128/365 Davis Morgan Baptism

5-8-2013

Wednesday was a terrible, horrible no good very bad day in my book.  I met with my small group for church in the student center at HU and they listened and we prayed and I was encouraged.  Just as we were leaving to go pick up our kids at the church building one of them mentioned that Davis Morgan was going to be baptized after church.


I love shooting baptisms and this one was special.  Davis is the school year between my boys so we have known Davis for a long time.  He is the son of Jeff and Christy Morgan.  Jeff is the mens basketball coach at HU and Christy is the womens golf coach.  The Morgans are a top notch family.

Thankfully, I had the Leica M8 with me and the following 8 images  were my favorite out of the 50 or so images that I took.  As I was shooting still images, Amy Baker was shooting video with Jeff Morgan's iPhone.  Just before he baptized Davis the phone ran out of memory.  I grabbed my iPhone which I had just downloaded all the photos from earlier in the day and gave it to Amy and we didn't miss the moment.

 I am including both the vertical and horizontal prayer shots because I just couldn't decide which one I like the best.

In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!  - Luke 15:7

Matt Hall Jersey Retirement

I have the best job at Harding University and Thursday night was one of those nights that confirmed it again in my mind. The Bisons and Lady Bisons both won great games against SAU. This was the final regular season game so it was senior night. This was a senior night that made history. The Cheerleader then the players and then the Rhodes Rowdies were all honored but I could tell something was different. Coach Morgan said we have one more thing tonight and then Athletic Director, Greg Harnden, walked out with a framed #30 jersey. Tonight we are retiring Matt Hall's Jersey. The only other Bison basketball jersey ever retired belonged to Butch Gardner. Butch was on hand to present Matt with his jersey. The crowd was applauding, the team was proud and there were more than a few misty eyes in Rhodes Field house. Wally Jarrett looked over at me and said this is about to get me and I was thinking the same thing. I am not sure that there is a team on campus that better exemplifies the team idea than mens basketball ( I am not taking anything away from any of the other teams). Everyone of those guys was so proud for Matt as was everyone in the building. Matt Hall is a great guy. His Jersey retirement was well deserved. This feels rambly but I just don't have the words to express the pride I had in being part of the Harding Family on that night. I do have the best job on campus.

So you don't know who Matt Hall is:

Matt Hall is the best player to come to HU in a long time. I don't have all of his stats but he is I believe the second leading scorer in HU history. Second only to Butch Gardner, 3 time All American. Just a couple of games into his Jr Season he tore a ligament in hi ankle and was out for the season-medical red shirt. He worked tirelessly rehabbing it and came back and was better than ever. Thursday night he set the GSC and HU records for Free Throws in a game with 14. Matt Hall is a player but more than that he is a team player.He has fun. Thursday night while lined up for a rebound the player beside him was yelling at his teammate across the lane to switch. Matt looked over with a big smile on his face and said us and pointed to the other Bison player across the lane. It cracked the SAU up. Matt Hall is just a great kid that will truly be missed.