This is a video from our Christmas 2008, with an original song by our friend and Southern Gospel songwriter Beck Peck, "Brand New Christmas."

Connor started T-ball this year and is playing for the MudCats each Monday night at Paseo Verde Park. He has developed a love for going to watch baseball- over the last three years, we have gone to a number of 51's games, and have visited the Ballpark in Arlington and Dodger Stadium. Now he's learning to play, and he's doing pretty good. He has potential- he's one of the biggest kids on the team, and when he's not chatting up the coaches, or thinking about unrelated things to the game he's playing in (tonight he was obsessing about a cheese omelette his mom would make for him after the game), he does okay.

One of our dear friends is Heather Messick of Saraland, Alabama. Annette and I met Heather when we moved to Mobile, and sang as a trio with her on a number of occasions. She is an amazing vocalist! We love Heather and her husband Mark. Since we moved from Mobile, Heather and Mark have had three children. Their third is a very special baby girl with formidible challenges. Victoria has Downs Syndrome. Heather and Mark have been blessed by this baby entering their lives, and she wrote a song about it. She asked me to put these photos in video form, and I was very honored and happy to do it, so here it is- Heather Messick singing "She is God's Child."

Last Thursday my Aunt Dee from Castro Valley, California, came to Vegas on her way to visit my Aunt Bea (Yes, Aunt Bea and Aunt Dee, my dad's sisters, the remaining two from eight kids), and we were thrilled that she stayed with us for a night. Some of my favorite times as child were spent on vacation at her home in the Bay area, so I was glad to return he hospitality. Her husband, my Uncle Cecil, passed away last year at age 87. After spending a fun evening together, we drove her to St. George on Friday. Aunt Bea has a beautiful condo on the bluff high above St. George Blvd. I didn't take a photo of the view straight on, but you can get an idea of her views from the photos wih the Red Rock mountains in the background. Connor, Chloe, and Caleb were satisfactory entertainment for all of us.

Here are some photos of our kids on Easter Sunday- Connor, 6; Chloe, 3; and Caleb, 2.

Last Friday night, Annette's grandfather, Melvin Morrow, passed away in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 92 years old. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Estelle.

I made this video in tribute to my children's Pappaw. He was a great man, who loved the Lord. The clips used in this video were taken from Melvin's own home movies shot in the 1950's and 60's.

The song, "Last Mile to Jordan," was written by our dear friend Rebecca Peck, with vocals by former Gaither Vocal Band singer Terry Franklin.

This is a video of a trip we made to Yuma, and our visit to the Yuma Territorial Prison, November, 2008.

Here are some photos of our California vacation.
Connor and I went to his very first Dodger game.




Connor and Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela.

We stayed with ANnette's cousin Trana, her husband Chris, and their baby Joss. We had a wonderful time in their home in Sherman Oaks. Chloe was in love with Trana, Connor was in love with Joss, and Caleb didn't break anything.

Trana got us passes to Universal Studios Hollywood, where she works as a publicist. We had a great time!




We also went to the Santa Monica pier, the train in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, and I took Connor and Chloe to Bel Air Presbyterian Church Sunday. It was a terrific time in Southern California!

This past Monday and Tuesday the Nevada Baptist Convention held their annual Evangelism Conference at our church, and I was the Music Director for the meetings. I always enjoy this conference, especially when we are asked to host, which is about every other year.
This year we had amazing speakers- Dr. Dwayne Mercer, pastor of First Baptist Church, Oviedo, Florida; Dr. John Franklin; and Henry & Richard Blackaby. Henry Blackaby is sort of a Southern Baptist icon, thanks to his incredible book, "Experiencing God," which has had hundreds of thousands of copies printed and read all over the world. But after hearing him speak, I discovered he was much more than an annointed author. He is an effective communicator, in a very soft spoken way. His son was equally persuasive, and preached a sermon that greatly moved me. The other men were amazingly effective and used of God.
I showed the video of Connor as Billy Sunday in the afternoon session, which went over extremely well. Connor followed that with his solo, "Everybody Ought To Know." Afterwards, I introduced him to Henry Blackaby, and took this photo.
It's been a long time since I last posted- I have lots more coming soon, but bear with me. it's the last of January, and- I'm not kidding- I'm sending out Christmas Cards this weekend.