...in July??
Who would have thought that an outdoor wedding in McKinney, Texas could possibly have had a rain problem? Despite the forecast, Kristin and Roby went forward with the plans for an outside ceremony at The Cotton Mill in McKinney on July 7. Mother Nature had other plans.
So at the last minute, we moved everything indoors, re-set the chairs, decorations, sound system etc. The bride and groom were not rattled at all by the change. They still had the fun, romantic wedding of their dreams. They made a memory. As long as they live, everytime they hear rain drops hit the roof, they'll think of their wedding day. A happy memory.
Special thanks to Elizabeth Humphrey Allen of Copper Penny Films (visit them on the web) for taking the rain and turning it into a happy motif for the wedding video. I haven't seen the final edit yet, but HERE is a highlight she sent me. Can't wait to see the finished version. Elizabeth, thanks for making this old guy look and sound decent! Congratulations to Kristin and Roby for not letting a little rain dampen your wedding ceremony.
BTW, the happy little song playing through most of the video is called "Darling" written and performed by husband and wife team, Handsome and Gretyl. Learn more about them HERE and listen to their music HERE
Blessings,
Ken
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
A Blog Worth Following
...oursydneygrace
My daughter-in-law, Alyssa, is a very talented and prolific blogger and I look forward to her regular start-the-week series called "Grace Laced Mondays". Today's entry is no exception as she talks about the similarities between living in a "fixer-upper" house, while we all carry around "fixer-upper" hearts that God is still dealing with.
The previous blog entry is just as inciteful. She used a song written and performed by a mutual friend that explains the 23rd Psalm in a way I hadn't thought of before. Read the post and then listen to the song HERE
Lyssa's blog is named in memory of their daughter, Sydney. Go by her blog, enjoy, follow it. Click HERE to get started.
Blessings,
Ken
The previous blog entry is just as inciteful. She used a song written and performed by a mutual friend that explains the 23rd Psalm in a way I hadn't thought of before. Read the post and then listen to the song HERE
Lyssa's blog is named in memory of their daughter, Sydney. Go by her blog, enjoy, follow it. Click HERE to get started.
Blessings,
Ken
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sydney Grace
...almost five years later
Erich Segal was undoubtedly responsible for the most sappy, tear jerking book and movie of the 1970’s, the most often uttered phrase of the 1970’s, and the most popular girl’s name from 1970 to 1985. “Love Story”, the book and movie, gave life to the phrase “love means never having to say you’re sorry” as well as gave the name Jenny or Jennifer to countless thousands of infant girls. The lines that always stand out for me, though, are in the opening narration of the movie, as voiced by Ryan O’Neal: “What do you say about a 25 year old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant. That she loved Mozart and Bach? The Beatles? And me?”
Having been married less than a year when the movie came out, I related to this story, as I had married a beautiful and brilliant girl who loved Mozart and Bach and the Beatles—and me. The story touched me in a profound way, putting me in the place of Oliver Barrett IV, wondering what it would be like if I lost her. Fortunately, even after 43 years I’ve not yet been called on to face such a reality.
The reality I did have to face occurred November 29, 2007, the day that my first granddaughter died. What do you say about an unborn girl who died in utero? That she was beautiful, as seen in the four dimensional sonograms? That she would have loved music, like her parents and grandparents? That she would have loved her grandfather?
Even though her name wasn’t chosen at the time, Sydney began to exist for me in that phone call from my son, telling me, “dad, it’s going to be a girl”. And he knew full well the impact those words would have. Don’t get me wrong, I love my grandsons as much as life itself, but here was going to be my little girl to spoil. The anticipation was overwhelming at times, the temptation to buy every pink thing in sight, to walk the baby aisle and the toy aisle at Target and think about the things I might get for her.
On reflection, it isn’t things that are important. It’s people. I wanted her to know me. To know how much I loved her. To always know that she was safe and protected and loved, just as Jenny knew that feeling with Oliver. Here’s where it gets tough. At least Oliver and Jenny knew each other and knew that depth of feeling. They had some time. Sydney and I were denied that opportunity for reasons known only to God. One thing is absolutely certain and it is that even though she never drew a breath in the outside world, Sydney is, and will be, as real to me as any human alive. She is my fourth grandchild. We've had more since then but Sydney will forever be the fourth. I cry out that I lost something on November 29 and it makes me angry.
It makes me angry that when an infant dies, there are always the clichés, the reassurances from well meaning, but sometimes thoughtless, friends and family. “She’s in a better place; she’s an angel; God needed her” and on and on. Clichés make me angry. Turns out, theologians aren’t unanimous in the thought that infants and children who die automatically gain a ticket to heaven. The nay-sayers point to original sin as descended from Adam and Eve, presuming that sin at any age (or more importantly, lack of repentance) keeps you out of God’s fold. Some haul out the well-worn phrase “age of accountability”, a concept and term that is not found anywhere in the Bible. As I researched the issue, not only in the Bible but in various writings by Christian and non-Christian authors and philosophers, I came to my own conclusion. Sydney is with God, in a cradle of angel wings.
Let’s have a look at just one small part of the Old Testament as told in Second Samuel 12. Many of us are familiar with the story of King David who committed adultery with Bathsheba. He then sent her husband off to war where he was killed, as David knew he would be. Bathsheba was pregnant by David, and after the birth of the baby, the boy fell ill and died a week later, a fact hidden from David for a while by his servants. When the king found out, he ceased his fasting and praying, bathed, put on clean clothes and began a feast. When asked for an explanation, David answered them, saying (paraphrased) “now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me”.
I will go to him, but he will not return to me.
David—the king, songwriter, philosopher, the man devoted to God—understood that the gracious God would protect and enfold the children, just as years later when Jesus always wanted the children to come to Him.
So, what do I say about an unborn girl who died? That her name is Sydney. That I love her. Present tense. I weep because I never got to tell her that. But I will, when God holds both of us.
Go listen to this song. Ian and Alyssa wrote it--she did lyrics, he wrote the music and then Ian spent months in the studio with various musician friends to complete it. Caitelen is the one who gave voice to it. Here's the inside info--at the beginning and end you'll hear little wind chimes. At Sydney's memorial service, Lyssa gave some of us windchimes with Sydney's name painted on. We hung ours in the crepe myrtle bush over our garden bench. Sometimes we sit there, the wind blows, they tinkle. and we say "Hi, Sydney". But sometimes they tinkle when there is absolutely no breeze at all. Blessings,
Ken
Erich Segal was undoubtedly responsible for the most sappy, tear jerking book and movie of the 1970’s, the most often uttered phrase of the 1970’s, and the most popular girl’s name from 1970 to 1985. “Love Story”, the book and movie, gave life to the phrase “love means never having to say you’re sorry” as well as gave the name Jenny or Jennifer to countless thousands of infant girls. The lines that always stand out for me, though, are in the opening narration of the movie, as voiced by Ryan O’Neal: “What do you say about a 25 year old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant. That she loved Mozart and Bach? The Beatles? And me?”
Having been married less than a year when the movie came out, I related to this story, as I had married a beautiful and brilliant girl who loved Mozart and Bach and the Beatles—and me. The story touched me in a profound way, putting me in the place of Oliver Barrett IV, wondering what it would be like if I lost her. Fortunately, even after 43 years I’ve not yet been called on to face such a reality.
The reality I did have to face occurred November 29, 2007, the day that my first granddaughter died. What do you say about an unborn girl who died in utero? That she was beautiful, as seen in the four dimensional sonograms? That she would have loved music, like her parents and grandparents? That she would have loved her grandfather?
Even though her name wasn’t chosen at the time, Sydney began to exist for me in that phone call from my son, telling me, “dad, it’s going to be a girl”. And he knew full well the impact those words would have. Don’t get me wrong, I love my grandsons as much as life itself, but here was going to be my little girl to spoil. The anticipation was overwhelming at times, the temptation to buy every pink thing in sight, to walk the baby aisle and the toy aisle at Target and think about the things I might get for her.
On reflection, it isn’t things that are important. It’s people. I wanted her to know me. To know how much I loved her. To always know that she was safe and protected and loved, just as Jenny knew that feeling with Oliver. Here’s where it gets tough. At least Oliver and Jenny knew each other and knew that depth of feeling. They had some time. Sydney and I were denied that opportunity for reasons known only to God. One thing is absolutely certain and it is that even though she never drew a breath in the outside world, Sydney is, and will be, as real to me as any human alive. She is my fourth grandchild. We've had more since then but Sydney will forever be the fourth. I cry out that I lost something on November 29 and it makes me angry.
It makes me angry that when an infant dies, there are always the clichés, the reassurances from well meaning, but sometimes thoughtless, friends and family. “She’s in a better place; she’s an angel; God needed her” and on and on. Clichés make me angry. Turns out, theologians aren’t unanimous in the thought that infants and children who die automatically gain a ticket to heaven. The nay-sayers point to original sin as descended from Adam and Eve, presuming that sin at any age (or more importantly, lack of repentance) keeps you out of God’s fold. Some haul out the well-worn phrase “age of accountability”, a concept and term that is not found anywhere in the Bible. As I researched the issue, not only in the Bible but in various writings by Christian and non-Christian authors and philosophers, I came to my own conclusion. Sydney is with God, in a cradle of angel wings.
Let’s have a look at just one small part of the Old Testament as told in Second Samuel 12. Many of us are familiar with the story of King David who committed adultery with Bathsheba. He then sent her husband off to war where he was killed, as David knew he would be. Bathsheba was pregnant by David, and after the birth of the baby, the boy fell ill and died a week later, a fact hidden from David for a while by his servants. When the king found out, he ceased his fasting and praying, bathed, put on clean clothes and began a feast. When asked for an explanation, David answered them, saying (paraphrased) “now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me”.
I will go to him, but he will not return to me.
David—the king, songwriter, philosopher, the man devoted to God—understood that the gracious God would protect and enfold the children, just as years later when Jesus always wanted the children to come to Him.
So, what do I say about an unborn girl who died? That her name is Sydney. That I love her. Present tense. I weep because I never got to tell her that. But I will, when God holds both of us.
Go listen to this song. Ian and Alyssa wrote it--she did lyrics, he wrote the music and then Ian spent months in the studio with various musician friends to complete it. Caitelen is the one who gave voice to it. Here's the inside info--at the beginning and end you'll hear little wind chimes. At Sydney's memorial service, Lyssa gave some of us windchimes with Sydney's name painted on. We hung ours in the crepe myrtle bush over our garden bench. Sometimes we sit there, the wind blows, they tinkle. and we say "Hi, Sydney". But sometimes they tinkle when there is absolutely no breeze at all. Blessings,
Ken
Thursday, August 23, 2012
August 23, 1969
...my best day ever
This picture says it all. The love of my life said "I Do". How I managed to catch her I'll never know.
Blessings,
Ken
This picture says it all. The love of my life said "I Do". How I managed to catch her I'll never know.
Blessings,
Ken
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Summer Olympics
Grandson number 3 is Alexander James Byrd, known to us as Nander. This summer Nander has been enrolled in a gymnastics class and is doing quite well. Maybe we'll see him on the podium in the 2016 games in Brazil.
Nander lives in Round Rock, Texas with his older brother, Aidan and younger brother, Gus. Heather teaches middle school in the RRISD and Adam is employed in the Austin office of Blizzard Entertainment.
Blessings,
Ken
Monday, July 16, 2012
The Little Things Are The Big Things
This past weekend, we decided to get take out from our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant about 5 minutes from home. As I walked out holding my bags of tacos, chile rellenos, and guacamole, I saw an elderly couple about to step up on the sidewalk and it was taking a little time to get up that short step. They were holding hands and he steadied her as she went.
I stopped and inquired how long they had been married. He replied "a long time...67 years". She added "we always hold hands, but since my stroke, I can't walk without him". Then he said, with a grin on his face, "Besides, when we're in a store, if I let go of her hand, she shops!".
We exchanged a few words and went on our way. They didn't see the little tears in my eyes. They reminded me of a reading I sometimes use at weddings. It's called "The Art of Marriage" and the part I like is the first two lines:
"The little things are the big things. It's never being too old to hold hands".
I'll probably never see this couple again and I wish I had said more to them about how they brightened my day. Happy to say that Donna and I routinely hold hands when we're out together. We refer to little things like that as "old love".
Blessings,
Ken
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The Voice
...Caitelen's stunning voice.
Our son and his family in Albuquerque, NM have an amazing bunch of friends. Ian is a musician and always manages to surround himself with professional quality musicians. This was the case when “Sydney’s Song” was produced. For those who aren’t aware of this recording, you can read more HERE
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Just recently, Caitelen Schneeberger, the singer who gave voice to “Sydney’s Song” released a seven song EP that you can hear or purchase HERE. Our son did the drums and percussion on the project and worked with other talented musicians at Desert Springs Church in ABQ.
Our son and his family in Albuquerque, NM have an amazing bunch of friends. Ian is a musician and always manages to surround himself with professional quality musicians. This was the case when “Sydney’s Song” was produced. For those who aren’t aware of this recording, you can read more HERE
Just recently, Caitelen Schneeberger, the singer who gave voice to “Sydney’s Song” released a seven song EP that you can hear or purchase HERE. Our son did the drums and percussion on the project and worked with other talented musicians at Desert Springs Church in ABQ.
I have been listening to this EP for nearly two weeks and it is amazing. The whole production is restrained and uncluttered, which creates the perfect frame to highlight Caitelen’s stunning voice. My favorite tracks are “Aria’s Song”, written about Caitelen’s daughter; “Take Me Down”, a wonderfully Appalachian flavored tune, and “Beautiful”. BTW, at the beginning and end of "Aria's Song" you'll hear the actual heartbeat of Aria in utero, reminding us of the wisdom in Psalm 139 that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.
Caitelen and her husband, daughter Aria, and a new child on the way, are moving to California to begin a new ministry. Any proceeds from the sale of “Dark Is Light” go to support that effort.
I don’t think you’ll be able to listen to any of the songs without being moved.
Blessings,
Ken
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Happy Anniversary
...mom and dad
My parents met at the tail end of World War II when dad was stationed at Fort Ord in California. My mother had left east Texas right after high school and gone to visit her aunt and uncle in CA. Typical of the times, their whirlwind romance brought them to the wedding altar within a few months of meeting.
They were both from very small towns--mom from Linden, Texas (pop. less than 2000), dad from Enterprise, Alabama (pop. about 5,000). Small rural towns, rural families--they said the marriage wouldn't last. War time, quickie courtships--as everyone knew--were destined to fail.
I guess mom and dad didn't get that memo. They were married 53 years when we lost mom in 1998. Today would be their 66th anniversary.
Blessings,
Ken
My parents met at the tail end of World War II when dad was stationed at Fort Ord in California. My mother had left east Texas right after high school and gone to visit her aunt and uncle in CA. Typical of the times, their whirlwind romance brought them to the wedding altar within a few months of meeting.
They were both from very small towns--mom from Linden, Texas (pop. less than 2000), dad from Enterprise, Alabama (pop. about 5,000). Small rural towns, rural families--they said the marriage wouldn't last. War time, quickie courtships--as everyone knew--were destined to fail.
I guess mom and dad didn't get that memo. They were married 53 years when we lost mom in 1998. Today would be their 66th anniversary.
Blessings,
Ken
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A Little Surprise
...from The Knot/Texas
Most brides (and a few grooms) are aware of The Knot.com, the largest and best known of the wedding planning websites. They also publish a national mag and a few regional ones such as The Knot/Texas. It's a slick paper, almost 500 page issue that comes out quarterly.
btw, the headline of the article refers to the couple, not me.
Blessings,
Ken
Most brides (and a few grooms) are aware of The Knot.com, the largest and best known of the wedding planning websites. They also publish a national mag and a few regional ones such as The Knot/Texas. It's a slick paper, almost 500 page issue that comes out quarterly. Imagine my surprise to get an email from a wedding planner friend advising me that I was in the current issue. The wedding in question was also the subject of an earlier post on this blog (click HERE)
The photographer was Sil Acevedo, a talented guy that I see at many of the high profile weddings and venues. Even though I'm not mentioned in the article and neither was the event planner, it was still nice exposure and reminded me of what a great time I had with this sweet couple last summer.
btw, the headline of the article refers to the couple, not me.
Blessings,
Ken
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