Watch the sky on Christmas Eve!!

My friend Dauna is quite a writer in my humble opinion! She supports our Science and Mission Systems Office as a writer (same office I support as a Program Specialist/Lead Admin Officer) and is also a fellow songwriter. She works right down the hall from me and is a really neat person. I'm so impressed with her writing. She makes science interesting, understandable (for us non-engineers) and fun. Please take a few minutes to read about the beautiful sky we will be blessed with on Christmas Eve. Get out your telescope! You may just see Santa while you're at it (wink)!

Fun With The Valley Cats

Last weekend our band, the Valley Cats, played for a company Christmas party for ICC (International Code Council)in Birmingham at the Grayson Valley Country club. We had a great time, great food, great new friends. Special thanks to KAREN NORTHY for the booking through our Gigmasters site. Here's a little video I put together from some clips that they were kind enough to take for us while we were playing. (My little Canon camera does a great job! I take it everywhere I go. )

Karen was very happy with our performance and wrote some wonderful comments for our site. Thanks Karen and ICC for the gracious hospitality and your kind words! It was a joy to meet you.

Never mind my 22 yr old daughter thought this video was from the 70's. The sleeves are a bit much I admit. Need some fashion guidance...help somebody! The guys look sharp in their new shirts though, don't you think?

Mama G

Well, yes, I'm this skinny in my dreams...I don't know what happens to those digital pictures, they make me look so much bigger. My nickname in the Sister Grace group is "Mama Grace"...thus the Mama G that I cooked up at Meez.com above.

Fun fun, you should try it. You create your own little characters and dress them. I'm going to play with this more when there's more TIME! Oh yeah, and btw, she's singing our original Christmas song that goes:

The reason for the season is that love came down
A savior sent to save us from ourselves
It's so easy to forget what the season's all about
When your mind's on everything else

Chorus
Slow down, hear the church bells ring
Slow down, hear the children sing
Take the time to enjoy all your blessings right now
And if you're spinning too fast
Slow down

You started in September and your're still not done
The shopping and the baking and the cards
While you polish every spoon
Decorate every room
Don't forget to think about that star (and)

Repeat Chorus

There's no way to give enough to match what God has given you
And no one else is gonna miss all those things you meant to do (so)

Repeat Chorus

Copyright 2006
Tina Murrah Swindell
Whitney Hubbs

Merry Christmas Cheer...click below to see the Swindell's in action!

Couldn't help myself this little thing is so cute...

It's My Baby's Birthday!!!!

Ok, I've got a wedding at 4:00 it's 1 o'clock now and there's Christmas decorations laying everywhere in hopes of bedazzling the Swindell home. Maybe it'll happen soon! I was out until 1:00 a.m. the last two nights singing to strangers and I'm just about pooped, but, what am I doing? Taking a trip down memory lane. I started looking for a birthday picture to post and really embarrass my sweet 22 year old daughter and ended up spending 2 hours going through old pictures....seems like yesterday. I'm so proud of my baby who's grown into a wonderful, thoughtful, creative, smart and wise young woman. Here's some birthdays from the past that I discovered on my little trip this morning.....oh, well I stuck a couple in that weren't actually birthday but I couldn't resist. Happy Birthday Babydoll!!!!!!!!!!!! You are SOOOOOOOOOOO loved! Mom

Cairo Impressions

Hello,
Hope you have your shopping and decorating done....I don't. I'm taking it easy this season...maybe it'll all get done...maybe not. I need some motivation here.

Here's the latest painting. My daughter Kacey wanted me to do a monochrome street scene from Cairo. Let me know what you think!


Joy!
Tina

Ball Family Memories

Walter & Addie Ball were the parents of 13 children in Limestone county Alabama. Probably due to the loss of their mother when the children were young and the strong Christian upbringing, the family was very close all through their lives. My childhood is full of memories of family reunions and gatherings where I came to know and love each of them. They're all gone now and hopefully together again. These are some beautiful memories of the love of this very special southern family. Be patient when you click on the arrow in the box below. It takes a few seconds to start and the screen will be black.


Enjoy,

Tina