Bind Us Together

...in Love

In mid-2009 I began a journey with Bill and Laura, knowing that this would be a blended family. They were very much seeking ways to not only celebrate their marriage to each other, but to actively include and celebrate the fact that three young boys (Shawn, Hayden, and Cooper) are part of this new family as well.

I suggested to them that they include a "Celebration of the New Family" element in the ceremony, during which they would present to the three boys a family medallion to wear around their necks. The picture at right does not do justice to the piece that includes concentric and interlocking circles, symbolizing mom, dad, and children.

Today, more than 1 in 4 marriages involve children. Many brides and grooms come together with one or more children present from previous relationships. The Family Medallion was created to assist with the need for 'family weddings' and to provide resources for supporting family commitments.

Studies show that children accept a parent's re-marriage more readily when they are included in the wedding plans, and are given a tangible symbol of being embraced by the new family. Even on a sub-conscious level, this gives the child part ownership in this new relationship.

On a beautiful day in January of this year, Hayden and Cooper walked their mom down the aisle. Shawn was best man for his dad. Bill and Laura spoke their vows to each other, and then spoke their vows to the three children. It was an occasion for smiles and tears. I had both. Looking into the faces of those three boys as their parents put the medallions around their necks was a powerful moment that gave me a lump in the throat, which I had to swallow quickly so that I could get on to the business of pronouncing Bill and Laura as husband and wife.

Bill, Laura, Shawn, Hayden and Cooper--thanks for making a memory for me.

Blessings,

Ken

Big and Small, Short and Tall

...God loves us all

Got a huge grin from the latest picture of Liam and Henry (grandsons #2 & #4). Liam is 5 years old and, like his father, is tall for his age. Kind of towers over his friends. Henry, now four months old, is making up for his preemie birth and is growing like a weed.

Reminded me of a song lyric from one of the old "Kids Praise" albums:

We're all children of the Lord, every one.

Big and small, short and tall

And He loves us all

We're all children of the Lord, every one

He's strong when we're weak, He's humble and meek

And He loves us all.

Liam dotes on his little bro. I'm sure in years to come they'll have their share of fights but to see them together is a joy. Liam holds Henry so tenderly and as the second picture indicates, they watch football together, wearing the proper colors, I might add.

Blessings,

Ken

Unintended one-upmanship

...Niece Tori goes head to head with the pastor

So we're sitting in church this morning with our niece, and while Pastor Gary was speaking he asked, almost rhetorically, if anyone had memorized the Bible verse (Deut 6:4-6) that is the focus of the current sermon series. In his question, though, he mentioned only verses 4-5. Out of around 1500 people in the auditorium, only one hand went up--Tori's. One of the staff brings a microphone over, everyone looks at her, the tv cameras are on her, and she calmly asks if he wants just verses 4-5 or 4-6.

I nearly bit through my tongue laughing. Here's my twenty year old niece, jousting with the senior pastor of a 5000 member church. It made me so proud. Way to go, Tori.

If you don't have a Bible handy, go to www.biblegateway.org and you can read the verses in question. The video is already up on http://www.truthcasting.com/ (keyword: Heights) or on the church website at
www.theheights.org/sermons . Tori's big moment occurs about 10 minutes into the video.

To learn more about our church go to http://www.theheights.org/

Blessings,
Ken

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

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.

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

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

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 :)