Picture Perfect Gwinnett

Gwinnett’s beginnings
By Loralee Beard, Magic Moment Photography

Very recently Les and I celebrated our 40th Wedding anniversary. For many blessed reasons our marriage has been filled with other people, mainly family. I was surprised to realize that it would be just the two of us at Church on our anniversary day.   Then I realized that for all the joy, distraction and heartache of others, every marriage—better or worse—comes down to just two people. 

Gwinnett’s got talent
By Loralee Beard, Magic Moment Photography

One of my greatest dreams besides World Peace and a Huge Dog that does not shed is discovering a talent in a family member that I did not suspect.  This was the case for parents Jennifer and Bob Ryan when their low key son Jimmy decided to enter the hotly contested Mr. Brookwood pageant.

Gwinnett’s big moments…
By Loralee Beard, Magic Moment Photography

The luckiest people have an occasion or two in their life when they have that Big Moment.  At that amazing time, little can add to the moment except sharing it with your friend.  That is what happened when. Mountain View Homecoming Queen Sarah Williamson watched best friend Tyree Wood crowned as  Homecoming King.  Sarah and Tyree first met and hit it off in their Freshman year at MVHS and the friendship has endured with shared interests in Mentoring, Latin Club and “hanging around.

It’s fall, that means sports
By Loralee Beard, Magic Moment Photography

The secret fact.  No one dares admit in sport success is the necessity of superhuman lawn care. At Grayson High School, former GHS baseball athlete/current Assistant Coach Kegan Bailey showed a willingness to deal head on with this issue by posing for the Varsity Team picture ON the team tractor. He was supported not only by the Varsity team but also by Head Coach Bill Batchelor and Assistant Audra Thomas.

Gwinnett’s brain power
By Loralee Beard, Magic Moment Photography

Having just been to the movies to see the latest “why did I go to the movies” movie called Lucy, I have been speculating on what happens when people use more than the standard 10% of their brain. The following 3 subjects were obviously using at least 12% of their cerebral capacity.

Athletes and All-Stars
By Loralee Beard, Magic Moment Photography

I am trying my best to understand the parameters of Gwinnett County Youth “All Stars”. From what I can tell, the athletes are really, really cute with above their age ability to look intense.

Academics and athletics abound
By Loralee Beard, Magic Moment Photography

To misquote Dr. Suess ABOUT Dr. Suess “Oh the Graduations you’ve been”. However, after many years of nearly universal citing in graduation speeches, this year, the brilliant Dr. Seuss was replaced in Gwinnett County High School Graduation Speeches by….. “The Selfie”.

Reinventing the wheel
By Loralee Beard, Magic Moment Photography

Every now and then you have to reinvent the wheel. That is why when Les and my 7th grandchild in as many years arrived recently, I decided it was time to buy a rocking chair. New arrival MacKenzie Leslie is the third daughter of my daughter/photographer/photoshop artist Taryn Barnett and husband Madison. MacKenzie is also cared for by sisters Hayden, age 6 and Taylor, age 4 who with no promoting, single-mindedly trained MacKenzie in the use of a pacifier.

Hard act to follow
By Loralee Beard, Magic Moment Photography

I have been bossed around by a lot of people in my life but no one as adorable as Cheyenne Anderson, preschool veteran of Bethlehem Christian Academy, who has been known to coach her mother in the morning by saying “Mom, that’s not your color.” Daughter of Casey and Ryan Anderson and sister to 9 year old Caleb, Cheyenne loves being photographed and in Cindy’s words “very fashionable.”  The well rounded Ms. Anderson, loves princesses, playing outdoors and tumbling.