Ricky and Sharon Skaggs
Louise and I have been living in Hendersonville, Tennessee for almost nine years. A few days after arriving the voice at the other end of my cell phone said, “This is Ricky Skaggs. I’m your new neighbor”. We met for breakfast a week later and became intimate friends in minutes – for three reasons: (1) We are both from Kentucky. In fact Ricky was born in Louisa, Kentucky, some twenty miles from my hometown in Ashland. (2) Our favorite food is Indian – curry. One of his first comments to me was, “I reckon you lived in London long enough to pick up a taste for Indian food”. “It’s my very favorite”, I replied. (3) He is a Spirit-filled believer. Some entertainers happen to be Christians but Ricky, married to Sharon (of the White Family fame) are Christians who happen to be entertainers. Ricky and Sharon are members of the Grand Ole Opry and Ricky is a member of the Gospel Hall of Fame. He has also won 14 Emmys. Jesus Christ is first in their lives. Unashamedly first. Some time after we moved from Florida to Tennessee, I asked Ricky to be on our Board.
October 18 was Tyndale’s (whom we call Ty) first birthday, October 19 was TR’s 51st. We decided to make a special celebration of it. TR and Annette prepared five dishes of Indian food. Ricky brought his mandolin, Sharon brought her guitar. Our oldest grandson (aged almost 9) has been taking guitar lessons. Ricky and Sharon found a key that fit with Toby’s progress and played so all Toby needed to do was strum his guitar and it sounded like he was playing well with them. Our grandson Timothy (aged 5) also joined in. Check out the videos (links below) – even if country/bluegrass music is not your cup of tea! While they were playing I said to Annette, “Can you imagine how many people would like to be here right now?” He who plays for Donald Trump in the White House, who attracts thousands to hear him in Nashville and who is on the road all over America week after week, spent an evening with us as if he had nothing else to do. Louise and I, TR and Annette and grandsons will treasure that evening for a long time.
Ricky and Sharon Skaggs & Toby Jam
Ricky and Sharon Skaggs & Toby Jam 2
Ricky and Sharon Skaggs & Toby Jam 3