It’s National Camera Day!!! My favorite hobby is standing behind a camera and capturing images, especially of the family. This past week-end the great-grandsons were back in town and we went to a local playground with their grandparents and our granddaughter (their mom). It’s been said a thousand times by others, “A hundred years from now the only images I capture that will matter to anyone are those I captured of friends and family enjoying time spent together.” Enjoy.
It took the oldest great-grandson about 5 minutes to find two new friends.
Of course there is no substitue for having your grandpa push your swing.
Let’s see if I can spin Big Daddy in this chair!
Monday’s Music Moves Me
The theme this week at 4M involves picking a National Day and playing a song that goes along with the day. Well, I picked National Camera Day.
Last week we traveled about three hours north of home to visit my wife’s brother and family. It turned out that all three of her siblings were in town and we had a long visit. Time, distance, schedules, age, and health prevent us from seeing each other as often as we should. Aging teaches us life is short and time with family grows more precious with each passing year. During our visit we also got to see our grand-nieces play softball.
The trip to the athletic complex brought back memories of chasing our grand kids all over Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas when they were playing soccer, baseball, and competing in dance competitions. I managed to capture a couple of images for the parents.
Monday’s Music Moves Me
This week the theme at 4M is Whatever Music Moves You. I am moved by a variety of music, from 60’s pop/rock, 90’s country, blues, Southern gospel, and contemporary Christian. In light of recent international events, I believe it is time to turn our eyes toward heaven and seek the will, mercy and grace of the Creator. Scripture tells us these things are going to happen in preparation for the return of Christ. Whether He returns tomorrow or a thousand years from now, these things still must take place. God’s people can rejoice in the security of their salvation and lift prayers to the Father that many more will come to know Him before Christ returns and signals the end of days as we know them and the beginning of the promises of an eternal existence that is free of pain, suffering, tears, terror, anger, jealousy, and all of those things that make us humans a rebellious lot.
Thank you Father for your Son and the gift of eternal life. I would ask you to fill the leadership of the nations with wisdom and understanding. I would ask that they lean on your wisdom, guidance and direction in these difficult times. Amen.
This is our eight year old great grandson. The shirt he is wearing is around 70 years young. My parents belonged to a square-dance club in Oklahoma and the men wore beaded western shirts to some of the events. As a young boy of 7 or 8 years of age, who wanted to be just like his dad, I wanted a beaded shirt. My grandmother made matching shirts for my father and me while my mother did the bead work. Our family was never big on photos when I was young, there are no photos of me wearing this shirt. This is the first time this shirt has been modeled and photographed and you are among the first to see this little heirloom! Here are a few of the bead details.
Monday’s Music Moves Me
The theme this week at 4M is freedom of choice. I chose to continue the theme inspired by the shirt above, 1950’s country music. This ought to be fun.
First up is the man that many still consider the king of country music. Hank Williams had four number 1 hits in 1953. Sadly, on January 1 of that year, he passed away at the age of 29.
If you’re wondering, “What is this square dance thing?”, here is an example of classic traditional square dancing. There is a fancy version that looks like it combines clogging or lord of the dance with square dancing.
In the early 60’s Ray Charles took some of the top country songs of the 50’s and put a new spin on them. The album, Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music became a classic. One of my favorite cuts is Born to Lose. Enjoy.
Memorial Day was originally intended to honor the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. It has evolved into a day of remembrance for all who have passed on. Friday, we made a three hour drive to visit the grave sites of my parents, maternal grand parents, my great grand parents and a few other family members in Henryetta, OK.
While walking among the headstones, I found this brother and sister monument and the story tells us that he was killed in France during World War I.
Three generations of my family are at rest in this cemetery.
I even found the doctor who brought me into this world!
Monday’s Music Moves Me
The theme this week at 4M is freedom of choice, so I may mix it up just a bit. Since this is Memorial Day, I do feel the need for something a little patriotic.
The theme this week is international artists and I can think of no one more global than Sir Elton John. His song book is as endless as his talent and he’s been doing for nearly 60 years. Here are a few songs that never made it to the radio, but they are awesome melodies and lyrics none the less.
A happy belated Mother’s day to all of the moms out there. There are three in my family, my wife, our daughter, and our oldest granddaughter. As a result we have one daughter, four grand children, and two great grand children, so far. We gathered Saturday evening for a dinner of smoked pork loin and grilled chicken by your truly. It was a great evening. Sunday, after church we reassembled at our house for a late breakfast before everyone headed home.
There was our 51st wedding anniversary, but it kind of got lost in the shuffle. The wife and I exchanged cards late in the afternoon and just reflected on how God has blessed our lives and the family He has built around us. Life has been very good…very good.
Back at the Track
Thursday was the high school state championship track meet and it was held at a local high school. The meet started around 9:00 am and ran into early evening. I left at 2:30 and the sprints, hurdles, and short relays had not begun. The highlight of my photo adventure was the high jump. I managed to get three very nice images. I will be delivering all of my images to the track coach today. The team won the boys and girls state championships.
Monday’s Music Moves Me
A couple of weeks ago I featured a 90’s country female vocalist that was a great talent but never reached the popularity of a Trish Yearwood or Reba McIntire. Today I thought I would move to the male side of the genre and maybe expand beyond the 90’s. Let’s face it, the 90’s started with Alan Jackson and Randy Travis. Then Garth Brooks came along and nobody could touch him for popularity. One artist I always liked was Neal McCoy. He had a smooth sound and an easy going nature. Here is a song that I selected for our 50th anniversary celebration.
Travis Tritt came on the scene in the early 90’s as a final hurrah for the “Outlaw Country” genre. Long hair, no hat, no glitter suits, and a little southern rock sound made him popular with many but never a superstar.
Ricky Van Shelton came out of the 70’s with a traditional country sound that included the pedal steel guitar. Here, he teams up with Dolly Parton for a blast from the past.
This list wouldn’t be complete with out the late, great Toby Keith. Toby arrived on the scene in the early 2000’s with what is still my favorite Toby Keith. When I was a little boy, we all wanted to be cowboys.
Driller's Place 