spring madness is upon us, no fooling!

Yes, there is more going on this week than college basketball. I am working all week, but taking off a half day vacation for the afternoon of Good Friday. I have lots of spring yard work to do and we have Easter rehearsal at church Saturday morning from 10 - 12 noon, so I will get a head start on the yard work Friday afternoon. The flower seeds I planted a couple weeks ago are sprouting already, and I have 18 flower plants ready to plant this weekend. As I was watering the flower beds Tuesday evening, I looked for the four Hostas that we planted last summer, but I could only locate one plant. But Wednesday afternoon, two more Hostas were popping up out of the ground! It is amazing to see how the plants just "come alive" in the spring! We have been promised by the weatherman that we will hit 80 degrees on Thursday and Friday in Atlanta - the first time to see 80 since October 8th.


Now that they are in the Final Four, the Dukies are getting a full-blast of media, news articles, etc. Posting a few links to read and enjoy the moment (the week).
Duke's Kyle Singler at USAtoday.com

Duke photo gallery from the Duke-Baylor game
Duke photo gallery cutting down the net after winning the region championship

Video-Dukies going to Final Four

A great highlight video from the Regional Championship game Sunday night, after the game, cutting down the net, the ride back to Duke, etc.

inspiring stories for a Monday

Instead of reading an inspiring story today on my blog, I am posting this ESPN video for you to watch. It is about Duke's Nolan Smith, and how he has been inspired to play ball by his late father.

ESPN Video - Duke defeats Baylor to head to the Final Four

family photo Sunday

We celebrated Dad's 84th birthday in SC this weekend. These photos from his younger days including the ship he served on during WWII.

so true, so true

Good cartoon by Gary Varvel - sums it up very well!

Duke advances to the "Sweet Sixteen"

It's on to Houston for the Sweet Sixteen this weekend , as the Duke Blue Devils advanced by beating the California Bearcats on Sunday, 68-53. My only complaint was that the game took place between 5:20- 7:20 pm. I came home from church to watch the replay of the game online at CBSsports.com, but CBS did not post the video until 9:40 pm. I guess I should have recorded it, but I still was able to watch it, and the Dukies were in command of the entire game. Many people thought the Dukies would be playing Louisville on Sunday, but the California Bearcats surprised us all. And I think all "brackets" are busted now that Kansas lost this past weekend as well.

Looking forward to Duke vs Purdue on Friday night!

Links to read highlighted below:

Duke, the no. 1 seed in the South Region, and no. 3 overall is one of three top seeds headed to the Sweet Sixteen. The other two top seeds are Syracuse and Kentucky. Kansas lost to Northern Iowa State on Saturday in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.

Top-Seeded Duke Rolls Past Cal, 68-53

Nolan Smith was looking forward to playing Louisville on Sunday as the article below mentions - that was the team his dad played for in college, but California surprised us all...

Nolan Smith's Performance Key in Duke's Win

If I had to choose one thing that makes Duke different this year, it would be the outstanding play of the big man, 7'1" Brian Zoubek. Did growing a beard make him a better player? Since mid-season, Zoubek has ended many games with double-doubles including Sunday. Jon Scheyer needs a break now and then:)

Zoubek Looms Large for Duke

Photo gallery at Charlotte News Observer

inspiring stories for a Monday

If you have time, you should view the slideshow posted at the ethiHOPEia blog. Dan Forrest posted the link on his blog and it was very heartwarming to view. This is the blog site of his brother, Jacob, and his wife who adopted a child from Ethiopia recently. They were approved to adopt a brother and sister in the August 2008, but the girl died in October 2008 just before the adoption was complete. Dan Forrest wrote and published a piece called "Good Night Dear Heart" which is included at the end of the slideshow - as Jacob and his wife were able to visit her tiny grave in Ethiopia - marked “Etsegenet Forrest”. link to ethiHOPEia.com

family photo Sunday

Grandma Baggett meets Charlie T for the first time!

Slideshow - Spring is officially here!

Duke advances with a win over UAPB

Since Georgia Tech was playing at the same time, we could not watch the game on regular TV, so we watched the Dukies on the internet at CBSsports.com. The outcome was pretty much what I expected as Duke beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 73-44. It was a good game for Duke in the sense the starters did not have to play the entire game. Miles Plumlee, a sophomore, and his brother Mason Plumlee, a freshman, and Andre Dawkins, another freshman, were able to play a lot of minutes in the game tonight. Dawkins even fouled out of the game! Read recap at this link to ESPN

(Jon Scheyer autographs basketballs after practice on Thursday in Jax, Florida! Brandon, Rachel and Charlie T were there but they did not get any autographs.)

Video highlights of Duke, ACC Champs

2010 ACC CHAMPS video from Dukeblueplanet

Top 10 Plays - ACC Tournament presented by Kyle Singler and Andre Dawkins

Videos - Dukies no. 3 seed overall for the NCAA tourney

What a great game as Duke defeated Georgia Tech to win the ACC Tournament Championship for the 9th time in the last 12 years! Georgia Tech is one of the best teams in the ACC and I was glad that Duke played them (and won!) Of course, I have very little voice left as this was a close one. It was a good preview of what the NCAA tourney will be like for the Blue Devils. I am really glad for Jon Scheyer who is one of the best to ever play at Duke. He deserved to finish the year with a winning tournament, and thanks to his 3 point shot at the end Duke came away with a win and trophy. This win also boosted Duke into the no. 3 overall seed for the NCAA tournament which begins on Thursday.



Ok, except for the game tonight, when the #64 and #65 teams have to play-in to the tourney. Winthrop and Univ of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) get to play each other and the winner plays Duke on Friday! Duke is in the South Region bracket and some at ESPN are saying the South is the easiest bracket of the the top 4 teams. Nothing is easy when it comes to the NCAA tournament! Duke needs to keep playing with a sense of urgency, and team work. Keep giving Brian Zoubek a lot of time in the game and he can make a difference, too. It is hard to rebound the ball when a 7 footer is lurking in the lane! As long as Scheyer, Singler, and Smith are having a good night, the Dukies will go a long way in the tourney. They have worked their way up from the #12 or #13 in the polls to #4 in last week, and to the #3 spot in both polls this week!
see video below:

Inspiring stories for a Monday

While watching basketball recently, I was inspired to hear about the story of Tanner Smith who plays for Clemson. And after doing some research on line, I found out that he grew up in Alpharetta, Ga, which is "next door" to our county of Gwinnett. In the fourth grade, he wrote an essay "If I Had Three Wishes." His first wish was for a golden retriever, his second wish was to play professional basketball. But his third wish was most unusual, as he wished "to make kids with cancer laugh." Two years later in the sixth grade, Tanner reiterated his wish "to make kids with cancer laugh"

The Smiths turned their son's dream into a reality, stuffing smiles and kindness alongside toys and trinkets into Tanner's Totes, the grab bags of goodies the family's nonprofit company delivers to preteens and teenagers battling cancer and other long-term ailments. In seven years the family has delivered more than 1,200 totes.

"Plenty of people are affected by cancer, but not everyone is spurred to action by it," said Clemson coach Oliver Purnell. "That's what makes Tanner and his parents extraordinary. They did something
about it."

to read more click this link to "From childhood wish to lasting legacy..."

Visit the website at this link to Tannertotes.com

family photo Sunday

Sophie, our little giraffe

The kids must have had "zoo day" at home some time in the past few months. With the cold winter weather, it helps to have some indoor fun!

Duke over Miami, 77-74

I like the headline at Duke.edu "Blue Devils Weather the Hurricanes" . For awhile in the first half, I thought Duke was going to blow the Canes away. The Dukies were ahead 30-18, but the Miami team went on a run and ended the first half leading Duke 33-30. Unbelievable! The refs had a little trouble calling fouls consistently in the first half, so much so that Coach K said something that they did not want to hear, and was called for a technical foul. Right after that Coach K took his jacket off and the Miami coach followed suit.

Fortunately, Coach K inspired his team to come back at the beginning of the second half and play Duke basketball. I would love to have been a fly on the wall at half-time. :) They were able to maintain a 7-10 point lead much of the second half, with Miami scoring their final points with 2 seconds left. The final score was 77-74. The Dukies will play in the ACC tournament championship game tomorrow at 1:00 pm. They will face a very good Georgia Tech team as the Yellow Jackets defeated North Carolina State this afternoon 57-54.

Click to view photo gallery

Duke beats a tough Virginia team today

The "three S's" playing for Duke pictured from left to right, Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, and Nolan Smith. Together they average over 52 points per game, but not today:
Singler scored 18, Scheyer scored 15, Smith scored 15 for a total of only 48 points - the final score was
Duke 57, Virginia 46

Duke won a tough game today and will be playing the #12 team in the ACC (Miami) on Saturday at 1:30 pm in a semi-final game.


Photo gallery at Charlotte News-Observer.com


Click to read recap . .

Thoughts of an upset had invigorated the Greensboro Coliseum when No. 9 seed Virginia trimmed top-seeded Duke’s 11-point lead to two with 6 minutes, 22 seconds remaining in the second half.

But Smith tipped in a Singler miss, Scheyer cleverly shook free to make a 12-foot bank shot, and Singler added a putback of his own. The game was no longer in question, especially with Duke’s defense consistently denying Virginia good looks at the basket in a 57-46 win.

Dukies ready for ACC tourney and more

So happy to report that Duke destroyed UNC on Saturday night! The final score was 82-50 but it could have been worse. Ok, it was not a normal Duke vs UNC game and there was no nail-biting or screaming or slapping the floor at my house. But it was fun to watch the team I love beat the team I . . . well "hate" is too strong of a word - I just like to watch UNC lose and it does not matter who they are playing!

The ACC tourney begins on Thursday, and Duke should be playing Friday. I would not be surprised to see Duke and Maryland play for the championship. Then next week the NCAA tourney begins and I was also happy that Duke remains the #4 team, even though they lost to Maryland last Weds. night. The Dukies could be a #1 seed in the NCAA after all.

Links to highlights from the internet:

AP Headline: Duke Mauls North Carolina, 82-50
Photo gallery from the Duke-UNC game

Quotes from the coaches and players

Is Duke as good as Roy Williams says?

ACC tourney schedule

family photo Sunday

Great picture of Janelle with Layton and Brielle taken during one of their major snowstorms last month.

Slideshow: March Family Birthdays

Baggett family birthdays:
3.02 Josh York, husband of cousin Amy Baggett York in AR
3.03 Bradley Blackstock, son of cousin Mike and Susan in AR
3.04 Denton Bell, husband of cousin Rhonda Baggett Bell in AR
3.07 Sheryl Baggett Griego, daughter of Uncle Kelsea in CA
3.10 Allison Baggett Michau, daughter of Uncle Leslie in AR
3.12 Uncle Les Baggett, youngest son of Joe and Mildred in AR
3.24 Jeremiah Baggett, son of John Baggett in TX
3.24 Nick Williams, son of Christina Blackstock Williams in AR
3.27 Joshua Franklin, son of Cynthia Baggett Franklin in PA
3.28 Joel Baggett, son of John Baggett in TX

Franklin family birthdays:
3.01 Mike Daly, husband of cousin Donna Daly in SC
3.09 Loretta Franklin, my sister in SC
3.20 April Logan, daughter of my sister Debbie in NY
3.24 Jamie Pettit, son of cousin Dianne Pettit in SC
3.26 Christopher Pettit, son of Jamie Pettit in SC
3.26 Gene Franklin, my dad in SC
3.27 Joshua Franklin, my son in PA

3.17 Payton Wilkie, granddaughter of cousin Barbara in SC

Dukies work their way up to #4

The Duke Blue Devils have been a work in progress this year and now have a #4 standing in the polls to prove it. I have to agree with a local Durham, NC, sportswriter whose headline reads "Don't be surprised if the Blue Devils make post-season run"! (click to read)

This is a special week as the season winds down, they call it "judgment week" on ESPN. Duke plays the Maryland Terps Wednesday night at 9 PM. Maryland is the no. 2 team in the ACC. The regular season ends this weekend when North Carolina visits Duke. This is usually one of the biggest games of the season, but North Carolina is struggling to win games this year. After the games of this week, the ACC tournament will be played the following week with the championship game on Sunday, March 14th. And then the "big dance" begins on Thursday, March 18th on CBS. March Madness is upon us!

family photo Sunday

Charlie is ready for spring practice to begin! This is a cute picture of him at 3 months!

college basketball Hall of Fame 2010

Former Duke star Christian Laettner is headed to the college basketball Hall of Fame class of 2010. When the news broke yesterday, I was reminded of my #1 Duke memory, so I am posting the video of the end the Duke - Kentucky game below (from the 1992 eastern regional.)

With 2.1 seconds remaining in overtime, Duke trailed 103-102. Grant Hill threw a pass the length of the court to Christian Laettner, who dribbled once, turned, and hit a jumper as time expired for the 104-103 win. Video by CBS SportsLine and CSTV.

Just to remind you all that March Madness is coming soon - and I don't mean the time when everyone is in a hurry to file their taxes with the IRS - Duke ends the season at home on Sunday, March 7th, against North Carolina. The following week ends with the ACC tournament and the Dukies are working toward that tournament championship. If you like college basketball, this is for you....

Duke's triple threat defeats Hokies

Dukies move up to no. 5 in both polls released today! Also as of this week, Duke is the only ACC team in the top 25. Usually there are 4-6 ACC teams in the the poll. Click link to read more

Click link below to read review of last night's game:

Duke's triple threat defeats Hokies - Duke Men's Basketball - NewsObserver.com

"Singler (25 points), Nolan Smith (23) and Jon Scheyer (15) combined for all but four of Duke's points and 17 of the Blue Devils' 18 field goals."


Sunday night: Duke defeats VT 76-55
Click for Recap

Link to Photo gallery from the game

family photo Sunday

Leah posted this cute picture of Ethan (at 6 months) in a new suit recently. It is hard to believe that he is already 7 months old!

Video - Top 5 plays of the game - Duke vs Miami

as we approach March Madness

I was just beginning think the Dukies were playing their best ball until the nail-biter last night. Duke is led by three S's - Scheyer, Singler and Smith - who happen to have the highest average in the NCAA of any team's three-some. Together, they average about 52 points per game, but in the first half last night, they only scored 9 points. Duke was losing by 12 points at the half. Coach K must have said something to inspire them in the locker room, because they were a different team in the second half. I really enjoy watching Brian Zoubek (7' 1") develop into a starter this season. He finally started last week for the Maryland game and ended the game with 16 rebounds and 17 points. Last night, he was also very important as he kept the ball moving around to find the open shooter. Duke pulled away from Miami to win 81-74. I like the way the team is "gelling" as we approach March madness. Duke is now 22-4 and no. 6 in the country. If they win all of their games for the next two weeks and win the ACC tourney, then they may be one of the top seeds for the "big dance" in March. Click to read recap

community outreach week

We had a great week of meetings last week at Berean Baptist with the Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team. There were approx 150 visitors during the week, many of them unsaved. The men's night on Thursday was unique as we feasted on roasted pigs for our meal. The Pettit team started the evening with some "mountain music" and of course some humorous music like "I'm looking for a wonderful woman" and "Puttin' on the dog". After the meal, we met in the church for a brief challenge and the gospel was given. There were about 30 visitors that night.



Teen night attendance was down this year because of our "snowstorm" as the worst part of the night was about 6:00 pm and the service started at 6:30 pm. I was told about 75 teens came out anyway which is amazing because of the weather.

Pray for Steve Pettit's wife, Terry, as she is still undergoing cancer treatment. She was in Denver going through the drug therapy for cancer last week, and her flight Friday night to Atlanta was diverted to Nashville because of the snow. The airline then put her on a bus and she made it to Atlanta about 2 AM Sat. morning. And the team left Saturday to drive to Columbia, SC for this week's meetings. Click to view their website SPEA.org

southern snowstorm in Georgia

Atlanta received 3-4" of snow on Friday, Feb. 12th, and this was the most snowfall accumulation since 1994. When we moved to Georgia in 2007, our neighbors told us not to worry about snow as it never snows here. The following winter of 2008 we had 3 snow events that season. Last year in 2009, we had a couple snow events including one that started while we were at church. So far in 2010, we have had two snowstorms and we are expecting more snow this morning.

Click this link to view all photos of the recent Atlanta snowstorm.

family photo Sunday

I gave Cindy tulips for her birthday the last day of January, and they are still blooming. I guess that means I will not have to buy her flowers for Valentine's Day! I did get her a heart-shaped box of Russell Stovers candy(with nuts), a card and a book written by Michael Landon, Jr. I think she will like it. He is the producer of the the Loves Comes Softly movies.

my thoughts exactly!

Abe Lincoln's birthday today

Way back in the day, this used to be a special day for school kids, at least for my generation that grew up in the '60's. Today is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president and my 2nd favorite president (after George Washington). He was born on February 12, 1809 in Kentucky. He served office from 1861-1865 (the Civil War years) and I often wonder how many terms he could have served if he had not been assassinated. The White House website has more on his life.(click to read more)

special week of services

Our special week of "Community Outreach" services at Berean Baptist have been very uplifting and edifying. God is working in our church this week and it is great to be there and witness it. The music is always a highlight when the Steve Pettit team comes, but his preaching has been on target, convicting of sin, and encouraging us to get right with God. Tonight he shared how God wants to work in our lives when trouble comes. His wife had cancer in 1998-99 and God healed her, but now she has another type of cancer. She is going through drug therapy for the cancer this week in Denver. Brother Pettit shared how that he and his wife started in evangelism in the late 1980's. At his wife's encouraging, he added team members until now he has a group of 12 traveling with him. The current team has been together for two years and have been a blessing to us.

(I posted a link to view youtube videos of the team yesterday)

Tuesday night there were actually 240 ladies for the meal and service, including at least 40 visitors. Several ladies made decisions to get saved. My wife had a school parent join her for the meal. Monday night, one of her students who lives in our neighborhood came to the service with us and tonight, one of her fellow teachers came to church with us.

You can listen to some of the messages at this link to our church's home page -

http://www.berean-baptist.org/

Video - Pettit team plays "All Hail the Power"

We are enjoying the music and preaching of Steve Pettit and his ministry team this week at Berean Baptist in Lilburn. Our pastor is calling this our "Community Outreach" week. Tuesday was our ladies night and as of last night there were about 200 ladies signed up to come, including 4o visitors. The Pettit team presented an Irish Sacred Concert for the ladies during the program which included a meal and a gospel message by Steve Pettit. Wednesday is family night with a spaghetti dinner from 5- 7 pm, followed by the service. The Men's Night is Thursday and the men will get to enjoy roasted pig dinner, and fiddle/bluegrass music by the Pettit team. As of Monday night, there were 140 men signed up for the meal, including about 30 visitors. Teen night will end the week on Friday and we expect close to 200 teens for the service and activities afterward. The messages that Steve Pettit preached to the church on Sunday and Monday night were strong revival messages and he encouraged us all to get right with God. The rest of the week will be strong gospel messages and we are praying that many will be saved. This youtube video of the team features an instrumental arrangement of "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name".

family photo Sunday

It's hard to believe but our youngest son turns 29 this week! Brandon Franklin was born at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida on Feb. 9th, 1981. This picture of Brandon and his wife, Rachel, and son, Charlie T, was taken this past Thanksgiving at our home in Georgia. "Happy Birthday, Brandon!"

Slideshow-February birthdays

Franklin and Baggett relatives celebrating birthdays in February:

Kendra Alexander(daughter of niece Kim Baggett A.)Feb 4 in TX
Eric Walker (son of my cousin Gloria Walker)Feb 4 in SC
Joshua Pettit (son of my cousin Jamie Pettit)Feb 8 in SC
Neeley Brown (daughter of my cousin Jeff)Feb 8 in SC
Brandon Franklin (My son)Feb 9 in FL
Airel Baggett (son of Sam Baggett)Feb 10 in AR
Lisa Baggett (wife of cousin Noel Baggett)Feb 12 in CA
Logan Daly (son of my cousin Donna)Feb 13 in SC
Erica Pettit (daughter of my cousin Preston)Feb 15
Charlee Ann Wardlaw (daughter of cousin Lori Baggett W.)Feb 19 in AR
Matthew Williams (Son of Christina Blackstock Williams)Feb 21 in AR
Jacob Pettit (Son of my cousin Ray)Feb 25 in SC

Happy Birthday to my dear wife

Happy Birthday, Cindy!

Yes, not only did I get you flowers, candy, a birthday card, and dinner(lunch) at Ruby Tuesday after church today, but you get your own blog post! How about that!:)

Last year I posted a picture of you with your three sons, so this year I am posting a picture of you and your three daughters. This was from the weekend in PA when we found out all three were expecting in 2009!

things we do for fun

We are listening to Prairie Home Companion on the radio, enjoying the logs on the fire, and putting away Christmas decorations, finally! Well I was sick for the first two weeks of January, so it took us a little longer to put them away this year. A few minutes after I put the tree in my front yard, I went back out the front door to hang our normal "Welcome" sign and heard my next door neighbor talking on her cell and telling someone "You wouldn't believe what just happened. My next door neighbor just took down his Christmas tree!" Now, that was funny to over-hear and I needed some humor after watching a miserable ball game as Duke lost big-time to Georgetown. To top it off, President Obama was there and CBS had to keep showing him over and over. Hopefully, the Dukies will learn a lot from this loss and I am glad it was a non-conference game. (That is the bright side, if there is one)

Cindy is re-organizing the Christmas decorations into four clear plastic boxes, so I will get back to helping her now.

Duke beats FSU - top 5 plays

the state of the union should be interesting!

Thanks to Gary Varvel for adding some humor to everything!

family photo Sunday

My mom and dad recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary! This photo was taken when they were still courting back in 1951

Once upon a dead tree (slideshow)

family photo Sunday

I took this photo in the lobby of our church the Sunday after Christmas. Our middle son's family: Stephen holding Ethan, Meredith, Natalie and Leah holding Sophia. We enjoyed have them with us for the holidays. They were able to stay 11 days this year.

Christian group uses Tebow in TV ad - CFB News - FOX Sports on MSN

Christian group uses Tebow in TV ad - CFB News - FOX Sports on MSN

The former Florida quarterback and his mother will appear in a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl next month. The Christian group Focus on the Family says the Tebows will share a personal story centering on the theme "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life."

Slideshow - New Years Eve Family Fun

This year we spent New Year's Eve downtown Atlanta. After finding a free parking spot on a side street near the aquarium, we walked over to the corner at the CNN building to watch the Chick-Fil-A Bowl parade. We then joined the hundreds of football fans in line to visit the World of Coke Museum. It was a little crowded to spend time reading all of the information in the museum but we enjoyed it. We especially like the tasting room, but I was only to taste about 10-12 flavors out of 64 available. We ended our day with a meal at Cracker Barrell near Suwannee, GA.

Click to view my slideshow at kodakgallery

family photo Sunday

We visited the World of Coke with our family on New Year's Eve. I took this picture of Leah, Natalie and Stephen (Ethan in the stroller) as they were leaving the Coca-Cola Store.