Not good at updating.

Well, it has been over 4 years since my last post.  I must say a lot has happened since my last update.  I am 40 yrs old today, Julie and I have bought a new house, Julie's parents have moved to Springdale, and most importantly, we had a beautiful little girl in Feb.  It is so much fun to watch her and TDP play together. 

2.5 Years Later

Okay, I know it has been 2.5 years since my last post. Well, I will try to sum things up in just a few short paragraphs. Tanner was born September 29, 2009. He is perfect and is all boy. Loves to watch Sportscenter and play any sport that involves a ball (Every sports loving dad's dream).

In the December of 2009, we moved to Mountain Home, AR so I could finish my Masters to become a Nurse Practitioner. My mom allowed Julie and I to live in the polebarn as long as I would mow and maintain the place. Julie quit her job and was able to stay home with Tanner during the first 9 months of his life. I worked PRN at the hospital in the float pool. It was great having Julie home with the baby.

That summer we went to TN, NM and Bull Shoals Lake to visit friends and family. I have to admit one of my highlights was eating dinner with a heir of the Bush's Beans family. One of Julie's friends (RoRo) introduced us while we were in TN on vacation. Julie's parents allowed us to use a week of the time-share since they were not going to use it.

The fall came with me back in school, Julie working at a small school district teaching SpEd. We found a great in-home baby sitter part time for Little Dude. My mom helped out with babysitting 2 days week as well. Julie's folks came to visit for Tanner's first birthday. It was great. On December 17, my grandpa pasted away. I often wondered why I had to move to Mnt. Home so I could finish school. But, if I hadn't I would not have been able to skin a deer, split wood and have early morning coffee with my grandpa at the College Station.

Julie and I were able to spend Christmas with her folks and brother back in Farmington. I had a great time, we even got a little bit of snow. Not like we did the last time we went back for Christmas but enough to make things look pretty. The spring semester came with more of the same, school and work. I graduated with my MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner degree on May 7, 2011.
Not knowing where we were supposed to go, the Lord decided for us. Our renters who were supposed to buy our house when the lease was up moved due to a new job that was out of state. So, we moved back to Fayetteville. Julie, because of her hard work and teaching skills was given the choice between 2 jobs at her old Middle School in Springdale. I started studying for my certification exam and passed.

Through all the moving, working, school, fun, laughter, heart-ache, and crying I would not change one thing. I miss my grandpa very much and wish he could have seen me graduate. The Lord has shown the way and has guided us though the whole thing. At times it was a grind, others seemed like a sprint. The writer of Hebrews 12:1 tells me to "... lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the that is set before us. 2)Looking unto Jesus..."

3 Months Later

Three months later and all I have to say is Julie's eggo is prego. We continue to work and study. Things with the pregnancy are good. The funny thing is I get tired of hearing about how things are going to change. Really, I could have never figured that one out. I guess I just thought I was going to do the things I have been doing and not take in consideration I am responsible for the well being of my child and wife. I saw how hard my parents worked to raise me. I hope I can work half that hard. Enough about that. On the cool side, the midwife unofficially saw some man parts yesterday with the ultrasound. We won't know for sure until next month. I am trying not to get too excited.

Took a great little trip with Julie to see my sister, Tom, nephews, the cousins in St. Louis, and Uncle Harry. It was great to get in the truck and drive around. I think I could do that once a week if time permitted. Everyone is doing good. I am a little concerned about my Uncle Harry. He seems "sad". My Aunt Dorthy died a little over 2 years ago last week. I think it has taken a toll on him. I pray that the Lord will give him peace and joy.

Speaking of the Lord. He is so good to me and Julie. The one thing I do know is that I am so very undeserving of all His grace, mercy and blessings. Each day I am surprised by His goodness and love.

Happy New Year

Julie and I had an excellent Christmas. We flew from AR to NM on Christmas Eve after I got off work that morning. There was a break in the weather so traveling and driving was made easy. Once we made it to NM we were able to spend some precious time with Julie's brother and parents.

Christmas morning 2008 was probably the one of the most memorable I had in years. I awoke to 3 inches of white, fluffy snow. Since my in-laws sleep in longer than me, I decided to bundle up and go for a walk. It was amazing. There were no cars on the road and the fresh blanket of snow muffled any noise. During my time I called my mom and talked with her and my sister who were together in MO. I also got to spend some time with the Lord in prayer. It was great to be reminded about His birth and why we really celebrate Christmas in the first place. As I walked, a particular view enabled me to see clear across the quiet snow covered town of Farmington. It made for a beautiful sight.

The next day brought more snow. Now working nights I sometimes have a hard time staying asleep. So at 4 I was wide awake. I tried reading and playing on my phone. Nothing worked. I closed the door to David's room (brother in-law) not to wake him. But he too is a worker of the night and could not sleep. So there we were at 5 AM bundling up to play in the snow. We walked and talked and played with Raz (family dog). God has blessed me with a great brother in-law. I wish he would move closer to us.

While in Farmington, Julie and I were able to visit with some of our dearest friends. Beth and Kyle are doing great and there kids are getting so big. I love going to their house due to the fact their kids act as if Julie and I have never left. Curtis and Scott are always scheming and always seem to have some way to make extra money. I love it. I just wish I had a good idea for myself. Casey and Jen raising 2 little rug rats that are awesome. If you ever want some homemade chicken wings, Casey has you covered. Julie was able to visit DeAnne and see her new home!! Being a home owner for the first time is always exciting. Julie and I were so pumped with summer when the Lord blessed us with our first house.

The trip to Farmington was overwhelming nice. With all the changes that have taken place in mine and Julie's life these last couple of months it was nice to see something that is pretty much the same. I love knowing that when I go to Scott and Curtis' house I can go the cupboard grab some Double Stuffed Oreos and a soda, Jesse will have something cool to show me that he got from Santa and friends will be friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Last week Julie and I spent a little time decorating our house for Christmas. It was great! Christmas is my favorite time of the year. The one thing I don't like about Christmas is all the commericials. Why do they have to start running in October? Better yet, why don't they say Merry Christmas when that is the name of the holiday and what we are really celebrating.

Stores rely heavily on the Christmas shoppers to make yearly quotas and money, but many of them will not say Merry Christmas. I do not have the exact statistics but I would safely say more than 90% of American's believe in God and Jesus in some way. There is only a small handful of people that do not believe there is a God or Jesus and they seem to be getting all the press. What if Christians did not shop for one year for Christmas until stores brought back Christmas instead of Happy Holidays, or Holiday Season? What if instead of trees and lights we put up Nativity scenes? By the way is that not what Christmas is all about? Is that not the real reason we celebrate?

Oh yeah, for all the non-Christmas bunch why do you care what we say? Shouldn't you be out in the woods worshiping a tree or the stars. Giving one gift to someone is total hypocracy due to the fact that gift giving started with the 3 wisemen who brought gifts (gold, frackinsence, and myrrh) to the baby Jesus. This would also fix the problem of you having to hear Merry Christmas in the stores, because you would not be in them buying gifts.

Thanksgiving Day is only two days from now and I have a lot to be thankful for. First, I am thankful for my salvation that the Lord freely gave to me when I asked for it. I am thankful for my wife who helps me in all that I do. I am thankful that I have a job that is pretty much recession proof (unfortunately it comes at the expense of another person's health). I am thankful to be living a such a wonderful house. I am thankful of living in a place that I can experience the fall with its brightest reds, yellows, and oranges. I am thankful for my friends that I can call anytime of the day to discuss my latest and greatest ideas. I am thankful for the hard times that have come in my life. Pat Green said it best. "Life would be awfully boring if the good times were all that we had".

On My Mind

Several weeks ago Julie and I were on a scenic drive looking at the beautiful leaves that were changing colors in the Ozarks when something on the radio grabbed my attention. It was Pastor David Jeremiah and what he said was something like this: In times like these we as a Christians need to be with our family of Christians every chance we get. I thought about that for a second and realized he is so right.

Julie and I have been looking for a new church since we have moved to NW Ark. Although there are of good ones out there, we have noticed an increasing trend of churches that do not meet on Sunday or Wednesday night. Most of the time theses churches say they meet in small groups at different church member's homes. They say this meets the needs of people better and allows for closer relationships to be formed among members of large churches. I can accept that but several things about that do not sit will with me. Since when did making a commitment to Christ or church become convenient. Is it too much for a Pastor to ask his congregation to juggle their schedule a little to make an evening service on Sunday or Wednesday. I am as guilty as the next guy. There have been many times in my life when I did not want to attend a service due to the lack of time or energy. The thing that gets me is Christ gave His life for me. I know if I would have been put on that cross I would have thought how inconvenient this is and would have asked God if I could do this some other way. I thank the Lord for not doing such. Another question I have is can't we meet people through Sunday School or through Fellowship Dinners? I can't name one Baptist that does not like to sit around a table and eat? To me if you want to meet people in the church get involved in the activities that occur at the church. Will there come a time when Sunday morning is just too crazy for us to meet as a body?


I am not asking or writing about this to question someones relationship with the Lord. I know there are many people that attend churches such as these and are far more spiritually mature than I. I am just questioning where we as Christians are going. I do not have any problem correlating the state of our country with the state of our relationship with Christ as a country. I will also say this, just because we are looking to the Lord for answers does not mean well have not face trials. But I do know it would affect how we react to those trials and how we see them through.