Wordless Wednesday

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Warbird

One of our local residents owns this WWII warbird and it is now on display in a new hanger/restaurant at the airport. It is still operational and can be seen flying  over our house several times a year. The pilot also owns a P-51 Mustang. The Mustang and this British Spitfire are considered by many to be among the most beautiful war planes ever designed. I must admit, there aren’t any bad angles to view this plane from.

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Happy New Year!

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Lucy celebrated her second birthday on December 24th. Her new cousin Bruno came for a visit. He is a 10 week old chocolate lab and already outweighs Lucy by a pound. At first Lucy was not all that thrilled with her new cousin, but after a day or two they were peacefully co-existing. I believe in another couple of days they would have been close friends.

Well, the New Year is upon us and I will just start by saying that I am long past the resolution phase of my life. I am more into rolling with the punches and adjusting to the flow. We haven’t planned any major trips for 2019, but I am sure there will be one big vacation in our agenda.

2018 was an exciting year. The second granddaughter graduated high school. The oldest granddaughter graduated college in May, got her first teaching job in July, got married in November, and the newlyweds spent Christmas at our house! We took a cruise of the Hawaiian Islands in June and spent a few days in a condo in Branson, MO to unwind after the wedding. Now we are looking forward to what the new year has to offer.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The theme for this week is to post an Elvis song done by a different artist of the same era. Actually, I am posting a song by the original artist that Elvis covered in the same year and became a major hit for the King. Here is Carl Perkins with “Blue Suede Shoes/”

2018 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 33

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Merry Christmas from our family to yours. May 2019 be your best year ever! Nana, Papa & the grandcrew.

DSC_6251A5x5WebThe newlyweds! Our oldest granddaughter and her husband.

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The grandcrew with the newest addition, a grandson-in-law.

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Our daughter, her husband and their whole gang.

And, as they say, “That’s a wrap!” Another Christmas Music Marathon is in the books. I’m going to take a short break, maybe break out the camera for a few non holiday images, and get ready for the new year. Until then, may the hope that is Christmas shine in your life and may the New Year bring new blessings to you and yours. See you in January.

2018 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 32

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Christmas Eve is upon us. For some the celebration has already begun. Not all families can be together at the same time so some people visit family members over several days and celebrate Christmas at each stop. The first Christmas was somewhat of a multi-day affair. It is highly unlikely that the shepherds and the wise men arrived on the same day. In fact, the wise men may not have seen the Christ child until several weeks or months after his birth. Still, the only appropriate response was worship and praise. Hallelujah!!!

2018 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 31

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Most everyone enjoys Christmas lights. We decorate our homes and businesses for the holidays. Some are very simple while others are very elaborate and computer controlled light shows. Still, the most important light show of all was provided by God to show the shepherds and guide the wise men to the place where they could worship the King of kings. The star of Bethlehem no longer shines in the sky but is glows in hearts of men. God has left us His Word and it is that Scripture that leads and guides men to the Savior. Have a blessed day.

2018 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 29

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Every year millions of Americans transform their homes into a festival of Christmas decorations. Reminders of the holiday seem to be everywhere. May we always be reminded of the true reason for the celebration. Scripture tells us in Luke 1:30-33 that the angel Gabriel revealed these things to Mary, the mother of Jesus, “…Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” The book of Daniel tells us of the coming of the Son of God, and the birth of Christ is the promise kept. There are many blessing that we can celebrate but there is no greater blessing than the love of God transforming the hearts of men. Merry Christmas to all.

2018 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 27

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School Christmas concerts are a part of our seasonal celebration. The grandson is a member of the advanced 9th grade men’s chorus at the high school. In this image, he is on the top row, center section, white shirt, next to the young man in the black shirt. Music is a great means of learning and telling the Christmas story in way that encourages, inspires, and transforms us into the holiday spirit.

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In this image the grandson is on the first row center of image (yes, the tall one). Hanging around “The Big Guy” you would never know that choral music was an interest of his. It’s one thing we have in common. I sang in the school chorus from the seventh through the tenth grades. As you can probably tell, by this marathon, music is still an important part of my life.

The God of all creation has made the most wonderful gift of all available to us through the birth, death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. We can receive forgiveness for all of our sin and inherit eternal life and fellowship with God. Christmas is the celebration of that gift. The most precious gift that we can give God is our hearts. Have a blessed day.

2018 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 26

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Christmas is a birthday celebration. In fact, it the the birthday celebration of a King and that makes it a big deal. On the night Christ was born, the angels sang “Glory to God in the highest!” Not only had a king been born but God’s promise of a Savior had been delivered. Of all of the gifts we may receive in our lifetime, there is not greater gift than the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and of all of the gifts we can give Him, there is no better gift than to give Him our heart. Happy Birthday Jesus.