He's so sweeeet!

Nothing like a newborn baby to make you understand just how common miracles are. Little Gavin was so much fun to photograph, and this was hands down (some pun intended) my favorite image from the session. His mommy and daddy supplied the antique Coke box, and it was the perfect prop.

In case you don't already know, it does take a little fairy dust to get a pixie sized sleepy-head in this position for a photo. But not much. ;-)

Some Things Are Free

We hear it a lot, the old saying that goes "Nothing in Life is Free." I've said it plenty of times, haven't you? Well, I got reminded this weekend that sometimes that's not true.

I find myself doing a good bit of volunteer work with organizations that I believe in, and I'll be the first to say that some of it benefits my business. I'm not ashamed of that in the least, particularly since owning my business is what allows me the flexibility to volunteer as much as I do. But many of the things I give my time and energy to have nothing to do with bringing business in the door.

Every year I join a group of other volunteers and photograph "prom" pictures for a group of special needs folks at their annual "No Limits Formal Dance" in Winston-Salem. The attendees come from all over the triad, and they truly have a night to remember. I was told they had about 900 in attendance this year.

So on Friday night, we set up four photography stations, using volunteer photographers, assistants, and check-in staff. The equipment was donated for the night. Some wonderful folks worked for weeks making corsages and boutonnieres to give to the attendees. There were literally hundreds of neckties and bow ties available for the guys--again, free of charge. I don't even know all the other things that were donated to help make this a very special night.

What I do know is this, my co-volunteers and I did it for free. I had a great time, I enjoyed seeing everyone all dressed up and enjoying the evening, I got a lot of hugs and smiles, and I was reminded how blessed I am with my health. So maybe it wasn't free after all, looks like I got paid pretty well.

Gala at Kyle Petty's Place

Well, I'm happy to report that the planning committee survived the Randolph County Partnership for Children's Second Annual Gala at the Kyle and Pattie Petty Farm on Saturday. Actually we more than survived--we thrived! Right up until we plopped into bed in the wee hours of Sunday morning and slept very, very soundly.

The tickets sold out, and between tickets and auction sales, we raised even more money than we had dared hope for, pretty cool, hun? What an amazing group of people gathered in one place! Just like having 250 of your closest friends come over for a hoedown. These folks really "got it" and made the night a resounding success. They were generous, patient, fun, and they looked sharp dressed up in their denim and diamonds. Plus, I think they had a pretty doggone good time, and even learned to do a little square dancin'.

The food was great (fried chicken and the best fried squash you ever tasted from Snyder Farms Catering), the music was awesome (Rocking Horse Band really does rock) and desserts were amazing. If you haven't had Chocolate Lava cake or Baileys Irish Creme cake from Homeland Bakery (http://www.homelandbakery.com/) your life just isn't complete yet. You better call Torri Nelson right away and fix that.

The party was a "Barnyard Dance" theme, and was held in the Petty's barn. Let me just tell you, I'm doubting you've ever seen a barn like this. At least I hadn't, and I grew up in the country. According to Kyle's son Austin, when his sister Montogomery Lee decided to have her wedding at the farm, they spent about a million dollars renovating the barn to host her reception. Of course that was before they added the "trophy room" (aka: museum) onto it. Let's just say it's nice, reeeall nice.

How was your weekend?