Aww…some Monday

Lucy’s favorite spot in the house is perched on the back of the couch observing the activities around her, inside or outdoors.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The the theme this week at 4M is freedom of choice. I am going to feature some music released by a major country artists after the high-point of his career. Vince Gill was a very popular country artist in the 90’s country music scene. Not only was Vince a popular vocalist, but he was, and still is, a world class guitar player. His services have been a part of the recordings of over 1,000 other artists.

Vince reminds younger artists that come to Nashville to enjoy the ride, but plan for the future, after the fame wears off. “They quit playing Elvis, so they’ll quit playing you someday” is the advice of a seasoned veteran of the music industry who has become the vocalist for everyone’s favorite band, The Eagles. Here is a sample of what this fellow Okie can do.

The song that launched Vince’s career and made him a household name in country music was “Nobody Answers, When I Call Your Name”. His tenor range was unique among country artists.

Now, at age 67 Vince is not a chart- topping recording and touring artist. He is now the lead vocalist for The Eagles, an A-list session player, and records songs that are important to him. He has mellowed with age.

Final Christmas Images

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Just a few random tunes that bring a little joy and happiness to my soul. Enjoy.

We Wish You A Very Merry Christmas And A Joyous New Year!

Boomer the bear is 40 years old, the rocking chair is mine and is 75+, Boomer’s friends are brand new and waiting to be discovered by the great grands.

Santa and the stocking are ceramic ornaments made by my wife over 40 years ago, as are the bear and engine below.

These are a few of my favorite things.

We are ever thankful for Christmas and all that it represents. Above all else Christmas represents the fulfillment God’s promise in the Old Testament that He would provide a Savior for this world and one day that Savior would rein forever. On Christmas that Savior was born, God taking human form and spending time with us. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was foretold hundreds of years before it happened. One day He is coming back. The only reason Christ hasn’t returned is a testament to the patience of God. Every day that comes and goes is an opportunity for mankind to fall in love with His creator and make Him the Lord of our life. Christ tells us, in John 14:6, that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him. It’s a pretty simple plan.

My three favorite videos of my three favorite Christmas songs follow. Have a blessed Christmas and a most joyous New Year.

There was time when baking Christmas goodies was a very important part of our holiday celebration. Everyone has grown up and is now watching their calories. Even the neighbors are hesitant about adding to their food intake.

These bakers used to turn out a mountain of tasty treats.

Okay, so I was born and raised in Oklahoma and now live in Arkansas. It’s my marathon, so indulge me this one post from two other Oklahoma natives.

Lucy and I are just waiting to taste test whatever comes out of the kitchen.

Angels have always played an important role in Scripture and the Christmas story is no different. In the first chapter of Luke the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and told him the he and his wife would be expecting the child that we know as John the Baptist and this child would be the one to introduce the world to Jesus Christ.

The first chapter of Matthew an angel appeared to Joseph, in a dream, told him that Mary was going to give birth and give him instructions to name the child Jesus. An angel also appeared to Mary and gave her specific instructions concerning the precious child that she would bring into the world. At first the thought of having a child in their situation probably seemed like a broken dream. But God can take a broken dream and turn it into a miracle.

We have always decorated the exterior of the house for Christmas. I am in charge of the lighting while my wife handles wreaths & garland. This was our house in 2011. You will notice there are no roof lights and that’s because this was a tall roof with a steep slope and I didn’t want to test my health insurance policy.

We loved this house, but in 2013 I retired and in 2014 we moved into town and closer to things like groceries, medical professionals and our church.

In 2015 I found some small flood lights for the front, began using the gutter lights and changed the bulb in the porch to green.

By 2019 I was using larger flood lights and placing a couple in the yard to light the entry gable. Keeping the shrubs lit became an issue so I dropped them from the design.

Last year I dropped the green light out of the porch, placed one behind the white trees I had built to replace the store-bought trees (in the 2015 photo) that had aged out. My wife began lighting the door garland and the wreath in the window.

This year I added solar powered green floods to the corners of the garage to balance the overall design. This may prove to be the final design. I like the way this one looks. Merry Christmas to one and all.

Lucy will celebrate her eighth birthday on Christmas Eve. She was 10 weeks old when we brought her home and a tiny five pound bundle of joy. She has always been good a posing for photos.

She was about 6 months old in this image and we kept her in a little longer cocker cut. She’s been going to the groomer every 7-8 weeks since she was 12 weeks old and she loves her spa days.

Some days we may ask a little too much of her but she is a good sport. This look says more “Bah…humbug” than “Merry Christmas”, but I’m sure Christmas is her favorite holiday…It’s her birthday!

The third and final tree in our home is a table top tree, approximately 4 feet tall and very narrow. It is a special interest tree that sits in the window of our home office. It started several years ago as an outdoors themed tree that my wife decorated with some of my fishing lures and a few special ornaments like a fishing Santa, trout fishing bear, and a construction worker that pays tribute to my career in architecture/construction. Now it features family interests that include Lucy, a camera and a train engine that honors my father’s career with the railroad.

At the base of the tree you have seen Santa, the Sooners coffee mug and 1994 Razorback carton of Coca Cola. A new addition this year is a ceramic pup that looks like our cocker spaniel, Lucy. Let’s see, my wife does three trees, I still can decorate the exterior with lights, we read the Christmas story from Scripture, and we love spending time with the family. I guess you could say, “We do Christmas Like We Mean It”.