A Darling New Baby Boy For Charity and Shane

My heart is overflowing! I can't begin to recount all the near disasters, miracles, and the goodness of God towards my family this week, but tonight tops it all: Charity gave birth to her beautiful son, Landon Eli, and she actually held out until I finished playing my concert!! This is as close at it comes to being a Grandma, at least for a while.

Charity was the picture of poise during labor. Here she catches the first glimpse of her new son.

Little Landon was most indignant with his new environment.

Boys just don't like baths!

Shane gets some daddy time.

Charity, you were so beautiful and magnificent! You're going to be really great mom.

After my long absence, I bet you all were expecting the low down on the wedding. Rest assured, that is coming, but for now, it's time to get some rest!

Yellow Snow * White Snow

This is what we saw a couple of days ago downtown:


And this is what we saw yesterday morning:

If McPhersons Were Psychologists . . .

Then they would use a Pyro blot test instead of the Rorschach Inkblot Test.

So, what do you see in these pictures??? Leave your answers in the comments!
(click on the image to see it larger.)

Veteran's Day Tribute

Yes, I know this is a few days late, but the sentiment and gratitude is just as heartfelt as ever. We made this little video last Sunday while Melissa was still flush with pride and excitement because she sang the Star Spangled Banner at her church in honor of the veterans. You might not think that what you are seeing on this video is interesting or exciting, but it represents HUGE accomplishments that these girls have made in facing their challenges. We wish to dedicate it to all of our Veterans. You are our HEROES!!



I actually did try to upload this last week, but our intermittent internet service stymied the attempt. We have finally reached the last straw with Embarq's off and on service and switched over to cable, which has brought about a rather ground-breaking, earth-shaking change to our household of 35 and a half years: For the first time ever, we have TV in our house! (Well, at least for 6 months, until the special introductory offer expires.) So, I am rediscovering the main reason why I can't live in a house with TV: it totally sucks me in! As if I didn't have enough excuses to stay up all night, last night I stayed up until 4 in the morning watching an Emergency Room show on Discovery channel. Reason #2 (or perhaps, this should be reason #1) I am constantly telling Agape to be quiet. . . .ughh

I'm a Survivor!

I SURVIVED!!!!
And, at least for the moment, I'm a relatively pain-free survivor!

I know that puzzle shot is technically flawed, but I LOVE how it captures the essence of our trip down the mountain to the hospital this morning. The windshield was too dirty so I was holding the camera up through the sunroof and snapping away.

Winter bareness has already crept about a third of the way down the mountain. But, my goodness, what a swath of gold there is left in Cana and MT. Airy!!!

A Little Whine

This is a completely random picture for today, but I'm having knee surgery tomorrow morning, and I am sitting here thinking about all the things that I am NOT going to be able to do the next few weeks. No contra dancing this Saturday night. No hiking or biking while Miss Emily is here visiting. No ballroom dancing lessons on Friday nights. No 10,000 steps a day. The Minister of Fun might as well just turn in her badge.
Back to the picture. I took it while we were in France for our 25th wedding anniversary which was the best week of my entire life, and thinking about how happy I was that week makes me feel better now.

Ole Gilliam Mill Pond

This is at the wedding venue, though it won't be looking so summery in 3 weeks.