Hall of Fame??

Each year the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners holds an awards banquet in which they give their favorite vendors a trophy in seventeen categories--such things as favorite photographer, DJ, wedding venue, etc. The award is called "The Vendi's". One category is favorite minister.  I have been blessed to take home that trophy the past five years in a row. This year's ceremony was held at Union Station in downtown Dallas in early February with about 500 people attending.

Their rules are that after five wins, you move into the Hall of Fame which is even further blessing, and says that they appreciate the way I take care of the couples getting married. It also says they recognize that I so love what I do. Getting to stand there so close to a couple during a ceremony is a  precious thing to me.

Thanks to all the wedding planners at AACWP

Blessings,
Ken

Christmas Wonder

...by Handsome & Gretyl

If you're looking for something new in Christmas music, this young couple from Seattle has released an EP (5 songs) entitled "Wonder". Brett and Gretyl Baird introduce a couple of new songs, plus put their spin on some classics. I ordered several copies as stocking stuffers. Give a listen.

Blessings,
Ken

An Embarrassment of Riches??

The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners is a prestigious organization dedicated to the highest standards and training with regard to wedding and event planning. They have my utmost respect. As I have said many times to various folks in their membership, any time I walk into an event and see an AACWP member, or one of their trusted vendors I mentally relax as I know everything will work as planned and there are no details for me to worry about. 

Each year they have an awards banquet--originally called "My Favorite Vendor", but more recently changed to "The Vendis". I am honored that, for the third year in a row, they have given me their trust in the form of the Vendi for Favorite Minister. 

I am grateful for their trust but I know I have to earn it at every wedding. 

Blessings,
Ken

Two Years in a Row

For the second year in a row the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners has voted to give me their annual award for favorite minister. I am honored and humbled.                                                                I do what I do because I love it and I love being part of any couple's wedding day. AACWP is an association of wedding professionals; getting an award for doing something I love is truly icing on the cake.                                                                             Thank you, wedding planners for entrusting your clients to me. You are part of what makes my life wonderful.                               Blessings,                                                   Ken

Thanks to AACWP

...for your trust


Recently, the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners held their annual vendor appreciation banquet. It was a humbling moment to be given the 2016 "Favorite Minister" award. I am so grateful to the many planners who have entrusted their clients to me and my colleagues at LoveNotes. 

While I appreciate the vote of confidence, I know that I must earn that trust each time I walk into an event. 

Blessings, 
Ken

Happy Heaven Day

...Mom

Eighteen years ago today, March 11, Mom stepped out of this life and into eternity. I miss her every day of the world. Today, I visited the cemetery and took her drink of choice--2 fingers of J&B Scotch, rocks, no water.

Blessings
Ken

Sydney Grace

...lives in Heaven

It's been eight years since I got that phone call telling me that our granddaughter, Sydney Grace, would be born still. The years since have let me bear the pain, but haven't lessened the intensity. If it's that intense for me, I can't imagine how it is for Ian and Alyssa.

On November 30, I will celebrate Sydney's "heaven day". Listen to this song about her and celebrate with me. 


Blessings,
Ken

Falling In Love Is Like Owning A Dog

Copper D. Byrd

 First of all, it's a big responsibility, especially in a big city
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
When you're walking down the street late at night and you have a leash on love
Ain't no one going to mess with you because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?
On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.
Love doesn't like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
But you can never be mad at love for long.
Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.
Love makes messes. Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
And swat love on the nose, not so much to cause pain,
Just to let love know, ‘Don't you ever do that again!’
Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk. Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once, or winds around and around you
Until you're all wound up and can't move.
But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love stop and talk to each other on the street.
Throw things away and love will bring them back, again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

(this piece written by Taylor Mali)

Blessings,
Ken

Sealing the Deal

...for Carole and Chris 

Some weddings, some couples stand out more than others in my memory. A particularly memorable one in 2014 was the Colleyville ceremony of Carole and Chris. The groom and four of the groomsmen are decorated Navy Seals. Don’t think I've ever seen five guys that fit and clear eyed—pretty much exactly what you’d want protecting our country. At the end of the ceremony, the four groomsmen drew their sabers and formed the traditional arch for the couple to exit. However, the thing that really made this one stand out for me is the way that Chris looked at his bride—so tenderly, totally in the moment. Granted, she's a beautiful woman but I think he was looking much deeper than that. Look closely at the picture above. 

They met in 2012 within a few days of each arriving at the US Embassy in Nigeria. She’s in the ambassador corps, and Chris was assigned there with the Navy. Here’s how you know how tough this couple is: she voluntarily goes to embassy assignments in countries that would scare most people. And Chris? Well, he traveled all the way back to Texas, alone, to ask Carole’s parents for her hand in marriage. That’s a tough guy!

Being married and in the military is not just a one person issue, however. It takes two. In this case, Chris is serving his country, being deployed for months at a time, while Carole is back home awaiting his return, giving him the reason to keep on keeping on, looking forward to the day he can come home to his love. It definitely takes two and I appreciate their service. We are the land of the free because of the brave like Carole and Chris.

 Oh, one more thing. Not sure if was intentional, but the ceremony start time was such that no diehard Longhorn fans would miss the football game. Carole and I share the love for our Texas Longhorns! 

Blessings,

Ken