Thursday, January 28, 2010

One Little Word

...the power of the "And"

Ken, Donna, just two names,

Until one day, something changed
They added a word to hold their names together Now when they are heard, sounds just forever

Add one little word suddenly there’s mystery
One little word, don’t you hear the history
Who can understand the power of the "and"
There between their names,

In one little word

Me , you, just two more names
But add that word, you know it’s not the same
Comfort to our children, And hope for young lovers
When one name is spoken always with the other

Add one little word suddenly there’s mystery
One little word, don’t you hear the history
Who can understand the power of the "and"
There between our names
In one little word

Now it’s hard to believe and Lord it’s hard to say
Why anyone would ever want to throw that word away

One little word, suddenly there’s mystery
One little word don’t you hear the history
Who can understand the love is in the "And"
May it always remain, there between our names
Where love can be heard
In one little word


Words & music by Steve Chapman

Blessings,
Ken

Monday, January 25, 2010

O Brother Where Art Thou

...sleeping



Our grandson #3 is Alexander James, but he is usually called Nander. Check out this video, shot on a cellphone, of him sleeping. It has sound--turn up your speakers.

The child is interesting and fun in many ways, but he has one outstanding and admirable trait: sleeping anywhere. He can be bouncing off the walls one minute and the next, he's asleep somewhere. We rarely have to coax him to hit the hay. When he's ready to sleep, he just plops down wherever he might be.



The pictures of him sleeping are but a few in an album of Nander pix. We've shot a
few, but Heather has made it a point to document this phenom.









Sleeping + snoring + any old place. Makes a grandfather proud. I have no problem doing the first two, but I need to learn his secret about the third.




Blessings,
Ken

p.s. to all the ladies, yes I know what you're thinking. You'd love to have eyelashes like Nanders.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

More Refrigerator Art

...still the good stuff in life

While making a stab at organizing the clutter on my desk I came across a birthday card from my grandson, Liam. My birthday was months ago; Liam was 4 years old at the time. Anyway, he loves to draw and create things and when he's here we spend hours making cards and other artwork.

Here's the inside of the card he made for me. He actually started with a "store bought" card and then customized it. Upon opening the card we find two white pieces of paper taped on the card, each with a drawing. The numbers are my age. Below that appears to be a caped figure flying. Upon lifting those flaps, we see his numerous attempts at spelling "granddaddy". You know, I don't really care whether he can spell "granddaddy" or not. I just want the refrigerator art to keep coming. This masterpiece will now go on the refrigerator along with the artwork from the other grandbabies.

The picture is of Liam (in the Longhorn jersey) with his cousins Aidan and Alexander. It was taken January 1, 2010.
Blessings,
Ken

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Happiness Is

...a sleeping baby

This little guy is the latest big news from Autumn Sadler, one of my favorite wedding coordinators and the events manager at
Fairy Tale Manor in Frisco. Click the link for more info.

Check out this picture. Wouldn't you love to be able to sleep that soundly and comfortably? However, all of us who have children know that such sound sleep only lasts until the baby is hungry or needs changing.

Autumn is one of those reasons why I like to slow down on my journey through life and get to know the people I meet at the various venues I visit on a regular basis. If I focused strictly on only one goal, doing one job, then I wouldn't have had a chance to get to know all the wonderful people who send me baby pictures and Christmas cards and birth announcements and graduation announcements and...well you get the picture.

Thanks for the pix, Autumn. Congratulations to you and your family.

Blessings,
Ken

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

A Pat On The Back

...for doing something we love

It is a true privilege to be associated with the group of guys at LoveNotes. Each one of us feels the joy of doing what we do. However, a little pat on the back is always nice. Everyone wants and needs encouragement. It's doubly nice when it's unexpected and for something that we enjoy so much.

I am pleased to announce that LoveNotes has been named a 2009 OneWed vendor of the year. This is the second year in a row that we've been given this honor.

OneWed, www.onewed.com, is one of the premier resources for couples planning a wedding.

Blessings,
Ken

Second Time Around

...with a different twist

At LoveNotes we're often given the privilege of officiating weddings in which bride and groom have been married before. Pretty familiar territory. But how about a wedding where the bride and groom were teenage friends, lost track of each other, then reconnected via Facebook?

This situation happened recently and I got to preside over the ceremony for Pam and Doug at a beautiful home outside of Little Elm, Tx. They had met almost 35 years ago when their respective families moved into a company town in Alberta, Canada. She was 17; he was 15. Because I can still remember how a 15 year old boy thinks, I can imagine his glee to discover that a tall blue-eyed blond moved in next door. Not only that but she had a drivers license AND a car.

High school ends, though, and people go their separate ways. It wasn't until 2009 that Doug and Pam happened to find each other via Facebook. Upon reconnecting, they discovered that it was like they were never apart. Their relationship simply re-started where it left off. Calling a married couple "best friends" has become something of a cliche. But in this case it's absolutely true. Take a close look at Doug--that may be the same "I'm the luckiest guy on the earth" look he had 35 years ago.

My thanks to Brandi Chesser for providing the pictures. A newcomer to the photo business, her talent is obvious and I'm sure I'll see her again. If you want to contact her the email address is brandi.chesser@gmail.com

Blessings,
Ken

UPDATE: 1/22/10. Got a note from Pam that the house here sold promptly and they've settled in to married life in British Columbia where Doug owns a business. He still has that same look on his face :)

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Zoƫ

...nothing like a good ol' dawg

On January 1, 2010 our branch of the family (all ten of us, plus my dad) got to spend some quality time together at Willow Lake in Wills Point, Texas. Great day, as described on this blog and others.
Well, we have a granddog, Zoe. There's supposed to be an umlaut over the "e" but I don't know how to do that here.
Anyway, on New Year's Day, Zoe and I went for a run, a walk, and a golf cart ride. She's a shepherd/blue heeler mix and is amazingly strong. At one point, when the batteries on the cart were a little weak, she hopped off and helped pull us up a slight incline. When I tugged on the leash, she hopped back on the seat and away we went.

Aidan, Alexander and Liam thought it was quite a sight for granddaddy to be taking the dog for a ride. I thought it was quite fun. My thanks to Heather for the pix.

Blessings,
Ken

Saturday, January 2, 2010

The Miles

...and the years

Everything seems to go faster as one gets older. Can't stop it, but at least you can acknowledge it and try to enjoy every moment. One of those once in a lifetime moments happened on January 1, 2010. Our branch of the family got to spend time with my dad in Wills Point.

Good food, good times. Mamaw taught Aidan, Alexander and Liam about fishing. Ian took the boys out in the canoe. My dad got to meet his newest great-grandson. I took the three older ones cruising in the golf cart. The boys got to see a five pound catfish. Ducks, herons and hawks flying over the lake. Generally one of those days you wish wouldn't end.

AND...we got a family picture. My dad, me, Donna, Adam (with Heather, Aidan & Alexander) and Ian (with Alyssa, Liam, and Henry). Age range 85 years down to 2 months.

Blessings,
Ken