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.

Happy Birthday, Alvie...

I wanted to just take a moment to honor my late father-in-law, Alvie McKenzie, whose 50th birthday would have been this past Saturday. Friday afternoon as we were travelling to visit the Kelly's in Pensacola, I couldn't help but think had Alvie been alive, we would have probably been doing some big extravaganza to celebrate this milestone birthday. But as it is, we just somberly remembered this special day for this special man. On the flip side of missing him so badly though, we must consider that he'll never have another birthday... he will NEVER grow old. He was forty-eight when he passed away, which for me is looking younger and younger every year. He was mostly bald on top, had a lot of gray hair, some wrinkles, and probably felt older than he actually was most of the time (for it's not truly the years, but the miles that get you - right?). But in our memories, he'll never be any older than forty-eight. It's bittersweet.

At any rate, Alvie, we still miss you so bad and not a day goes by that we don't think about you. We love you very much; and while you'll never hear from this sorrowful world again, we wish you a very Happy Birthday in Heaven.

-BYRD

Konner & Kensley

On Friday afternoon, Kellie and I left for Pensacola, Florida, to go visit with our friends, Dustin & Melissa Kelly, and to check out their precious baby girl, Kensley. We got to the hotel late Friday night and the spent all of Saturday at the hospital with our friends. Probably about seven or eight more couples our age were there too - and for me, it almost seemed as a reunion of sorts as it was a lot of my friends from when I lived in the Huntsville area.

Kensley is doing "good", per se; but she still has some recovery ahead. She's still sleeping; but all of her tubes and the resperator are out (with the exception of the feeding tube). The doctors are still giving her small doses of sedatives to keep her from having withdrawals from the high doses of sedatives she had been on for the past week and a half. Hopefully soon, she'll be able to rouse up and talk to her mom and dad!

We found Konner to be... well, just plain old Konner! You'd have to know this kid - he's absolutely hilarious! He reminds me so much of Dustin & Justin back when we were that age! He's got some road rash on his side; but overall, he seems to be doing very well.

Saturday morning, he got to go back and see his little sister for the first time in a few days; and Dustin captured this shot with his CELL PHONE! Folks, I didn't know a cell phone could capture this kind of image - I couldn't have done much better with my Canon 5D! It's a beautiful picture; and one I'm sure they'll cherish for many years to come!

Anyhow, we had a good time visiting with our close friends - even under the circumstances; and I hope our presence there (along with all of our other friends), was a comfort to them.

We left the hosptial yesterday morning and drove over to Gulf Shores to make sure the beach was still there (it was). We stayed for probably 20-30 minutes, walking out on the pier and down to the surf; and then headed home. Oh, and I have to mention, it was FREEZING down there!!! We got home last night around 9:30; and loved-up our own daughters - all the while thinking of how Dustin and Melissa have had to leave their baby in the care of basic strangers (who, by the way are doing FANTASTIC taking care of Kensley) for so long. My prayers are that they're all home together very soon.

-BYRD

Praying for Kensley

Hello Friends,

Tragedy struck our extended family last week. Dustin & Melissa Kelly, along with their two children, Konnor and Kensley, were involved in a horrifying traffic accident in Florida. Everyone was injured; however, Kensley has suffered the most and remains in a north Florida hospital PICU. The family has not asked for any help; but I know the need is great and so I'd love to point each of you to a Blog that explains the details of the situation and ask that you all prayerfully consider making a donation of any amount to help this family - I know them very personally and they are not only in need of the money; but I feel like their lives cause them to also be well deserving of our help! Remember, no amount is too small!

The link is http://www.prayingforkensley.blogspot.com/; and you can make a donation through PayPal directly from that site.

If any of you have questions, please let me know!

Waiting on an order or proofs?

Yeah, I'm a couple of weeks behind right now. If you have any questions about your order or proofs, please feel free to email (shannon@byrdprophoto.com) or call me. I'm hoping that I can play catch-up next week! Thanks!!!!

Chandler Thomas

Busy weekend! Saturday found me in New Market, Alabama, where I photographed the newest addtion to the Denson Family - Mr. Chandler Thomas. CT is the son of our friends Wayne & Beth Denson; and he looks a lot like his older brother, Elijah! Sunday, we went to a family reunion and then had to come home and replace our well pump that had gone out sometime over night. Then yesterday, Kellie, Vicky, the girls, and I spent all day driving around furniture shopping. We went to two places three times each and finally settled on a set; but Kellie called this morning and said that she was doubts and so she cancelled that order and we get to go tonight to the other store for the forth time! :)