Let The Celebration Begin!

Christmas is in the air, and I love the sights and sounds of Christmas. It is the birth of our Savior, Emmanuel, Jesus, Our Hope, and Lord.

Getting ready for the Dallas Baptist University Christmas Concert. 

Bo Pilgrim Chapel at Dallas Baptist

Abby at DBU after her awesome Christmas concert with the DBU Grand Chorus.

Janet and I playing at FBC Pasadena's Annual Singing Christmas Tree. What Fun!

The Christmas Season

The decorations are up for the Christmas celebrations that will take place.






Tis the season to celebrate the birth of the Savior.

Merry Christmas. Yea! all the lights work from last year. Notice, no lights on the  second story. My daughters told me I am not allowed to climb on the roof. What's the deal?

My version of the nativity scene, updated and symbolic.

Either I took the picture off center, or our tree is leaning.

Thanksgiving and Thanks

Janet and I are celebrating Thanksgiving this year in a much different way. It worked out that none of our kids with be with us on Thanksgiving day. I hate to say it, but that worked out well for us. We both had a week off from school, with no real plans, so we decided to go tent camping for a couple of days. Yes, camping with temperatures around 36 to 38 degrees at night. It was awesome. Waking up to the cold crisp air, with the smell of pine and sounds of nature coming to life, and building a fire and having that first cup of coffee brewed over a campfire, taking in all that God had created.

We stayed at Mission Tejas State Park close to Grapeland, Texas, so we could attend the Crockett Christmas Festival on Saturday held in the town square. I love the sights and smells of small town celebrations. We had sausage on a stick, a Zemer root beer float, shrimp and fries, and various samples of homemade fudge and peanut brittle. I wanted to try the cheese cake on a stick, but didn't get to it. With over 200 booths of various kinds of crafts, from purses made from old license plates to elegant lace doilies, it made for a great outing.

Sunday, we went hiking, exploring the park, and attempting to follow the park map, which we found out later, was out of date, so we took the scenic route off the designated trail. Not a long hike, maybe three miles total, broke camp after lunch and headed to Henderson to see Janet's parents.

Monday, we went to the Dallas Arboretum to see the flowers, pumpkin patch, and the Chihuly display. Chihuly is custom blown glass art work, very beautiful and expensive. It was a perfect day, with a wonderful drive to and from Dallas down country roads seeing all of the colors of fall on the trees.

Tuesday, I got up bright and early and explored the woods behind Janet's parents house and hiked down to the lake to take some awesome pictures. Janet and her mom went shopping, and I headed for the big town of Troup on an information gathering trip. I wanted to find my grandparents, on my mom's side, gravesites and their old homeplace. My first stop in Troup was the old downtown area. Most of the businesses were no longer there, like Normans, 5 and Dime Store, the hardware store. As a little boy, I remember the smell of the 5 and Dime store,  and the sound of walking on the wood floor. Steele Grain and Feed was still in business, and they gave me directions to the cemetery. Across the street was the public library where I was able to purchase two calendars from the Troup Histrorical Society that had pictures of my grandparents and other relatives. For me, it was time well spent, remembering the past and thinking about the future. Driving those country roads, God and I talked about life and the future. I have so much to be thankful for.

Wednesday morning, Janet and I picked up about 2 gallons of pecans. I must admit, my back got a little sore. The best part of the day was driving to Carthage to see my son, Josh and his family. Jackson and Jake are the smartest grandkids in the world. Josh and Julie have a wonderful home and are doing a great job raising two fine sons.

Today is Thanksgiving, I don't know how it could get any better. My daughter Abby will be here,  Janet made me a coconut cream pie, Janet's mom, Barbara, made some brownies. Foy, Janet's dad, and I are going to watch non stop football today, and the buffet pants will have to be brought out because of all the great food.

Abby played the piano for us and sang this afternoon. She plays and sounds so beautiful. A perfect way to spend a Thanksgiving afternoon. I'll give up football for that anytime.

I am blessed. Have a Happy and Wonderful Thanksgiving, and don't fight over the turkey leg!

David

P.S. Christmas decorations for up, the tree is lighted and I am ready to celebrate an awesome Christmas!

Chasing Light

I chased the light this morning. 

I almost caught and just for a moment

I held it in my hand, 

but just like water it slipped between my fingers, and then it was gone.

life is a vapor

JDF










 

The Hammer of What If

Some play to win
Some play not to lose
Some refuse to play at all

For those who play to win, they understand they could lose it all, but willingly risk it all to achieve greatness.
For those who play not to lose, the fear of losing overtakes them and holds them hostage as average.
For those who refuse to play at all, the fear 
of the unknown controls them and chains them in failure.

For all of us who play it safe and those of us who fail to even try, the hammer of "what ifs" chips away at us and eventually breaks us. When that happens, it changes us forever.

I wonder, is it better to risk it all and be changed, or play it safe and just not try and still be changed? Each of us must decide, but either way, we will change.
from Picture Book #2 By James David Furlow

The Weekend

 I started my weekend by getting up at 5:30 a.m. to catch the sunrise at Sylvan Beach. It was awesome to see the sun slowly turn the sky various shades of blue, orange and gray. There was no breeze, just calm and peaceful, drinking a good cup of hot coffee and enjoying the beginning of the day. I wish I could start everyday like this.





Later that day we drove to Dallas to see our daughter, Abby sing in the chorus at Dallas Baptist University. Her choir was performing the Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta "The HMS Pinafore." Abby and the choir are so talented. We had a late lunch and early supper with Abby at Beto's Restaurant. They served the best "Carne Guisada" I have ever eaten.

Here's Abby in costume having a ball! Naturally, dad is really proud of her.

Recycle, do not throw in the trash

 I've seen this same trash can for several months. Waking up this morning, with the usual aches and pains that come from being 58 old years, my thoughts went to how awkward this age can be. Your stuck in between being an middle aged adult and being considered a senior adult. In other words, too late to start over, but too young retire. I need to be recycled, not thrown in the trash. 








I begin the day with a cup of go juice. I know, at my age, the caffeine will keep me awake. That's the point!


Then I move from caffeine, to water for my ailing kidneys, which of course fills my bladder and I have to go the restroom a million times a day. The joys of being a "Tweener."

.

July Reflection

During the first part of the summer I spent some time traveling, reflecting, and seeing nature up close and personal. My wife and I traveled to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and camped for two days. Great slow down time I call it. By slow down, I mean we live at such a fast pace. We are so focused on tasks, on our needs, and the needs of others, we, I, fail to see, really see, and experience all that is going on around us.

Three insects. It's all about being in the right place at the right time.

Sunset in the still of the evening. Beaver Lake, Arkansas. Not a sound was heard, no wind or breeze, just stillness.

A storm is moving in. This scene took my breathe away. I sat for along time drinking a warm cup of coffee, just watching.

My Fourth of July.

No pictures or photos, just an experience.
We left the house about 6:30, in the evening to go see and hear the Houston Symphony, at the Miller Outdoor Theater, and see the fireworks display. Traffic was terrible, and we couldn't even find a place to park. I was pretty angry and irritated, so I turned around and headed back home. My wife suggested we see the fireworks in Pasadena. I didn't want to, but in order to not be a pain in the butt, I drove over to the church we attend and parked in their parking lot. I reluctantly got out lawn chairs and pasted a fake smile on my face, not wanting to spoil anyone elses evening.

We had a great spot, there was a cool breeze, tons of people, especially children. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. As I sat there, I began to unwind and relax. As the darkness of the evening moved in the fireworks display began. Someone off to my right began playing some patriotic music. It was turning into a really great evening. I had my family, a bottle of cold water, and bag of M&Ms. What more could you ask for?

After about twenty minutes, the music stopped playing, while the fireworks display was still going. I don't know how long the silence was, maybe a 5 or 10 minutes, but I could faintly hear heard this male voice in the dark, from far away, begin to sing, God Bless America. Slowly others, joined in, and all around me, people were singing. Many didn't know the words, and some voices had accents from different nations and places foreign to our county, and other voices were singing off key. What a wonderful sound on that dark and cool night, Strangers singing together, about a country they loved.

 After a few moments the singing stopped, and it was dark and still, just the sound of the fireworks going off. Noone talking. There was a hush over the crowd. I got goose bumps, and just a little emotional as I thought about our country. 
God Bless America. It was an awesome Fourth of July after all.

Summer and Change

 Summer is, well, it is, isn't. It just is.

Random thoughts:

It's the last day of school for me until August, when I will start all over again, with new classes, faces, and teachers.

This past year has been a year of experimentation and change for me. Up until just a couple of years ago, I had never worked in a school setting before. The learning curve has been interesting, scary, and boring at times, but all in all, good.

With summer here, now I must shift gears from work into what else, work.  Painting the outside and inside of the house. Inside, no problem, except for the awful wallpaper in the bathroom. ( think red cardinals all over the wall) Outside, problem. You see, I have a two story house, and my wife, parents, and daughters tell me, I can't be up on the second story working, if someone is not there. What is up with that? Are they saying something might happen to me, or are they really saying, I am getting too old?  It does bring to mind however two issues that I am dealing with, first, making working in school a career, and second, the whole idea of just getting older.

First, a school career, I worked as a special education aide this year. Not much money, little preparation and responsibility in leading, but still rewarding. The question is, should I pursue me teaching degree at the ripe old age of 57, or just remain an aide? Is it just about money, or about being passionate about something? Should a person go get another degree just because of money? I have pondered it, ( I love that word.) meditated, scratched my head, observed my teachers, and the students, and still don't have an answer as of yet. Maybe it will come to me while I am slopping paint on my house, in 100 degree heat. Paint or teach, hmmm, let's see.

Second, getting older, it's not easy. I take a hand full of supplements and vitamins every morning. I've developed allergies, and take shots for that. Exercising is no longer my friend. It hurts. Plus, I wonder what retirement will be like. Will I turn into a couch potato, gain more weight, and die while drinking a RC Cola and MoonPie? ( BTW, my contention is that the word MoonPie, is a noun, not and adjective and noun. Being from a the south, it's a given.) Being retired means I'll have time to do what I've always wanted to do, but what is it?

So there you have it, my summer of discontent and decision making.

Summer, it is what is, and will unfold as it wants and is.

Stairs, you can walk up or walk down, it's really up to you. JDF










P.S. Both photos taken with my Blackberry Playbook. So, what do you think?

A Chair

 It's a chair, just a chair. It wasn't mine originally. It was given to me. When I got it, it was old and needed to be repaired. I took it apart , re-glued the joints, and put a new coat of varnish on it.




I wonder what this chair has been through and what it has seen, felt and heard. The owner of the chair, before me, lost his wife to cancer, and had a daughter. There were tears and laughter, shouts and yes, maybe even anger.

Short people, tall people, heavyweights and lightweights, all sat in this chair. Some even abused it by leaning back in and straining it's joints to the limit.

Everything and everyone, has a story. Behind the scars and bite marks from teething babies, to the lined face and wrinkled hands of a dads and moms, lies the truth of life, the good and the bad.

Yeah, it's a chair, but there's much more. Can you see it? It's there.

Ideas

I am trying to take a few pictures each day, slowly seeing what is present and what is absent. With that in mind, this morning I took a couple of random pictures with my p&s camera after breakfast. The last one picture, of my feet, I took with my Blackberry Playbook, while I was waiting to students to write notes. Killing time so to speak.

Any idea of  common things around the house and yard to take photos of, that would give me good practice with composition and exposure? 

Another quote by a famous photographer:

May I say that a photograph gives us the naked truth, which has to be clothed by imagination.

Frank Meadow Sutcliffe

Understanding

You can only transmit well what you perceive well.

Guillaume-Benjamin Duchenne

 

I came across this quote in a photography book about 150 of the greatest photographers from the past up to modern times. This thought transcends more than just photography. It speaks of life, understanding it, and being able to comprehend nature, people, and the world around us, then share what we have learned with others. 

 

Perception, is a road well traveled, but never fully understood. JDF

 

  Taken with my cheap $79.95 P&S Canon. I like the image, but the colors are too harsh for me. 

My perception?!

This & That

 I haven't posted in a while. I don't really know why, or even have an excuse. It's just life I guess.

I have been reading commentary on photography and came across some thought provoking thoughts.
Here's one:

"Observation is the locomotive to be attached to the train of thought and engineered under your conductorship; the power which turns the revolving wheels must be created by fuel from your own stores; your freight is to be truth, and knowledge, and wisdom, in all their purity, from the overflowing treasuries of the Infinite Creator of Nature."

Albert Sands Southworth, and Josiah Johnson Hawes

I love the image of the train. It's a great word picture.

For some reason, I am drawn to the image of the angel. It speaks to me. The photo is not really all that good. There are shadows in the face, it is cut off at the bottom,and I see a speck of dust in the bottom right corner. I just like it. The other two, well, I am still learning how to convert images from color to black and white. Success, I don't think so, at least not yet.

Driving and Wedding Crasher

Saturday morning we took off for Port Lavaca, to pick up kids for spring break. Since one of our kids has their learner's permit,  I decided to have them drive from Port Lavaca back to the outskirts of Houston. I decided to attempt to take some pictures while she was driving. My wife was not happy, but, oh well. You know, it's hard to take pictures, when the car is going  60 miles an hour.

We decided to go out to eat, Saturday evening, since it was the beginning of spring break. It seems as if waffles were what was wanted. So, we went to the Waffle House in La Porte. As we pulled into the driveway, which was an adventure in itself, with our
student driver, very, very, I must say veeerry
slooowly parking in a parking space, I noticed people standing outside the Waffle House. Kind of odd, and it looked like wedding decorations hanging on the inside. You know, big red and white paper bells, hearts and streamers, and such. Being the man that I am, I sent my wife to investigate. It seems, there was a wedding getting ready to take place, but the restaurant was still open for business. Hmm, I had to check this out. We went in, and ordered our waffles and watched the wedding unfold before our eyes.

The bride was in the kitchen, and the groom was in the men's bathroom. The wedding party was small, perhaps 15 people, in various states of, ( you know what I mean), but mainly sober for the most part. The groom comes out of the bathroom and walks down the aisle between the tables. Before the bride came out of the kitchen, someone found the "Waffle House Lady" song on the juke box, and had it playing while the blushing bride came out of the kitchen and proceeded across the restaurant. We wished her well, as she came by our table. We listened as the minister recited the vows and pronounced them husband and wife.

Now, naturally, having never attended a wedding at a Waffle House, I have several questions about proper etiquette.
1. What is the proper attire? I had on a pair of dirty jeans, an old t shirt, and my tennis shoes. I noticed the bride's mom wearing her Waffle House uniform and holding a Waffle House coffee cup during the ceremony.
2. Should you stand when the bride comes in, or just raise your coffee mug, or just ask for more syrup?
3. Is it proper to buy a round of waffles for the house?
4. Would it be offensive to order something other than waffles during the wedding? I'm wondering, because I ordered chili. I covered it with a napkin when the bride came by, I didn't want to offend her.
5. Should the tip go to the bride and groom, as a sort of wedding gift?

All in all, it was quite and fun, and the mother of bride thanked us for coming, just like we were a part of the family. I've got that "Waffle House Lady" tune stuck in my head.

Saturday morning we took off for Port Lavaca, to pick up kids for spring break. Since one of our kids has their learner's permit,  I decided to have them drive from Port Lavaca back to the outskirts of Houston. I decided to attempt to take some pictures while she was driving. My wife was not happy, but, oh well. You know, it's hard to take pictures, when the car is going  60 miles an hour.