SIXTEEN YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS AND A DAY

There are other interesting comparisons 

between these two couples.  

For example...

Each couple has had one incredibly photogenic half.

Both couples have had one person highly skilled at banging on a keyboard.

Both girls, at one time, apparently had an affection for tether ball.

Both couples looked pretty good when they got dressed up.

Each couple graduated together.

Both brides were given away by one man who loved them to another man who loved them.
Also, the same wedding gown was used for both weddings 
and was made by the first bride's mother.

Pregnancy invaded both marriages.

The two became three.

Then four.

Then five.

And one final historic note:

Both girls, at one time, were accomplished stage performers.

A new milestone:

 Sixteen years, seven months, one day.


"Till death do us part."

BACKYARD TOUR

While skyping with Belinda this morning, she asked if I would send her some photos of our backyard.  I told her I'd rather wait until summer when everything explodes in greens and in other colors, then I'd send her some photos.

Then I thought I could send some photos now and send more later, showing the contrast between spring and summer.

Then I thought a video tour might be even better.

So, I grabbed my camera and proceeded to the backyard where I made a 2-minute, 57-second video of our backyard as it looks today.

View from behind the glider chair, as it looks today.

View from the same location, two years ago.

For a brief video tour of our backyard, click the play tab below.

FOUR EASTER DRESSES AND TWO SINGING PAPAS

After celebrating Easter in the park this morning, Debra and I headed over to Gordon and Josie's house where four of our twelve grandchildren reside.  We also got together with Gordon's parents, Tom and Ruth, with Ashley, and with Debra's mom, Dee.

Baylee, Rylie, Makiah and Alexia wore new dresses and, therefore, were required to pose for some photos.

Both sets of grandparents were there:  Tom and Ruth, known as Papa and Grandma, and Debra and I, known as Nana and Papa.  Both grandfathers are called Papa, which made me think of an old 1954 Eddie Fisher hit, Oh, My Papa, which Tom and I sang for the assembled crowd.

And since Makiah and Alexia tried to dress up both papas to look pretty, we also felt inspired to sing an old 1951 Hank Williams tune, Hey, Good Lookin'.  

It's just too bad that the cutoff age for competing on American Idol is only 29.  Tom and I missed our big opportunity by several decades.

Four granddaughters, four new dresses.

The two younger granddaughters, Makiah and Alexia, labored intensely to make both grandfathers look pretty.

And once the two papas performed, how well did they do?  

Click the play tab below for the answer.

THREATENING THUNDER STORMS AND AN EASTER SERVICE IN THE PARK

Our church scheduled an outdoor Easter celebration at Lithia Park this year.  It is an annual event.  It's the third Easter that Debra and I have observed since first attending Ashland Christian Fellowship a little over two years ago.

Our first Easter at ACF was a bit of a disaster.  Our second Easter came with warm, short-sleeve weather.

This past week we have been checking the weather forecast and were expecting possible showers and snow, thunder storms, and temperatures in the 30's.  

We thought about staying home.  

That thought, however, didn't last long.  Instead, we bundled up in warm clothing, drove to Lithia Park, and attended a cold but not-too-cold celebration of some historical figure who, according to reliable historical data, actually rose from the dead three days after he was buried.

Armed with heavy coats, knit cap, scarf and gloves, Debra and I arrived about 40 minutes before the service began.  We arrived early because parking was a challenge last year.  Not many had arrived when we first got there, but we soon discovered that a bunch of people besides ourselves refused to be deterred by the weather this year. 

The multitudes begin to come.

Jane and Fae, as well as Rich and John, all from our home Bible study group, visit before the service begins.

Wayne and Fae visit with Steve before taking their seats.

Dennis chats with friends while waiting for the Easter celebration to get started.

The chairs begin to find occupants.

Amy and Scott, soon to be married, as well as Fae and Wayne, married for over 62 years, sit and smile at my camera.

Marji and Mark sit together before Mark speaks to the crowd.

Dorothy and Dennis, also from our home Bible study group, also sit and smile at my camera.

Mark preaches from Luke 24.

Sarah and Jeff look on.

Among the sea of people who attended, some responded to the invitation of salvation offered from the only One who ever rose from the dead, never to die again.

Some good looking people attended the celebration, but some were clearly better looking than others.