Classical Gas

I've taking guitar lessons for quite a while. When I started I wanted to learn different strumming patterns but when my guitar teacher introduced me to finger style guitar playing, I loved it! This is called Classical Gas. I've been trying for a couple of weeks to get this on video but it seemed that I would play it great and as soon as I turned on the video I would mess up! It's almost as bad as performing for a real audience! Although this one is not without some mistakes, I was pleased enough to share with you.

I'm working on "Dust In The Wind" and hope to publish that recording soon.

Have a good one.

Beautiful Wedding 7-15-2022

I attended my first wedding in the Crazy Water Hotel. My friend's son and my Pastors grandson got married.

It is a sweet love story. 

His name is Jackson. Hers is Hena. They met at Community Christian School (CCS) were Jackson has attend Kindergarten through 12th grade. He just graduated in May, Valedictorian of his class with a 4.0. He was also taking college classes and graduated with his Associates Degree before his High School graduation!

Hena came to CCS as a foreign exchange student from Bosnia the fall of 2019. She graduated from CCS last year as Salutatorian of her class and received a basketball scholarship to Weatherford Junior College.

The groom's uncle playing guitar.

The guest list was limited but we and the kids were on it.

My Pastor and Jackson's granddad performed the ceremony. 

The bride walking with her dad down the aisle.

Her dress is so pretty!

Saying their vows.

After they poured their unity sand we all sang "The Blessing" over them.

Mom with her sons. Jackson's brother is 2 years younger.

Hena's parents and sister. Her sister is staying here as Hena did to attend Community Christian School. Her parents blew back to Bosnia the day after the wedding.

Jackson's grandparents Kirk and Karen Horton (pastors of our church) with Hena's parents and Jackson's aunt the Horton's daughter Perri.

We had a great time.

Have a good one!

Precious Liquid 7-14-2022

After many days of 100+ temperatures we FINALLY got some welcome relief!

We had a chance for rain although not a big one. Right before the rain we topped out at 105 for the day!

I don't know if you can tell without clicking on the photo to make it bigger but I can see the rain falling ahead of me. Sprinkles are beginning to fall on the truck.

I intersect the rain just before the Baker.

We had a little outflow of wind that blew the trash receptacle in the street.

Then a downpour!

It didn't last long but long enough to give us twenty-eight hundredths, almost 3 tens.

And we got a nice cool down!

The temp the next morning our temp was 67! 

We weren't spared long. Temp on Friday July 15th was 101 and an excessive heat warning issued for the next several days.

Have a good one!

Retirement Celebration

We arrive in Tulsa Saturday July 9th about 5:30pm. Mom and I checked into the hotel then made our way
to Philip and Mary Ann's. They invited all the family that came to Tulsa for the celebration. My Uncle and Aunt, Jim and Sharon (my Dad's sister) came and my Dad and Barbara. Dad's other brother who is my age was unable to come.

L to R around the table Jim, Sharon, Mom, me, Sarah and David (Philip's kids), Mary Ann, Philip, Barbara and Dad. Sarah's husband, Andrew is taking the picture.

The Retirement Celebration was not until Sunday evening but the church also recognized them during the morning service.

A special piece of music was written for Mary Ann by Joseph Martin. It was performed for the very first time in this service. Click here.

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L to R David, Philip, Mary Ann, Sarah.

David is married and is an Ophthalmologist in Florida. His wife Jenny just had their 2nd child 3 months ago so he was the only one to come. 

All of the family that was there for the celebration.

L to R David, Philip, Mary Ann, Jimmy, Sharon, me, Dad, Barbara, Mom, Sarah and husband Andrew.

 The siblings. Philip, Sharon and Dad. Alan wasn't able to come.

The retirement dinner.

Click here to hear David and Sarah sing "Beautiful" by Phil Wickham during Sunday morning services.

Click here to hear David and Sarah share their parents history and sing a Michael W. Smith song that was rewritten telling what life was like as children of music ministers.

Click here to hear Sarah sing "Give me Jesus" accompanied by her husband Andrew.

Click here to watch Mary Ann conduct the orchestra.

Click here to watch Philip, Mary Ann, Sarah and David sing "Blessed Assurance".

Table decorations

The head table where the family was seated.

Lots of people!

Dinner is served!

We had a great time. I am so glad we went.

Have a good one!

Road Trip Adventure 7-9-2022

 I received an invitation in the mail from South Tulsa Baptist Church where my Uncle Philip (my Dad's brother) & Aunt Mary Ann serve as Ministers of Music and Children's Ministry. Their title doesn't begin to describe all they do! I decided right then I was going to attend. I began to plan when we would leave and come home. 

My Uncle Bob (Mom's brother) and Aunt Cindy live in Wichita, Kansas. About 2 1/2 hours away from Tulsa I thought it was to close to not try to see them as well.

Mom and I left Friday morning headed for Wichita. We had a good trip although Mother questioned my GPS's navigation when it took us off the interstate. All was good for a while as even though it was 2 lay road it was smooth and I enjoyed driving through farming country. Then the road changed to GRAVEL! Being a little unsure myself I decided to stay with it before we knew it we were in the middle of farm land on a DIRT road with no signs! I had to take a picture because I didn't think anyone would believe me! We were too committed at this point to turn around. The GPS kept telling us we were really close to our destination so I pressed on! We did make it. Mom and I both had a really good laugh. I think I told her at the point we were on a dirt road to just look at it as an adventure! It definitely makes for a great story!

The extra bonus in seeing Bob and Cindy is that we got to see my cousin Marci's oldest daughter Lucia! I hadn't seen her since she was a little girl! She didn't know us but wanted to see us! That thrilled my heart. She was so delightful to get to know and spend time with.

Cindy took this picture for us before we left Saturday.

Once again we are grateful for their hospitality! We had a great time!

Have a good one!

Rain July 3, 2022

 It is always hot in the summertime here but we have had exceptional heat this summer. In June we had 19 days of 100 or above (mostly above) temperatures and so far in July we've only had one day that wasn't 100+. We are extremely dry as well.

The last significant rain we received was May 25th which we got 2.59 inches. We didn't receive rainfall again until June 2 we received .14 (fourteen hundredths). We got a bit more on June 3rd (.42 hundredths).

We got two bursts of showers on July 3rd. It was very refreshing. You know you're in a drought when you video it raining!

The first shower

Click here to see another short clip of the second shower. 

We are thankful for the rain but we can still use more!

Have a good one!

Remi Plays Softball 6-24-2022

 Keannon, Kashton and Kennedy left on Friday June 24th to pickup Remi to bring back for her summer break with us. She was playing a softball game that evening so they got to watch her play. I am grateful to Keannon for getting a few photos. He also took a short video clip. Click here to watch.

I don't know if she actually got a hit but she did get on base!

She plays 2nd base.

Have a good one!

Camp 6-20-2022

Kennedy and Kashton went to their 1st camp of the summer with First Baptist on June 20th. Kennedy has been to camp before but this was Kashton's first time. They left at 7:30AM. As you can tell, Kennedy isn't thrilled. She is like her Savtah in that she doesn't do mornings 😉. Korin wanted to help send them off. She was so excited to be an only child for a few days!

Vanessa threatened to keep taking pictures until she smiled. It didn't take long. 😄

They all had a great time. (Kennedy is the tallest)

Have a good one.

Dempsey Fire

We are really dry in our region....actually the entire state!

There are areas of the state that are drier than we are. We are in moderate drought. The city implemented Stage 1 water restrictions Monday June 27th.

We have had 100 degree days with very low humidity. All the conditions for extreme fire danger.

A grass fire started in the town of Palo Pinto which is the county seat for our county. It is 12 miles west of us. The day the fire started it was 103 with heat index of 105 humidity 24% and wind about 9mph.

I saw the smoke from the fire when I left the office. I knew that wasn't a good sign.

This is the sunset through the smoke from the horse pasture.

This was taken the night of June 23rd.

This picture was taken June 24th. What you see in the sky is not clouds but smoke.

By Saturday June 25th the fire had burned 8,000 acres and was only 12% contained. Temperature that day was 104 with 21% humidity. A heat advisory was issued the day before as the temps were forecast to increase over the weekend.

This was taken June 25th. Once again those are not clouds in the sky but smoke.

This picture was also taken on June 25th. It did make for a pretty sunset.

Many people were praying, Sunday evening June 26th a shower developed right over where the fire was and dropped rain! It didn't put it completely out but it did give firefighters the advantage! What a miracle! Click here for a short video of some lightning from the barn.

This was the post from the fire department as of July 4th

Mineral Wells Fire & EMS

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Dempsey Fire Final Update

July 4, 2022 2:30 pm

Size: 11,598 acres

Containment: 100%

Cause: Undetermined

Crews completed some final checks today on several hot spots identified previously and ensured that all areas were cool and contained. Hoses and fire equipment were collected from around the fire and are being prepared for the next fire that may need them. This fire has been handed back over to the local fire department and all state resources have been released from this fire. This will be the final update for this fire.

We would like to thank everyone who donated to the local volunteer fire departments during the fire and the recovery process. Those donations have been very appreciated. For more information on each department please check their social media pages.

Happy Independence Day!

Have a good one!

Update July 3, 2022

 It's been 3 weeks since I last posted. It is time for an update.

My truck sat for a week in the tow yard. It was towed to the body shop June 21st. The estimate was completed last week and submitted. Repairs should begin this week. I hope there isn't any difficulty in getting parts. 

Keannon came home from being gone writing insurance claims in Nebraska June 21st. I'm currently driving Keannon's truck. The kids have 3 vehicles so it's not inconveniencing them.

Dad came down for a visit Thursday June 16th. Wayne also came. Dad left to go back home on June 23rd. 

These pics were taken on June 22nd.

Kennedy and Kashton left for camp Monday June 20th.

They left about 7:30am. Kennedy is not a morning person. Vanessa told her she would keep taking pictures until she smiled

So she did!

Korin wanted to help send them off. She was very excited to be an only child for a week!

Keannon left to go pickup Remi  for summer break June 24th. 

There was an isolated shower on June 26th. It rained at the kids house North of town but it didn't rain at our house!  Remi did a video of her and Kennedy dancing in the rain and posted it to instagram. I took a screen shot of it so the quality isn't very good.

I hope to get some pictures of all the kids soon. 

Have a good one!