Umm

I just needed that other title to go away. Jessica said our blog is sad. So, here's a little something. I have a hunch that there's a big, long, insightful blog well on it's way.... gotta go for now, Melinda's not here and I hear kids fighting in the background.

Here are a few choice pictures for you guys to see...
I call that picture "South Alabama Gothic"... can you make the connection... to... you know... American Gothic... Come on!

Stanton Graduates (last year)

Ethan in Kindergarden... the kid hasn't changed a bit... just a little taller and can read better

Melinda a couple years ago... (wink,wink)

Young man and the Sea.... not quite

I put this up for Ryan,Dad and anyone else who could possibly attempt to imagine climbing the monster on a bicycle... (heck, descending it on a bike would be fun but you better have some good brakes!)... oh yeah... it's somewhere in Chile... Portillo I think

Facebook killed the blog (think: "Video Killed the Radio Star...")

Yep, we've succumbed to the Facebook frenzy... oh! wait, you have too, you already know this because you've been Facebookin'-it too. It's kinda neat to run into old friends whom you remember and then remember things and times that you have chosen to forget. It's actually scary how addictive this "facebook" thing is... I think it's activity has peaked in our home and in it's decrescendo we will now spend a little time here and there corresponding with our newly encountered ol' friends... filling in the years with stories and experiences... it's funny (to me) how so many of my friends, that I lost contact with 15 +/- years ago, have been through similar experiences, gone to similar places, and done similar things as me... all this time I thought that I was "breaking the Lower Alabama mold" just to find out that many people go through that "finding yourself" phase in life (duh... I knew this... 2 years as a psychology major, plus all the psych I had to take for nursing school... yes, I'm a genius, I just repress the proof)
anyways, I just felt bad for our blog and wanted to put a "shout out" to the non-facebook blog people who "keeps it reel"... y'all don't know what (and who) you're missing until you facebook... (beware the addictive side though).

FYI, we have an exciting weekend planned... All of my siblings, their spouses and kids, my parents, and Chystal (soon to be Chris's spouse) will be getting together for the first time in a couple of years to celebrate my parents 60th Birthdays and Jessica's newest edition (her 3rd martian baby.. wink/wink)... this should provide some interesting blogging for the next week or two... I'll be sure to let you know then... I'm actually pretty excited about it and can't wait.
Later,
Scott

Stanton intow in S. Carolina during my 1st lap of a 13 hour endurance race.

Slideshow of Me and my gang (old school style)

Going Ridin'!

So, I claim to be a mountainbiker but have not been a very "active" cyclist at all (at least since mid summer)... I've got tons of excuses and even a few isolated good reasons why I haven't ridden much, but lately it just boils down to being fat and lazy.... so, it's 30 deg. out today, but it's my only chance to ride until maybe saturday, or even next week... so I'm going to suck it up and go ride my bike in the cold woods for an hour or two... I just figured a worthy procrastination would be to blog about it. So, there you go.

Here's a picture for proof that I have ridden before... it's me in the "gully run" @ Big Creek Park in Roswell/Alpharetta, GA just up 400 from the Temple. No, folks just don't hang out in the woods and watch people ride by, there was a mtb festival that day and I was part of a "free ride" demo... we were demo-ing the newest addition of trail in that particular park...

New Years Eve 08-09

Feeling less inspired for commentary, we just thought we'd put up a few pics from our little family NYE party that had the kids jumping for joy in anticipation of the new year. Hope y'all had a Great Christmas and a fun New Year!

Tis The Season

I started this post with the desire to share this incredible song with you, now it has become a bit more, I hope it all makes sense, and I hope you enjoy.
Before starting the video, you should first, scroll to the bottom of the page and pause that "playlist" player so you will not have 2 songs going at once.


(Turn it up, man!!!)

If you have managed to spend any time around Melinda or me during Christmas, you would more than likely have heard this song. It has become one of our Christmas Anthems. This arrangement-- The Mormon Tabernacle Choir with Orchestra at Temple Square-- gives me chills every time I hear it. We first noticed it a few years ago on the end of Mr. Kruger's Christmas (one of the extra components of the DVD), then we bought the CD and have been wearing it out every Christmas since... the whole CD is great, but MAN! This one just does it for me. Having played in symphonies, I love the dynamics and instrumentation of this arrangement, not to mention the Angelic voices of the MoTab. The message of the lyrics really hit home as well. What shall we give to the babe in the manger? The best that we can give is our all, ourselves.

I really dig this passage of scripture, found in the New Testament, it (to me, in a round-about way)answers the question of "What shall we give?"... our lives.

Matthew 16 (King James Version of course)
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
...
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

OK, While I'm at it, here's one more for ya! “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” is a proclamation, a statement, a testimony, where modern-day prophets and apostles bear witness of the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ. I just figured it's fitting, especially this time of year, so I will cut/paste it for you and there's really nothing that I feel I can add to it except "Amen".

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.



I agree with the above statement whole-heartedly. Again, all I can add to that is Amen.
Merry Christmas.
Scott





Here is a link to the actual performance(the video above), it will not let me embed it so you'll have to click the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGULr3NGhRs