WE’VE MOVED!

Hello Portrait Shoppe Fans!

We have moved our blog! You can now find us here:

http://portraitshoppe.blogspot.com/

So check it out, and let us know what you think! Thanks for following us!

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!

If you have never read it before, please take a minute and read this awesome story! Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

Santa Claus will be here at the portraits shoppe all this weekend and next, Dec. 4th and 5th – just call us up or make an appointment on the web to get your children’s portraits made with him!

Christmas is for Love

Christmas is for love. It is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages. But mostly, Christmas is for love. I had not believed this until a small elf-like student with wide-eyed innocent eyes and soft rosy cheeks gave me a wondrous gift one Christmas.

Mark was an 11 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister’s son. She never failed to remind young Mark, if it hadn’t been for her generosity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child.

I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day (at the risk of arousing his aunt’s anger, I later found) to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the solitude of that hour of the day. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother. Though he was quite small when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman, who always spent much time with him.

As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day. I looked forward to his coming, and when the days passed and he continued to scamper hurriedly from the room after class, I stopped him one afternoon and asked why he no longer helped me in the room. I told him how I had missed him, and his large gray eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, “Did you really miss me?”

I explained how he had been my best helper. “I was making you a surprise,” he whispered confidentially. “It’s for Christmas.” With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room. He didn’t stay after school any more after that.

Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Mark crept slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing something behind his back. “I have your present,” he said timidly when I looked up. “I hope you like it.” He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms was a tiny wooden box.

“Its beautiful, Mark. Is there something in it?” I asked opening the top to look inside. “

“Oh you can’t see what’s in it,” He replied, “and you can’t touch it, or taste it or feel it, but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights, and safe when you’re all alone.”

I gazed into the empty box. “What is it Mark,” I asked gently, “that will make me feel so good?” “It’s love,” he whispered softly, “and mother always said it’s best when you give it away.” And he turned and quietly left the room.

So now I keep a small box crudely made of scraps of wood on the piano in my living room and only smile as inquiring friends raise quizzical eyebrows when I explain to them that there is love in it.

Yes, Christmas is for gaiety, mirth and song, for good and wondrous gifts. But mostly, Christmas is for love.

Author an Publication Unknown

Where have we been all your life?!?!?!

Oh my goodness! It has been WAAAAAYYY too long since we’ve last updated this! For all of you readers, WE’RE SORRY!!! We love you for reading, and we’re going to be doing some big updates in the next couple of weeks. Here are things to be looking forward to:

Paw-trait Contest Results

Easter (Lambs and Bunnies)

Lexington Family Magazine Camp Fair

Star Kids Modeling Contest

NEW Styles, Galleries, and Products at the Portrait Shoppe!

Check back soon! TTFN!

Snowed Out!

Whoa! Are you sure we’re still in Kentucky?!?! What an incredible ice storm we had! This past Tuesday and Wednesday we closed up shoppe, which is a very rare occurrence for us, due to the fact that all of Central Kentucky was buried under an inch of solid ice. (Of course, if you live anywhere near Central Kentucky you have your own intimate knowledge of the storm…that is, unless you live in a cave or something.) Some of us at the Portrait Shoppe even lost power to our homes because of downed tree branches taking out power lines as they crashed. Hopefully you had heat, lights, and water during this storm.

This wasn’t the first time the snow got to us, either. Back in December poor Shelly (one of our photographers) had to drive in the snow and freezing rain to get to Hamburg (a 20 minute drive that took 50 minutes) so she could set up a display in Babies ‘R’ Us. As evidenced by the photograph below her table was lovely, attention grabbing, the epitome of display tables…but you missed it; so did the rest of the world. Because only 3 people walked into the store during the entire 2 hours Shelly was sitting there…all by herself…at her beautiful table.

What are your most loved snow adventures? Post them in the comments below – we’d love to hear your favorite stories of kids and snow and bad weather! Best story gets a complimentary kudos and a big thumbs up – from us!

In the beginning…

Welcome to the Portrait Shoppe’s blog site! Woo-hoo! This is the first step in what looks to be a very exciting adventure. We’ll be posting on PS events, funny moments at our studio, spotlighting some of the kids, and handing out FREE photo tips that our photographers use every day in the studio! So check back regularly for updates!