SkyWatch Friday Thoughts and More

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Sunset in Pea Ridge Arkansas

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I decided we would make the trip to Louisville, KY this September for the National Quartet Convention of Southern Gospel music.  We attended the 2009 event and had a ball.  It is the premier event in all of Southern Gospel music and every important group in the genre will be there.  The convention lasts an entire week, but we will just be attending Thursday, Friday, and Saturday events.  Monday our tickets arrived, so the countdown has begun.  So, in honor of the tickets arriving, my inspirational song this week comes from one of the quartets that we will see in September.  Brian Free and Assurance singing "The Coming of The King."  Enjoy, and have a wonderful week-end.

Wordless Wednesday

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We must be in Texas!

Ruby Tuesday

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I spent most of last week in Austin, Texas on a business trip.  It was an opportunity to take my wife along.  After a couple of full days of meetings, we had Friday afternoon to ourselves, so we headed to the Premium Outlet mall in San Marcos.  It's about half way between Austin and San Antonio.  There is a Tanger Outlet mall at the same location.  Combine the two facilities and you have a HUGE shopping opportunity.  Why am I even remotely interested in shopping, you ask.  Well, there are Eddie Bauer, Columbia, Sony, Bose, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger stores to be explored.  There are Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware outlets as well.  Yes, I like furniture and I want to have a say in what comes into our home.  My wife and I agree on most everything, but I still want to be a part of the selection process.  So, what does all of this have to do with Ruby Tuesday?  Look what I found at Restoration Hardware!

Sitting among all of the tables and accessories was this little Indy peddal car.  Just how cool is this.  There is just one problem.  We no longer have any grand kids small enough to make use of it.  So, I passed.  But, I'm tellin' ya, if one of the grand crew were three or four years younger, this would have been shipped home!

Look below.  They had two!!!!  Anybody wanna race?  Have a great Ruby Tuesday all.

One of the reasons that I look forward to each new day, is the drive to work.  I live 14 miles from the office and my drive is almost entirely rural.  Even my final destination is not is a city, by most definitions.  Each morning brings the possibility of a sunrise similar to this.  Some are more mundane, while others are far more spectacular.  I have three or four favorite places where I can pull off the road and capture the new day.  I love that the photos are free of power lines, housing developments, and the general clutter of civilization.  My drive from home to the office usually takes between 20-25 minutes, due to it's rural nature.  Only the last couple of miles, does the road allow me to exceed 45 mph.  That's not a bad thing.  On days like this one, the drive takes a little longer, because I have made a few stops to capture the sunrise.  By the time I arrive at the office, I'm thinking, "how bad can work really be, after a sunrise like this" and "I wonder what the sunset will look like?"  During the winter months I have the opportunity to see both during my commute.

My inspirational song this week comes from a brand new artist, Kerri Roberts.  The lyrics speak to the issue that all of us as Christians must face from time to time.  It is easy to believe in God when things are good.  It is easy to trust in His wisdom when life seems to be filled with with joy.  What about the tough times?  What about the tragic times?  What about 9/11?  What about Tuscon?  How do we believe in God and trust Him when things like these happen and innocent people perish?  It is not an easy question and there is no easy answer.  We have to know that if God is in control during the good days, He is in control during the tragic times as well.  As the song says, we have to trust Him, "No Matter What."  Enjoy.

Wordless Wednesday

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Ragged Edges

Ruby Tuesday

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Last September I took my wife on a business trip to Colorado Springs.  We had a wonderful time.  We had one free afternoon, so we drove down to Canon City and took an excursion train through the Royal Gorge.  This is NOT the train that we rode.  This steam engine is on display at the railroad station in Canon City.  It is a reminder of the gold rush days.  It also makes a nice Ruby Tuesday post...maybe, someday, a  Ruby Tuesday badge.
While you're reading this, We will be heading out on another business trip.  This time Austin, Texas is the destination.  I like Austin.  That's hard for some OU alumni to admit, but you'd have to know about the OU/Texas rivalry to truly understand.  I especially like the BBQ that will be available in the Austin area.  BBQ is a regional thing.  Throughout most of the Southeast, BBQ means pork.  In Texas, BBQ means beef.  I like both, but I don't get the opportunity to sample truly great beef BBQ that often and Austin is a perfect place for great Texas style BBQ.  I do have a Wordless Wednesday and a Skywatch Friday que'd up and ready to post later this week, so stop back by.  Have a great week.

Skywatch Friday Thoughts and More

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This photo was taken the week before Christmas.  I it is taken from my office window upon my arrival one morning.

My inspirational song this week comes from a group that I dearly love, but don't post much of their music.  I love their energy, their message, and their love for the Lord.  There is great joy in their music.  They will be in concert in my town this coming March, and we will be there.  I have already made plans for us to travel to Louisville, KY to attend the National Quartet Convention in September.  It will be four days of the absolute best Southern Gospel Music on the planet!  I already can't wait.  Without further delay, here are the Booth Brothers singing, "The River Keeps Rolling".  Have a blessed week-end.

Ruby Tuesday

 

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This photo was taken at the carriage house and museum across the street from The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.  While it may conjure up romantic images, this is one tough way to travel, especially in the summer, or dead of winter.

Ruby Tuesday

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Nana's Christmas Cookie Factory.  They're better than the Keebler Elves!