Aww…some Monday

Those of you who have followed this blog over the years know that I have spent a lot of time sharing the adventures of the grand kids. You have seen them since they were little more than toddlers all the way through college. Last week you got a glimpse of our oldest grand daughter and our great-grandson.

In May, our middle grand daughter will graduate from college with her masters degree in sports therapy. Since her sophomore in high school, she has wanted to be a trainer on the D1 level of college or a professional sports team. Last Thursday she got the call and she will begin her professional internship with the AA minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs! Livin’ the dream! Here are her own words, you can feel the excitement.

GO CUBS GO!! —— It is with every ounce of joy in my heart that I officially get to say this season I will be working for the Chicago Cubs organization as an Athletic Training Intern. I will have the great opportunity to be working with the Double A team, the Tennessee Smokies right after graduation until the end of the season.

Truly, truly all glory to God for this absolute dream!! Thank you to my friends and family for supporting me in this process and of course UCA Athletic Training Program for preparing me and setting me up for success in this field.

Here’s to rest of the semester and finishing school with a bang. And as always, Roll Bears and Go Cubs

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Well, to celebrate the theme of love and Valentine’s day, the theme this week at 4M is love songs or songs about breaking up. Since May will mark our 50th wedding anniversary, I am going to stick with love songs or song that give a nod to long term relationships. Let me say that, contrary to popular belief, love is a choice not an emotion. Love and marriage are hard work. You have to make a daily commitment to express your love to your spouse. You have to consider what makes them happy and what is in their best interest and do those things. I can tell you, without any doubt, the only person that truly loves me more than my wife is Jesus Christ. Everything she does seems to have me in mind. There is not enough space on this blog to give all of the examples of her showing her love towards me. I would be completely lost without her in my life. 

Rise Above

The following words are from our grand daughters heart and they tell the story more completely that I ever could.

“Throughout the last month, I have been recognizing the image of God in both my boys and seeing His goodness and His glory shine through our story. The Lord perfectly orchestrated his plan for us to bring X into our home. Then after years of infertility, we NATURALLY conceived Bear after devastating losses. Nothing has humbled me and brought me closer to Him like motherhood“

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week the theme at 4M is songs inspired by fiction or non-fiction people. I will pick non-fiction. The truth is, every song in a hymn book is inspired by a non fiction person. Every song on Christian radio is inspired by a non-fiction person. Every poem in the book of Psalms is inspired by a non-fiction God!

Recently I looked at several of the names for God. There is Father, Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Son of Man, Alpha & Omega, Beginning & End, but I think my favorite is Father of lights. James 1:14 tells us that every good and perfect comes from the Father of lights and the images above give perfect testimony to that truth. He places the breath of life in us and instructs His children that we are the light of the world and we should let our light shine in such a manner that others can see the Father of lights in us. The Father of lights is all over the photos above and I am ever thankful that He continues to shine in our family. May the Father of Light illuminate your life. Have a blessed week.

Blonde Cocker for the Win!

1971 Datsun 240Z

My ride from 1972 -1982

The year was 1973. We were headed to my company’s Christmas party. We had been dating since may and gotten engaged in October. What all started on a city bus will soon be 50 years of marriage. May 11 will mark our golden wedding anniversary and plans are under way for the celebration. It’s been AWW….SOME!!!

We were living in Tulsa, Oklahoma and my wife lived in an apartment complex one block away from my apartment complex. I rode the bus to work downtown. One day she got on the bus downtown to ride home from work and there was standing room only. I gave her my seat and she began riding on a regular basis. My wife is a very outgoing soul so it wasn’t long before we were chatting on the route home. Eventually I asked her on a date, she accepted and the rest is history. 

Our first date was in May, I bought the engagement ring in August and made it official in October. We got married in May, left for college in December, I graduated three years later and life has been very good to us. 

I was driving this 1971 Datsun 240Z when we met and drove it until our daughter was two years old. It is still my all time favorite car. A couple days before our wedding I put three coats of wax on it and we took it for a drive in the country around her parents home. Yes, my wife can drive a 4-speed!

Christmas 1975 we were home from college. Sandra was probably two or three months pregnant but I doubt if we were aware of our situation. Our daugher was born seven months later in June 1976.

Here is the day mother and daughter came home from the hospital. As you can tell, I have always had a camera in my hand, which was not always a welcome sight but it has recorded some life’s most precious moments.

Here is almost the whole crew this past Christmas. The oldest grand daughter, her husband and the older great-grandson are missing because she was busy bringing the newest great-grandson into the family. Like I said, God has been very good to our family and we thank Him every day for His blessings.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

So what were the favorite songs of 1973 = 74? Here ya go.

Aww Monday, The Sweetest Gift

Christmas 2023 arrived early as our new great-grandson was born December 17th. He arrived a couple of weeks early so he is a little fellow, measuring sixteen inches long and weighing in at 4lbs, 2oz. He spent a few days in NICU to ensure everything was working properly and came home December 22. Last Thursday, Nana and I made the three hour drive to Little Rock to welcome Barrett to the family. Indeed, life is the sweetest gift and God wraps His gift in the most beautiful packages.

Nana and Papa think he is perfect.

Looking at this infant we are reminded that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with who there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) Thank you Lord for this perfect gift and the promise that you hold the future.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The theme this week at 4M is the new year. Select Songs relating to the new year goodbye/hello and old/new. Well we have just traveled three hours each way, in a single day, to welcome our new great-grandson to the family. One day we hope to welcome him to God’s family. It might sound something like this.

Proverbs, the book of sound advice, tells us to train our children when they are young and teach them right from wrong, good from bad, and what is pleasing to God. Raising children is hard work but the results are more than worth the effort. The goal is to teach them to see the world through the eyes of the Creator, find joy in pleasing their heavenly Father, and rest in the peace that only God can give, regardless of the life situation we find ourselves. Have a blessed week.

Family Album 2023

Not every image makes the family album

An so we have come to the end of 2023 Christmas Music Marathon. The time always seems to pass so quickly. I hope you found some joy, a little peace from the business of the season, and a reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. May you and yours have the merriest Christmas ever and may the spirit of Christmas reign in your heart and home throughout the year. God bless to one and all.