Anchors Aweigh

...but it's love that keeps the heart anchored at home

In 1906 Charles A. Zimmerman and Alfred Hart Miles composed a piece that would be the fight song for the United States Naval Academy, one that would be viewed as the musical tribute to everything our Navy stands for. It's a stirring tribute, one that was playing in my head as I officiated a recent ceremony for Natalie and Jordan at The Tribute Golf Club in The Colony, Texas.

Jordan is a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy; Natalie is his one and only love. The ceremony took place in front of approximately 200 very enthusiastic guests, and one very grateful minister. I was aware that after the Saturday evening ceremony, the couple would have Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to honeymoon, Wednesday to travel to Virginia, and on Thursday Jordan would board a ship headed towards the horn of Africa for a six month deployment.

When I look at folks like Jordan and Natalie I know that our country's future is in good hands. The point should be made that this is a joint effort. Sure, Jordan will be away for months in a strange place, helping protect the freedoms that we enjoy. But Natalie will be here, waiting, supporting her man, giving him the reason to believe in his safe return, sharing once again that sweet kiss that sealed their wedding vows.

It was an honor to be in their presence.

Blessings,

Ken

The Princess Bride's Sundown Wedding

...At Fairy Tale Manor

The tall handsome prince and his beautiful petite princess tied the knot at Fairy Tale Manor in Frisco during a sundown wedding on July 31. Unlike the fictional princes and princesses, however, this couple brought along their four children ranging in age from 22 months to 10 years. These are the kids that made me the refrigerator art I posted a few weeks ago.

Todd and Shawna actually met at the end of high school back in the late 90's but did not date. As sometimes happens, they went their separate ways and then reconnected about three years ago. Shawna describes it as "love again at first sight". Todd and Shawna's daughter, Amelia (20 months) was the flower girl. Todd's three children Lillie, Cameron and Parker served as bridesmaid and groomsmen.

The couple chose to incorporate a beautiful Hawaiian tradition called Blending of the Sands. It's a wonderfully visual way to show the blending and unity of this new family by pouring different colors of sand into a vessel. The message is that they are now blended together in such a way that, like the colored sand, they can never be taken apart again.

My thanks to Trina, Sarah and the staff at Fairy Tale Manor for helping to make a wonderful memory for the couple, not to mention the staff always takes such great care of me when I go there. I'm also grateful to Laura Parker of Fairy Tale Photography for sending the sneak peak of the pix. Even though the wedding was at sundown, the fading light evidently wasn't an obstacle to Laura and Lauren to get some great shots in the glowy light just as the sun disappeared over the horizon.

Blessings,
Ken

Grandsons Are A Comin'

...let the spoiling begin

Heather, Aidan and Alexander will be making their annual summer trek to G town to spend a few days with us. A seven year old and a five year old--whatever shall I do? Have fun, perhaps? The pantry is stocked with the usual fun foods favored by the two boys.

Later in the week, Adam will drive up to join us. We've agreed to take care of the boys on Friday night (oh, darn, more spoiling?) and we'll send Adam and Heather out for a romantic dinner for their anniversary. Actual anniversary date is August 9, which this year is 08-09-10.

I'm sure there will be pictures forthcoming. These two pictures were taken two years apart. They both graduated from the same Montessori school in Round Rock

Blessings,

Ken

I Love Technology

...most of the time

When I was a kid growing up in Orlando, FL, my dad traveled a lot. As a result he tried to make sure that mom had plenty of help, not only in terms of a weekly cleaning person, but in terms of amenities in the house. I won't say what year it was, but our house was just about the first one on the block to have an automatic dishwasher built in.

We'd all stand around it and marvel. My sisters and I would fight over who got to push the button to start it up. Which brings me to my point. That dishwasher had one lever (latch/unlatch), and one button. It was red. Pushing that one button started the cycle.

Fast forward to this week. Our old dishwasher finally gave up, so today a brand new Maytag was installed. It's sleek, black, and very quiet. Eerily quiet, in fact. The electronic control panel is hidden on the top edge. It has enough buttons and programs that I assume there must be an ap for it available from Apple. At the very least they could have included an instructional DVD.

I'm happy to say that even at my age, I'm comfortable with computers, DVD's, Tivo, smart phones, scanners, digital cameras, my Tom-Tom GPS and other electronics. I'm just not sure why a dishwasher needs that many electronic programs.

blessings,
Ken
btw: the first load of dishes came out spotless; and I just realized I sound like Andy Rooney.

Refrigerator Art

...more of the good stuff

Once in a while I post refrigerator art here. It's still my contention that when you walk into someone's home for the first time, head straight for the kitchen and look at the refrigerator. You'll see what's important to them.

Tonight I met with a couple to discuss their upcoming wedding. This will be a blended family so I asked them to bring the children along. All four of them! Two boys, two girls. They range in age from 22 months to 8 years. For such meetings, I always take along with me colored paper, crayons, stickers and markers and ask the kids to make something for me.

We actually did get some wedding planning done, but I think I enjoyed the kids, their energy and creativity the most. My thanks to Amelia, Lillie, Parker and Cameron for the newest additions to my art collection.

Blessings,

Ken

Dinosaur Park

...fun in Bastrop County

The Round Rock branch of the Byrd fam visited the dinosaur park in Bastrop County a few months back. Great park, great history, and what kid doesn't like dinosaurs? As part of the attraction they have some life size statues of various 'saurs, and the kids are allowed to climb on & in them.

Look very carefully, and you'll see Nander peeking out. Aidan led the way and read all of the signs to Nander and anyone else who would listen.

Blessings,

Ken

Lyssa Makes Beautiful Babies

...sometimes musings come true.

Way before Ian and Alyssa were married, or even dating, Alyssa's mother and I would muse over what beautiful babies two such beautiful people might produce. We've had our answer three times. Here's the latest.

Henry is a keeper. So's Lyss.

Blessings,

Ken

The Circle of Life

...sometimes it's painful, and too fast

Funerals are just part of the territory for anyone in ministry. Are they pleasant? Not particularly. However, they can be celebratory, celebrating a life on earth, as well as celebrating a new life to be lived eternally with God.

On June 26 of this year Casey Palms, a 17 year old boy, took his own life. His family contacted me to deliver a funeral message. Only a few months ago I was with this sweet family for a much different occasion--a wedding.

You often hear people use the old cliche: it seems the only time we all get together is at a wedding or a funeral. I don't see that as a bad thing. It does get family and friends together on account of a common bond, whether it be celebrating a new marriage, or comforting each other over a loss. Either way, it's love.

Casey was a believer and it's important to know that nothing can separate us from God's love. Nothing. Casey stepped out of this life and into the arms of Jesus.

One of the passages I shared with family and friends during the service was Second Corinthians 1:3-4. The translation I used is called “The Message". Here's what it says:
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort."

What God is saying to us is that He is there for us, and wants us to be there for others. Casey may be gone but his friends and family can use this experience--call on it in the future—to offer love and support to someone else. When they do that, they'll think of Casey.

One other thing worth mentioning. Casey had long been vocal about organ donation and had signed the statement on his driver's license. His family consented as well. Because of that generous--but difficult--decision, two people were given the gift of life. Casey's heart lives on.

As hard as it is to get through a time like that, I thank God for letting me be there with the family.

Blessings,
Ken

Look Out Kindergarten

...Alexander is on the way


Hardly seems possible but our grandson, Alexander, just graduated from the Sunrise Montessori school in Round Rock. Nander (as he is usually known) had a gradution ceremony just as his older brother did two years ago. Even had the same teacher.




They grow up so fast. Don't blink, or you'll miss something.


Blessings,
Ken