of my son-in-law, Sam.)

• Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. Today was golden.

• Your mind can retrieve pleasant memories …. make some.

• Friends accompany you through the tough times and the wonderful times in life.

• In spite of all the old age layers, my mom is still there.

• When we left, Mother seemed to be getting tired and more confused. She asked me if I thought that it would be best if she just stayed there. I agreed and then she looked at Mary Lou and said, “I wish you could come back every day.” Find a friend and tell her you love her.

• Friends can sometimes do what family can’t at the moment. Here’s the picture that this professional photographer took with my I Phone. I hate to tell the grandchildren and great grandchildren but Mary Lou managed to win the best smile producer award. Way to go, Mary Lou! You have given me a gift. I love you, Mother’s best friend.

Did you catch my wink?

“Not marketing is like winking at a pretty girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but she has no idea.” Love that quote and love how it makes sense that a business has to let people know what they are doing. So now that the marketing materials have been chosen, we are headed back to Omaha to fly home. Since the flight wasn’t until 5:30 we decided to go home through Lincoln to see the University of Nebraska and the capital of this state. Several of my favorite people are from Lincoln, so I was eager to see their stomping grounds. Ken and Sandy come to have me photograph their family every year and Ken most often has on a Nebraska sweater for the picture. Before too many minutes he is looking for “ his friend, Gary”, and before long they are talking Husker/Horn football. What nice people!!! What great children! You will hear more “mams” and “sirs” in a minute from those well-mannered and loveable children. So I was excited to call them and tell them where we were.


We drove through the Nebraska countryside taking pictures of calming vistas. The repetition of the hay bales was gorgeous and I am sure that I stumbled on an Andrew Wyeth painting inspiration. Most images were taken from the car since we were running low on gas, but I managed to get Gary to stop at one inspiring sight. While I was photographing this ramshackle old house and leaning shed, Dan, the owner and a father of six, came rushing up on his four-wheeler to see what we were doing. After I assured him that I did not have bad intentions and told him that I was in love with Nebraska, he was so delightful. He has children from age 26 years down to a 5 year old. His smile was infectious. I told him how to find my blog and I hope he is reading this. I think it is interesting how people come into your life that make a big impression in a short amount of time.





We left Dan and his ramshackle house and shed behind (Dan also owned a very nice looking farmhouse a little way down the road), found a gas station and headed on to the Interstate leading to Lincoln. But before we could figure out what happened, we had not taken the wrong turn but had not taken a turn at all and missed the exit for Lincoln and were half way back to Omaha. So Lincoln will have to wait until the next Nebraska visit.

I was struck by the contrast of the sights in Nebraska and the sights out the window of the plane in our Chicago layover and our arrival in Houston. We weren’t in Nebraska anymore.






Joys ahead,

Cindy

Finding customer service in Nebraska

Do you want to see and FEEL how a business with great customer service operates? You could get on a plane to NYC or Chicago or San Francisco or….you could hop on a Southwest Airline flight to Omaha, Nebraska and drive two hours northwest to Norfolk, Nebraska. There you would find Marathon Press, the company that hosts my website and does most of my marketing materials.

We left Houston on a Saturday and flew into Omaha. We got great airfares by leaving on Saturday and therefore arrived a day early and spent Saturday night and Sunday in Omaha. Of course, unknown to us, we picked the weekend that Warren Buffett, reportedly the second wealthiest man in the world, was holding his annual shareholders meeting. The Woodstock of Capitalism, my son tells me. We wandered around the Old Market Place, taking pictures of all the interesting places to photograph, drove by Rosenblatt Stadium where the College World Series has been played since 1948 (this year is the last time CWS will be held there before they move to the new stadium…..see later blog if Gary, Curt and # 1 grandson get to go), went to a cool store called “Be Yourself” (How did I know about it? They marketed themselves.) and then found Warren Buffett’s house. At least, the girl at Be Yourself told us how she thought we could find it. I have become fascinated with Mr. Buffett, not Jimmy Buffett this time but the second or third richest man in the world. Stay tuned for a later installment for my thoughts about this Mr. Buffet. We ate dinner at Piccolo Pete’s, one of Warren’s favorite restaurants. It was like an old time supper club and has been around for a long time. Then we headed to Norfolk.

Monday morning we were met by a roomful of friends. I say friends because that is exactly how you feel when you arrive. We got lost and called Marathon. The receptionist asked, “Are you in that white car?” She could see us across the field and going by on the highway next to it. How did she know? They are just trained for detail there. We were greeted warmly by Dee Dee, Linda, Karen, and Jeff. I felt like I had called a board meeting Warren Buffett style and we were the VIPs of the day. They were all there to attend to our every need. We started in on designing different materials, we met with the web department, we prioritized, we thought through ideas, we felt special and like someone had our backs or like someone was just as interested in our business as we were. There philosophy is if I succeed, then they succeed. Yes, they are there to make money, but not at the expense of CCP. Now isn’t that a great business? I’m so excited to share my senior brochure with you 2011 seniors and my family brochure with all you contemplating a family session. We have new gift cards coming should you want to purchase gift certificates for someone you think needs a portrait session. During the day, Bruce, the president of Marathon came in and we all sat and had Runzas. It is a sandwich that reminded me of a Kaloche. I hope they stay in Nebraska, because they were really good and I don’t need another vice. Our neighbor, Betty, had told us about Runzas and lasagne at Valentino’s. So you guessed it, after a long day of making decisions, Linda and Dee Dee took us to Valentino’s for lasagne. It is how I want to run my business and I want you to fill out our new “How did we do?” comment cards. REALLY, I DO. I want you to add me to YOUR list of really great place to do business. Next, Our trip home.

Meanwhile Back at the Chanel Counter

Do you know that there is not a single Chanel counter in Round Top, Bleiberville, Nelsonville or Bellville?  The makeup sample from the Chanel counter at Macy’s is perfect and I need some.  So it’s time to windup, or rewind or unmosey or quit meandering and gear up to get back to Houston.  Besides our whole vocabulary was changing.  We would sit on the front porch and in the distance we would hear the crunch of the dirt road of an approaching car.  Gary would look at me and say “Is somebody coming down our lane?”  Just like you see on television….there we sat looking a little Ma and Pawish as we rocked and looked out over the countryside.  We found ourselves saying things like yonder and waving at folks as we passed them on the two lane roads.  Don’t get me wrong.  We had a wonderful time.  We went into Roundtop and ate at Royer’s Café.  I told Bud that I had taken his picture at a wedding that I had photographed and that he had catered.  It was a great picture of him looking at his pies.  Susan said, “He looks at his pies like we look at our grandchildren.”  We wondered on the town square.  Liz, my friend and assistant extraordinaire, watched the older man sweep the steps of the general store.  We got terribly lost on the backroads and I was sure glad we had allowed enough time to get back to Bleiberville and Cemetery Road.  But I’m feeling a little antsy and wondering if I am a little more of a city girl than I thought that I was on Saturday.  I just need to go into a department store.  I love it that in about one hour and change I can get out into the beauty of Washington County, but I also love it that I can get back to Houston in the same amount of time.  The people that drove out were delightful.  I am so glad that we shared this beauty of this place in a spectacular wildflower season.  But it is time to get back to the studio and the glorious life that Houston offers.  Bye Bye Bluebonnets.  See you next year Indian Paintbrushes.  You outdid yourselves.  As Jimmy Buffet says in one of his songs, “Everybody take a bow.”