Twenty Eight Weeks and Counting

...Henry Adam Byrd is on the way

Got the news from Alyssa today that her latest doctor visit went well. She's at 28 weeks and the baby is actually measuring a week ahead at 2 lbs 9 oz. Very soon she'll start on steroids for the baby's lung development (in case of very early delivery), and they'll be monitoring her very closely. Depending on the daily tests, she may be hospitalized until delivery. They won't let her go past 36 weeks, given her history.

One step at a time. Right now, we just need to pray that she gets past the 30 week mark. That is a huge mental as well as physical hurdle, as it was at 30 weeks that they lost Sydney Grace in 2007.

The picture is from yesterday's 4D ultrasound. Can't wait to hold him and wonder what God has in store for him. After the events of the last two years, I know that this child will have a purpose in life, but right now only God knows what that is.

Blessings,

Ken

They Walk Among Us

...you never know when you'll meet a hero

September 24, 2005 is a special day for Sarabeth and Graham (and me!). On that day I had the honor of officiating their wedding ceremony. I knew at the time that Graham was a new officer with the Dallas Police Department. I also sensed that this was a young man with steely resolve and yet compassionate heart--the kind of guy you want on your side. Wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of Graham and yet I'm more than happy to have him protecting me.

Fast forward a couple of years and I discovered that Sarabeth is in the wedding planning business, most recently starting her own company, called Sarabeth Events. Click HERE for more info. Sarabeth is one of the premier event planners in north Texas. Through the wedding industry, I've been able to stay in regular contact with the couple. Not regular enough, apparently.

Not sure how I missed this story in the Dallas Morning News, but Graham got his mug and a story on the front page of the paper on April 3, 2009. You can read the story of his actions HERE. Sorry, but I don't have a better picture of Graham.

A few weeks ago, got an email from Sarabeth that their first child is due later this year. Graham Alden Quattlebaum is due December 8. Maybe I'll get some baby pix that I can post later on.

Here's the thing: in the course of our daily lives, we never know who we'll meet, what person might impact our lives, or how we might impact someone else's life. We just need to be open to those around us. By the way, I'm absolutely sure that Graham is not comfortable with the "hero" title but that's okay. Just know that if you're on the Dallas streets and you get stopped by a muscular, athletic looking officer with a really long name that starts with "Q", you're looking at a hero. Sign the ticket and tell him "thanks".

Thanks, Graham, for protecting and serving us. And thanks, Sarabeth, for supporting your man in his chosen profession. I'll be expecting the baby pix.

Blessings,
Ken

With Every Marriage and Every Birth

...the circle of love grows

Sometime around the spring of 2008 I met a young couple in love and we were planning a fall wedding, I think. Then plans changed as they found they had a daughter on the way. Kim and Parrish decided that they wanted not only a wedding ceremony, but a baptism for their daughter as well.

So in late June of this year, at the newly built Capella Court Gardens, about 150 family members and friends got to witness not only the beginning of a new marriage and a new family, but the baptism of Peyton Julia as well.

Work, home and family are now the focus for Kim and Parrish. For now, here are some of the pix that Kim sent me. There'll be more when there's time. Pictures can wait. Peyton Julia comes first.

The circle grows. Have I mentioned I love what I do?

Blessings,

Ken

I Am Blessed

...love beyond belief


My life is so blessed with family and friends. Julie, Gavin & Landry. David, Rena and kids. Stephanie (Turtle) and son. Stacie, Ryan & Dawson. Adam, Heather, Ian, Alyssa, Aidan, Alexander, Liam and soon, Henry Adam. There's also Sydney Grace who lives in heaven.


The pictures are of my namesakes: Aidan Kenneth (almost 7) and Dawson Kenneth (one year). Aidan was at NASA space camp sitting in the "spinning chair" controlled by a computer. The look of concentration on his face is in character for him. Dawson is obviously enjoying his birthday cake.


I am blessed.

Ken

August 23, 1969

...the best day of my life

In Austin, Texas any August day is hot. The 23rd was especially so. My father-in-laws tux was delivered without pants. Thirty minutes before ceremony, the organ broke and the musician had to transpose to piano. None of that mattered. Still the best day of my life.

Happy 40th anniversary to the one and only love of my life.

Love and blessings,

Ken

Refrigerator Art

...this is the good stuff

When you walk into anyone's home and you want to find out what's important to them without ever asking a question, what do you do? Walk into the kitchen and look at the refrigerator! Refrigerator art--it's the good stuff, better than any pricey painting or print hanging in the living room.

When I meet with couples about to be a blended family--to begin the process of planning a wedding ceremony--I always take with me paper, stickers, crayons and markers to keep the small children entertained while the adults chat.

Last night I met with Nicole and her five year old daughter, Leona. The groom couldn't join us, mainly because he's currently on an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. Anyway, Leona was overwhelmingly charming, articulate and imaginative. In most cases the children take their artwork with them, but Leona held them out to me and said "I made these for you". (that squishy sound you hear is my heart melting)

We made plans to include the child in the wedding ceremony. Should make for a very tender moment. In December as Nicole and Tim become husband and wife, Leona will be entering the new family to make it complete. Stay tuned for more pix at Christmas.

Thanks, Leona, for the artwork and for the sweet hug you gave me.

Blessings,
Ken

It's Back Where It Belongs

...third finger, left hand

If you saw my April 29 entry you know that I recently had to have my wedding ring cut off my finger following a hand injury. It took a few weeks to heal and the swelling to go down so I waited til just recently to have the ring repaired.

I'm happy to report that I picked up the ring and took it home to my bride so she could put it back on my finger, just as she did on August 23, 1969. Can't prove it, but I swear I sleep better at night knowing it's back where it belongs.

We're about to celebrate anniversary number 40. Forty years! But then, who else but my bride would put up with me that long?

Blessings,

Ken

Space Camp For Kids

...it's real, and it's NASA


May not have pictures to post for a few days, but grandson #1, Aidan Kenneth, is in Houston this week for NASA Space Camp. Unbelievably exciting! Can't wait to hear about it.


Heather is there with him, but she doesn't attend the camp. It's kind of like school mixed with summer camp. He goes there every morning at 8am and is done by 4pm or so. This gives Heather and her mom free time during the day to explore Houston. Or shop. Or sit by the pool.


Aidan has an unquenchable thirst for learning which is a good thing. But it also means that the word "why?" comes out of his mouth about 8,000 times a day. That's okay. He's happiest when he's being fed a continuous stream of anything to do with science, math and space exploration. He continues to insist that he plans to be the first man to walk on Mars, a goal he started to mention two years ago.


Aidan will be 7 years old in November.


Way to Go, Aidan! And about that Mars thing- take extra undies, it's a long trip. And if you get to Jupiter, make a u-turn. You went too far.


Blessings,
Ken (or as Aidan knows me, Granddaddy)

Taj Mahal

...the perfect setting for a proposal

When the mother of the bride tells me they plan to serve a whole roast pig at the rehearsal, I have to figure this will be an interesting event. Then to find out that the groom proposed to the bride in front of the Taj Mahal in India, well, I just couldn't wait to be involved.

If you're thinking there is big time ethnic diversity going on, you'd be incorrect. Both families are Texans from Wylie, and the bride & groom are in grad school at Texas A&M. They just happen to be well traveled and absolutely thirsty for knowledge and experience.

Richard and Brittany were actually the proverbial high school sweethearts at Wylie High School.

Too bad I don't have pictures of the rehearsal dinner but even a picture wouldn't do justice to the main course. Seis Lagos clubhouse was a wonderful setting and the roast pig was done to perfection in a "Chinese box" by the father of the groom. Nothing says "good time" to a southern boy like me quite as much as roast pork.

Wedding day included the usual pre-ceremony butterflies and tears (from the bride and the groom). A few more tears during the ceremony. The bride was stunning, as you can see in the pictures, and for some reason her dress and hairstyle brought to mind images somewhere between a classic 1940's movie, or maybe my hippie days in Austin in the mid-1960's (cue Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)

Except that the groom had to respond to certain questions in the ceremony, I'm not sure he heard a word I was saying--he was totally focused on his bride. It's okay, Richard, everyone else was, too.

An interesting element in the ceremony was a "knot tying". Literally. The couple decided to add an interesting twist to an ancient Celtic tradition called handfasting--they tied a figure-eight knot as a symbol of their commitment and unity. When viewed on its side, the knot forms the math & science symbol for infinity. Nice touch and I liked it. The knot is now part of their keepsakes.

I have to give propers to Sharon, mother of the groom, who was my initial contact and the one responsible for much of the planning (since bride and groom were in grad school). Her regular emails and phone calls to me were a blessing and kept me in the loop for planning. When I know someone is handling all the myriad details of a wedding, it allows me to relax a little and just concentrate on bride, groom and ceremony.

Blessings,

Ken