Monthly Archives: April 2011

Last night I was honored to escort my ganddaughter Hannah, and Scott, Diane and Ben to her ROTC ball. It was a great affair and I was very proud of her and all the kids in the program.
I am going home to Sherelene tomorrow and get two glorious days at home before I’m gone for another week. I just wanted to encourage you guys to hug your family, I’ve really been enjoying my time with my family. Please let me brag, and show some shots from the evening.

It was a nice evening, steeped in
military tradition, and it was great
to see these kids really into it and
so patriotic…….

Thank you Lord for a wonderful
family…..

Have a blessed weekend,

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: all images Nikon Coolpix P300.

God is good, actually God is great. I spent yesterday working my way up to St Augustine from Tampa and had a few wonderful little adventures. I stopped in Orlando to check in with a couple of customers and then went on to Marineland, Florida to see some friends at the Annual Birding Show. We agreed to have dinner later that evening. Above, left to right, Wayne Bennett, Scott Diussa, Ken Blye, and Vinny Colucci all gathered with me at the Gypsy Cab Company restaurant in St. Augistine. What a great time as each guy shared war tales and tall tales around the table. Great friends and a really great meal! It was a nice reminder of how valuable the people are in our lives that we truly care about. Vinny has lost over 60 pounds and has been a real inspiration for me, as well as a dear friend. We both had the chicken breast. Gotta stick to the program…….

On the way out of Orlando earlier in the day I decided to take about forty five minutes to stretch and shoot some stuff at Fantasy of Flight http://www.fantasyofflight.com/ Kermit Weeks has done a masterful job restoring some classic warbirds and other antique aircraft, most in flyable condition.
I had some pleasurable moments trying to capture some airplane art, hope you enjoy them, and hope your weekend finds you surrounded with your family and friends…..

bless you my friends,

the pilgrim

*Photo Notes: All images except group at dinner were D7000, 24-120 AFs VR. Top shot with Nikon Coolpix P300.
Black & White conversions with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.0.

We all have someone else to thank for our blessings. Today let me start working on the thanking process. First I thank God everyday for His forgiveness, His grace, His compassion, His Son and His Holy Spirit. Life, for me, simply wouldn’t be possible without Him. Second I want to thank my wife and the love of my life Sherelene, and for the family she has given me. I thank you Scott and Diane, Clint and Catherine, Wes and Rhonda for being in my life. Thank you, Hannah and Ben,
Cassidy and Cade, and Elijah and Abigail for making smile everyday to have wonderful grand children like all of you! I want to thank my wonderful friends and partners in photographic crime;
Bill Pekala, Scott Diussa, the entire NPS team, Scott Kelby, Matt, RC, Adam, Brad, Larry and all his rest of his great folks, then there is Chuck Summers, Jim Begley, Ricky Skaggs, Tim Isaacson, Jim Haverstock, Larry Williams, Ron Pinkenburg, Carl Turner, Raymond Jabola, Chuck Daffin, Susan Scharenburg, Phyllis Burchett, Bud Motter, Del Morisette, and countless others that have made my life so much better than it would have ever been without them. My new shooting buddies, Snake Barrett and Chuck Barnes have to be on this list too. I’m going to stop before I get myself in real trouble, it’s been a long two days, I’m exhausted and I’m sure someone really important is not on this list, but just know I love you, I’m just really tired.

And now you. Yes you. If you are reading this, you may also be one of those folks that prayed for me for the past two days, some even longer than that. Even if you didn’t pray for me, you’re reading this blog and doing so you are providing me with the incentive to keep writing. I love sharing His love with others and you are making that possible. You provided me one of the best days in my career. Things went letter perfect, and you can trust me when I tell you, I’m not letter perfect. I trusted in Him and you lifted me up to Him, and that made the difference. I love when a plan comes together, and thanks for making it so!

Please follow my lead and take a little while this week to make your own list, and then let them know just how much you appreciate them. They will be just as thankful for you, as you are for them. That’s how love works, you give it away, and it comes back. That’s what His Son did,
He gave it all, so we could give Him back, our all.

the pilgrim

* Photo Note: D7000, 24-120 AFs VR, F11 @ 1/15th of a second. ISO 200.

** Cheesebuger Alert, found a 4.4 pickle burger in Oldsmar, at Burger 21. Near perfect, and seasoned
wonderfully. This is getting strange, every time I’m around Scott Kelby a great burger turns up! Yes, I’m sticking to my points, just enjoying an occasional burger……..

I’m posting again on the night before another busy day. Thank you so much for your prayers, today went very well indeed. That’s the way things go when you place all your faith in Him. I’m constantly reminded that when we trust Him, He will not fail us. I truly do not want credit or fame for myself, the joy of living this life is reward enough. When I was young, I wanted to be noticed,
everyone does, but with time and God’s maturing hand I’ve come to desire more than anything that He be the one that is acknowledged.

Today I had a chance to visit with Scott Kelby between taping sessions of the new class. He revealed something to me that I find almost impossible to believe. Before I share it with you, I need to tell you that I waited for Scott to call me after I finished the first program and tell me we could still be friends, but he didn’t want me to tape anymore classes. I really thought it was not going to be that great. Now, today Scott told me that since it’s release it has been in the top five courses viewed by subscribers every week since it became available.

I’m dumbfounded, but not surprised, God can do anything, even with someone like me. I’m honored to even be listed among the great group of teachers at Kelby Training, to have a top course, even for a short time, is even more stunning. Ratings are not with matters, at least not to me, what matters to me is I’ve received countless emails thanking me for being open about my faith. Wow, how could I be anything else. I know we live in a world that says people will be uncomfortable if you share your faith. I know some people feel uncomfortable, and it has never been my desire to create discomfort for anyone, but it has been my desire to encourage people to consider that they need Him……more than they need comfort. Living apart from your Heavenly Father is reason enough to be uncomfortable. I don’t want to be alone in the world, and with Him I’m not, all I want is for everyone else to feel the joy, only He can bring.

Thanks Scott for giving me a platform, and Thank You Father for giving me something worth sharing!

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: Shot from my new close-up class coming soon on Kelby Training. D7000, 85mm Micro Nikkor, f16. Kayro Syrup on a glass plate with a red flower lit below.