Alvie

A friend of ours found this picture and sent it to us a while back. I love it! Check out that shirt! :) This would have been made sometime in the early 70's, I guess. I think it was in an old high school annual or newspaper or something. I just ran across it again this afternoon and though I would share!

Happy Friday!

-BYRD

Spring Break...

Well, we started out Spring Break in a five-star hotel in the middle of Manhattan, and ended it in a pop-up camper in Winchester, TN. Yes folks, that's from one extreme to the other. I'll probably write more about our NYC trip later; but I'll just give you the highlights for now. Ashley, Brooke, Kellie, and I left flew out of Chattanooga early Saturday morning for an extended weekend in NYC. Our hotel room (on the 40th floor) was overlooking Times Square and we appeared to be about level with the famous "Ball" that drops at New Years. The view was awesome! Saturday evening, we had dinner at "The View" - New York's only revolving rooftop restaurant. It was actually on the 46th floor of our hotel and we had a beautiful view all around Manhattan. The food was very overpriced; but we had a good time. That evening, we saw "Mary Poppins" on Broadway. Sunday, we toured and we toured and we toured. Monday, we toured and we toured. I have tons of pictures and gobs of stories; but I can't fit them into one post. Tuesday, we got up early and went to the Today Show, where we were not only spotted on camera; but Al Roker actually stopped and talked to us for a minute on camera, so I got my fifteen seconds of fame. We came home Tuesday night and then got up Wednesday morning and grabbed what we needed to join our kids and my parents at Tim's Ford State Park in Winchester where we camped until this morning. We had a good time camping too! Thursday, I had to leave early and go to Big Cove to photograph the wedding of my good friend, Marty, who was RE-united in Holy Matrimony to her now former ex-husband, Lee. Congrats to those guys; and I'll probably post more about that, along with pictures later. I feel like I've been around the world and back this Spring Break!

Bro. David...

Today my thoughts are on Rev. David H. Jones, who passed away from our sights one year ago today. To say that Bro. David was special would be like calling the Holy Ghost good - that just ain't word enough for him. Where the Bible talks about having ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers - Bro. David was one of my absolute true fathers in the Lord. Had it not been for him, I might still would have been in the altar to this day; but he took a little time with me and encouraged me and then got to be right down there with me the night I made it. He was just my hero of heroes.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family today; but like I've already told Joe David this morning - today marks one year since Bro. David has had a worry or a care. One year since he's had any pain or suffering. One year since he's shed a single tear. Yeah, our hearts are heavy this morning because of how much we miss him; but wow, it's been a great year for Bro. David! I could blog on for hours about him - he was, in my eyes, probably the greatest preacher of my life time; and I want to be sure and remember his life and use it as a pattern for my own. Bro. David - you changed the world!!! I love you so much; and my children and grandchildren will know about you and your life for as long as I live!!!

-BYRD

Happy Easter...

Glory to God - He IS risen!

What a beautiful day today! I was reading in Luke this morning regarding the resurrection. Can you imagine how those disciples felt? Some were elated because they believed the prophesy immediately. Some were confused - they just didn't know what to think. You can blame them -these kinds of things don't happen every day. Some had a hard time believing, even after they saw Him - old Bro. Thomas even had touch his side to know it was him and not a ghost! I'm listening from the other room to an old recording that Alvie, Vicky, Kellie, and Dustin did probably about 11 or 12 years ago. Playing right now is "Comforter". How approriate. For after He had risen, He gave the disciples the promise of another comforter, which they soon received at Pentecost. I'm so glad that I received that same comforter at Huntsville now almost fifteen years ago!

Gone to church - see ya...

-BYRD

Good Friday...

And all of it led up to this day – the day on which He was crucified on that cruel cross on Golgotha. But that’s not where the suffering began. Before He was ever led up that lonely hill, He had already been tortured and beaten until his face was absolutely unrecognizable. Alvie used to talk about how they scourged Him. They took a whip that had a bunch of strands of leather, on which was tied little sharp fragments of bone, maybe metal; and they whipped him with it – every lash ripping the flesh from His body. He had already been betrayed by those He loved – some of the very ones who knew exactly who He was. Yet, they turned their back on Him. He was shamed and humiliated by the multitude. And one of the things that really gets me is that He knew all of this was coming; but He was still willing to do it all – for me. HE DID NOT WANT TO GO TO THE CROSS. He knew it was His Father’s will and His own purpose; but He still had to go to the Garden three times. There, He prayed that perhaps God would find a different way – that the cup would pass from Him. Alone there, He prayed in the garden until His sweat ran down as great drops of blood. But in the end, He got willing to go. And there, angels came and ministered to Him. Wow! That’s amazing to me. I like to think that maybe the angel came and spoke words of encouragement and comfort to Him – something like, “You can do this! Yes, it’s going to be hard; but it’ll only last for a little while, and then you’ll be glorified and back home with us in Heaven!” And after He got willing, it all fell into place. You know the story. At least I hope you do. If you don’t, PLEASE go read it. Even if you know the story, it would be a good day to read it again and just remember His death and His suffering – because He did it all for us, folks.
On Sunday, we’ll celebrate Easter. The kids will come out to church, all decked out in their new clothes. They’ll have Easter baskets, get candy, and hunt Easter Eggs. But what we’re celebrating is that over two-thousand years ago, an angel rolled away the stone from a borrowed grave, walked over to body of Jesus; and I like to think he placed his hand on His shoulder, gently shaking Him, and said, “Master… wake up.” And He did. He woke up! Thank God, He arose! But still to me, the greatest part of the story, is that He knew what was coming, yet He was willing to go through it all – not just for the ones who would receive Him, but for the sins of the entire world. Probably the greater majority of people since that time have denied Him – and He knew they would – but He did it anyhow. What a precious, loving Savior.

-BYRD

From my sister...

My sister, Shawna, had this to say after reading my comments from yesterday. I thought it good to preserve them here too...

"I think about mom and it makes it all worth it, cause I remember her always being there for us and that means so much more than material possesions. She was there when we got home from school and was at all our school functions. She made us dinner every night and every morning made sure we had our breakfast. She wasn't too tired to help us with our homework in the evenings and sometimes made us rice krispie treats and would bring them to us as we watched TV downstairs! I can only hope to be such a wonderful mother.Dad's sacrifice was working so hard so we could have our mother at home. He got up every morning and I can't remember him missing a day of work whether he was sick or just tired (like I do now!). I remember him loving to horse around with us in the floor and giving me wisker burn! They love being our parents.Its worth everything you have to do without. I'm sure they would say the same." -Shawna Byrd Shockley

-BYRD

This Day in History...

On March 25, 1977, Ronald Dale Byrd and Pamela Jane Stapler were united in Holy Matrimony at the Big Cove Free Holiness Church in Big Cove, Alabama. Rev. Hoyt Dalton officiated the service, and apparently did a good job as thirty-three years later, they're still married. I have known this couple as Mom and Dad.

I'm so thankful for my parents and everything they have done for me. For my whole life, they've been nothing but givers - both sacrificing unselfishly so that my sister and I could have not only our needs, but also a lot of our wants. Spoiled? No - never spoiled, as they also instilled in us the value of working for what we have and taking care of what we've earned or been given. My dad worked hard the entire time I was growing up - sometimes more than one job, so that my mom could be home with me and Shawna. Mom kept probably two or three church dresses at the most, so that she could buy us nice clothes for school and church. I never knew how much to appreciate these things until now.

They raised us to fear God and to trust in Him. They taught us to respect our elders. They taught us to love one another. They taught us so many things that I will never forget - through the examples in their lives.

Did they ever fuss? Yep - don't you and your spouse? But what I remember more than that, was that my dad kissed my mom every day before he left for work. Of course we thought it was gross at the time; but now, I look back at how special that is. My mom mentioned the other day that Dad STILL kisses her every day before going to work... it just made me feel good. So anyhow, that's just a few random thoughts about my parents on their special day.

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad - two of the most successful people I have ever known.

-BYRD

Kensley

I was sitting here at my desk today and ran across some emails and pictures I had saved from back in October – days after some of my best friends and their children had been involved in a horrifying accident in Florida. Anybody who might be reading this probably knows who I’m talking about and all about it; but just in case someone doesn’t, Dustin, Melissa, Konner, and Kensley Kelly were on their way home from Disney World when they hydroplaned on I-90 near Pensacola, Florida, causing their car to leave the road and flip. Dustin and Melissa were trapped in their vehicle – but Konner and Kensley were ejected from the car. Dustin, Melissa, and Konner were all banged-up pretty bad; but Kensley sustained a very serious, life-threatening head injury and her life hung in the balances for what seemed like an eternity. More about the accident and everything that has occurred since, can be read at www.prayingforkensley.blogspot.com.

Today, when I found the pictures and thought back to what kind of condition she laid in for SO many days, I just kind of got overwhelmed for a few minutes. The outcome could have been SO, SO, SO very different. You don’t like to think about that; but to be truly thankful for the way things ARE, you MUST consider how things could have been.

If you don’t know this kid, you’re missing out! She is a mess and little more on top of that! Whenever I’m around her (and from what I’m here, whenever I’m NOT around her too), she never stop talking! Praise the Lord! We didn’t know if she’d be ABLE to talk – I think the only thing about that’s she’s not able to do is STOP talking! She fell this week and broke her wrist. Praise the Lord! The doctors weren’t sure that she’d ever walk again; but she IS – and that’s how she fell and broke her wrist! She’s still a little under 100%; but we all believe that with more time and prayer, she’ll get there! She’s just a miracle as she is.

I’m just sitting here today with a thankful heart and teary-eyes.

-BYRD

Not Too Baaaaaaaaaad... :)

Okay, that was corny! :) But that stinking goat (Marty said it was a lamb) baaaaaa'ed all day LONG! :) Here's a few samples from our Easter pics! Let me know what you think!

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Coming soon... The McKenzie's - Keepsake

I have almost completed everything for the McKenzie's compilation album; and I'm already getting inquries about them, so I thought I'd go ahead and post about it here!

The McKenzie's, Keepsake - Volume II, will be available HOPEFULLY by Friday, March 26th! This CD contains all twenty songs recorded by The McKenzie's on their 1990's albums, In Memory of Daddy and Thank You For Loving Me. These were transferred from cassette-tape and edited to attempt to remove some of the tape-noise, then professionally duplicated. I think it sounds GREAT!

The songs included are:

1. Somebody Touched the Lord
2. I'm Trusting In You
3. Christ Is Precious To Me
4. Holy Power
5. He Just Picks Me Up
6. He Walked Upon the Water
7. Go Get My Children
8. He Leads Me
9. Take Me Home
10. Fountain of My Soul
11. Get On Board
12. Oh, What a Savior!
13. Thank You For Loving Me
14. Shield of Love
15. I Will Sing a Millions Years in Heaven
16. Give Up
17. He's All I Need
18. Don't Ever Let Go
19. He Will Stand By Your Side
20. King's Highway

Copies of this album will be available for $15.00. If you're interested in reserving yours, please email me at shannon@byrdprophoto.com.

Thanks!

-BYRD

This Day in History (Again)...

February 11, 1978! BIG day in our family. Ten years ago today, Kellie and I stood before God and man and exchanged our wedding vows, entering into Holy Matrimony. Aside from receiving salvation, it was the best day of my entire life! I love Kellie more today than I did then because our love HAS been tried by fire! It's easy to love somebody when everything's going sunshine and roses; but when you can still love somebody and receive love from somebody through the BAD times, then you know that love is true and WILL last forever!

And as if that wasn't enough to celebrate on February 11th, it's ALSO mine and Kellie's birthdays! Yes, you read it right! Kellie and I share the same birthday AND we married that day! I was born February 11, 1978; and Kellie was born February 11, 1981. Unique? Yeah, I guess so!

Also, this day in history, my dad's brother, Alton Wayne Byrd, was born in 1940; and my first cousin, Clinton Wayne Knight (yes, named for our uncle Wayne, who was killed in a motorcycle wreck in 1957), was born in 1958.

This Day in History...

100 years ago today, February 10, 2010, my great-grandparents, John Elbert Adams and Rosie Lee Winkles, stood before an official in Huntsville, Alabama, and exchanged their wedding vows. John was seventeen years old and Rosie was all of thirteen years old, contrary to family history that she was only twelve at the time. Per the 1900 US Federal Census, Rosie was born in September of 1896 – NOT 1897, as reflected on her tombstone. Ages and birth years were often confused in this era; and Rosie’s was further complicated in the fact that she was orphaned at a very young age. Regardless – she was VERY young at the time!
How could she marry at age thirteen? She had written consent. Having personally examined their marriage license in the Madison County Courthouse, I found still attached to the license a small handwritten note from John’s father, James Thomas Adams, giving permission for John and Rosie to marry. I also found it odd that it was John’s guardian granting permission for the marriage, rather than Rosie’s; but by 1910, both Rosie’s mother and father were dead.
Regardless of the circumstances of that day, the marriage produced thirteen children over the next eighteen years – only nine of whom lived past infancy. John Elbert Adams died December 17, 1935, following complications from surgery to remove a kidney. More than twenty years later, Rosie Lee Winkles Adams, passed away on March 15, 1959, from complications with diabetes and heart disease. Both are laid to rest in the Moon Cemetery in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama.

Valentine's Mini-shoot

We're doing the Valentine Mini-Shoot again this year in Hampton Cove on Saturday, January 23rd! There is no sitting fee; and packages are priced WAY cheap!! A variety of Valentine Cards will also be available! Email me at shannon@byrdprophoto.com or call me for more info!!! Sessions are booking up fast, so if you want a spot, you better move like Cupid! :)

Auld Lang Syne...

Well it’s that time of year again – the end. But this time we’re not only saying goodbye to another year. We’re saying goodbye to another decade. Ten years ago, my only worries were Y2K and hoping the world would stand long enough into 2000 that I could marry Kellie. And then I look back at ten years before that. I was eleven years old… eleven. That puts me in what, the fifth grade? The only worries I had… wow, I don’t even know that you could call them worries now.

And I look back at the many changes this decade has brought about in my life. I moved to Jackson County in late 1999, and married in February 2000. I became a daddy – not once, but twice! Mackenzie was born in 2002 and Makayla in 2005. I’ve been an employee at Unum since 2001, so I’m working on a decade of employment here. I bought my first new car in 2000… and I’ve still got it. I bought a house! And started more renovations than I’ve finished. I’ve written books, recorded CD’s, and other this-and-that’s, leaving my mark on the world for my children and grandchildren to remember me by when I’m gone.

The blessings at the end of this decade? I’m still a husband and more in love with my wife of almost ten years than I even have been. I’m still a daddy to two beautiful little girls. I’m still the son of two relatively healthy parents. And the most important… I’m still a Child of God.

And then there’s the trials of the past decade. Wow. Sometimes I never thought I’d make it. Life hasn’t been a walk through on the flowers beds of ease like it seemed it would be when I was “preparing” for it ten years ago (I draw attention to the word preparing because I realize now that nothing could have “prepared” me for it). And amidst those trials I look back at all of the friends and loved ones to whom I’ve said good-bye. Countless friends from the churches we fellowship, several aunts, uncles, cousins…Kellie’s step-grandfather, Red Cardin, who we loved so much left us in 2002. Granddaddy Bird passed away in 2003. Kellie’s great-grandmother, Mama Guffey (Mae Guffey), slipped from our sights in 2006. And then there was Alvie. I can’t even go into that loss without recalling the absolute worst moments of my entire life. I think about all the others all along; but I miss Alvie every single day. He was my father-in-law, my best friend, my mentor, my hero, my song-leader at church, my Mr. Fix-it, my piano player, my favorite singer, and so many more things, all wrapped up into one handsome, smiling, loveable package.

It is these changes – the changes brought about by the loss of a loved one – that I have discovered are the most profound in our lives. It doesn’t change this or that… it changes every single aspect of our lives. We are no longer the same person ourselves, after those whom we love so dearly are gone from our sights. And such losses have become my absolute greatest fear. Over the past decade, I would estimate conservatively that I’ve known upwards of 500 people who have passed away. That may sound extreme to you; but I’ve actually kept a list for 2008 and 2009 and there are more than 100 people combined on those two years alone.

So, that makes me dread next year and this coming decade. Some changes that seem unbearable are already on the horizon. And should I still be around ten years from now, I realize that I’ll probably be having similar thoughts of the changes over the passing decade. And I wonder who all’s memory I will be recalling.

"Should old acquaintances be forgot? And never brought to mind? Should old acquaintances be forgot and auld lang syne." Auld lang syne is Scotttish that roughly translates into “days gone by”. It was first written in the 1700’s by an unknown author; but I imagine that he, like me, was probably a sentimentalist who sat to write and could think of nothing more than days gone by and those acquaintances who filled those days.

I don't mean to sound absolutely totally depressed - because I can look back over a lot of days in the past decade that were filled with such happiness and undescribable joy. And I am so very thankful for my wife, my kids, and all of the blessings the Lord has bestowed on me. It's just those old acquaintances and days gone by... blessings that can only be recalled in memory. That's just the whole theme of this post, I guess.

Happy New Year, folks...

-BYRD

CD's are DONE!!!

Well after months of hard work, our CD, "The Alvie McKenzie Family - Not Another Tear: In Memory of Daddy" is finally finished! I'll be picking them up in Nashville this week. The album features fifteen songs written by Kellie's daddy, Alvie McKenzie. The line-up includes: I'll Live Again, King's Highway, Be Ye Ready, Not Another Tear, I'd Rather Be Here, That Wonderful Day, Holy Power, Heaven's Beauty, Today is the Day, Comforter, The Roadmap, He Will Stand By Your Side, How Can You Measure Love?, Let the Praises Ring, and Go Get My Children.

So many of you have asked us to let you know when the CD is finally available for purchase; and we cannot express to you how much we appreciate your support! Since we don't sing in a group and won't selling the CD's at singings, some of our friends have offered to help us in distribution. Friends and family will be selling them in Huntsville and Big Cove; and of course we'll have them available for you to drop by and pick them up at our house any time. And if you'd prefer, we can mail one to you for only $3.00 shipping/handling. The cost of the CD is $15; and if you want to order by mail, please just shoot me an email and then mail us a check for $18.00, payable to Shannon Byrd.

Thank-you again to everyone who has supported us in this endeavor. We didn't record the project because we thought we were good singers; but instead, we just wanted to do this as a tribute to Alvie's work, and to preserve these songs for our children, grandchildren, etc.

Hope to hear from you soon!!!

-BYRD

Jacob turns TWO!

Two years ago, I got to meet this little fellow when he was just a week or two old. That SEEMS like maybe a year ago; but now he's TWO! He's such a cutie pie too! Jacob did great on his photo shoot today in historic South Pittsburg, TN! Here's one of my favorites that I've looked at so far!

This Day in History...

Ninety-Eight years ago today, on November 11, 1911, my great-grandfather, Wiley Virgil Bird, married my great-grandmother, Willie Ann Josephine Hunter, in a civil service in Huntsville, Alabama. Wiley was seventeen year old native of Walker County, Georgia, and had been orphaned since his father's murder in Huntsville in 1902, afterwhich time he was left in the care of his grandparents, who died in 1906 and 1907. Josie was a sixteen year old native of Grundy County, Tennessee, who had moved to Big Cove with her parents in the early 1900's.

Just thought I'd share that while I was thinking of it!

Happy Birthday, Mackenzie!

Man... seven years old! I can't believe my baby is going to be seven years old tomorrow! Where has the time gone? I don't know why; but it seems like seven is bothering me more than any age she's reached so far. I remember very well how much Kellie cried when Mackenzie turned one! Now, that's been six years ago!

I'm SO proud of Mackenzie! Not only is she absolutley beautiful; but she's as good of a child as God ever placed on the face of the earth. She's loud and very outgoing at times; but she has the heart of an angel. She's such a caring and loving person. She's slow to by angry and quick to forgive. She's just everything that I ever hoped she would be; and while it's SO sad to see her grow up - I couldn't hold my head any higher, as I'm so VERY, VERY proud of her.

I remember one night a few years ago, I went in to her bedroom to tuck her in the bed. When I reached down to hug and kiss her, she wrapped her little arms tightly around my neck and said, "Daddy, I want to hold you forever!" I just about lost it... kind of like I'm doing right now as I type this. I could just see the next twenty years of her life flash before my eyes; and I all I could think was, "Baby, I wish you COULD!"

She says that she's never going to get married and will always just live at home with me and her momma... one can only hope! :) I love you, Pert!

How's the Recording Coming?

We've been asked this a lot lately. As most of you know, our close friend and project producer, Dustin Kelly, along with his family, was involved in a serious car accident several weeks ago. Their daughter, Kensley, was seriously injured and is actually still in the hospital; however, she is making GREAT improvements daily (see www.prayingforKensley.blogspot.com). So, our focus obviously completely shifted away from the project and towards taking care of Dustin and his family however we could. All that being said, we are rolling forward with the project again; and are crossing our fingers in hopes that copies are going to be available around the first or second week of December - just in time for Christmas! :) Closer to time, I'll probably set-up information for those who wish to order copies of the CD online or through the mail. If you have any questions or comments about the CD or just want to say "howdy", shoot me an email at shannon@byrdprophoto.com. Talk to you soon!!!

Christmas Mini-Sessions

Okay, several of you have asked me about Christmas Mini-Sessions this year. If I can get enough interest, I will schedule a day for Mini-Sessions, offering a great deal on packages, prints, and Christmas Cards. This year, though, I want to do something a LITTLE different! I'm going to do more of an urban Christmas. Now don't confuse "urban" with "gothic". It WILL be outdoor sessions - no real props, except your kid and whatever outfit you come up with. It could be formal Christmas attire, or even just cute winter clothes - coats, hats, etc. Email me RIGHT AWAY if you're interested. The proposed date will be Saturday, November 14; and the proposed location will be in Stevenson, Alabama.