Birthday Dreams!

Happy Birthday to ME!!! I had a really good lazy B-Day! Got to sleep in a little. Debbie and I took the kids to the YMCA to swim and then this evening went out to eat and got a yummy T-Bone steak. I got to spend the day with all our kids, a great wife and Blessed friends. Birthdays have never been a real big deal to me and I don't feel any younger (opps I might older) then I have before. I have gotten so much this year. Mostly all for our new baby that is due in less then a month and to me that is the biggest gift yet! But that is a good thing as we don't have to spend money we don't have for things we need for baby. However I did get myself a gift with some of the money I got for my birthday and that didn't go to baby stuff. A nice Digital Camera and I mean nice. I had plans to get a cheaper one that I did alot of research on but then got more money then I was thinking at 1st and spent a little more on one I really wanted for about two years now. God blessed me with a great deal It was on sale for a under $200 the retail price is about $400. I hope now that I have something besides my cell phone to take pictures with I will start to take more pictures again. I have always enjoyed taking them but never really had something to take them with. besides my cell phone or camera I use from others. I have posted some of my pictures I have taking throughout the last few years at my Southern Coffee Photography Site. Check it out if you get a chance it's not the best out there but I enjoy it. I will try to update the pictures soon of new ones I took over the past few months. I found this next part on Debbie's Aunts blog a few days ago and loved it so I am stealing it and posting it on mine. It is so true if you are a amateur photographer you so understand it.

The Amateur Photographer

An amateur photographer was invited to dinner with friends, and he took along a few pictures to show to them. The hostess looked at the photos and commented, "These are very good! You must have a good camera."The photographer didn't make any comment, but as he was leaving to go home, he said, "That was a really delicious meal! You must have some very good pots."

As Aunt Ann says it doesn't matter if you have the most expensive camera It's all in the eye of the beholder. Ann's quote; "it's all about the nut behind the wheel (or can we say Camera)"

Check out Anns blog she has a great blog, Full of Art, Pictures and just plan old good stuff to keep you reading.

Anyway today has been a A-okey-day! Thanks again for all your love and prayers over the past year and may this next year be a fulling and Blessed year!

In His grip,

Jonathan

~A Game of Discovery, Settlement and Trade~

"Die Siedler von Catan" aka "Settlers of Catan" was first published in 1995 in Garmany. It is a multiplayer board game were players try to be the dominant force on the island of Catan by building settlements, cities, and roads. On each turn dice are rolled to determine the current production on the island. Players collect raw materials to build up their civilizations to gain enough victory points to win the game. It was the game of the year in Garmany in 1995 and a big hit however it was and is not the best seller here in the USA. A game of Discovery, Settlement and Trade it would rank top class if you ask Debbie and I. It would be the Game of the year every year to us. We have played this game many of times in the past and still take time to stop our busy lives to sit down and play with each other. It may not be the most happening game ever played but it is by far the funnest. After about the 40th time playing I seem to lost count of who won or lost the most times. I am not sure if Debbie is in lead or my self. Soon after play Settlers we found ourselves adding the expansion to the game "Cities & Knights of Catan". It added a whole new role of game play. Still making the game our top favorite. Now as My Birthday is coming up once again at the end of this month Debbie and I have talked about getting the next chapter for this game in the expansion "The Seafarers of Catan" taking Catan off land in the the sea. Adding Ships and a whole lot more fun. I can wait till I get this to add to our set.

As Mother's Day is just around the corner this Sunday coming up I put my head together and tryed to think of a good Monther's Day for Debbie and what did i find. Yep you got it. It had to do with Settlers. I saw online the other day that they have a new 3d Settlers with a nice looking chest it comes in that is highly price well over $300+. Saddly it is far from our budget to get something that is so higly priced at this time in our lives. As much as I would love to have the 3d set and chest, I found a cheaper and better alternative, just build a chest my self and with Mother's Day coming it would be a great gift. I was right. After building it and giving it to Debbie a few days before Mother's Day it was a big hit, She loved it alot and I think it was a great idea too. Here are a few pictures of the Settlers Chest Box I made to hold the game.

In His Grip,

- Jonathan