Momma's 84th Birthday Bash

Wanda Rita Landry Cambre woke up on November 11 to the question . . . Who's birthday are we celebrating today? To my surprise her response was . . . Mine! As her 84th year began it was celebrated with family and close friends.

A prayer was prayed.

The Eucharist given.

The Michot boys came with accordion and fiddle in hand ready to blend their gift of music with

God's gift of clarity He so graciously

gave her that day.

She danced with her grandchildren

and listened intently as Claire ended our celebration by playing her clarinet for maw-maw.

Father Roby used to say, an Epiphany is "God showing off in a good way.

Yes, He certainly did!

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Password . . . Momma 84

The making of a Family Portrait

I've recently had the pleasure of capturing the Laborde family. Angie & Jeff along with their two handsome boys and golden retreiver Boomer! When I took a glance at Boomer behind the picket fence it literally looked like Boomer moves on skates. It's quite a site to behold for such a large dog. Boomer is part of the family although this day he remained behind the fence due to the fact he hadn't cleaned up prior to portraits and wasn't allowed to be with us. I managed to get a quick shot of Boomer with the boys. I think he was quite impressed with himself!

I must admit . . . catching Jeff & his boys down the spooky trail was a treat!

Happy Halloween everyone!!

First Communion . . . A Sacrament of Initiation

Along with Baptism and Confirmation, First Communion is one of the Sacraments of Initiation into the Roman Catholic faith. My young friend, William Hebert recently celebrated this sacrament and I was honored to be able to document this for his family. William's younger brother Andrew was such a helper holding my equipment and adjusting my tripod as I set up each shot. Thank you Andrew!

. . . and as all good mothers do, Diane made her way to adjust William's jacket before my shutter released.

William also was blessed with an honor. . . to be one of the youngest alter servers to serve under Bishop Jarrel when saying mass at The Cathedral of St. John. This young life is certainly one I will keep my lens focused on!

Beth's Getting Married . . .

There are three words that come to mind when you say the name Pickard . . . 

Girls . . . Girls . . . Girls!

Jim & Marcia Pickard have three lovely daughters; namely,  Jill, Beth and Sarah.  The first Pickard I had the privilege to photograph it sleeted during our bridal shoot!     Marcia promised me it wouldn't happen again.  She kept her promise!  The weather was beautiful as we captured Beth this past Saturday.   Beth has amazing energy and has a high tolerance for five words I seem to say quite often . . . "this will be our last one!"

It was my pleasure seeing two close friends of the family again . . . Harry & Pat came along to assist.   Thank you both for your eye on our details!  

Milestones

We're BIG on celebrating milestones in our home.  

 

Claire's 10th birthday was spent at Grandma's home and a tour of one of the many treasures New Iberia has to offer.  She invited Emma, Maddy, Paxton and Payton to come along for the celebration.   We toured "The Shadows on the Teche" and each wore a dress that little Mary Weeks would have worn back in that era.  The girls were eager to dress the part and marveled as they were told the stories of long ago.  The girls couldn't believe they would have to kill their own chickens, pluck them and prepare them for supper if you had lived in that time!   We left the Shadows and headed to grandma's for cake, games and a sleepover!  Grandma even had trick candles on the cake!!  A fun time was had by all that evening at grandma's home! 

As we left New Iberia the following morning we were suprised by a phone call from a friend who had promised Claire that when he shot an animal worth disecting he would bring it to her since she had shown an interest in this a while back.  Was she excited ...you bet!  It was nice to find Claire wasn't one bit squeamish.

 

Who would have thought her 10th birthday would be a day in the life of little Mary Weeks with the skinning and disecting of an animal.    

Yes, it was a nutra rat and can be eaten since they are vegetarians.  

Humm . .  Nutra jerky anyone! 

Happy 10th Birthday Claire!  

St. Joseph's Abbey

"Who may stand 

in the Lord's holy place?" the Psalmist wonders.

The response follows quickly:  "Those with clean hands and a pure heart." (Psalms 15 24:4)

Saint Benedict, who's teachings live on through the Abbey reiterates this question in the prologue to the Rule for monks.  Benedict has developed a thought and a process in striving to become clean and pure.  It is evident as you walk the grounds of the Abbey.

I've spent a short time there, only twenty-four hours.  The invitation came from Cindy, a friend who made the journey with me.  And so we went.... just for a day, to walk the grounds and take in some of the more simple things within The Abbey.   We met up with Lydia and Susan, Cindy's friends who made our stay that much more enjoyable.   While shooting the alter,  my eyes glanced towards a stairwell in which (in my humble opinion) I would surely find the bells of the Abbey.  Susan eagerly offered her assistance as we made our way up the winding staircase of the bell tower.   We ventured up the tower only to find the last door locked shut! I suppose  shooting the bell will be conquered on our next visit to the Abbey.  

We ended our stay with the sharing in a meal. . . something St. Benedict would have certainly smiled upon.

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