Look closely, this is a quilt!

Meet Brie. Brie is my brother-in-law’s Bichon. She got her name because my brother-in-law worked for a cheese manufacturer for 48 years.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week at 4M there is no theme. We can select our own theme and play any music we choose. Spring is officially here and Easter is just around the corner. Like some other holidays, Easter has two sides. There are jellybeans, colored eggs and the Easter Bunny for some to celebrate, but for the Christ follower Easter is as important as Christmas. Christmas saw the arrival of the promised Savior in Bethlehem and Easter is the fulfilled prophecy of that Savior being crucified, buried, and His resurrection.

One thing to keep in mind is that Jesus was not a martyr. He willingly gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. When confronted by the religious establishment of the day, Christ proclaimed, in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” At His trial, a frustrated Pilate shouted at Jesus, “Do You not know that I have the power to crucify You and power to release You?” At that point Jesus raised his head, looked the governor eyeball to eyeball and said, “You cound have no power at all against Me unless it had be given to you from above…” The words of the Savior struck fear in the heart of His accuser as Pilate spent the rest of the day looking for a loop-hole, in order to release Christ.

Romans 3:23 confronts us with the truth that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” God’s standard is perfection and none of us is perfect. Romans 6:23a tells us, “the wages of sin is death.” Sin must be punished and that punishment is eternal separation from God. The only way to avoid that spiritual death and receive the gift of eternal life is through a blood sacrifice of a perfect lamb. Romans 6:23b indicates that perfect lamb is the person of Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter confirms this truth in Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” There is only one way to receive the gift of eternal life…Oh What a Savior! Have a blessed week.

Passing the Baton

For most people, spring has arrived when the grass starts to turn green and the flowers begin to bloom. For me it is high school track and soccer season. Spring sports have arrived and I can get my camera out and head to the field of play. Last Thursday there was a track meet at the local high school. I made my way to a couple of my favorite events to photograph, high jump and long jump. These two events provide some of the best action images. Here are the results.

Yes, I chose Black & White because I wanted to focus on the action and not be distracted by the colors of the uniforms in the background. There is one last image. It occurred at the finish line of the girls 400 meters. The winner gave it all she had and she was exhausted. Immediately after I snapped this image, she rolled over and just laid on the track for a minute. A couple of her team mates helped her off the surface of the track and to the infield. You can see the stress in her face as a result of giving all that she had to give to a single event. I love high school athletes. They do it for the love of the sport.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The theme at 4M this week, Spring begins today in the Northern Hemisphere and fall in the Southern.  Pick songs about spring (or fall, depending on where you live) or that have Spring (or fall) in the title.

Red

Aww…some Monday

So far this year I have featured the oldest and the middle grand daughters. Today I will turn my attention to the youngest of the girls.

The oldest grand daughter is the most social of the three and the middle grand daughter is the old soul of the group. Lexi is far and away the most competitive and athletic of all. She began playing soccer at age 6 and played until her senior year in high school. Lexi always considered soccer a full-contact sport. She is in the white uniform below and if you have to take the goal keeper into the net with you to score…well that’s jus the way it is.

In the ninth grade Lexi tried track and cross-country. She discovered high-jump and her future was set. She won the conference title as sophomore and finished second in the state and the top 25 nationally as a senior. Lexi earned a track scholarship to college and promptly won the conference title as a freshman. She is a college junior now and is once again a top competitor in the conference.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week at 4M is a freedom of choice week. Every once in a while I have to stop and realize just how blessed I have been. God has been more than good to me. I certainly have more days in my rear view mirror than I do in my windshield and I have been blessed beyond what any human being deserves. I live in the greatest country in the world. I have a family who loves me. I had a career that I loved and I have been around some of God’s choicest servants during the course of my life. So I just have to take a few minutes to praise the Creator for His blessings on my life. Have a blessed week y’all!

Aww Mondays

Saturday Morning With Lucy

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The theme this week at 4M is, Imagine you are putting together a four day music festival.  For each day you need a headliner, so who would it be (4 needed)?  You can include a couple of other artists if you want who would also perform.  Any genre; more than one genre if you want.  Living or dead.  Solo, duo, band.  Your festival, your choices! I cannot begin to tell you how many names ran through my head. We would need a two week festival to include everyone I would want to headline, but if I could only pick four names to be my headliners, here they are.

There has never been a better or more versatile female vocalist than Linda Ronstadt. She could sing anything, and did, and has won Grammy’s in multiple genres. I could fill a playlist with her work alone, but I will choose one of her most popular songs. In the late 60’s every young man was in love with Ronstadt. She is still my favorite.

Headliner number two is none other than Sir Elton John. I was a fan the first time I heard his music. I saw him twice in concert when he was at his very best (the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road years). He had a vocal range that few male vocalists could match and he had control of very note and lyric. Like Ronstadt, I could fill an entire playlist with his work.

When you first heard Creedence Clearwater Revival you would have sworn they were a swamp rock band from Louisiana, Georgia, or Mississippi, but these California boys could rock with the best of them. At one time they were the most popular band in the world. Sibling rivalry was their downfall as a group. Still, they are one of my favorite groups.

I started this festival with Linda Ronstadt and I will end with a band that gives her credit for their existence, The Eagles. Glen Frye and Don Henley played in Linda’s band. After a summer tour they informed Linda that they wanted to start their own band. Linda gave them the names of two other musicians that they should add, and the rest is history. They got another boost from Ronstadt when she recorded one of their songs and I will close the show with it. Have a blessed week.

Lucy – Snug As a Bug In a Rug

Aww Mondays

Saturday morning I drove to the county fairgrounds exhibit building to see a model railroad show and sale. It was great fun. There were several running displays and tons of model trains and accessories for sale.

I don’t don’t own a model railroad layout, although I think it would be great fun. I grew up around trains. My dad worked for the Frisco railroad for 42 years. When I was a youngster I got to ride in the cab of a switch engine. I have the overnight trip from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Decatur, Illinois on a train. I have ridden the Wabash Cannonball and Bluebird. Before I started school I would hang out around the small station where dad worked. Later, we moved to Tulsa and I spent a lot of time in the Tulsa Union Depot. It was a beautiful structure. It was designed in the machine art deco style and had a very imposing appearance.

I remember getting a Lionel Train set for Christmas but I didn’t play with it much because I could go down to the train station and ride the real thing.

This is a model of a Frisco switch engine much like the ones I used to ride. Model railroading allows you to pick almost and company and anything from steam engines to modern diesels.

Building the layout is more than half the fun of model railroading. The detail, creativity, and designs are a sight to behold. Many of the layouts are based on small town America of the 30’s, 40’s & 50’s. Those were simpler times and a trip down memory lane can be good for the soul.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Music can also take us on a trip down memory lane and since this is a free choice week at 4M I may wander that road. One thing I am reminded of is that the older you get the less people care about what you think. People quit asking for your advice or opinion and start opening the door for you and showing you kindness that you used to reserve for your grand parents. Well, now you’re the age your grand parents were their opinions or advice, you would just nod your head and smile, then go on about your business. A song that speaks to this phase of life has been recorded by The Steel Drivers and Chris Stapleton. Where the Rainbows Never Die.