Praise God….What a Life!

All three of our children, and most of their families will be with us this weekend.   I’ve been going throug thousands of images that record the history of our family, going all the way back to 1970 when I was blessed with the greatest earthly gift of my life, Sherelene!  We’ve reared three children welcomed three great new members to our family as each were married and are now blessed with 6 wonderful grandchildren!  I will put a music and image show together to share while we are all together.  I also saw a lot of images from my professonal life while searching for the family images.  The evidence of an incredible life is there in these images.  Let me be sure you understand, that I understand, (sounds like Dr. Phil),  That all of these incredible blessings are from God and any thing good that has happened to me, in my life, the credit, honor and glory all go to Him!!!!!

In going through the images I found several of my very favorite family images of all time, thought you might enjoy seeing them.

Early in the Great American Photography days my daughter Catherine ran the office and accompanied me on a number of workshops.  After one workshop a guest sent me this image he had shot of us, it is my favorite images of us!  What made it extra special was Catherine had it blown up and wrote an incredible thank you note to me, one of the most touching things I have ever recieved, it still hangs proudly on my wall and in my heart!

My son Wesley is an avid hiker an backpacker, an actitivty that I have seldom done with him, but Sherelene always wanted to hike to the top of Mount LaConte in the Great Smoky Mountains and Wes and she did it together, I have no idea who shot this image, but it is one of my favorites because of the sheer joy they are sharing in a beautiful place!  I love how deeply our family loves one another!  Sherelene has done LaConte three times, shame on me!!!!

My oldest son, Scott was busy getting and education and raising a family during the Great American Photography days and sadly we never got to travel around the country like I did with Catherine and Wes!  A few year’s ago I gave him an evelope for Christmas saying,” anywhere you want to go for a week, just the two of us.”  He chose the Golden Circe in Utah (Bryce, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands and the Page area), and we had an incredible father-son time, we are going to do it again soon!!!  Wherver he wants to go!

This is my favorite photograph of Sherelene and I together!  She more than makes up for what my looks are lacking!  A few Christmas seasons ago my sister-in-law, Terri Fortneym Homer’s wife, came down from Harlan and did portraits of all our family members.  Terri is an incredible portrait photographer, especially kids, which I qualify for, at least at heart!!!!

This is an oldy but definately a goody!!!  The late, great Don Nelson, years ago, ( look at my hair and beard ), invited me to be the master of cermonies for the Southern Short Course, the most prestigous of the early photojournalism conferences.  I did a stand up comedy routine and they invited me back for several more years, where I met and made friends with the giants of photojournalism.  Above top row left to right, Porter Binks of USA Today & Sports Illustrated, the pilgrim, the late Bernie Boston legendary pulitzer prize winning photographer, Dick Darcey, legendary sports shooyer for the Washington Post and  the government rep for Nikon, God forgive me and I can’t remember his name!! I am 72 after all!

This one goes back to the very early part of my career when I worked for two coal companies and I can tell you, every time I look at this image I thank God I work above ground now!  Photo Credit:  Danny Lawson.

Some of my favorite childhood images from each of my children, adults!!!!

Now, do you see why I know I’m blessed by God!

Blessings,

the pilgrim