Holding court with Court...

I was patient... I had been told... but I wasn't so sure.

Courtney was on our radar way back in May when I stopped in at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA to drop off dance pictures for Miss Kimi's Dance Konnection and the friendly lady at the front desk (also known as Courtney's mom) asked me for information about senior pictures.

I returned to the studio... sent off the information, waited for the response...

And none came.

May turned into June... June turned into July... and I figured it was one that "got away."

But then there was a ray of hope. Courtney's BFF (also known as Sarah Anderson) ASSURED me that we were gonna get Court. I told her I would believe it when I saw it... because gals like Miss Stephens here don't wait THAT long to get their appointment set.

(Such a pessimist, aren't I?)

July then turned into August and FINALLY...

Mama Rochelle and Papa Mark along with their beautiful daughter came in to get the 411 on how everything worked, and it was set. Monday, September 13 it would be.

So, that Monday was upon us a few days back, and while I have watched Courtney grow up... it's always cool to get to know something new during the session. And in THIS case... it didn't take long.

Court was in by herself right away Monday as we were waiting on Rochelle to finish her East Marshall bus route duties. In the meantime, Courtney had something special to tell me about.

Her best friend.

Now while I mentioned Sarah as being her BFF... this was something different.

Out on the table came a picture of her grandmother, Pat Stephens. Then came a necklace she used to wear around her neck. And then a butterfly pin that she often wore.

As she's explaining this all to me... Courtney tells me that she really misses her grandma who passed away a year and a half ago... I looked up from my notes I was taking and couldn't help but see them...

Tears... welling up in the eyes that normally are Courtney's best asset.

"She was my best friend."

I swallowed hard and looked down to keep from choking up myself.

"I'll make sure to take care of that for you, Court."

I heard the story of so many hours spent with Grandma Pat... at her house right across Main Street from the Friends Church in LeGrand. They were very close... there can be no doubt. I could tell that she misses her very much.

It wasn't all sad, Monday, however. The lefty Mustang slugger and I were off on another amazing session that included both of us falling on our butts... cockle burrs aplenty... wading in the Iowa River... hittin' the sports stuff on the screws, and, of course, more sharing of stories that always makes an East Marshall session special to me.

So, the long wait has come to an end... the pictures are ready to go... and I PROMISE you this, Court... I will never call you Steffens. Take that to the bank. ;-)