Friday, January 28, 2011

Two Fives


Today is Karla Ruth Cox Worley's 55th birthday!

I am glad she was born, and so are my (3) sons, daughter-in-law, grandson, and yet-to-enter-this-world second grandbaby!

Last night when Elliott asked me how old I was, I told him. He then asked Karla (Lala) how old she was, and she told him that her birthday is today and that she will be 55. His eyes lit up, and I told him "two fives" - he held up both hands, fingers spread, palms facing Karla and said "two fives, Lala."

So today is "two fives" day for my sweet wife.

I am grateful that God made you!

Happy Birthday!

BTW - in this photo from a recent fun evening where she got to hang out with some neat girl friends, she "holds her own" among these young ladies half her age!!!

Friday, January 21, 2011

From Ghost To Smoke Monster


It's always fun to hear about/discover the latest stuff created by your kids.

Beginning with their first time they color a picture of you that for the life of you you cannot figure out how it resembles you, to that school project where they have to "track their life" in photos and articles and paste it to a piece of poster board that you had to go to (3) different stores at 11:00pm the night before to find, to the annual "what will I be for Halloween" this year (in this photo, he just wanted to be a ghost - well, a ghost wearing Mickey Mouse ears!)......over and over again, more and more "here's what I've created lately" moments followed.

This week I learned of Seth's (our oldest) latest "here's what I've created moment."

I know I am dabbling (is that a word?) in borderline dangerously "parental prideful" territory with this, but after viewing this, I was pretty amazed at this "making of"......

I'm his Dad - I am supposed to be amazed, and well - I am. You may view it kinda like "the making of a clock"...... If that's you, then I recommend watching the first 1:40, then skip over Seth's tutorial to near the end - 11:25.

However, I have to say that if I had had teachers like Seth Worley explaining things to me in the classroom in the way he explained how he created this video, I might have paid closer attention in class!

So, we never know what is next for our kids, but for now, I enjoy this and I share it with those of you who have 5-13 minutes to watch something funny, interesting, and entertaining.

Click HERE, then click on the photo of the smoke in the chair!

BTW - you don't have to be a LOST fan to enjoy this - take it from one who knows......

Friday, January 07, 2011

The Real (Better) Sports Story This Week In Nashville


I seldom blog about things like this, but I always want to be one who gives credit when credit is due.

If you follow sports at all, then you have read everything and heard everything this week about Bud Adams (owner of the Tennessee Titans NFL Football Team) and his decision to release QB Vince Young and therefore keep Head Coach, Jeff Fisher. The on-going, doing-their-best-to-keep-it-under-control feud had reached its limit with the end of the regular season, and something had to give.

Well, if you live in the Middle Tennessee area, that is pretty much ALL you are hearing about this week in the world of sports, and understandably so - the media loves (and creates) controversy in the limelight of professional sports and such controversy often produces drama, and we all know it's drama that makes headlines.

For me - the real (and yes better) sports story of this week wasn't/isn't about an arguably immature professional QB, his Head Coach and their boss.

It's about a man who reached an incredible milestone this week!

Belmont University Men's Basketball coach, Rick Byrd joined a select group with his Belmont Bruins' latest victory giving him his 500th victory at that school.

Belmont beat Stetson 70-53 on the road Wednesday night for Byrd's 500th victory at a program that jumped from NAIA to NCAA Division I under his tenure.

He is one of five active head coaches at that mark, joining Jim Boeheim of Syracuse (844), Mike Krzyzewski of Duke (809), Jim Calhoun of Connecticut (586) and Sacred Heart's Dave Bike (500).

Stop and read that last paragraph!

In a day and time when it's all about the money, better opportunities, championships, and so much more "ladder-climbing" - this man has spent 24 years consistently coaching Belmont teams to play their absolute best every time they take the court - often with far less skilled players than his opponent, challenged them to excel in the classroom, graduate, and move on to take their place in the world to make a difference.

He is one of the most respected college basketball coaches anywhere.

You don't have to take my word for it - read more HERE

I have never met the man, but I have attended many Belmont basketball games, and I sit close enough to have observed him interact with his team, and more importantly observe how his players respond to him.

Congratulations Coach Byrd! We need more sports stories like this one!