Aww…some Mondays

Recently I went to a softball game that the.daughter of a friend of mine played on one of the teams. As always, I had camera in hand and you can scroll back a few posts to see the results of my efforts. I went back a week later and before the game one of the parents asked me if I would photograph her daughter in the dugout between the games. Her daughter was a senior, multi-sport athlete, so between the games she put on her letter jacket and I snapped a few images. During the game I managed to capture a couple of action images. I love doing this sort of thing. I get to practice sports photography and the parents get images of their kids that they just can’t capture on their cell phones. Here are the results.

If you know me, you know there is probably going to be a black & white image in the mix.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The musical themes for the month of May are brought to you by the guest host, Mr. John Holton, from The Sound of One Hand Typing. This first Monday of the month is a free choice week, so I am going to start by honoring the game of baseball and softball with a John Fogerty classic.

May signals the graduation of high school and college seniors as well as the onset of summer. After the Covid infected summer of 2020, many citizens are looking forward to a mask free, more casual summer of 2021. Hopefully we will see the return of days on the water, minor league baseball, and short trips to see family and friends that we haven’t seen in nearly two years. What does your summer plans include? What about the sounds of summer? Have a blessed week.

Turning 21

The Family went to Disney World in 2003. While in one of the gift shops I captured this image of our middle granddaughter. I thought, “What could define the American child better than Mickey Mouse ears and a large McDonald’s drink. Well on April 16th this young lady turned 21. She is a senior in college and on target to graduate a semester early. Her interest is in sports medicine.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Let me thank the admins of 4M for allowing me to host this month, even with my limited coding skills. For my final theme I have chosen to honor the granddaughter featured above and challenge you to pick songs from artists born in April. Let’s hear what you found. Have a blessed week.

First up is American Idol’s first winner and star. Yes, Kelly Clarkson was born in April. The middle granddaughter is a very well balanced young woman. She has never been a drama queen and takes pretty much everything in stride. She is stronger than some people might think.

Of the four grandchildren Em is the “Old Soul” of the bunch and most resembles an only child. Since I am an only child, we get along great and probably understand each other better than others. She likes country and pop music from days gone bye and has taken a liking to “vinyls”. So in honor of her country tastes I have chosen fellow Okie, Vince Gill, for the next tune.

Our birthday girl has a strong Christian faith and is going on a mission trip later this year. It seems only fitting to close this post with a couple of April born Christian artists. First up is Matthew West making a guest appearance in a Casting Crowns video, “Nobody”. As Christians, we are nobody, trying to tell everybody about somebody who saved our soul.

Still Proud

Batter Up!

Aww Mondays

Lucy went to the vet for her annual check up and a couple of vaccinations. Our vet is still offering curb service only, so they come out and pick Lucy up, take her inside and provide the required services then bring her back to the car. It takes about twenty minutes. Her check up was great and she is a slim and trim 17lbs. which is small for a cocker spaniel, but she is only 12 inches tall at the shoulders. I opened the paper work and the vet had written a note “Lucy looks great!!.” Yes, I think she looks pretty good too.

Spring Soccer

It’s springtime in the Ozarks and that can only mean soccer is in the air. We no longer have any grand kids playing high school sports but I still like photographing the action. This image is from a recent girls junior varsity match up. The home team is in black and this day was not a good one for them. Maybe next week will be better.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Well, the honor of hosting April’s 4M themes has fallen to yours truly. It has been said that April showers bring May flowers. I believe there is even a song with that lyric. So today the challenge is to make it rain people. I suppose the first question is, “Have You Ever Seen It Rain.”

Have you ever noticed that rain seems to have a rhythm of it’s own? A thunder storm is different than a spring shower.

Somebody ought to write a rain song.

If you have seen the rain and the rain has a rhythm, and someone has written a rain song, the only qustion that remains is, have you ever sang in the rain?

Spring!

Aww Mondays – Always Been a Dog Person

I suppose I have always been a dog person. I am probably under two years of age in this image and the I am pretty sure the dog does not belong to me, but that never stopped me from befriending a canine.

The very first dog of my very own was the black cocker spaniel we named Muggs. I am about six years old in this photo and Muggs was a family member all the way through my high school graduation.

Meet Ranger. Yes, I found a stray wandering through base camp, in Vietnam and adopted him. He stayed around for a few months, but when I got reassigned, Ranger stayed behind with the guys in the barracks.

Four years ago our most recent canine joined the family. Lucy is actually the 4th Cocker Spaniel that has been in my life and the breed is definitely my favorite. The “House Princess” is priceless and we wouldn’t trade her for anything. She is so much company and entertainment that we don’t know what we would do without her. So, you see, I’ve always be a dog person at heart.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Welcome, welcome, welcome. The guest conductor responsibilities for the April edition of 4M falls to yours truly. I don’t know if this is going to end well, but let’s give it a whirl. This first Monday of the month is a free choice week, so let’s see what you’ve been listening to lately. I have a free Spotify account and my playlists include 90’s country, 60’s pop, Classic Rock, a Dwight Yoakam list, Eric Clapton list, Blues, Southern Gospel, and a Contemporary Christian play list. So where do we begin?

Yesterday was one of the greatest days in human history. All of Christianity is based on the events surrounding two dates; Christmas, which marks the birth of Christ and Resurrection Sunday (Easter) which marks the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior. In celebration of the fulfillment of prophecy and an anthem that every Christian can claim, I give you, “Ain’t No Grave”.

I can rejoice in the fact that on the day that I draw my last breath on this earth, I will draw my first breath in eternity at the feet of my Savior and hear His voice say, “Well done good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord.” I pray that you will be there too. Have a blessed week.