music

Aww…some Mondays Music Moves Me

Family Traditions

Recently, the youngest great-grandson was in the house for a visit. While he was here, I grabbed the camera and snapped a couple of images of him on things that other generations of the family have enjoyed. The rocking horse was made by my dad and painted by my mother in 1976. They would be this little guy’s great-great-grandparents. They made it for our daughter, who is the grandmother to this young man and his mother as well as his two aunts and his uncle have all ridden this pony. It still has our daughters name and birthday painted on it.

The rocking chair was purchased by my parents, for me, around 1948. Around 2005 I repaired one of the spindles, re-glued everything and refinished the entire chair for the grandson. A couple of weeks ago the youngest great grandson became the fourth generation to sit in this chair. Between these two items, five generations of the family have been involved.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The theme this week is whatever music moves you. I thought I would focus on one of my favorite country artists from the 90’s. The 90’s was a golden age for country music with artists like Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Brooks & Dunn just to name a few. One of my favorites was Vince Gill. Vince had a tenor voice that few could match and guitar skills that are legendary to this day. Currently Vince is a member of The Eagles, but I want to focus on some of the music he has released since his glory years. None of these songs are radio hits, so you may not be familar with them. In fact, most them were new to me just a year or so ago. Sit back and give a listen to a country legend. Have a blessed week.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

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.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Last week my wife and I took a delayed, plan “B”, 50th anniversary trip to Nashville, TN. We had originally planned on going to The Biltmore estate in Ashville, NC, but hurricane Helene made that trip impossible so we decided to go to Music City. While in Nashville there are thee things one must see, The Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Ryman Auditorium, known lovingly as the Mother Church of country music. We did them all. We also took a dinner cruise on the river boat General Jackson, and spent several hours exploring the Opryland hotel & resort.

There will be more photos later. The purpose of this post is music and the theme this week is freedom of choice. The highlight of our trip was attending a concert by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at the Ryman Auditorium. The band has been making music for 60 years and is in the middle of their farewell tour. Three of the founding members are still touring and they are as good as they have ever been. So you guessed it, this week is going to feature a little Dirt. Let’s start with one of their iconic tunes and a video that was made just six years after the band was formed.

There are only a handful of concerts left before the band, as we know them, retires from the road. They are an icon from the 60’s that have been making music for 60 years and have recorded with every great artist you can think of, Ronstadt, Emmy Lou Harris, Bob Dylan, and the list goes on. The concert last week was epic in every sense of the word. The artistry of these musicians is endless as they are incredible musicians as well as a tight knit band. There will be more music and photos in upcoming posts. Have a blessed week.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

Guardian of the Butterfly Bush

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The theme this week at 4M is whatever music moves me…well, Bonnie Raitt’s music moves. It is an awesome blend of country, soul, rock and blues expertly mixed and arranged by Bonnie and her band members. Sit back and enjoy some of the tunes that were a part of her 1989 album, Nick of Time. Have a blessed week all!

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

Saturday, May 11 was our 50th wedding anniversary. Our daughter wanted to do something special in the way of a celebration, so a reception was planned for this past Saturday, June 1. We were looking forward to sharing memories with friends and family, playing our favorite music and maybe even venturing out on the dance floor. Everything was in place for a memorable gathering of people we love to celebrate 50 years of marriage.

On Sunday morning at 1:30 am the alarm on my wife’s cell phone sounded and the notice of an impending tornado appeared. We got out of bed and turned on the television to watch the weather. Sure enough, we were under a tornado warning. Fortunately, our house only got a little hail damage, but others were not so fortunate.

The final analysis said that a total of seven tornadoes were tracked in NW Arkansas plus 100 mph straight line winds. The cities of Decatur, Bentonville, and Rogers all suffered major damage. It has been a week and a few families are still without power, but many are homeless and lives have been changed.

The venue for our celebration lost power and had many trees down. Needless to say, the anniversary celebration was canceled.

This tree is in our daughters back yard. Another of similar size fell in the front yard. Their gas line was broken, so they spent a few days with us until the gas could be turned off. That root ball is over eight feet in diameter. Thankfully, everyone is fine.

Put Northwest Arkansas in your prayers as a lot of people are going to be rebuilding their homes, businesses and lives over the next few months. Give thanks to the first responders, and utility workers who have been working day and night to restore services to homes and businesses. Give additional thanks to volunteers like, Sheepdog and Samaritans Purse who have come from all over the country to help clear the trees from homes. Thank you to our friend at Curious As A Cathy for checking on us. We are fine. God has been good.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Just because the party was canceled doesn’t mean we can’t share some of the music we had selected for the event. Here ya go!

Aww…some Mondays Music Moves Me

2018 High School

2022 Bachelors Degree Sports Therapy

2024 Master of Science Sports Therapy, Certified Athletic Trainer

It’s Been A Family Affair!

It’s been a busy week-end. Thursday we drove five and a half hours to watch the youngest grand daughter (far right) compete in the final track meet of her college and athletic career. There will be more about that next week. Friday morning we left the youngest grand daughters college and drove to the middle grand daughter’s university to watch her receive her masters degree in sports therapy. She has passed her exam and is a certified athletic trainer. Next week she will begin her career as a trainer in the Chicago Cubs minor league system. This is a dream come true for our most recent graduate. She has wanted to be a trainer since high school and the Cubs are her favorite team!

We have been more than blessed watch all of our grand kids grow up and I have spent the past twenty-eight years behind the camera recording precious memories. You can see the two great grandsons in this last picture, but they live three hours away, so my capturing of life moments will be limited going forward, but as long as I can hold a camera and focus the lens, I will record what I can.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

I am going to stray from the assigned theme this week and give a little love to our recent graduate. I started to post a top song from each of her degree years, then I thought, she loves vinyls and a vast array of music genres that go back decades and decades, so I will just post some of the music she loves. Here we go.

There are five women in my life, my wife, our daughter and the three grand daughters. Each one is a perfect fit in my life.
Recently I picked up this classic vinyl and my grand daughter is in love with the music. Needless to say the title fits all of the women in my life. Each of them resides in a special place in my heart and I will love them forever.
To say that the middle grand daughter is an “Old Soul” is not an exaggeration. She told me some of her friends think she’s a little eccentric because she owns an Ella Fitzgerald vinyl. I just smiled and said, a few of my friends might think the same thing of someone her age, but they’re gonna love you for it.
Who doesn’t like The Eagles? NOBODY!!! That’s who. Our girl has had a dream for 10 years. and hard work, perseverance, along with the support of family, friends and teachers has allowed her to live her dream and take it to the limit! Have a blessed week.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

Spring Has Sprung

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week the theme at 4M is “Whatever Moves You”, The other evening I was working on the computer and my wife came in the office with her phone and said, “Listen to this.” I was moved. The artist is Kacey Musgraves and the song, “The Architect”. Kacey’s latest album, Deeper Well, dropped Thursday night and I have already ordered my copy. I checked her latest tour schedule and Dallas is the closest she will come to our town. There are a couple of other groups that will be on the tour and worth a listen. Here ya go!

Traveling with Kacey will be the group, Nickel Creek.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LFr909m8BI

Also on the tour will be Father John Misty.

Have a blessed week.