Christmas is past and I'm exhausted

Another Christmas has come and gone. Well, not completely. My wife's nephew and his family are coming tomorrow, so there will still be some Christmas excitement to enjoy with the kids.
The Christmas Eve service at church was one of the best, very worshipful and the setting was superb.
We had a great Christmas day at our house, from the opening of presents to the steak dinner for lunch. Yep, steaks on the grill. We had already had the turkey and ham dinners earlier, and our daughter requested steaks. Our long time friends joined us for dinner and we had a great visit all afternoon. Then we loaded up the Camry for Meredith's move to Nashville. She and Nic left last night to drive to Birmingham and catch a flight to California early this morning. I must have taken a 24 hour sudaphed instead of a 12 hour one, cause I could not go to sleep last night. It will tell on me today, but I have several errands to run. Wish me some energy.

Can you say "tired?"

I left Montgomery Wednesday mid-afternoon and drove to Knoxville where I spent the night. Then I drove to Newport News, VA to move Meredith's stuff to Nashville. I got there about 5:15 p.m. and we started loading the U-haul trailer (I had pulled all the way from Montgomery) with Meredith's stuff. Thankfully her guy, Nic, roommate Laura and her fiance Josh, and two other friends helped us load. We got that job done about 8:30 and went to eat. Then we went by her friend, Becky's house to say goodbye to her and the kids. After that, we were back at the apartment cleaning up and getting the last things ready for a 6:00a.m. departure on Friday. We were up at 5:15 EST, but my collosal coffee spill on the carpet slowed us down about 20 minutes so we didn't pull out until about 6:15. The Freestyle, Escape, and U-haul were all packed! I mean PACKED! Can you imagine the gas mileage I got the Freestyle (Taurus X) pulling a full vehicle and a jammed trailer? We filled up three times between Newport News and Nashville. and once more in Birmingham. After two stops to unload, once at Meredith's new residence in Nipper's Corner, and once at a blessed friend's parents home in Franklin to store furniture, we stopped to eat in Columbia and then headed to Alabama. We pulled in at 1:15 a.m. CST. That's 20 hours on the road!!!!! Can you say tired?

The Living Christmas Tree

Once again this year I had the privilege to sing in the Living Christmas Tree at FBC Montgomery. I think this was my 5th time to sing, maybe 6th. I sang back in the mid-1980's in the old sanctuary before they went to the 3 trees. I love singing with a choir, but my responsibilities to be in other churches on Sundays prevents my singing regularly in this great choir. I always love who I can see during the tree. Ray Smith, who teaches music at Troy and is a Rotary friend, played in the orchestra again this year. One surprise came on Sunday night at the final performance when I discovered the harpist was the daughter of a seminary classmate and colleague I served with years back here in Montgomery.
I say without bias that this year's choir was one of the very best. I can't wait to see it on Frazer television or on the DVD.
My choir director growing up, Dr. Eugene Brasher, always said you could tell a choir was good if they could sing softly. Listen to "Of The Father's Love Begotten" and see what you think, or the ladies entrances on "Agnus Dei" or "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear."
Check out the spiritual "Some Children See Him" by Michelle Lott and young Jay Spivey.
And, check out the three tenors in "O Holy Night!"
A blessing indeed!!!!

60th Anniversary of Shocco Springs

My wife, Helen, and I met at Shocco Springs Baptist Assembly during the summer of 1971. This weekend we returned to Shocco for the 60th Anniversary Celebration. Close to 500 people registered to attend. Among those were several guys I worked with at the Royal Ambassador Camp between 1968 and 1972, and it was great to visit with them. One had attended our wedding. Another had me as Best Man at his wedding there at Shocco, and the others all worked together while we served at the boys camp.
Also there was Helen's friend who worked in the office with her that summer and who did her best to be sure Helen and I got together.
All around the build there were historical programs and photos, and my own even hung in a few places.
The program was outstanding and the planners allowed a lot of time for fellowship and interaction. The food was superb. Dr. George Ricker, the director there when Helen worked, had just complete his book on the history of Shocco and he signed copies for everyone. Shocco is a wonderful place. I am privilieged to serve now on the Board of Directors and want to express my thanks to God and to Alabama Baptists for providing this wonderful facility.

Our daughter is moving to Nashville

Our daughter, Meredith, is moving to Nashville. We are very happy that she will be closer to us, close enough for a weekend visit. I have the dubious distinction as her father to drive to Virginia next week and collect her "stuff." Yesterday I had a trailer hitch installed on my Ford Freestyle (now called Taurus X), so I am ready to go. Her new fella, Nic, is flying over to Newport News and will accompany us to Nashville and then spend Christmas with us. Then she and Nic will fly to California to visit his family before she returns to Nashville to begin work at Lifeway January 2. She will be working with CentriKid, a work she utterly loves.

Our son Jeff is also in the Nashville area, living in Hendersonville. So, that will lead to some trips to the Music City for us. We are excited!

Roll Tide anyway!

Yep, we got beat! Florida put a whipping on the Crimson Tide last night, particularly in the 4th quarter. But, I am still proud of the team and coaches and their accomplishments this year. I know they won't give up.

I got to attend three games in Tuscaloosa this year, Tulane, Western Kentucky, and Arkansas State. My son and I attended the Tulane game, and our seat were at the north endzone, the second row from the top. I wish I had brought my binoculars! I was doubly blessed for the Western Ky. game and got two sets of two tickets. So, my son and his girlfriend took one set, and my wife and I used the other. It was her very first (and probably last) Alabama game. It was hot, but we had a good time. For the Arkansas state game, the friend who supplied the tickets for the W. Ky. game supplied these. I was able to take a fellow Director of Missions, and an avid fan, with me. These seats were great. They were on the front row of the north endzone upper deck- no obstructions and close enough to have a good view of everything.

So, keep on rolling TIDE. We are pulling for you.

My other life

In my other blog I deal primarily with issues of faith, specifically the Christian faith expressed in a Baptist tradition. This blog is different. It reflects my other life, that of just being a friend, father, husband, cousin, brother, uncle, son-in-law, sports fan or whatever roles I play in the other part of my life. These parts cannot really be separated, but the things I write about will be a little more random.

What's in a name?

Heykenmay! Can you say that all as one word? That's what a lot of college students I used to work with would call out when they saw me. One, who served as my part-time secretary, even taught the doctors' children she kept each afternoon, who had once been my next door neighbors, to say the phrase. So, thanks, people. This name is in honor of you.