Bucket List

I am a forty-six year old man and I have given up on my dream of ever playing in the major leagues. However, there are still a few things I want to do before my time on Earth is through. I guess you can call this a "bucket list."
In reality I did do the most important thing on my list when I accepted a free gist from my best friend, a Jewish carpenter named Jesus. If you would like to meet him let me know and I can introduce you to Him.
Also, I have recently accomplished a few more of my "bucket list" events during my last trip to Illinois. My family and I took a trip to Busch Memorial Stadium and I actually got a ball. I got to sit in the dugout of a major league stadium and saw the view that the announcers see from the press-box at Busch. I got goose bumps all over when I walked through the "tunnel" and onto the field at Busch Stadium. In the distance you could see the Arch and the retired numbers of Cardinal greats plus the ten pennants flying representing the ten World Series championships of the Cardinals from 1926 to 2006.
Other "bucket list" moments are going on while I type. My son, Wyatt, is loving the cat and looking at me with his blue eyes. It is funny that ever since I became a father how many of those moments became things I am glad I got the opportunity to see. I get excited seeing the world through the eyes of my children. Disney World was much better seeing the expressions on the faces of Wyatt, Corri, and Nick. Hearing the excitement in the voice of Wyatt when we go get ice cream or just to Sam's.

Fisherman or Photographer?

I recently purchased a new lens (Canon 50mm f1.8) which is referred by many as the "nifty fifty." I received the lens on Saturday and since then I have tinkered with it, taking pictures of mainly my children. This is nothing new. If you know me you know I like to photograph stuff. Interesting enough I no longer look at things the same way as I did before. I am always looking for the good shot. When I coached basketball that had a different meaning. However, now it means I might be driving down the road and notice the perspective of the road leading to the horizon or an old barn, old tractor, or almost anything and try to figure out what would be the best way to capture that feeling I have with my camera. My wife is picking up on it and I think it frustrates her a little and amuses her a lot. I noticed it a few years ago while I was fishing at a small pond catching a few bass and wham the big bite happened, I was using a plastic worm had cast it under a bush, let it sink naturally (no added weight) and the big boy grabbed it and I set the hook. The fun had just begun, the fish didn't want to give up and I... I was wondering how I could get a shot of this. Huh, not was I thinking how I was going to land this fish but how was I while reeling in going to be able to aim my camera and shoot. Well to make a long story short I caught the bass (not as big as I thought it was) and I got the shot. I wish I still had that picture file. The camera was around my neck and I just held onto the rod and kept tension on the line and with my other hand aimed and shot with a burst of photos. It was then I Knew I had went from a fisherman who liked to take pictures to a photographer who liked to fish.
My family and I are going to be in St. Louis in a couple of weeks and I am already planning on which photos I want to take. In the meantime above are some photos I have taken with my new lens.. Thanks for reading my ramblings:)

Fatherhood...

I have done some reflecting this past week because there have been some couples who have welcomed children into this world and it has made me sentimental to the days of my children being born.
Nick, my oldest, came into the world in December of 1998. He had to spend his first Christmas in the hospital. He actually had a rough go the first six months of his life. He came down with the flu and spent Valentines Day in a hospital room, he ended up coughing up a hernia and having surgery to do whatever you do with a hernia.
Corri, she was born a little less than a month after 9-11 and I was in the middle of student teaching. She was born with sparse red hair and an attitude to match. She was also the first girl born into our family in a long while. My dad had a brother, I was the youngest of three boys, and John my brother had four boys (my oldest brother Dave never had children). SO when I called my mother around 1:10 am and told her we had a girl it was call for a real celebration in the Dragstrem household.
Wyatt is my only "tarheel" he was born on July 27, 2004. I was about to sit down to lunch at work when I got a call from my sister-in-law, Lois, who told me they were taking Jule to the hospital. Needless to say I left early from work that day. (I actually missed a staff meeting that day THANK YOU WYATT) through the years I have experienced heartache and joy through each of these precious gifts God has blessed Jule and I with.
From broken bones to ballgames. From seizures to Disney World trips. From thunderstorms that scared to hugs and kisses that heal. Thank you God for being the ultimate father to each of us and for your Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words!

Wyatt Update II

Wyatt has spent the last couple of days at Carolina Medical Center (Jeff Gordan Children's Hospital) being prodded and probed. He has been a trooper throughout the whole ordeal. The doctor has said we probably should go home tomorrow (then again we thought we'd be home today). The worst part of this is the waiting. Poor Wyatt cannot evenget out of the room because he is wired up so they can monitor his brain waves. He has a long cord that connects his probes with a monitor and the results are sent to a computer. He also is being videoed (which makes one a little conscience).

Update on Wyatt!

For those of you who do not know I have a son named Wyatt who has a seizure disorder. He will turn seven this July while we are in Illinois. This week (Thursday and Friday) Wyatt is undergoing tests to help determine the causes and how to best medicate the seizures. This morning he woke up with a seizure and Jule and I brought him in our bed to lie down and wait out the seizure. After a dose of his "favorite" medicine he was off to "ZZZZZ" land and slept for about another hour and a half.

Summer Time!

We have spent the first few days of our summer vacation doing your typical summer fun. Swimming, going to the park, and of course fishing filled our family's days. Plans have been made for our annual trip to Illinois to see family. This year there will be an added detour to our trip, St. Louis, we will watch a Cardinal game and also get a tour of the new ball park (well it is new to us it was built in time for the 2006 season). When we arrive home from Illinois school will be right around the corner. Next school year will be my first since the early 1990's in where I will not be coaching anything. I have ever since the birth of our last child, Wyatt, asked for a possibility of giving up my coaching responsibilities, if possible, and this year my principal informed me that my wish was granted. Just to prove that God works in His time not ours. I have mixed emotions as of now about not coaching but I do know it is the best thing right now for our family.

Growing Up!

I have had the honor this year to accompany my oldest son to school each day. It helps that I am a teacher in his school. With that aside I have watched him grow from a timid new sixth grader to one who will try new things and stand up for what he knows to be important. I have heard from his teachers that he is not shy about speaking his faith in class. Nick even stood up to some seventh graders this year and told them to stop fighting or he would get his dad.
Today he took another step in the growing up process. He helped me mow the yard. This was hard on two different sides of the coin. Number one is that I hate to give up some things. Number two is that Nick is small for his age in size, but huge in heart. As I stood by watching him mow the lines in the grass and turn to mow others I wondered where the time went when he would follow me with his toy mower when I would mow the grass. Although that was almost ten years ago it seemed like just yesterday.
For all of you with little ones, take the time with them NOW because those days are numbered and fleeing fast. One day you will look up and the man or woman standing in front of you will resemble that little boy or girl who held your hand crossing the parking lot and all you will have left are memories.

Memorial Day

It is a day in which we honor the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It has also become known as the "unofficial" start of summer. Many years ago in a galaxy far far away (Central Illinois) school was out and all I had to worry about from hear on out was how was I going to stuff so much fishing, swimming, playing ball, and other mischief into a three month period called summer vacation. I'm not sure if it was ever 104 days, as Phineous and Ferb like to point out, but it seemed longer as a kid.
One thing I remember most about this day however was getting into the car with the family and heading to multiple graves of my ancestors. I didn't understand the significance of the gestures and all the elaborate floral arrangements so I just thought it was cutting into my time to do all the things boys liked to do in the summer. I now get it. I take time today to talk/write about a World War II veteran, my dad.
Thirteen years ago (May 4, 1998) my father left this world. My mother called me early that morning and we rushed from our home about fifty minutes away. When I got to my parents home I was met by the coroner and it was then that it hit me that he was actually gone. My mom in her panic hadn't actually told me dad was gone she told me that I needed to come. I am not sure about you but when your mother calls you at 3:00 am and tells you to come, you come. At least that is how it was in my family. My wife, Jule, and I came into a condominium that had coffee brewing and people shooting the bull around a kitchen table telling stories about my dad. Neighbors were there from their retirement village, as was my brother Dave, who lived with mom and dad. I went back to the room where my dad was took a deep breath and went in to pay my last respects.
My dad was older than most of my friends dads. He was 46 when I was born. I am the youngest of three boys and my dad was retired from working soon after I entered school. I got to know a different man than did my other two brothers. My dad and I took up golf at about the same time and although I have pretty much given up the sport (at least for now) my father loved to smack the ball around up until his first stroke about seven years prior to his passing. He actually got pretty good. I inherited his love for Cardinal baseball and he would drive his family down to St. Louis a few times every summer to watch the likes of Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Ted Simmons and later Ozzie Smith and Vince Coleman. I remember one time when just dad and I went to the then Springfield Redbirds, the Cardinals AAA ball club and we were sitting behind the parents of a Cardinal pitcher, Dave LaPoint, whom my dad and I had heard was just called up to the majors. His parents hadn't heard the new yet until someone from the ball club had come to inform them. They were there to watch him pitch that night. Luckily St. Louis was just a couple hours away.
My dad taught me to drive, sort of, he was the one who went out with me when I practiced driving. Dad was so calm and patient with me, unlike how he was when he actually drove, that everything usually went smooth. He would take me all over Central Illinois looking at farm land that we owned and eventually we would end up back in the garage of our home in Hickory Point Court.
Soon after I got my license I kinds became the unofficial driver of the home. My brother John used to hold this honor but he went and got married and moved near Chicago. One reason why I got this honor was because my father thought the brake pedal was the accelerator, not really but it seemed like it. My mom drove almost everywhere we went and by the time I could drive she was ready for a break.
I can also thank my dad for the love of fishing I have. We went to the Ozarks every summer up until I was in middle school and we would fish. For about three years we changed our venue to Minnesota where all we did was fish. One time in Minnesota my dad and I were to go out with our guide to a lake that had larger fish, pike and walleye. My dad had a terrible fever the night before and it looked like we might never be able to go on the trip. However, my dad woke up to tell me he had made it possible for me to go with our guide alone. We caught tons of fish that day, from pike to walleye to all different species. My dad greeted us when we got back to the lodge and wanted to hear about the whole trip. My dad was a great listener.
One of my favorite times I spent with dad fishing was our last. He was pretty bad off from his stroke and I planned it with mom to take him to our local lake and sit on the bank and catch panfish which was all we did. Our roles had reversed, I baited his hook and even cast his line out. He caught a few small ones which I removed from the hook and threw back. After we had our fill of fish we got in the car and headed to Steak 'n Shake and had lunch. Dad got home that day and told mom all about the day and couldn't stop beaming from ear to ear my mom later told me.
As the tears cloud my eyes I am going to end this post today.

Idol, Gaga, and Baseball Oh My!

Watched the "finale" of American Idol tonight and I am amazed at what some people call talent these days. Lady Gaga performing soft porn on stage was the kicker for me. Families are watching this in the audience and across the world on television. The show had some good points and I have to admit I liked the Casey, Jack Black number.
Either Scotty or Lauren would have been a good choice as would have James, Casey, Haley, and or Jacob. I am glad Jacob got to sing gospel and that the winner thanked the Lord first off.
We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel at school and I am just hoping it is not a train. I will try to keep up a more regular posting schedule this summer.
Jule and I have decided we will probably go to Illinois this summer sometime in July. We want to be there in time for the sweet corn and possibly catch a Cardinal game. We both realized that the last game we watched live was in 2002 and that the Cardinals have moved to a new ballpark since then. Also I must point this out to all of the Cub fans who might see this they have also won a World Series since then also. Oh by the way the World Series is how Major League Baseball determines the best team for the year. I just don't want the Cub fans to get confused when I use terms they may never have heard of.

THE LOVE OF A CHILD!

There are things you want ore than anything when you are sick. A cup a chicken noodle soup and a nap are two things tat come to mind for me. Both of them were what I received yesterday. However there are things that absolutely surprise you and make you proud to be a daddy. My youngest boy, Wyatt, has a seizure disorder and is developmentally a couple years behind. But, he knew daddy and his brother Nick felt crummy and he gave up his Winnie the Pooh bear for me to nap with and gave Nick his Curious George stuffed animal. That along with a kiss on the forehead was a special time for me.
Wyatt is an example of God's love to us all and I thank the Lord daily that he has blessed our family with him. Hugs are not an option with Wyatt they are a requirement.

Observations...

I was pondering what to post next which makes me reflect. The school district in which I work for as well as all of the public schools in the great state of North Carolina have their students take what are called end-of-grade (EOG) tests and these help judge how well you do as a school and district. I am proud to say that I work for a school which year in and year out make and exceed all of our goals. All bragging aside I was contemplating writing to you about the validity or non-validity of year-end testing. However, I changed my mind.
At the end of John 6 Jesus is talking with Peter and the others and basically there is one amongst you from the devil. Of course He is referring to Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus and handed Him over to the authorities. Jesus KNEW this was to happen, He knew why it had to happen, AND He could have ended it at ANY time yet He went through the torture so we didn't have to. How does He do this? I am not denying the He did do this I am just wondering how and why? Are we worth it? My answer to that must be NO! SO why? A friend of mine has a list of questions she plans on asking Jesus when she has a chance face to face and says she is "adding to my list!" whenever a question like this comes up.
I feel that it is a question in which I will add to my list. My list is long but will not be asked until AFTER I have had the time to kiss the hands and feet of the ONE who allowed me to be there.

Faith of Our Fathers

I am a history-buff which is good for I teach Social Studies. However, I am writing to you not to teach but to question. I come to those who might read this and comment pondering something that in some circles could be considered blasphemy. Does it really matter WHAT our founding fathers actually believed in? It seems to me that on many of the bookshelves of bookstores across this nation you find conflicting reports on the topic of George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and even further along in history Abraham Lincoln and what or if they believed. It seems that many author's believe that if they can convince the reader one way or another that if these "men" believe or don't believe in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ it either validates or de-values Christianity.
Christianity doesn't need to be validated. The truth of the Gospel will not change if it is proven that the before mentioned men happen to be "washed in the blood" Christians or as some people refer to them as deists. Either way the truth that Jesus Christ died on the cross and was buried and defeated death and Satan by emerging from the tomb will NOT change.
What we do with the truth of the Gospel is what is important to us and to those who we share the truth with. But, remember no matter what we do with the truth does not hide the fact that the truth is alive.
I will be sharing with you my journey through the gospels of John, Luke, Mark, and Matthew throughout the next few months. Yes, I do know the order of the gospels I am just reading them in reverse order as to how they are presented in the Bible. Feel free to comment...

Bin Laden

I am torn. The death of Osama Bin Laden is the top news story of the week (and possibly the whole year when it is all over) and Americans are celebrating (as have I) the death of this man responsible for the deaths of thousands of lives on 9-11 alone. However, I must also look upon this as a tragedy. A misled soul is now burning instead of basking in the beauty of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is busy searching for his seventy-two virgins and finding instead the stench of hell.
My hope is that followers of Bin Laden and other misguided people in this world will hear the gospel and not be able to deny the truth. Jesus died on a cross for ALL of us (not just a select few) all we have to do is believe and repent from the ways of man.

SOFTBALL 2011

I had the privilege to coach a group of girls this past softball season who personified great sportsmanship. They didn't win many games however, they never gave up and stayed positive throughout the season. I admire them more than any other team I have ever coached.

Wedding Days

The above are all images caught at a few of the weddings I have been honored to photograph. Some are from a bridal portrait session I did also.

Photography

I used to draw and paint a little but one day I used an Old Sony Mavica digital camera (which used floppy disks as media cards) for the school I was working at (Illini Central Middle School) and I became fascinated with photography. I purchased my first digital camera (HP) 2 MP on December 24, 2001 at a Circuit City in Springfield, Illinois and that accompanied me to North Carolina when we moved in January of 2003. I have upgraded to a Kodak 6490 4MP soon after we moved to NC. I upgraded to an Olympus DSLR about 4 summers ago and it was about then I started to take photos for some friends. In 2009 I did my first wedding for a friend at work whose sister needed a photographer. I have done five weddings since then and a few more photo sessions for friends including birthdays and family gatherings. I now use a Canon EOS T2i. Here are a few of my photos.

Nick (HP) ~2002

Nick (Canon) 2011

Corri (Kodak) ~2007

Corri (Canon) 2011


Wyatt (Olympus) 2009

Wyatt (Canon) 2011

John 3:16
John 14:6

Donald!
BASEBALL!
Sugar

Nick
Corri
Wyatt

My Title

I was wondering what to name this blog and I came up with the title of an old song which has taken on a significance with me since our church put on an Easter "drama" this year (which we put on every year). I use "drama" however, it is much more than that it is a worship experience. The Lord was there for six nights in April and one of the nights I was getting ready to run up the aisle for the "Triumphal Entry" scene (Palm Sunday) and the props person gave me a tambourine. I was used to waving a palm branch and so this tambourine was a change to the normal routine and yet it had an impact on me ever since. Jesus is making his way through the throngs of people and we are joyfully praising him and bowing and interacting with the audience and when he came my way I bowed on my knees and what does "Jesus" do, he takes the tambourine and he shakes it himself as he helps me up and we dance in the aisle both of us unsure as to what the director would do but it was appropriate for the scene. To make a long story short I interacted with the Lord that night and it was brought on by a tambourine, so Mr. Tambourine Man play a song for me!