Postcards Magazine Lake Conroe August 2020

Lake Conroe Edition

August 2020

Texas Treasures

“My Texas” Photo Spread

Texas Talent Mike Ryan

Business Focus

Jennifer Baird Photography

™ e n i z a g a M

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS PERMIT NO. 51

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 3

August 2020 | Volume 9, Issue 8

18

8

Texas Treasures

“My Texas” Photo Spread

Texas Talent

18

Business Focus

24

Mike Ryan

Jennifer Baird Photography

Favorites

24

8

15

Health Matters

Features

5

Letters from Readers

16

Milestones

6

What are you Reading?

22

Pet Pals

7

From the Publisher

23

Tickle My Funny Bones

12

Glorious Grandkids

28

Out of the Mouths of Babes

13

Dear Gabby

29

Community Calendar

14

“Seens” from Our World

Mustard Seed Moments

ine™

az Mag Published Monthly by Altom Consulting & Marketing, Inc.

30

Postcards Magazine™ welcomes reader feedback ADVERTISE IN POSTCARDS Call our Office: 936.293.1188 Online: www.PostcardsLive.com

Publisher: Karen Altom Editor: Wes Altom

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The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return of any unsolicited material. No material from Postcards Magazine™ can be copied, faxed, electronically, or otherwise used without express written permission. Publication of articles, advertisements or product information does not constitute endorsement or approval by Postcards Magazine™ and/or its publisher. Business Focus stories printed in Postcards Magazine™ are drawn at random from contract advertisers.

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ted. any ne™ sed les, tute d/or ards .

Specializing in:

Letters from Our Readers

THANK YOU FOR YOUR MAGAZINE. It is wonderful. As soon as we get it, we read it cover to cover. So many interesting and funny things. Our county has needed this for a long time and we appreciate you for doing it. So THANK YOU! Ann and Gerald Barosh

I enjoy reading your magazine each month.

I especially enjoy Mustard Seed Moments, Out of the Mouths of Babes, Pet Pals, and Glorious Grandkids. I read your magazine from cover to last page. Congratulations on a great magazine, and God bless you.

Wanda Bedenbaugh

Family Portraits Senior Portraits Engagements Maternity

Jennifer Baird

Photography

281-639-0233 jenniferbairdphotography.com

Reading the baseball piece — the whole jumbo hot dog — in Postcards Magazine was almost as good as sitting at the ballpark watching a doubleheader. Mike handled it nicely and made those memories come alive.

I could hear Harry Caray hollering through the radio when Stan the Man hit the ball on the roof. Thanks for asking me to contribute to this piece. Thanks for treating a dreaded Red Sox fan so kindly. We’re looking forward to the day when players hit the field again and we can turn on our transistor radios and listen to former Bearkats Steve Sparks and Mike Coffin call Astros and Corpus Christi Hooks games.

Tom Waddill

Share your letters & comments with us!

PostcardsLive.com/share August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 5

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A Gathering of Secrets

By Linda Castillo

u ?

! m

From the Publisher

Step One is Showing Up

Karen Altom publisher@postcardslive.com

A s you probably know by now, I’m a real “look on the bright side” kinda gal and, thanks to Covid, it’s been a little more difficult than usual to find those sunny spots. Not to say there haven’t been any. I’ve certainly found some opportunities at home to let the sun shine in, but when you’re a people person like me, the isolation can be a challenge!

battling, and she is along for the ride…that’s one of the many reasons I love her. Jo and I were maids-of-honor in each other’s weddings. We understand what it means to “show up;” we’ve been doing it a long time, and it has been hard to be so distant.

JoAnne’s husband Mark called me and wanted to do a little something “special” to celebrate the end of Jo’s first round of chemo. We schemed and planned a little…made some phone calls…and decided to have a little “drive through” parade on their way home from the hospital. I was once again reminded how special our community is when the cars just kept coming, and parking, and waiting. Waiting in the heat so they could celebrate with, and love on, my friend as Mark drove her One of the most challenging things we’ve seen during this crisis is up and down the rows of cars with people who were “showing up” when there are medical situations requiring hospitalization for family or with signs and balloons and air-blown kisses while socially distancing. friends…and because of the virus, they have to be alone. I never thought We might not be able to show up like we once could, but this sure when our first grandbaby was born that we would be on video chat and drives home the old saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Wish not sitting in the waiting room. Being unable to be at the hospital with you could show up for someone? Get an ill family member or friend is heartbreaking because, “that’s what we creative. I’m betting you’ll figure it out. I do,” right? When family or friends are in the hospital or going through love you, Jo. a tough time, we SHOW UP. Sometimes we are showing up for the patient; sometimes for the rest of the family--but we show we care by being there. Covid changed that. And I admit, I am not happy about it.

Until next time,

However, Covid has also resulted in folks figuring out some very cool and creative ways of “showing up.” One of my dearest friends, JoAnne Holly, is battling cancer. Now, JoAnne will tell you that God is

Your Local Community Magazine!

~

Karen

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 7

My Texas

Photos by Gina Turner

Gina Powell Turner is a staff photographer for Postcards, and her work is regularly seen in our features. She lives in Spring, originally from Madisonville. She operates a photography business in Spring/Conroe/Huntsville area. “Growing up in Madisonville gave me a love for the charm of this small town and the desire to see more of Texas and document Texas history. I hope you enjoy my taste of Texas.”

TEX S TREASURES 8 Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition | August 2020

Saloon, Montgomery, Texas

Montgomery County, Texas

“The Cowboy Way” Madisonville Rodeo

Medina River in Bandera

Brookeland, Texas

Sunset, Madisonville

Bucking Horses, Madisonville Rodeo

Ride’em Cowboy, Madisonville Rodeo

»

August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 9

Graphics and Photos by Gina www.mydigitaldestination.com

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 11

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Dear Gabby Welcome back to the Dear Gabby advice column. I don’t appreciate technology that is smarter than I am, but I finally broke down and purchased a smart phone. Of course, the first thing I did with it was to drop it in the commode. I thought I could get away with using the warranty, but the man at the phone store told me that dropping your phone in the toilet wasn’t covered. I asked him how he knew I had done that, and he said, “It took a picture.”

Snitch! Drop me a line at Dear Gabby at PostcardsLive.com, and I’ll ask my new phone how to help. It’s very smart!

DEAR GABBY My wife accuses me of being addicted to my cell phone. While it is true it is the last thing I look at when I go to bed and the first thing I look at when I wake up, that does not spell addiction to me. I talk to her as soon as I’m caught up with my messages. I think she’s overreacting, don’t you?

TECHIE DEAR TECHIE This must be cell phone day. Life is what happens while you’re looking at your smart phone. I don’t understand today’s relationships. You can touch each other, but not each other’s phones. Your cell phone has already replaced your camera, your calendar, and your alarm clock, among many others; don’t let it replace your family. As for addiction--if you fall with your phone in your pocket, hear a crack, and hope it’s your leg--you’re addicted.

GABBY

DEAR GABBY I am naturally suspicious, so I’m nervous about the current online dating situation. Do you have any tips on really getting to know someone before meeting them in person?

WARY DEAR WARY A good way to truly get to know your date is to ask about their first pet, favorite movie, and their mom’s maiden name, then login and read all their emails. But, seriously, wariness is a good trait in this day and age. Keep an open mind and take your time. Look for the best in everyone, but do it with your eyes wide open.

GABBY

CONFIDENTIAL TO SLIPPING: Please don’t worry; that’s perfectly normal for your age. Most of my conversations lately start with, “Did I tell you this already?” or “What was I going to say?”

August 2019 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 13

“Seens” from our World PostcardsLive.com We want to see what you’ve seen! When you see the unusual, funny or absurd, break out your camera, take a picture, and submit it to us with a description!

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Health Matters

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Let’s Catch Some Affection for Perfection of Our Body’s Protection The immune system is far more complex than any other fleshly system (except perhaps the nervous system), but only if the brain is included. Every organ has immune system components, but areas primarily dedicated to immunity include the bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and tonsils.

The circulating soldier cells include three types of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes/macrophages. INTRESTING! When a foreign substance is discovered, the lookout immune cells sound an alarm. The combat group ingests the intruders and sounds the alarm to bring in more troops as well as alert the bomb (antibody) makers to get busy. It sensitizes some cells for the future, producing protection termed IMMUNITY. AMAZING! Injecting substances similar to a germ (that does not make one sick) producing antibody is a vaccination.

During this hazardous time of Covid-19, get personal immune systems honed and ready to protect. This is especially important in older folks and those with chronic diseases such as diabetes. Moderate regular exercise for 30 minutes will tune up immunity. GET GOING FOR SAFETY’S SAKE! Foods with especially high antiinflammatory and antioxidant capacity include phytochemicals such as carotenoids and polyphenols, which are in veggies and fruits. WebMD lists apples, apricots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, garlic, legumes, onions, red peppers, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes as being highest.

They also list oysters (yum) as having zinc.

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 15

Milestones

Congratulations!!

Patrick & Diane Keller of New Waverly, Texas are pleased to announce the engagement of their son, Jonathan Keller to Dr. Lauren McTaggart, daughter of Dr. John McTaggart & Dr. Lucy Love of Tampa, Florida.

A November wedding is planned.

Happy Anniversary!!

Mike & Grace Turner recently celebrated 59 years!

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16 Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition | August 2020

Join us as we celebrate life’s “mile markers” with our friends and neighbors.

Share your milestones with us by submitting a photo and information to PostcardsLive.com.

We want to celebrate with you!

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Happy Anniversary!!

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 17

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W o h w p Th d p w

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By Amy Barnett Submitted photos

Many people in the country music industry have credited Mike Ryan as being one of the best songwriters to come out of Texas in the last decade. The 31-year-old singer, originally from San Antonio, is a thoughtful lyricist and incredible guitarist with a smooth, soulful sound. He’s had five No. 1 songs on the Texas Country Music charts so far and more than 105 million streams to date.

His latest single, “Dear Country Music,” is a love song to a genre he grew up listening to, painted with memories of his youth. And, like many of his other hits, he wrote it in such a way that many of us feel he was writing about our memories, too. Postcards Magazine sat down with Ryan at one of his last shows before COVID-19 brought live performances to a screeching halt. And, we later checked in with him to see how he and his family were adjusting to social distancing.

18 Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition | August 2020

S c d

Th s b w W I w s n h i t m l E h t g w H e a r – a

How did you discover your love for music?

I was whistling before I could talk, if you ask my dad. He said he always knew if I was in a bad mood or if I was sick, because I wasn’t whistling. When I was whistling, everything was good. Being a father myself now – if my kids were whistling all the time, I’d probably get tired of that. My 2-year-old is a fan of the drums, so he just beats on everything all day long.

And, my grandfather was a band director, so from as early as I can remember, there was always an instrument involved. I had piano lessons starting in elementary school; I played saxophone in middle school; I was in choir; I started playing guitar my senior year of high school; and when I got to college, I started writing songs. Music got its hooks in early.

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When did you start honing your crafts as a singer and songwriter?

I was singing a lot during my senior year of high school, and I had an incredible range – I don’t have it anymore. I can still hit some high notes, but I can’t get as low. That’s when American Idol was getting big, and I would hear people sing, and the judges would be so impressed. I would think, “I can do that.” Maybe it was just supreme confidence (laughs); I was a very confident high schooler, for sure.

When I first started playing guitar, it was because I had nothing better to do. It was the second semester of my senior year, so football season was over, and my girlfriend at the time had already gone off to college. I had all this time on my hands, so I put a guitar in them and would play for 4 or 5 hours a day. I progressed quickly. I then started writing songs – those progressed slower (laughs).

The songwriting was fun and, at first, it was kind of therapeutic, because that girlfriend didn’t work out. I realized I could turn sad memories into something better and make other people feel something. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was setting myself up for what I would end up doing.

What happened after you graduated from college?

I gave myself a 5-year music plan. That’s how long I had to figure out if I could make it playing music. And, at 3-and-a-half years, I got a publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music in Nashville – that was 2013. That is where the growing and hoping turned into a business and thinking this could work out.

Since then, you have written and recorded some cool songs, and you’ve co-written with some big names out of Nashville… even Brad Paisley. How did that relationship get started?

There’s that saying – “there’s a first time for everything.” I was in a writing session, and we started talking about how sometimes there’s a last time for everything, and not always because of death. You grow up and change, and things don’t happen like you think they would. We sketched out a chorus and a couple of verses before I had to head back to Texas.

We were going to finish it the next time I got back to Nashville, but two of the writers, Chris DuBois and Brent Anderson, had a session with Brad Paisley the next day, and they played him what we had written. Brad loved it and finished it and recorded it in his home studio the next day. A week later, Chris called me and said, “Hey man, I just wanted to let you know that song – ‘Last Time for Everything’ – we played it for Brad, and he’s thinking about making it a single.” I thought – this is the best phone call I’ve gotten in my life. And, I had a co-write with Brad.

He’s an incredible artist and guitar player. I’ve been a massive fan for a long time, and to get to meet him and later end up recording part of my record at his house – and to get to write with him and have a song cut by him – it’s pretty cool.

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 19

What artists inspire you?

I’m still inspired by The Eagles, ZZ Top, John Mayer and a lot of 90s country artists, but I like all kinds of music – Stevie Wonder and Elton John are big favorites. But now that we’re out playing shows with our friends, my peers are my inspiration. Guys like Parker McCollum, Koe Wetzel, Wade Bowen. You see them hustling, and they subtly remind you – you better be doing this too, dude. It keeps you on your toes.

And it’s cool to call some of these guys my friends, because I grew up listening to them – like Stoney LaRue, Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers.

I’ve done shows will all of them, and they still keep it fresh. People say Texas Country and Red Dirt is a family, and the longer I’m in it, I know it’s true.

Let’s talk about life on the road. What’s in your tour bus fridge right now?

In the fridge? Bottled water, fruit of some kind, and most likely the majority is meal preps. About half the band and me have been regular meal preppers. It’s easier to stay on task when you have something to heat up, and you spend less money and eat less garbage. It’s convenient, and you can have something wholesome – sounds kind of Talk about the writing behind one of my favorite songs of boring (laughs).

yours – Girls I Date. I love the line, “I ain’t Merle Haggard and I ain’t George Strait, but I’m close enough for the Not boring at all! Tell us about your family and normal girls I date.” That’s the coolest! life in Granbury.

I’m pretty sure Chris (DuBois) came up with that line. We went into a writing session, and I was just tuning my guitar. It must have had an old set of strings. I was having trouble locking it in, and it was taking longer than normal to tune. Then I was just like, “…close enough for the girls I date.” Chris said, “Well, that’s what we’re writing today.” It’s just about a guy who appreciates the simple things.

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I see the satisfied looks on my parents’ faces, and I know it’s because they love him and are living vicariously through me; but part of it is

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20 Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition | August 2020

them thinking, “Now it’s your turn.”

Myles is almost 8 months. Of course, I have loved him ever since we got him, but I’m liking him more and more. His personality is coming out and he makes “Dada” sounds a lot; and he has the cutest smiles – the biggest toothless grins. It’s a real cool thing to see every day.

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When you’re not on tour or spending time with your family, what do you like doing?

Cooking, working out, playing golf. I like any kind of hunting, but prefer hunting with a bow. To be prolific with a bow, you have to put time in and think about what your body is doing. That way, when it’s time to make the shot happen, you don’t have to think about it but can release the perfect arrow and hopefully go right into the target.

Recent weeks have been unprecedented with the coronavirus pandemic. Your shows were canceled, and the nation pretty much shut down. What has life been like recently?

We’ve been enjoying a lot of family time. We’ve been spending time out at our place in Oklahoma. We’ve been taking some jeep rides, riding around checking on cattle, and we tilled up some soil and planted a garden. My dad and I built a lofted bed with a fort underneath for M.J. We are trying to get M.J. on this potty-training deal, but he’s providing significant resistance.

As for songwriting, I’ve been doing some with Zoom video conferencing. It’s different. The concept is new for me, but I might end up doing more because it gives us an opportunity to get in sessions with different writers.

Last question: Let’s pretend this is a job interview. Mike Ryan, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Well… (laughs)… Still playing music in some form or fashion – hopefully in arenas or stadiums. But if I’m still playing in honky-tonks, well, I’m a musician; I’m a lifer. When you do music, it’s because you love it-- and it would be hard to fall out of love with it.

Mike has a brand new single out now – Ghost Town. Listen for it on country radio or download it on iTunes. He hopes to be back on the road very soon, playing live for his fans across the U.S. Visit mikeryanband.com to find out where you can catch him live.

For more information on the College of Arts & Media visit www.shsu.edu/CAM

August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 21

Pet Pals

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www.mccaffetyelectric.com 22 Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition | August 2020

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Q: Why was six scared of seven?

A: Because seven “ate” nine.

A bus full of ugly people had a head-on collision with a truck. When they died, God granted them each one wish. The first person said, “I want to be gorgeous.” God snapped his fingers, and it happened. The second person said the same thing, and God did the same thing. This want on and on throughout the group. God noticed the last man in line was laughing hysterically.

By the time God got to the last ten people, the last man was laughing and rolling on the ground. When the man’s turn came, he laughed and said, “I wish they were all ugly again.”

Instead of “the John,” I call my toilet “the Jim.” That way, it sounds better when I say I go to the Jim first thing every morning.

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In a Christian school cafeteria, a teacher places a note in front of a pile of apples, “Only take one. God is watching.” Further down the line is a pile of cookies. A little boy makes his own note, “Take all you want. God is watching the apples.”

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 23

Focus Business

Jennifer Baird PHOTOGRAPHY

Story by Ruth Fields

Submitted Photos

As the evening sun went down on Galveston Island, Jennifer Baird O’Heeron began capturing photographs of her subject, a young mother-to-be. The sun turned the clouds peach and mauve and was reflected on the waves of the Gulf of Mexico. It provided the perfect lighting for the emotion-filled photo shoot, and the portrait was destined to became Jennifer’s favorite.

For more than five years, Jennifer has put her talent, as well as her heart, into her photography business, Jennifer Baird Photography. Rather than taking one-size-fits-all photographs, she takes the time to get to know each subject so she can capture his or her personality. Although Jennifer has earned a loyal following on her own merits, recent clients have discovered that two photographers—Jennifer plus her husband, Forrest O’Heeron—are even better than one.

August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 25

Developing interest

Thanks to her father and uncle, who were both avid amateur photographers, Jennifer grew up hearing about aperture openings and shutter speeds. In keeping with the family tradition, Jennifer always seemed to have an eye for photography. At her annual Fourth of July party in 2014, equipped with a new camera, she took dozens of photos. Her party guests noticed the quality of the shots; over and over, they told her, “You really should do this professionally.” At the time, Jennifer taught second grade at B. B. Rice Elementary School in Conroe, and the school’s art teacher, a proficient photographer, was willing to help. “I went under her wing a little bit and learned a lot from her,” Jennifer says. It wasn’t long before Jennifer began working as a professional photographer, shooting weddings, family reunions, high school and college seniors, and other events. For a while, she juggled her teaching job with her photography business, before becoming a full-time photographer in 2019.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Jennifer, her future husband was becoming a capable photographer himself. As a child, he was fascinated with photography, but things got interesting when he bought his first digital camera in the early 2000s. He discussed this exciting digital technology with a colleague, who mentioned he had retired his 1970s-era, 35-millimeter film camera in favor of his own digital camera.

He offered to let Forrest take the film camera for a trial run over the weekend; if he liked it, he could buy it for $20 the following week.

Forrest took his colleague’s camera home that weekend and experimented with its manual settings, capturing lots of photos on film. His modus operandi was to take lots of pictures, figuring he was bound to get a few good ones. (“As you get better,” he says, “those percentages improve.”) Forrest then had the photos developed at a one-hour developing business. “I was blown away by what it could capture versus a point and shoot,” he says. “That was the moment I went from ‘I like to take pictures’ to ‘Wow, I want to get into this.’”

Two viewfinders

When Jennifer and Forrest met in 2017, they soon discovered they had a mutual love of photography. At the time, however, Jennifer’s photography business was temporarily on hold. She was teaching art at Lynn Lucas Middle School in Willis and was overwhelmed with the restoration of her Lake Conroe-area home, which flooded during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. When she began taking photography assignments again in the spring of 2018, Forrest joined her at a wedding shoot. There, he snapped many memorable, unposed photographs. “I love getting the candid shots,” he says. “There are so many moments to capture.”

Some of the photos Forrest took at the wedding became personal favorites.

One, an unplanned shot of the bride and groom as they began to clasp hands as husband and wife, showed a tattoo on the wife’s wrist, which said “hold fast.” Forrest didn’t notice the meaningful phrase on the tattoo until after the wedding, when he was editing his photos.

As Forrest began to accompany Jennifer on more assignments, they discovered they worked well together. “We realized we have different but complementary styles behind the camera, especially at weddings,” Forrest says. “Jennifer is the primary one taking the wedding photos, and I am wandering around looking for the candid moments.” It’s an arrangement that provides clients with a unique assortment of photographs.

“Photography has brought us together and brought us closer,” Jennifer says. “We enjoy going out and doing this together, capturing the moments and capturing the subject.” Forrest agrees: “We can provide a client with a really wide range of styles and shots.”

When Jennifer and Forrest tied the knot on St. Patrick’s Day, 2017, Jennifer became Jennifer Baird O’Heeron, but because her photography business was already established, she opted to keep its name Jennifer Baird Photography.

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Capturing a subject’s soul

French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard once said, “To photograph a face is to photograph the soul behind it.” The quote resonated with Jennifer.

To best portray her subjects, she enjoys getting to know them before photographing them, and she particularly enjoys the one-on-one nature of shooting senior portraits. She also has a special knack for small weddings. “I do love doing maternity pictures and capturing the emotions that come along with it,” she says. “There’s more to a photograph than just a picture of someone. The right photograph tells a story.”

“If you are capturing a natural moment, unscripted, that’s the soul of that moment,” Forrest added. When he arrives at events, especially weddings, he usually photographs something that catches his eye. It might be a flower, a tree, or the way the light reflects off the water.

“If they choose a nice picture of a beautiful flower, they might frame it and put it on a wall, but they can look at it and know it’s not just a random print. It’s something on their wedding day. It’s something to remember. It’s theirs,” he says.

Whether she and Forrest are photographing weddings, family reunions, mothers-to-be, seniors or any other subjects, Jennifer firmly

believes that professional photography should not be prohibitively expensive, and she and Forrest make their entire digital gallery of photos available to clients. It’s all a part of their desire to help make occasions memorable through photography.

“I look at it this way,” Forrest says. “Someone is allowing us into their life and their special moment. It’s an honor to be invited into their lives to be there to capture the moments and the memories for them.

We treasure those moments as much as they do, and we take it on ourselves to capture those moments in the best way possible for them.”

https://jenniferbairdphotography.com/ 4014 Knollcrest Dr Montgomery, Texas 77356 281-639-0233 jenniferbairdphotography@gmail.com

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COVID-19

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We are committed to safely serving our customers with enhanced sanitation, social distancing, and wearing masks as required by the state of Texas and Montgomery County guidance.

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 27

Because Pets Are Family Too

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

When my daughter was three, she asked if she could drive, and I told her she could when she was a grownup. She said, “Yeah, and then I can say ‘Speed up or get off the road, you big dummy!’” Oops… Mommy had to check her road rage after that!

Autumn

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A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.

‘Mama, look what I found,’ the boy called out.

‘What have you got there, dear?’

With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered, ‘I think it’s Adam’s underwear!’

While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, ‘Are you a cop?

Yes,’ I answered and continued writing the report.

‘My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?’

‘Yes, that’s right,’ I told her.

‘Well, then,’ she said as she extended her foot toward me, ‘would you please tie my shoe?’

Soon to be four Juliet just told me that, for her birthday, she wants a rainbow dress and amazing hair.

Kara Tipton

MEDITRIMLLC.COM 284 I-45 S. • Suite 2 Huntsville • 936.295.0388 28 Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition | August 2020

Share the funny things your kids or grandkids say: PostcardsLive.com/share

8 AUG 2020 JEFFERSON

BEAUMONT

Drive Thru Summer Family Arts Civil War Symposium Aug. 7-8 Day jeffersonmuseum.com Aug. 15 amset.org/events

HENDERSON Sacred Harp Singing Convention Aug. 8-9 visithendersontx.com

HUNTSVILLE Sundance Head w/Special Guest Kenny Martin Band Aug. 22 oldtowntheartre-huntsville. org

NEW BRAUNFELS

SUGAR LAND

Whiskey Myers in Concert Aug. 7-8 whitewaterrocks.com

Iliza Schlesinger: The Forever Tour Aug. 23 smartfinancialcentre.net

LIBERTY

PALESTINE

Liberty Opry Aug. 29 libertyopry.com

All Aboard the Texas State Railroad June 2-Aug. 29 texasstaterailroad.net

MADISONVILLE Gun and Hunting Show Aug. 15-16 visitmadisonville.org

Calendar of Events

Submit your calendar items:

SAN MARCOS

12

PostcardsLive.com

SMFEST Aug. 21-22 facebook.com/smfest

Due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus, some events have been postponed or canceled in the interest of safety and participants’ well-being. Please make sure to check the event website, social media, or call ahead to confirm an event is still taking place if you are interested in attending.

CREATIVE ARTS C O

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 29

S

mm

Mustard Seed Moments

For Such a Time As This

by Leah Lamp The world right now feels like an angry and scary place. Seems like things just get worse and worse, with no break--but there have been other times of unrest that people have rioted and acted in anger.

Fred Rogers soaking his feet and drying the feet of a fellow black man.

something we should emulate by loving our neighbor who votes differently, looks differently, believes and worships differently. We should take it a step further (the second mile, if you will) and even extend love to people who do wrong.

Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This is truly to be like Christ. Being angry at people being treated badly is not wrong, not at all. But what you do with the anger can either This simple and gentle act be destructive or constructive. Before you react--emotionally, verbally, happened at a time when acid physically--ask yourself if it is helping to spread love and acceptance, was being thrown on people or is it fueling the fire of hatred? of color simply for daring to Poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said, “Hate has caused swim in a public pool along a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.” with whites.

Make every effort to add to the goodness of the world and not the Rogers embodied the quiet strength of self-control when darkness. Be a light. he intentionally set about loving his neighbor. It’s

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August 2020 | Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition 31

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