Family Time

Yes, everyone's here and a great time is being together! Sometimes the very best blessings are the simplest ones. Actually, they usually are- and make us grateful for the time. What are you grateful for?

No Man Can Steal What God Gives

Today, it seems peace and joy are elusive. Sadly, hope seems a bit out of reach. Yet, I know that God is ultimately in control of all my circumstances. Good or bad, if they are allowed by God, it must be for his purposes to help transform me to look more like Jesus. In the Bible's book of John, chapter 3 verse 27, John the Baptist is addressing the people: "John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven." This reminds me that things like joy, hope, peace and more - especially eternal life- cannot be robbed from me by the actions of anyone else. I need to remember that! Do you?

Now Only A Memory

On our recent trip to California, I saw this beautiful painting hanging on the wall in a local shop. I knew it would be expensive, but I had no idea it would be three times what I make in a month! So, it will stay a nice mini-sized photograph in my memory.

(Painting by John Cosby.)

Those Rocking 1960's!

Take a look at this vintage / retro photograph from the 1960s! Those chicks rocking the hair piled higher than what seems possible, the skinny ties, and the trendy cocktails on the table. This is actually of photo of my folks and two of my aunts and their husbands. I post this in honor of my Dad's birthday...

That Thing You Do

Back to the beginning. Not quite the very beginning, but very close. Well, let's go at least back to the beginning where I really began to get connected to a local group of Jesus followers. In the city of Orange, at its very famous Orange Circle- the area was the physical centerpiece of the movie That Thing You Do- lies an old movie theater that was converted to a church. Back when the area was run down and the people on the street were falling apart, Pastor Joe Magliato brought Jesus and new life. Even in his 80's, he's still going strong. God bless him! As for me, I know God was faithful in a dark time. Oh, LORD, that thing you do as we trust in you...

A Return to Disneyland After Three Years

The last time we visited Disneyland, it was after the memorial service for my mother in law. That was three years ago. And this time, we went with our youngest daughter and her family, tagging onto their summer vacation. We came earlier and left later, so that enabled some additional time at favorite spots in Southern California. What I found at the Disneyland Resort surprised me! I haven't decided how I'll share my trip report- in days, by each park and themed area, or by one mega saga- but I can guarantee you, if you've read the Insights and Sounds blog at all, you might be surprised by what I write. Stay tuned.

(Photo copyright Mark Taft.)

Happy Birthday to the Photographer

It's quite the feat to get 19 people in one photo! But our photographer did this and a few other special tricks to make this come together. Was it worth it? I think it was. It's a moment in time never to be captured again.
 

Scenes From A Fire

I thank God for people like my son in law who goes out to fight fires! In Colorado, this season is particularly bad because of the lack of snow in the Winter and rain in the Spring.

What may look minor from afar is actually huge up close! He's out there now. Pray for his safety and the safety of the entire team under his command. 

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

In our family, everyone who knows you Dad, knows you are a force to be reckoned with! Sure, you've mellowed just a bit, but your passion for the things you deem important is endless. I guess I'm a lot like you in this way.  

Surprisingly, I got the above text from my Dad, thanking us for his restaurant gift. I'm just so taken a back by it!

Looking Out the Window from The Walt Disney Family Museum

Without question, a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum should be a must see attraction for any hardcore fan of Disney's animated films or theme parks. The beautiful scale model of Disneyland alone is worth the visit! There's so much to explore, that you could quite easily spend 2 to 3 hours there.  Our visit was just what the doctor ordered. No large lines, no advance planning, no rush. Relaxing, enjoyable, and filled with opportunities to learn. (Sounds a lot like EPCOT Center in its early years.) One unexpected pleasure was the view outside. It was picture perfect as you can see!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

The World Cup and Our Thousand Dollars a Day Car Rental

Timestamped June 8, 2014: Sitting in a bar in the south of France in the middle of seemingly nowhere, watching the World Cup with the locals. What a great afternoon relaxing with a glass of wine and doing something very, very different than our normal travel routine. But that's exactly how this trip was- anything but normal and going as planned. 

We started in Geneva, Switzerland before ending up in France. Then the unexpected (why was I surprised?) happened when the French air traffic controllers decided to strike, leaving us stranded and unable to fly back to Geneva for our return home. What could we do? Only one thing. Rent the last car at the airport for $1000- yes, one thousand dollars- and drive to Geneva to catch our flight. How is that for price gauging? Now, we laugh, but back then...

Gotta love all those World Cup athletes and the way they train so hard. I used to be more in shape than I am, but now I take solace in these words: "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Honestly though, that's no excuse for my laziness!
 

Just for My Records

 A great photo of our son taken in 2023. Still as handsome as ever!

Beach Getaway

Snapped this photo years ago while in California. It just seemed so iconic, so SoCal! I can almost feel the ocean breeze and the sound of seagulls. The full size version sits as my desktop photo right now. 

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

The Unexpected Disneyland Trip

 When we lived in Northern California, I would have never expected a trip to Disneyland would be part of my workday, but it was exactly what happened. As a sale rep for AT&T, I was given large accounts in Southern California, so every quarter or so, I would fly down to the O.C., meet some customers and return home by the end of the week. One afternoon, my sales manager (in the Minnie ears in the upper left hand corner), suggested we plan a team building exercise for two days. She chose to celebrate a year of wild success by taking us all to Disneyland. What a kick! It was certainly unexpected!

The Photograph That Got Away

Sometimes you just can't get your camera ready fast enough. I think those of us that love to travel have these moments that now exist only in our memory. Unlike the time we were in Venice, and I turned the corner at just the right moment to capture a gondolier relaxing (photo here), I was not so fortunate to have my phone ready. There we were at the end of the night, getting ready to walk into our hotel entry from one of the alleyways in Rome's beautiful Trastevere area. I had just shot the darned thing off for the night. 

And there was a photo I had to shoot: A Catholic priest about 45 or so holding up a gelato with it dripping down the cone. He was a rather tall, slender man, other than a very large belly. He wasn't smiling, but there was a look of contentment on his face. The night air was warm for the season, and he seemed to absolutely relish the idea of being alone relaxing. 

As I said, I never got the photo, so I tried AI to create one. It's the best I could do, but the magic is not there. What a great missed opportunity and a lesson learned about shutting down before I'm in my room for the night!

You ARE Being Watched!

You are being watched at all times, but not always in a creepy way like this! So, I write this today to a friend in need, (but it may apply to those of you reading here as well)- I read this today and thought of you: 

“You are the God who sees me.” He KNOWS you and where you are at. He cares for you and even if it may feel like you’ve been forgotten or tossed aside or wounded as a byproduct of someone else’s problem or sin, He - our wonderful personal God- loves you deeply and will take care of you.

                            Genesis 16:13

The Unexpected Silence

The absolute silence was so loud it was deafening. Could this really be happening? Even if things went on as they always did, the truth was that the man they looked to was dead. He had promised so much. A new life. Hope. Peace. Joy in the midst of pain. And an eternity with God the Father. He said He alone was the path to heaven. He said following Him was a very narrow path but He was the only truth. The self-proclaimed king promised He was the one to give real life when the world only offered a counterfeit in an attempt to steal their lives and their future. Shockingly, the very people he'd come to love and care for betrayed him. At the direction of the authorities, the soldiers beat him to a bloody pulp. He was so weak, so broken, so physically shattered, that a man pulled out from the crowd was "recruited" to carry his cross. The very cross that he would hang on next to two common criminals. All he had done was challenge the system and offer freedom. But people didn't like that, so he paid the ultimate price. Spikes were pound into his hands and feet. Then he was raised up as if on display to those watching. Both his mother and his best friend watched with a mix of deep sorrow and confusion. The weather shifted, and the sky blackened as if in response to what was happening on the earth below. As he bled until the end, he asked his Heavenly Father to forgive them. His famous last words seemed odd: "It is finished." Those who followed him went home broken hearted. 

(Copyright Mark Taft.)

Trio of Artful European Signs

When I get a chance to slow down and photograph the places I travel to for work or for pleasure, I seem to discover my eyes are drawn to the signage I encounter. Big city, small town, shop around the corner, it just doesn't matter. So today, I've got three signs for you. Two from Italy and one from Cardiff, Wales.

This top one was taken at one of the world's most magical cities: Venice. There really is nothing like this anywhere else on the planet. Layers of Italian craftsmanship are everywhere you turn- and then it's all surrounded by water everywhere you look. Trees are few and far between, but the residents of the city find a way to add greenery to their narrow streets.

Next up, Cinque Terra. Five towns of various sizes and shapes and offerings. We stumbled upon this in Vernazza, the largest of the five and the one with the swimming area most loved by the locals. This sign was right around the corner from a small cave everyone was using to change into their swimwear. I wasn't prepared to go into the water, but I realized I had on a pair of dark nylon shorts that would easily make it possible. What a beautiful half an hour enjoying my time with the locals while my wife relaxed on the shore.

Cardiff, Wales may be one of the coolest towns I never expected! The citizens are intent on keeping the Welsh language alive, so every sign is in English and then Welsh. Once you get the hang of the alphabet and what sounds the letters make, it's quite fun to try your hand at speaking out the names. Locals must be very, very patient as well as having a great sense of humor! One of my favorite stops was at a coffee house named "A Shot in the Dark". The old place was filled with books- but only detective and mystery novels. It was also open until late in the evening where the place took on an almost eerie mood. Do you get the play on words? Coffee/ Shot; Murder/Gun, etc. So clever!

I'm sure as I post this, I'll run across even more sign photos and stories to go with them...

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Years Later My Family Will Laugh at This

I am NOT a cook. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I can count on one hand the number of times I have thrown something together that is edible. I am known to help in the kitchen from time to time, although our daughters have each turned out to be excellent cooks and our sons are quite proficient as well. (Our oldest is in love with his rice cooker!) That said, I was inspired a couple of weeks back to make the Pasta Queen's Lemon Peel Pasta. It turned out pretty tasty even if I made a huge mess. Maybe it's the beginning of a new career? No, it is not. 

I'm Running Away

I'm leaving for a faraway place, an isle of beautiful crystal clear waters and white sand beaches. I can just lay on the soft sand and listen to the waves gently lapping the shore while I sleep a little, dream, and smile. It sounds too good to be true. And it is! I'm still home and still have a few months before vacation, but I've run away in my mind. It will have to do for now.