Daddy's Thoughts

What is your lifesong?

2010-03-30T10:49:00.003-05:00

I am reading through a book right now entitled Lifestories. It is written by Mark Hall, the lead singer of the contemporary Christian band, Casting Crowns. In this book, he writes about the inspirations behind some of the songs from thier first two albums. Each chapter of this book is about another song. I must admit that reading this book has been very inspiring to me in my walk with Christ, but also very convicting as well.

One chapter I read recently was about the song Lifesong. The song is about worship and living a worshipful life. Many people go through life looking for their purpose. What am I here for? Why do I exist? What is God's will for my life? I know you have been there. I know I have. Well, I am going to tell you what we are all here for. Come in real close and listen carefully. We are here for one purpose and one purpose alone. We are here to worship and bring glory to our Heavenly Father. The one thing we probably do the least if we are truly honest with ourselves.

In this chapter Hall recounts being at a concert with the students in his youth group. As the band played he noticed many of the youth with their hands in the air worshiping as they sang along with the band. He too had his hands the air when God revealed something to him. He looked up at his hands and thought to himself how he hadn't used those hands to glorify God that day. His hands were empty. That is where the first verse of the song came from. "Empty hands held high/Such small sacrifice/If not joined with my life/I sing in vain tonight" Been there too, huh? I have. Ever find yourself unable to worship because you are spending most of your time seeking forgiveness? I have multiple times. We should always stive to live like Christ. Our lives should be spent in a continual attitude of worship.

Another thing that gets me sometimes is our idea of what worship is. Worship is about what is on the inside, not the outside. The outside is just a reflection of what is on the inside. When we are living lives that are holy and pleasing to God, we make Him smile. Have you ever stopped and thought about that? Who doesn't want to make God smile? We all do. How do we do it? We live lives that are full of Him and are continually giving Him praise and worship. This is what Hall refers to as our "Lifesongs." What is your Lifesong? What does it say about you? Is it one that would make God smile? I encourage you today to make your Lifesong sing to HIM!

Matthew 15:8-9
Galations 2:20
Matthew 23:25-28
Colossians 3:17

Lifesong (Mark Hall)

Empty hands held high
Such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight

May the words say
and the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign Your name to end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

Lord I give my life
A living Sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be Your hands and feet

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Let my life song sing to You!

My Thoughts on The Past Week's Happenings

2010-03-26T14:07:00.003-05:00

This is another long one folks. Again, I encourage you to read it all. I hope you will be encouraged by it.

This past week has been one that will go down in history because of a piece of legislation passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law. As many of you know, this legislation was a complete reform of our country's health care system. Supporters of this legislation say that it will enable millions of Americans to purchase health insurance who previously didn't have access to it. Congress was sharply divided down party lines on this one. It was definitely an historic moment for our country.

I am not going to get into the whole debate that has taken over all forms of media this past week. What I believe is irrelevant when it comes to the root of the matter. The heart of the matter is that our country is in complete darkness. We are lost.

I am a Facebooker and a Twitterer. I enjoy reading about what my friends are doing and love to hear about what is going on in their lives. Today, I came across a post that really disturbed me. I will share. A friend of mine posted, "apparently helping those in need is only Christ like if it doesn't raise your taxes." I read it and just moved on to the next friend's post. Something just didn't feel right. I had that feeling in my gut. Sensing the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I went back to my friend's post to read the replies to his post. A fire was lit in me.

I have been guilty before of putting my two cents worth in when I probably should have just stayed quiet. These social networking sites aren't the best places to debate sensitive issues. A lot of the times we type things with one intention, and when its read, it comes across in a different way. This happens to me all of the time. Having that thought in the back of my mind, I debated with myself whether or not to respond. A lot of the replies were directed at the church in a negative way and I just didn't feel like Jesus would just ignore the comments, so I replied. The comments centered around whose responsibility is it to meet the needs of the needy, primarily in regards to health care. Is it the government's? Is it each of ours? Is it the church's? The general consensus was that the church isn't doing their part. This is where I chimed in.

I referenced 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13. In this passage, Paul basically says, if you don't work, you don't eat. In summary I stated how I believed that we should love everyone. We should also work in order to provide for ourselves and not rely on handouts. Granted, there are people who are physically disabled and are not capable of working. I think that is where the line is. It is a fine line though. Regardless, you should do all you can to try and provide for yourself. I also addressed how we can't look to the church as our example, we have to look to Christ. He is who we should pattern ourselves after and not the church. The church is made of up of humans who are naturally sinners. They will fail you and they will come up short a lot of the times. Jesus, however, never fails.

Well, almost immediately my comments lit a fire under some lady whom I don't even know. She ripped me apart. This is her response:

"No, Wesley. Render unto Ceasars what is Ceasars. Health care is not a hand out. There is no fine line. If Jesus took as much concern with the sick we should as according to your own example [Jesus being our example, not the church]. Jesus did run around working to provide health care. Jesus provided it to those who couldn't get it elsewhere. Too many are working and still can't afford it. You shouldn't have to join the army at 40 because your wife has cancer [article]. I am so blind sided by Christians who are more concerned with their pocket books than what is right. If you had the faith you say you do money would be the least of your issue. And the church SHOULD be the example of Jesus on Earth. It's not, but that was God's set up initially."

Let me stop here and say one thing. What I am about to say isn't to tear this lady down. I believe that this is a view shared by many "Christians" today. I have heard this all before. My comments are directed to all of us Christians.

Now, back to the post. First of all let me point out a few things I do agree with. There are lots of people working that still can't afford the health insurance they need help. I know people like this and YES, they deserve help. I also agree that Christians are more concerned about their pocket books than what is right. That is why there are so many IMB Missionaries who are having to return home because there isn't enough money to support their work. Last, I agree that the church should the example of Jesus on Earth. We are all called to be more like Christ.

There are a lot of things she says, however, that I disagree with because I don't feel her comments are correct, Biblically speaking. I will start at the top. She says, "Jesus did run around working to provide health care. Jesus provided it to those who couldn't get it elsewhere." I don't recall ever reading that Jesus actually sold health insurance, but I don't think that is what she means. If I understood her correctly, she is trying to say that Jesus went around healing all who were sick. This isn't completely true. Let's look at the passage of scripture where Jesus is at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-8ff). Here Jesus comes to Jerusalem and He ventures over near the pool where the bible says "crowds of sick people....lay on the porches." Notice verses 5-6, "One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, He asked him, 'Would you like to get well?'" Verses 8 and 9 say that Jesus told the man to get up and pick up his mat and the man was instantly healed. Jesus then disappeared into the crowd. Notice that of all the people lying there, Jesus healed one. He didn't heal everyone, just one man. Now, I take this to show that we can't always meet every need, nor should we try. We should do what we can do. We should do what God tells us to do. Jesus did what God told Him to do so He healed the one man. My Sunday School teacher says, we can't go to the Mississippi River and expect to walk over to Memphis because we will sink like a rock. It isn't because we don't have enough faith. It is because God has to call us onto the water.

The next thing I want to point out is that she said, "You shouldn't have to join the army at 40 because your wife has cancer." She is referring to an article which tells of a 40 year old man who is enlisting in the Army so his wife, who has ovarian cancer, can have access to health insurance to pay for her chemo treatments. This is a sad story. I feel for this family, especially his young daughter who doesn't understand. On the positive side, this shows us that God always provides. In Matthew 5:19-34, Jesus teaches us not to worry. He tells us that God will provide for us and for us to consider the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. Neither can provide and care for themselves, yet God manages to provide them with the necessities of life. Jesus says we are more valuable to God than the birds or the Lillis, yet He takes care of them. What makes us think He won't take care of us? It is sad that this man has to join the Army in order to get the health insurance that he needs, but I see it as God providing him a way to care for his sick wife. I also applaud his guts and his determination to take care of his family no matter what the cost. It is a way for him to meet the needs of his family. He may not like it, but he is doing anyway because he wants to provide for his family. WOW!! That's quite an example for us husbands and fathers.

It all boils down to this. Whether you agree with the new health care law or disagree with it is irrelevant. What really matters is are you being obedient to God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." I want to look into this verse. Who is this directed at? God says, "my people." Well, who are God's people? Again God says, "who are called by my name." That means we don't choose God, He chooses us. It isn't anything we do on our part. It is all Him. That is how we become God's people. He has to call us. I want to jump to the end of the verse. There God gives us a promise. When God makes a promise, He keeps it. This promise, though, has some stipulations. In order to receive this promise, God says we must humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. This, I believe, is our problem. I heard it put like this. Picture a teenage girl. She is pregnant, out of wedlock obviously, and she has decided to get an abortion. As she makes her way to the front door of the clinic, she is hounded by protesters, many of whom probably claim to be Christian. They have signs and are yelling at her about she is a murderer and how that baby has a life. Can you picture that? We have all seen in on the news at one time or another. Let's stop right there and look at why this girl is where she is. She was a member of a church. She was a Christian, yet to many she was viewed as an outcast. She didn't "fit the mold" and most people in her church just silently ignored her. As a matter of fact, since she was considered different by many in her church, it was no surprise to them that she turned up pregnant. Do you think that maybe, just maybe if those same church people had loved her and not judged her; maybe if those same church people would have discipled her; maybe if those same church people had reached out to and prayed for this young immature Christian, things might have been different?

We are these church people, aren't we? How many times have we been quick to state our opinion instead of praying about a situation seeking God on the matter? How many time have we encountered a rough patch in life and tried to make it our job to right the ship? I can't count the number of times I have been in those situations. You see instead of pointing fingers and name calling and throwing our opinions around, we need to stop. We need to humble ourselves and realize that we can't do it on our own. We need to seek God's help and pray for His wisdom and guidance and deliverance. When we do these things, God says He will forgive us and will heal our land.

Regardless of where you and I stand on the health care issue, we need to quit pointing fingers and start praying. That is where we have gotten off course. Instead of blasting Pelosi, Reid, Stuppak, Obama, and all the others, we need to pray that they will humble themselves and pray and seek God. If we will seek God, He will find us and He will heal this country. He promised us. Will you join me in putting this into practice. Will you hold me accountable? Can I hold you accountable?

Home Alone

2010-01-26T09:18:00.002-06:00

Well, as usual, it has been forever and a blue moon since I last blogged so I do apologize. Daddy's little girl is just 2 days away from being 6 months old. Man how time flies! It has been so much fun the last 6 months being Kaylin's daddy. Watching her learn to roll over and over and over has been a lot of fun. She is hitting all of the milestones right on schedule. She is now sitting up too. I think that the days of laying down are over. Kaylin doesn't like to lay down, she wants to sit up so she can see everything that is going on.

I must say that something big happened this past Sunday night prior to the kickoff of the Vikings/Saints game. We have hardwood floors so we will lay out a couple layers of blankets on the floor for Kaylin to play on. Well, the game was at commercial so I got down in the floor with her to play. I pulled her over towards me and what came out of her mouth? "DA-DA!!! Yes, it was a proud moment for me. Mollie was in the other room, but Kaylin said it so loud and so clear that Mollie came running in the room. I asked her, "Did she just say what I thought she did?" Mollie confirmed that she heard it too. Kaylin doesn't know what she said, but her daddy will take it and will never forget it!

Mollie has some meetings in Fayetteville today. Her boss, who has been more than accommodating for Mollie, told her that if she had someone who could watch Kaylin while she was in meetings, that she could bring her. Since I was fresh out of vacation time, Mollie, who didn't feel like she could leave Kaylin yet, coerced her mom into going up there with her to babysit. That means that daddy was home alone last night. Usually, that doesn't bother me, but now things are different. Not wanting to sit in the house missing them all night, I called up my old man. Mom is gone too, so we decided that we would have a guys night. After a trip to Jonesboro to eat and then swinging over around Newport to pick up something from my aunt's and then passing through Hickory Ridge, and rolled in around ten o'clock. We had a really good time reminiscing about the good ole days. We drove past my grandmother's old house. Man, the memories are so sweet. Sadly, none of my family lives in Hickory Ridge anymore. Sad. So, as I was saying we finally got home around ten o'clock. This was great, so I thought. Now I could just come in and go to bed....I wish. The last thing I remember was looking at the clock at 3:30 am and thinking how my dad was about to get up and I hadn't even been to sleep yet. I don't sleep well when Mollie is gone. I hate it. Needless to say, I did get some work done, but I sooooo look forward to them being home again. I will be making a beeline for home come five o'clock. When I was growing up my dad used to talk about how he just liked it when everyone was home. It just made him feel better and it used to annoy me because I have always liked to be on the go. Well, I have to say I sure do like it when everyone is at home!

Thankfulness

2009-11-13T11:00:00.003-06:00

Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away. Man, where has the year gone? I got a laugh out of someone's post on Facebook yesterday talking about how they feel sorry for Thanksgiving because everyone seems to just overlook it. We go straight from Halloween to Christmas and poor old Thanksgiving just seems to be forgotten. I think it is because we don't "get" anything on Thanksgiving. For Halloween we get candy and on Christmas we get presents, but on Thanksgiving, we just get another meal. Granted, it is a big meal, and usually followed up with a deep sleep, but it's not the same. Anyway, I thought I would take the time and list some of the things I am thankful for this year. I am shooting from the hip, but here goes.

First of all, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without him, I would be forever doomed. Because of his death on the cross, I can have eternal life in heaven. Thank you Jesus.

Next, I am thankful for my beautiful daughter Kaylin Reese. She is that breath of fresh air when I seem to be suffocating. She is the extra ray of light when all around me seems dim. I love her more than anyone could ever imagine. She is the best gift I have ever received. (Isn't funny that the best gifts we can receive come from God)

I am thankful for my always loving, always supporting, always gorgeous wife Mollie. She is my best friend and faithful companion. I don't deserve all she has done for me, especially in the last year.

I am thankful for my health. In a year when sickness has stuck the world, I have managed to somehow stay healthy. Thank you Lord for my health.

I am thankful for a family that loves me. There are so many people in the world today who just want to feel loved. I don't have that concern and for that I am extremely thankful.

I am thankful for:

-my home
-my job
-my church
-my friends
-my blessings

Well, that is my list, or at least all that has come to my mind right now. I am sure that there are some things I have failed to mention, but it happens when trying to do these kind of things. Oh well. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Until next time!

An Eventful Weekend

2009-11-09T15:59:00.007-06:00

It has been a busy last couple of days. I feel like I have been in a fight with Mike Tyson. Let me recap. Friday afternoon, after work, I left home for the hills of Northwest Arkansas. Me, my little brother and dad were taking a guys trip to Fayetteville to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. We had a blast. Dad doesn't get out much, so Chris and I were going to introduce him to a little "culture." Our first stop along the way was in North Little Rock. We stopped to eat dinner at Johnny Carrino's. The highlight of the meal was when Dad was eating his salad. The waiter came over and asked Dad if his salad was ok. Dad said yes and as the waiter reached in the direction of dad's plate, dad covered it with his arms and told the waiter he wasn't done with it yet, to which the waiter replied, "That's ok, I was just going to refill your tea." Chris and I laughed so hard we almost peed our pants. Dad thought the guy was going to take his plate before he was through. Anyway, maybe you just had to be there.

We finally arrived in Fayetteville around 11:00 pm, in one piece. After dropping off some tickets at another hotel to a guy for Mollie's uncle, we took a quick drive through campus before heading to the hotel. We finally got to bed around 1:00 or so. Since we were with dad, morning would come early, about 5:30 to be exact. As a matter of fact, I was woken by Garth Brooks, a.k.a Dad, singing in the shower. Thanks for the concert Dad!

We got up, got dressed, loaded our bags back in the truck and headed to Denny's for breakfast. We arrived at the stadium around 8:00 and headed to the Broyles Athletic Center so that Chris could go through the museum. Here are a few pictures of some of the exhibits.

This is "The Boot." It is a trophy given to the winner of the LSU/AR game. It's home has been Fayetteville for the last two years.

This is the game ball given to Arkansas after they knocked off #2 Auburn 27-10 at Auburn October 7, 2006.

This is the game ball from the 7-Overtime game between Arkansas and Ole Miss in 2001. Arkansas came out the victors against Eli Manning the the Rebels that LATE night in Oxford. Boy, do I remember that one.

No Razorback museum would be complete without a shrine to one of, if not the best running backs in Razorback history, Darren McFadden. Below is the Doak Walker Award trophy given to the best running back in college football. Darren won this award on two occasions in 2006 & 2007.

We scored some great seats for the game. We have 6 season tickets, but we sold 4 of them. Since Chris and I wanted to take Dad, we had to look for 3 tickets so we could all sit together. My buddy Ross gave me 3 tickets 25 rows up behind the Razorback bench on the 35 yard line. They were great seats! Arkansas won the game 33-16. It was a must win for Arkansas and a great game. We finally got to the truck and headed home. We finally got home around 8:00 or so. Boy were we tired, but no rest for the weary.

I had to be at church at 8:15 because I sing in the choir. I finally headed home from church around 11:20 only to pick up Mollie and Kaylin and head back to Wynne for lunch at Mom and Dad's house. We were celebrating Chris's completion of his graduate work. After lunch, I went with Dad and Chris to replace a belt on Mollie's car. When that was done, I came home and finished staining the spindles on my deck, cut, or pulled some broken branches out of a tree in the back yard, cleaned up underneath my deck and loaded up the four wheeler, which I had to take to get serviced. Nightfall caught up with me so I had to go inside. I finished off the night in bed watching the Dallas Cowboys put away the Philadelphia Eagles. Man, what a weekend!

I need some sleep! Maybe tonight I can lay in bed and watch wrestling. I am not getting my hopes up, but we will see.

Until next time!

3 Months and Counting

2009-10-30T16:28:00.002-05:00

My precious little girl turn 3 months old this past Wednesday. Time really flies by. What a treat she is to have. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to raise her. Kaylin has been growing learning a lot. The last time we took her to the doctor, she weighed in at 9 lbs 7 ozs. and measured to 23 3/4" long. Recently, she discovered her hands. That seems to be her thing now. We can tell a lot about her mood by what she is doing with her hands. If the hands are in her mouth and she is smiling, she is happy and content. If her hands are in her mouth and she is cranky, you had better be getting ready to feed her. If her hands are over her eyes, she is sleepy.

Tomorrow she will take part in her first Halloween. She will be a zebra. We found her costume at Walmart in Rogers, AR. Her Mimi and mom made a mane for the hood of the costume. She is absolutely adorable. I will have to post some pictures of her. I have mixed feelings about trick or treating tomorrow night since the Razorbacks are playing at 6, but I guess that is why I have a DVR.

It has been a long last two weeks for the Davis family. Last week I was gone Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to an accountants' meeting in Texarkana, AR-TX. Mollie had a meeting in Memphis on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Well, Kaylin and I joined Mollie on Monday and Tuesday nights after work. That meant that I had to commute from Memphis to Forrest City Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, but it was worth it for us all to be together. Mollie and I are wore out. We plan to stay home tonight and watch the new Transformers movie. Sleeping in tomorrow morning is also in the game plan. Oh well, I guess that is all I got.

Until next time!

1 Month Old

2009-08-28T09:50:00.003-05:00

Today my baby girl turns 1 month old. It is so hard for me to believe that we have already reached this point. I have always heard that "they grow up fast," but it is really hitting home today. This last month I have had experiences that I will treasure forever. Praise the Lord that Kaylin is healthy and sleeping most of the night. She goes to bed around 11:00 or 11:30 and sleeps till around 5:00 or 6:00 most mornings. If we are lucky, she will sleep till 7:00. We have been so blessed.

On a different note, I have been asked to participate in a small group bible study/accountability group with some other men in our church. This has really been a blessing to me. I have been able to get to know some other guys in our church and learn more about Jesus too. I am really excited to see how God is going to use this group.

Next Saturday begins the 2009 Razorback football season. To say I am ready is an understatement. This season will be different for me since I have a new little Razorback. The plan for now is to go to the SEC games, with the exception of next week's game. I have high expectations for the Hogs this season. We will see how it goes. The schedule is brutal, however, not quite as brutal as last season. The difference this year is that we bring back a lot more experience. If you add to the equation that we now have, not one, but two quarterbacks who can be game changers, the Razorbacks could be a force to reckon with this year. Once they hit the field, all of the speculation and talk will end and we will see what we got. I am not ruling out a 10-3 finish. That is optimistic, I know, but I think people aren't giving Bobby Petrino and his staff and team enough credit. Call me wrong, but I think come November, the Hogs will have everyone's undivided attention.

GO HOGS!

A Week Old Already

2009-08-04T10:46:00.002-05:00

Today, Kaylin is one week old. The time really goes fast. She is doing really well. We went to see the pediatrician last Friday. Kaylin weighed in at 6.67 lbs. The doctor said that she was doing really well. She did have a little bit of jaundice, but that was normal, especially in breastfed babies. According to the test they ran, her level was 12.8. The nurse said that a lot of times they see levels well over 20, so there was no need to worry. They wanted us to come back on Monday just to check her level again. So, yesterday Mollie took her back and the count had dropped to 9.3. We were relieved to see that.

We are also excited to see that Kaylin is beginning to develop a routine when it comes to eating and sleeping. She does best when we do a diaper change prior to eating, then feed, then sleep. Mollie seems to think she is catching on. Praise the Lord that Kaylin sleeps most of the night anyway. We are usually up only twice, sometimes three times at night with her. However, this is only to feed and do a diaper change. She doesn't cry a lot unless she is hungry or has a dirty diaper. We are so thankful.

Mollie is doing really well too. She is an excellent mom. I am so proud of her. Just to share a funny story, when we were in the hospital with Kaylin, they had to put her under a warmer to raise her body temperature a little. Well, as most of you know, we like it cold. We usually keep our air set on 67 degrees at night. Mollie was a stickler for this because she gets so hot at night. Well, now she is paranoid that Kaylin is going to get cold. When we went to bed a few nights ago I turned the air down to 70 degrees. When I got up the next morning I noticed that mom had moved it up to 73 degrees. My how a little one can change you! I have been ribbing Mollie pretty hard about that one. Too funny!

As for dad, well, I am doing well too. I went back to work yesterday. I will admit, I am a softy. When I picked Kaylin up yesterday morning and kissed her goodbye, I almost lost it. As a matter of fact, my exact thought was, "screw this, I am staying home," but I quietly put her down and scurried out the door. Today was a little easier, but I do get to go home and see her at lunch.

We have been blessed with really good friends. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends since Kaylin was born. The phone calls, emails, and texts have been very comforting. To those of you have have called, emailed, texted, came by, or brought food, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We can't thank you all enough.

Looking back on the events of the last week puts a HUGE smile on my face. It is funny how a child can change you. I never thought that it was possible to love someone so much. I will do anything, and I mean anything, for Kaylin. If she needs her daddy, he will be there. I tell her that everyday. I will do everything in my power to be there for her. I want her to know that. She puts everything into perspective for me. Thank you Lord for such a healthy and beautiful little girl!

Kaylin Reese Davis

2009-07-29T12:28:00.006-05:00

God is good. I know we hear and say that so many times, but never before have I personally seen such a miracle from God in my life like I did when I witnessed the birth of my little girl. Anyone who says that there is no God is a fool. Kaylin Reese Davis was born into the world on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 3:22 pm. She was 7 pounds 1 ounce and 20 inches long. Those with children have always said that there is nothing like the birth of your child. They are right. I will never forget seeing Kaylin for the first time. I wish that I could put into words what I was feeling. I am so proud of Mollie. She did so well.

The whole experience was surreal. On a funny note, I thought I was actually going to miss her birth. Around 1:00 pm that day, I went down to the cafeteria to get me some lunch. When I left, Mollie was a 4. I figured that I had plenty of time. I left her with her mom while I was gone. Well, I had just finished eating and had gotten up to go when Dorma called me. She said that I needed to get back up to the room quick. They were setting up the room and calling Dr. Curry. Needless to say, I kicked it into high gear and decided to take the stairs instead of waiting on the elevator. Oh yeah, it was only six floors that I ran up. I thought I was going to need to stop by the cardio unit by the time I reached the top. I got there in plenty of time though.

I have never been so proud of one thing in my life. Kaylin is the prettiest baby I have ever seen. She has been so good. I know that may change at any time. Never did I realize how possible it was to love someone so much. She is so sweet. I look forward to doing so much with her.

I want to thank everyone who lifted us up in prayer. It is because of this that everything went so well. I fully believe that. Second, I want to thank everyone who took time out of their day to come see us at the hospital and/or send well wishes and congratulations. Mollie and I have such good friends. We thank you all so much.

Well, I hear my sweet Kaylin starting to cry. Gotta go love on her!

It's Almost Here

2009-07-21T10:46:00.002-05:00

Mollie and I went back to the doctor yesterday for a check-up. Her doctor said that she is beginning to show signs of early labor. While it could be another 1-2 weeks before she naturally goes into labor, she said that it could be as early as tonight (last night). Mollie asked her about inducing labor. She checked her schedule and asked how Tuesday sounded. I told her I was only in favor of inducing if Kaylin's lungs were fully developed and she was ready to be born. She told me that according to her research and studies, babies born on or after 39 weeks have a less than 0% chance of underdevelopment of the lungs. She told us that they are really strict about inducing labor, but we could do it next Tuesday if we wanted. Well, as of now, we have to be at the hospital next Monday (July 27th) at 5:00 pm to get settled and hooked up to everything. They will give Mollie meds to help her dilate further if she isn't far enough along by that point. The induction will start on Tuesday morning. We are welcome to change our minds, but as of now, that is the plan. We are still seeking God's will in this, but as of now, this is what we are hoping for. Please keep us, especially Mollie and Kaylin, in your prayers. I will try to update if anything develops any sooner. Please check me out on Facebook and Twitter, as these are the easiest ways for me to get information out there. Well, here we go! It won't be long until my little girl will be resting peacefully and safely in my arms. Thank you Lord!

While I Wait

2009-07-11T12:35:00.003-05:00

Here I am sitting in a hair salon, an hour and a half from home, with my wife while she gets her hair done. Why? Because I love her. Yes, we drive to West Little Rock from Colt to get to Mollie's hair dresser. Mollie has been coming here for about 7 or 8 years now. It wasn't so bad when we lived in Cabot, but it is quite the drive now. I won't complain. If she is happy, then I am happy.

As I sit here, I have been reflecting on the past week. Monday, the first day back after a long weekend. I get to work to find out that a co-worker and friend had fallen on July 4th and broke her leg in three places. Poor Mrs. Pat. I hated to hear that she did that. At least she was with her husband and daughter and not alone. She had surgery on Friday to repair the break. I am told that all went well and she will be fine.

Tuesday was a normal day, but I received news on Wednesday that just stopped me in my tracks. I was eating lunch with a co-worker when my dad calls and tells me that our music pastor at church is leaving. I was stunned, and that is an understatement. I am not going to air any dirty laundry, but I will say that this news has caught a lot of people off guard. I feel so bad for our music pastor and his family. I understand both sides, but what makes this hard is that I have a good friendship with both parties. It leaves me torn. I want to be the best friend I can to both guys, but this is the hardest issue I have ever had to deal with. I know that God is in control and that His ultimate plan will prevail. That is all that gets me through.

And so here I sit in the salon waiting on Mollie. My rear end is getting pretty sore and I am hoping that she is almost done. This is the last weekend we can really leave town and do anything. After this weekend, Mollie's doctor doesn't want us getting farther than 60 miles from the hospital. I think Mollie will deliver early. I give her two weeks maybe three, but I feel that Kaylin will be here the last week of July.

Well, here comes Mollie. Yay!!!!

It Won't Be Long

2009-07-06T14:08:00.002-05:00

Well, the day we have been waiting for since last November is only 28 days away. It won't be long before little Kaylin Reese is here. There are so many things going through our heads. When will she be here? Do we have everything ready? Did we forget to pack anything for the hospital? Did we pack enough for the hospital? What are we going to do with our dogs while we are in the hospital? These are just a few of the things going on in my head. The bottom line is this, no matter what, Kaylin will be here soon.

We have finally gotten the nursery situated. We have washed all of her sheets and most of her clothes. All we can do now is wait. The showers have been extremely helpful and we are grateful for everyone who has given us a baby present. We have one more shower left and it is this Sunday at church. We sent out 194 invitations, so needless to say, this will be the biggest shower so far. I think we have most of the "big" things we need such as a stroller, car seat, and such. The main things we need are diapers and bottles. We can't have too many diapers.

Well, I will do my best to post any changes or updates that may come our way in the coming days and weeks. Mollie is 36 weeks and will be considered full term in a week. Hopefully Kaylin will come a little early but not too early. Please keep us in your prayers. God has really blessed this pregnancy so far as we have had no problems. Pray specifically for Mollie. She is getting really anxious and nervous about this whole delivery. Also, please pray for me as I will be her "coach" through all of this. God has been so good and we are certain that He will continue to bless us.

Until next time!

Beginning to feel real

2009-06-05T11:23:00.002-05:00

Well, we got the call yesterday afternoon that our baby furniture had arrived. So what did we do? We hooked up to the trailer and headed to Memphis right after work to get it. Thank the Lord that the rain had moved out and the roads were dry. We didn't' even have to cover it with a tarp. The furniture is still in the boxes. We just backed the trailer into the garage when we got home and decided to wait until Saturday to start putting it all together. We ordered the furniture from a small store in Memphis called Babytime. Let me tell you how impressed I was with these people. The first time I went in their store, I noticed that they had Christian music playing. That was the first thing that impressed me. The second thing was how friendly and helpful they were. They seemed as if they really cared about our baby and her bedding. They weren't pushy. They let us look and were there to answer any questions that we had. They were really nice and I would defiantly recommend them to anyone looking for baby stuff.

We sat down a couple of nights ago and started filling out the baby book. That was fun too. We enjoyed reminiscing back to the beginning of this journey. We only have two months until Mollie's due date. Things are starting to get hairy. We feel as if there is so much we need to do before Kaylin Reese gets here. I hope that moving the furniture into the nursery will make things a little more calmer. Probably not.

It is really starting to sink in that we have a precious little girl on the way. We now have a little thing we do every night before we go to sleep. I lay my head on Mollie's stomach just to feel my little girl move. It is probably one of the neatest things I have ever experienced. Sometimes she is really active. Other times, she is calm. I can't wait to meet her. Mollie will be considered full term in just 5 weeks. At that point, even though she isn't due for another 3 weeks, she would be just fine to deliver. That is the part that freaks us out. We don't expect her for 8 more weeks, but she could come as early as 4 to 5 weeks from now.

One other fun thing that Mollie and I are doing is making a video for Kaylin showing what all is going on leading up to her arrival. I think Kaylin will think that it is cheesy when she is younger, but will really appreciate it when she is older.

Well that is about all for now. I will try and get some pictures up of the nursery when its ready. Until next time!

Remembering the birds

2009-05-26T15:55:00.002-05:00

Mollie and I went to Memphis on Saturday to begin setting up baby registries. On our way over there, I stopped in West Memphis to gas up. As I was pumping gas this little sparrow landing just a few feet from me and began drinking from a water puddle about the size of a quarter. I was filled with joy as I remembered when Jesus told us in Luke 12:22-30 about how God provides for us all. God saw to it that that little sparrow found water in the middle of the city. It was just the perfect size puddle for that sparrow. We should always remember that God will see to it that we are cared for. When times get tough, we should always remember the birds.

Kaylin Reese

2009-05-15T09:43:00.004-05:00

Mollie and I recently had an opportunity to have a 3D/4D ultrasound done. It is really amazing what they can do with sound waves. I have some really cool pictures that I will share with you below. We are about 2 1/2 months away from Kaylin's arrival. Needless to say, we are very anxious and ready to hold her in our arms. There is still a lot to get done. It finally sank in with Mollie yesterday. She realized that she will be full term (37 weeks) in only 9 weeks! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Here are the pictures:

Making Progress

2009-05-04T14:15:00.002-05:00

Well, we are just 3 months from the expected arrival of little Kaylin Reese. There is still so much to do. Mollie and I went to Jonesboro on Friday night to get the last of the fabric that will be needed to make Kaylin's bedding. Mollie's mom is hard a work cleaning out her laundry room so that she can get to her sewing machine and start the production. I am glad that Mrs. Dorma is doing this. It will be good for her and I am sure Kaylin will some day be glad to know that her Mimi went to that much trouble for her. On Saturday, we got back in the nursury and started going through some of the boxes in the closets. When we finished, we had pretty much cleared out one half of the closet. The other half doesn't have near the amount of boxes. We are going to try and tackle a little bit each night.

Like I said earlier, Kaylin should be her in three months. That is so hard for this dad-to-be to grab hold of. Where has the last 6 or 7 months gone. I feel like there is so much to do. We have been watching A Baby Story on TLC. This is fun to me because it heightens my level of excitement, but for Mollie, not so much. She is really nervous about this whole hospital thing. She doesn't like needles or anything like that. She doesn't handle pain well at times. She tells me that she doesn't want to watch it anymore. She said that the thought of IV's and needles gives her nightmares. I guess I will have to watch them on my own from now on.

Things are moving along at work OK. I really need a break, but I am saving my time off for when Kaylin is born. I hope that I have enough time built up so that I don't have to take off without pay, but if I do, then I do. We are prepared for me to be off as long as Mollie needs me. I know that my family comes first. Mollie, on the other hand, has nothing to worry about. As long as she gets in at least a half of a day, she will be good for the whole day. To make things easier, she can even work from home. She has about 4 or 5 weeks of PTO built up already. Her company and boss has really been good to her throughout this whole pregnancy, sometimes I think her boss is more protective of her than I have been. That is pretty protective!

So that is what is going on in my life. We have been resting a lot because we know that those days are coming to an end here pretty soon. We spend a lot of time just laying in the bed watching TV. The last two Sunday afternoons we have napped a lot. After all, isn't Sunday the day of rest? LOL!

Until next time!

Friday

2009-05-01T10:20:00.002-05:00

It's finally Friday. This hasn't been too bad of a week, but I am still glad that the weekend is almost here. We have a lot to do in making a place for little Kaylin Reese. We have decided to have Mollie's mom make the bedding for her. We have looked at lots of different types of baby bedding and have come to the conclusion that it is a hot commodity. Mollie and her mom went and picked out fabric and Mrs. Dorma is going to just make everything. We have to make a quick run to Jonesboro tonight to get the rest of the fabric.

Tomorrow we have to get Kaylin's closets cleaned out. When we moved into our house, we kept one room empty because we knew it would be used for a nursery some day. What we failed to do was make the closets in that room empty. Now we are left with the task of sorting through all of the stuff in them. This is something we should have done a long time ago, but you know how that goes.

Tax season has come and gone for another year. I am all finished except from one from last year. This one takes a lot of time to do and since this is my side job, I don't always have the spare time to devote to it. I really need to take a day and just get after it. Sometimes I wonder why I even fool with doing taxes, but the extra cash comes in handy. Since I will have two females in my house in the very near future, I guess it is good to have all the spare cash I can get.

Something else I have started doing is counting Weight Watchers points again. I have gotten to the point where my clothes don't fit and feeling miserable. So far so good. I have lost about 7-8 pounds in the last two weeks. I have done this before so it wasn't that hard to get back in groove. It hasn't been too bad. As a matter of fact, I don't even use all of my daily points. I can have 25 points a day and an extra 35 to use throughout the week. Usually I try to save those for the weekend so that I don't have to be so cautious. I really need to lose about 30-40 pounds. We will see how it goes. Please keep me in your prayers.

Last night I attended an event at the church called "The Main Event." This was a dinner and program put on by the men's ministry. The speaker was Jarrod Jones. He talked about the importance of sexual purity and how sexual sin can be so damaging. The scripture reference was Proverbs 7. He gave six ways you can destroy your life. These points were centered around sexual impurity, but could also be applied to everyday life and sin. He said you can ruin your life if you:

1.) Get numb to the word of God
2.) Think we are in control of our sins.
3.) Think we learn from experience and not by the facts.
4.) Flirt with sexual temptation.
5.) Deny the obvious.
6.) Believe no one will ever know what you are doing.

One point Jarrod made that really stuck to me was that we don't obey God so that we will receive His love and mercy, we receive His love and mercy, therefore, we obey. Wow! I have never thought of it like that before. We want to live our lives under law so bad. The good news is that because of Jesus, we are no longer under law. There is nothing we can do to "earn" our way to heaven. We are naturally sinners. We can't do it, but through Jesus, we can. We can because Jesus came and lived a life without sin. He was tempted like we all are because He was God in human flesh, yet He never sinned. He was killed for our sins, but after three days, He rose from the grave proving He was who He said He was. It is because I believe that, that I am accepted by God through grace. I don't have to be perfect, just blameless. Jesus paid it all. Wooooo! How awesome is that?

Last, but not least, I found out last weekend that I am going to be an uncle. That is right, Chris and Jill are also expecting. They are due in mid December. Mom and dad are ecstatic. I am happy for them. They are trying to sell their house in Marion and move back to Wynne. If anyone is looking for a house in Marion, let me know.

Well that is all for now.

Sermon Notes

2009-04-22T10:11:00.002-05:00

I mentioned earlier a sermon that Bro. Matt preached last Sunday on the recession. This sermon put everything into a Godly perspective. I wanted to share the sermon outline.

"The Economic Recession, Our Heart, Anxiety, and the Kingdom of God"

Luke 12:13-34

Observation #1: The economic recession we are currently experiencing is a gift of grace from God for our souls.

Observation #2: Jesus is more concerned about the condition of our hearts than settling little disputes.

Observation #3: Anxiety is our hearts over the future is directly tied to God not having full reign over our lives.

Observation #4: The new heart Jesus is aiming for is one that sees and values Him above all things, instead of using Him to get things.

I would encourage anyone who wants to hear this message to check it out at http://web.me.com/wbconline/main/media.html.

The United Tour

2009-04-20T09:59:00.003-05:00

What a great day yesterday was! I started off my day attending church. Bro. Matt preached from Luke 12:13-34. The sermon was part one of two parts on the economic downturn. He reminded us that God is in control of the economy and everything else. God cares about us and will provide for us. I will have to post his sermon notes on here later. They were really good points and puts this whole economic situation, and life in general, into a Godly perspective.

The highlight of my day came later in the evening. I got the opportunity to go and see two of the greatest Christian music artists of all time in Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman at the Robinson Center in Little Rock. What a terrific show! To make the night even better, we were on the second row! That's right, we were probably 10-15 yards from Smitty and SCC (b/c of the orchestra pit). They opened the show together with some praise songs before Steven Curtis Chapman took the reigns. He did all of his current songs, Yours, Miracle of the Moment, Cinderella, Magnificent Obsession, and a few others. Smitty came out towards the end of set and they did some of each others older songs. That was really cool. Steven Curtis Chapman also spent a lot of time talking about the death of his little girl Maria Sue. For those that don't know, Maria was SCC's 5 year old daughter. He and his wife Mary Beth adopted Maria from China. She was accidentally killed in their driveway last May 21 when her brother accidentally ran over her. All that said, I was inspired by a comment SCC made regarding God's plan for our lives. He said that at Maria's memorial one of his sons said that this current moment in our lives is like looking really close at a beautiful painting. Up close the painting just looks like a bunch of chaos, different shades of paint and lots of different brush strokes going in several different directions. He said that is what our life is like on God's scale. Its only when we step away from the painting and see the whole picture, that we can really appreciate its beauty. WOW! How big is that? When we look at our lives right now, sometimes we just see chaos and craziness, but when we look back on our lives and see how God has brought us through life's struggles and successes, our lives are a beautiful masterpiece! Woo-hoo! I thought this was really well said.

After about an hour and a half, Michael W. Smith came out and did his set. I was so blessed to have been able to be led in worship by Smitty. He is just awesome. He is really good at worship leading. He also gave a brief testimony. He spoke of the time, about 20 years ago, when he actually realized the sovereignty and love God had for him. Smitty said that he accepted Christ at the age of 10, but the realization of who God was and is didn't sink in until later. I could relate to Smitty here. I accepted Christ at the age 8. I know I was young, but even at that young age, I understood that I was a sinner. I understood that my sin separated me from God. I also understood that Jesus came and died on the cross to pay the price for my sins and then rose again 3 days later. I put my trust in Him back then and accepted Him as my Savior. Unfortunately, I didn't fully realize the power of what lived within me until April of last year. Like Smitty, I am a child of the great God. The King of Kings, the Master of the Universe, the Lord of Lords. He's my daddy! He loves and cares about me. He likes me and is quite fond of me. My sins and trespasses against Him are forgiven. He holds no record of wrongs. He is God of the universe and He is my God. I am so glad that I have this peace and hope.

The show ended around 10:30. We finally got out of the parking garage and got home around 12:15 am. Yes, I am dragging today, but I feel good because I have been filled up spiritually. Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith put on a great show. I hope that I have the opportunity to see them again some day.

Convicted

2009-04-02T14:01:00.003-05:00

I just watched an interview with Cindy Winters. She is the wife of Fred Winters, the pastor that was gunned down at the pulpit in Illinois. She spoke of how she forgives the man who killed her husband and the father of her two girls. She told of how she loves him and hopes that he develops a personal relationship with Jesus. She has no anger or hostility towards this man. The man who robbed her of a husband whom she loved dearly, who robbed her two girls of their daddy. They will never be able to have their dads walk them down the aisle. When they take the family trip that they all planned, he won't be there. Mrs. Winters loves and forgives this man. Its funny you know. I have a hard time forgiving someone who says something or does something to me I don't like. I have a hard time forgiving someone who cuts me off or drives too slow in the fast lane. What does that say about me? I still have my wife. I still have all of my loved ones. I haven't been through half of what they are going through.

This is the perfect example of Christ-likeness. This interview really ministered to me. I would strongly encourage you to go and watch it too. I hope that you find it as encouraging, convicting, and uplifting as I did. You can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjkbFZ_c6ss.

I Think Bro. Matt is Correct

2009-03-25T08:50:00.005-05:00

A few months ago our pastor, Bro. Matt Pearson made the comment that he believes we were heading towards a time when we will no longer have the freedom to freely proclaim Christ. Now, having been raised in church and having this luxury for the last 30 years, I couldn't fathom that being a reality; however, I read two articles today that have changed my mind. The first article involved a security guard taking away a sign from a fan at the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. The article stated that signs larger than 8.5" x 11" are not permitted by the NCAA. That is fine, but I have to wonder if what was on the sign also had something to do with it. You see, the sign contained the scripture John 3:16. Maybe I should give them the benefit of the doubt, but I bet if the sign was supporting one of the teams, if it would have received the same treatment. Who knows. The second article was about a valedictorian who began to share her faith as part of her commencement speech, but had her microphone turned off in the process. Please check these articles out yourself. They can be found at http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/565492.aspx & http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92704.

I found these articles to be disturbing. The reality is that we can't take our freedoms for granted. One day we many not have them. We must share our faith and share it now. We take for granted that we live in a country where, currently, we can worship freely. Slowly, but surely, those rights are being taken away. Who would have ever thought that we would be witnesses to this. I think Bro. Matt is correct.

Lots to be grateful for

2009-02-25T16:17:00.003-06:00

Let me start off by apologizing for allowing so much time to pass since my last posting. A lot has transpired since then. I guess the best place to start was Valentine's Day. I tried to think of something to do for my bride for several days before deciding to treat her to a day at the spa. I got her a package from the Vue Spa & Salon in Jonesboro. I didn't tell her about it until the morning of Valentine's. I made her get up and get ready to go pretty early, or least early for a Saturday. I had also booked a room for us so that she could have a place to come back and get ready before going to dinner. I had hoped to be able to check into the hotel early so that I could work on tax returns while she was at the spa. Well, as my luck would have it, I didn't get to check in early. I went and sat in the parking lot of the hotel while I worked in my truck. I was able to get one tax return done before the battery on my laptop died. So much for trying to be productive as that put an end to my work. I got one return done. The rest of the time I spent driving around Jonesboro and at the mall. When Mollie was done with her pampering, we went out to eat and to see a movie before the pregnancy kicked in and Mollie came crashing down in exhaustion. We had a good time though. I was most excited about getting a Wii for Valentine's Day. Here I am a grown man getting excited about a video game. That is a whole other post though.

Last week was very rough, especially Wednesday and Thursday. I was afforded the opportunity to travel to Corning, AR to assist the A/P clerk at Clay County Electric Cooperative Corporation. They suffered a tremendous amount of damage to their system when the ice storm hit in late January. I helped her enter some of their payables for payment. That was a 13 hour day. That is all I am going to say about that.

Friday, the 20th was my 30th birthday. I thought I handled it well. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. Through it all I realized that I have a lot to be thankful for. The good Lord has blessed me far more than I ever deserve. Please know that I am not trying to boast, but in 30 years I have accomplished more than most do in a lifetime. I have a beautiful home, a beautiful wife, a good job, a sweet, sweet baby girl on the way, a family that loves me, and much, much more. God deserves all the glory, honor, and praise for all of the blessings that I have been given. Yes, I may be over the "cool years," but I am truly happy and grateful to my Lord and Savior for it all.

In closing, I am proud to announce that Mollie and I found out that we are expecting a little girl in August. Mollie was supposed to have an ultrasound in March to find out the sex of the baby, but she pleaded with the doctor's office to let her have one early so that we could find out on my birthday. We are very excited. I can't wait for Daddy's little girl to get here. Yes, she already has me wrapped around her tiny little finger.

Until next time!

We made it!

2009-02-12T08:23:00.003-06:00

Well, the "Dream House" production has wrapped. It was kind of bitter-sweet seeing them tear down the set as I cleared out of my dressing room last night. I had a lot of fun doing the performances, but the practices weren't too much fun. Isn't that normally how it goes though. No one likes to practice, but everyone wants to play in the game! The first night went pretty much without a flaw. The second night wasn't too bad either. Everyone was more relaxed since they already had one performance under their belts. Everything was going well until right before intermission. I delivered a line about her "stage" mother, but looked right at her "real" mother when I did it and Mollie got a little tickled, then the audience got tickled b/c she did. The rest of the show was good. Last night was closing night. It was crazy. Everyone did well, it was just that some of the lines were changed, on purpose, by the cast members. This was really funny. To give you an idea of what I mean, I will give you an example. When I would speak to my "stage" mother-in-law, I would refer to her as "Dorma" instead of "Dorothy." For those of you who don't know, my real mother-in-law is named "Dorma." The crowd got a kick out of it.

Well, it is now all over and tonight I don't know what I am going to do. That's a lie. I have got to get caught up with my tax and bookkeeping work. Tax season is now underway and I have got to get going. I have a lot to do. I have got five tax returns sitting on my desk at home to do. There is no rest for the weary.

Well, that's about all I have. One last thing, we just found out that a co-worker of ours is having either a triple or quadruple bypass today. Her name is Sharon. Please keep her in your prayers.

Opening Day is Here!

2009-02-09T15:46:00.003-06:00

Well, as I told you last time, Mollie and I are participating in our church's Valentine's Dinner Theater this year. We play Lyle and Christy Wells in the musical "Dream House." Tonight is opening night! It has been nearly 12 years since I have participated in a stage production. I am not nervous, but I am ready to get it over with. This has been a very stressful project for me and Mollie. I am excited about taking to the stage with the best partner I have ever had, my lovely bride Mollie. We will be performing tonight and the next two nights as well.

Tomorrow marks the 15th week of our pregnancy. In just five long weeks we will find out if we are having a boy or a girl. It doesn't matter to me what we have, but I think Mollie wants a girl. If I had to bet on it, I would say we are having a boy. That is just my gut feeling. All is going well. I can't complain. We have rented a baby doppler to listen to the baby's heartbeat. We just listened to it last night. It is very cool to hear the little one in there. I can't wait to meet him/her in August!

Well, I will try to check back tomorrow with an update on tonight's performance of "Dream House."

Until then!

Catching up

2009-01-22T14:45:00.002-06:00

Please forgive me. I know it has been a while. I have been very busy, but I have also been very lazy. Let me begin by giving an update on our little one. We are half way through our 13th week. Mollie went back to the doctor on Tuesday for a check up and all was well. She is still very tired a lot. She hasn't been sick, which is a blessing. We hope and pray that all continues as it has.

Mollie and I have undertaken a huge task. We were talked into participating in this year's Valentine's Dinner Theater at church. We have a very small cast. We are not at liberty to discuss the project, but I can tell some things. The name of the musical is "Dream House" and it is going to be good. That is all we are allowed to say about it. I will admit, it has been tough trying to rehearse and learn lines. I haven't done a musical since high school. Mollie has had a tougher time with it than I have. After a long work day, the last thing she wants to do is rehearse. There will be three performances on February 9-11, 2009 in the youth building at Wynne Baptist Church. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the church office at 870-238-3271. We invite everyone to come out and have a good steak and enjoy some wholesome family entertainment.

Well, that is what has been going on, in a nutshell. Until next time!

Baby Update

2009-01-05T11:13:00.002-06:00

We are wrapping up week #9 today. Tomorrow begins week #10. I have to admit that this whole week counting thing is confusing. I think I am figuring it out. Mollie and I have been reading through a book called The Pregnancy Journal. It was referred to us by some friends. It is to be read daily. Each day it tells what is going on with your baby. We usually read it at night before we go to bed. It is really neat to read each night what all happened that day. I would recommend this book to anyone who is expecting.

Mollie has been doing really well. She hasn't had much sickness. We have read and heard that it is good to eat snacks throughout the day to try to avoid morning sickness. This has held true so far. I can only think of two times when she has really gotten nauseous and both times were when she hadn't eaten anything in a while. She is a champ! 211 days to go!

I just found out today that a friend of mine that I worked with at Bell & Co. in North Little Rock is also expecting. The funny part is that she is also at 9 weeks and expecting the first week in August just like us. How crazy is that?

I will close by saying in advance that I do apologize if I come across as "giddy" or "crazy," because I am. This baby has made me plumb crazy. It is our first and I will probably say and write the same things over and over. I guess it just comes with the territory. So, I apologize in advance. Just bare with me.

Until next time!

Change of Plans

2009-01-01T20:39:00.002-06:00

Well, 2009 is here! What a day it has been too. This was our plan for the day. We were going to get up and make a quick trip to Jonesboro to return some Christmas presents and then come home and do lunch with my parents. After that we were going to come home, pack and head off to deer camp for the weekend with Mollie's parents. Well, everything was going well until lunch. We had arrived at my parents' house to eat when Mollie's phone rang. It was her mom. She was calling to tell Mollie that their house was on fire and that she needed Mollie's help. We drop everything and fly back to Colt to check on everything. While driving 90 miles an hour Mollie is also calling 911. We get to her parents house just as the fire trucks do. It turns out that the fire was in the chimney. Her dad had just cleaned out the chimney and some of the soot fell down onto the stove in the fireplace. They have a wood burning stove that they use for heat. Apparently the soot and ash on top of the stove was beginning to burn and the smoke from the chimney leaked into the attic because of a crack in the chimney. The firemen removed the burning ash and soot and all is now well. The only damage was from the smoke. The whole house will have to be cleaned. We are just thankful that the house didn't burn and that the fire was contained in the chimney. They are very fortunate. The fire chief told us that if this had happened at night or if we hadn't been home, then the house would have burned to the ground. Thank God for sparing their home. I wouldn't want them to have to live with me (HA!)! Now, needless to say, we won't be going to deer camp.

Good Bye 2008

2008-12-31T14:14:00.003-06:00

The last day of 2008 is upon us. Another year has come and gone. We will probably wrap up 2008 the same way we do every other year. I imagine that we will take my dad out to eat (today is his 54th birthday) and then come home and sit on the couch waiting for 2009. That sounds real exciting doesn't it? Well, any time we get my dad in public, you never know what to expect. We usually have to lock his windows when we take him anywhere. You see, he likes to roll down the window and talk to strangers. We always tell him that he is going to get us shot at one of these days. We will probably do a lot of laughing. Dad has been extra "giddy" since he found out he is going to be a Papaw, so there is no telling how he will act. I am pretty sure we will have a blast tonight.

PTL that I am off work on Friday. We are thinking about going down to my father-in-law's deer camp for the weekend. I don't know if we have made a decision on that yet or not. I will do whatever I am told. We always have fun when we go. There wouldn't be any hunting going on, just riding the four wheelers and shooting stuff. I am not thrilled about going, but I will. It is one of those things where you dread getting down there, but once you are there, you have a good time. We'll see what happens.

I wish everyone a very blessed New Year!

Good News!

2008-12-29T11:45:00.004-06:00

I have very good news! Mollie and I are expecting our first child on August 4, 2009. We are very excited, well, I am probably a little more excited. I have been blogging about this since we found out the good news. You can find those blogs below as I am just now posting them (It's Almost Time & I Wish I Could Tell). I will probably use this blog to keep everyone updated on our progress. Please pray for Mollie because she will be carrying the load and doing all of the work. Pray for me that I will be the support she needs. Also, pray for our little baby. Pray that he/she will be healthy and that there will be no complications. Last, please pray that we will be Godly parents who raise up a child in the way of our Lord.

Until next time!

Christmas Time

2008-12-22T14:17:00.002-06:00

Christmas is almost here. I can't believe how fast it has come around again. This will be my and Mollie's first Christmas in our new house. It has been a busy December for us. We had a Christmas Open House the first weekend of December and then spent the next two trying to Christmas shop. Last week we had Christmas Parties or events going on practically every night of the week. This Christmas will be a little bittersweet for Mollie and her family. Her brother and sister-in-law have traveled to the United Arab Emirates to be with her family for Christmas. Charisse's parents are missionaries. Her whole family will be together this year for Christmas. My mother-in-law asked Charisse when was the last time her whole family was together for Christmas and she said that she couldn't remember. I am happy for the Armstrong family, but I know that Preston and Charisse will be missed here this year.

Despite all that is going on, I have been trying to keep the real reason for Christmas in my mind. I received an email from a co-worker this morning that really ministered to me and helps put all of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season into perspective. I am including it below in hopes that it will minister to you as it did me.

"A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable; and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids. She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year - overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card. Finally the elevator doors opened, and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed, she couldn't take it anymore and she stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot." From the back of the car, everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond, "Don't worry, we already crucified Him." For the rest of the trip down in the elevator, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. This year, don't forget to keep "the One who started this whole Christmas thing" in your every thought, deed, purchase and words. If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be."

We must not forget the true reason for Christmas. Over 2,000 years ago a Savior was born to us. You see we we are unclean people. By unclean I mean that we naturally live lives that are unpleasing to God. This is called sin. Because of this sin, we are forever separated from spending eternity with God (Romans 3:23). God is a loving God, but he is also a just God. The only punishment for our sin is death (Romans 6:23). However, God has given us a means of overcoming the sin in our lives. This means is Jesus, His only Son (Romans 6:23). Jesus was God in the flesh. He came to earth in the form of a human and lived a perfect life. He was ridiculed and mocked by many and was eventually crucified. The story did not end there. Three days after He was killed, Jesus rose from the dead, thereby conquering death, and ascended back into heaven to sit at the right hand of God. When Jesus died, He took the punishment for our sins upon his shoulders and paid the price (Romans 5:8). Now, because of this, we can spend eternity with God. All we have to do is confess that Jesus is the Lord and Son of God and believe that He died for our sins and that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9,10; 3:20). Once we do this, we become children of God (Romans 10:13). That is why we celebrate Christmas. We celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you have never put your faith in Jesus, why not now? Accepting the gift of eternal life will be the best gift you can receive this year. If you have never done this, I encourage you to speak with another Christian or even contact me. There is hope out there. No matter who you are or what you may have done, Jesus loves you and wants to spend an eternity with you. Always remember, no matter what is going on this holiday season, the real reason for the season is Jesus. May God bless each and every one of you this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

It's almost time

2008-12-19T09:49:00.006-06:00

Well, we had our first ultrasound. We are definitely pregnant. I knew we were all along, but it is just something about seeing the baby and hearing a heartbeat that makes it official. I haven't been this excited about Christmas since I was a kid. We have only told a few people. We told some friends of ours with twins just because we had some questions and we knew that they would know. We swore them to secrecy, but since they live in Lowell, I don't think that will be a problem. We also told Mollie's little brother and sister-in-law since they will be gone at Christmas. This is a funny story. They had come home from New Orleans for Thanksgiving. The night before, we were putting up lights on our Christmas tree. Charisse was reading the warning label and it said that the paint in the light cords had lead in it and may cause birth defects. Mollie dropped the lights and rushed to the sick to wash her hands. Preston asked if she was pregnant. We both just stopped and looked at him with that blank "uh-oh" look. He said, in a voice of disbelief, "You are aren't you?" Mollie nodded yes and his next response I will never forget as long as I live. He said, with no expression, "Sh-t!" He was totally dumbfounded. We laughed at him so long. I wish I could have caught that seminary student on tape at that given time. He was stunned. He wasn't mad or upset, I think he wasn't expecting her to say yes.

Now back to the ultrasound. Mollie hates going to the doctor. I mean she hates it. She had rather take a bullet than go to a doctor. She won't even talk about it. She didn't sleep the whole night prior to our first visit. I, on the other hand was very excited. I couldn't wait to see our baby. Well, when the technician showed us our child, well, I don't know if I can describe how I felt. When she let us hear its heartbeat, it was like sweet music to my ear. I could have listened to it all day. We are at 7 weeks as of this week (December 16). We really didn't want to tell until about 12 weeks, but with it being Christmas, we thought it would make for a really nice gift to our parents.

I can't wait. My dad has been wanting a grandchild for so long. We got him and my mom both sweat shirts that read, "PAPAW" and "GRANDMA," respectively, with "(finally!) underneath it. I hope to video their reactions. I never video at Christmas, so I have to come up with an excuse as to why we are videoing this particular Christmas. For Mollie's parents we bought a picture frame for three pictures. It reads "DAD + MOM = ME." We are going to put our pictures above our titles and a copy of the ultrasound picture above "ME." I am not sure what kind of reaction to expect from them. This isn't their first grandchild, but it is her mom's first blood related grandchild. I know they will be excited, but I am expecting two totally different reactions from each side of the family.

Well, we go back next month for another check up. We will find out the sex of the baby at 20 weeks. I am so excited. Everyone will just have to excuse me because I am going to be just crazy over this child. I am sorry if I talk so much about it that it annoys anyone. I guess that just comes with the territory. Again, I apologize that I am posting this late. I have to talk about it or else I may just let it slip before it is time. It won't be much longer now, just a few days! It's almost time!

I wish I could tell

2008-12-09T20:39:00.005-06:00

I am writing this long before I will post it. I just can't contain myself. Two weeks ago when I came in from work and Mollie said that she had a present for me. We get gifts for each other all the time, so I thought nothing of this. She brought me a box. I had no idea what to expect. As I removed the lid from the box, little did I know that my life would change forever. I looked into the box and found 5 postive pregnancy tests. That's right, I am going to be daddy! I couldn't believe it. I had prayed for so long for a baby. God had answered my prayers. I always wondered how I would feel when this time came. Well, it wasn't quite like I thought it would be. This wasn't a bad thing though. I was so at a loss for words. We had to get it all together because my parents were coming over for dinner. It was all I could do to hold it in. My dad has wanted a grandchild for a long time. I sat and watched him eat and wanted to tell him so bad, but we are going to wait until Christmas to share the news. Each time I look at our parents, I want to tell them so bad, but I keep it to my self. I hope that I can wait until Christmas. I wish I could tell.

'Tis the Season

2008-12-08T18:03:00.000-06:00

The holiday season is now in full swing. Thanksgiving has come and gone and next is Christmas. It has been a while since my last post. I know we are past Thanksgiving, but I wanted to take some time to mention a few things that I am thankful for.

1. My Savior: I am very thankful for Jesus Christ. This past year, He has become so real to me. It has been a long and stressful year. Without Him, I couldn't have made it. I am thankful for His sacrifice on my behalf.

2. My wife: I have the best wife in the world. She is just brilliant. She is always there for me and supports me in all that I do. I am so blessed to have her.

3. My home: I am very thankful for my new home. I never imagined that I would ever be blessed this much. It is my hope and prayer that it grow into a home that is pleasing to God.

4. My family: I have a very supportive family of which I am very thankful. I was very fortunate to have been raised in the family I was raised in. I am also thankful for my extended family on all sides.

5. My job: During a time when our country is reporting record high unemployment levels, I am very thankful to have a job.

6. My church: I am very thankful for Wynne Baptist Church. We have been blessed with a church that is biblically sound. Our pastor is one that loves God and is very wise beyond his years. Our church staff is the hardest working staff in the world!

These are just some of the things that come to my mind when I think of what I am thankful for. This list could go on and on. Mollie and I have been blessed far beyond what we deserve. I will be forever grateful for all of God's blessings.

This past weekend we had a Christmas Open House. We had so many people ask when we were going to do this that we finally decided to schedule it. There was a great turnout. I was really overwhelmed by the number of friends we have. Thank you to all who came out. I am sorry I didn't get to visit as much as I would have liked to.

Now that the Open House is over with, I can kind of breathe a little. Next week will be crazy. We have Christmas parties on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. I am sure that by the end of next week, I will be completely wiped out, but bring it on. This is my favorite time of the year.

Please remember the true reason for Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season. I would encourage you to read Luke 2 when you get a chance. Can you imagine what it was like the night Christ was born? Imagine how Mary and Joseph felt as they experienced this. I wonder what the shepards thought when the sky was filled with angels proclaiming Christ's birth. I heard Pastor/Author Rick Warren say that his family actually has a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas. His family sings Christmas Carols and then they take turns telling what they are thankful for. They then have cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus. The youngest family member gets to blow out the candle on the cake. How cool is this? I would encourage you to start a new tradition this year.

Well, that is all for now. Before I quit, I want to leave you another blog to check out. It is the blog of my pastor, Matt Pearson. The web address is: www.mattwbc.blogspot.com.

Merry Christmas!

Reflections on the past week

2008-11-21T22:53:00.001-06:00

Another week is in the books. It is funny how the older I get, the faster time seems to go by. This week was no exception. We have been going through an audit all week. We have to go through this every two years. The last time we had this audit, it didn't go so well. Needless to say, I was not looking forward to this one. To make matters even more stressful, we were also working against the clock to complete our month end procedures and monthly reports at the same time. I am thankful for the hard working people I work with. We pulled together and got the job done once again. Thank you to all who have kept us and me in your prayers over the last couple of weeks. I have had some very long and tough days. God is so good in how He answers prayers.

Isn't amazing how God takes care of His people in any and all situations? I am reminded of how my Sunday school teacher puts it. God always sees to it that we are taken care of. He has a plan for our lives and His plan will ALWAYS be accomplished. He doesn't need our help. As a matter of fact, it is when we try to help Him, that we end up making a situation worse.

As I reflect on the last week, I am saddened by the world we live in. We live in a world full of evil. Our news broadcasts hardly ever report good news anymore. The stock market is down. Someone has kidnapped a child. One country is attacking another country. That is the news we usually hear on a daily basis. Very rarely do we hear anything good anymore. This is really sad. I think we have become accustomed to this and we live for bad news. We don't concentrate on the good in people, rather we look to the bad. As a result, I have decided to use this space to try and lift other people up.

Today, I want to tell you about my wife and best friend Mollie. I know I am biased, but I think that most of you that know her will probably agree with me. Mollie is very outgoing. She loves people. I don't know of anyone Mollie can't carry on a conversation with. She always wants to please. She puts others first and herself last. I have seen her go well out of her way many times to help another. Her youthful spirit makes her fun to be around. She is really good at listening and very slow about passing judgement. Mollie is very determined. When she sets her mind to do something, there is nothing that will stop her. She is family orientated. Only God comes before family. I could go on and on. I think the world of her. She makes me want to be a better person. It is such a blessing to have her as my wife!

Well, that is what is on my mind tonight. I know I have been all over the place. Now you know why I have titled this blog like I did. Before I shut down the computer, I wanted to let everyone know that Mollie and I will be hosting a Christmas Open House beginning at 3 pm on Saturday, December 6, 2008. Everyone is welcome to come. We will be sending out some invitations, but we aren't sending them to everyone, mainly family. Please don't be offended if you don't get one. Consider this your invitation. Well, I am ready to call it a week.

Until next time!

A Quite Day

2008-11-06T15:57:00.001-06:00

"It was hours, now its just minutes." That what you can hear one of my co-workers say after we reach the four o'clock hour in regards to when we get to all go home. Today has been a relatively quiet day. I don't want to put the cart before the horse though. I have seen things go to pot really quick around here. It has been a busy day for me. We lost a very good employee last March to another company and as a result, I have inherited a lot of his work load. That is good for me, but I sure hated to see him go. The end of the year is just around the corner and with that brings the preparation of next year's budget. Now, having inherited some new tasks and duties, I am getting to actually help with this year's budget. The down side to that is that I am having to use my buddy's worksheets without the luxury of having him explain how they function. I have to try and figure it out myself. This isn't a bad thing because in doing that I get a better grip on the task at hand. I have worked like a dog on those today.

I didn't go to our Kiwanis Club meeting this morning. It has been a rough week and since it was the monthly board meeting, and since I am not a voting member of the board, I decided to sleep in (our meetings are at 6:45 in the morning). Those that know me well understand. I hit the ground running this morning only to stop to go to lunch with my lovely bride and the girls (Carolyn, Norma, and Pat). I haven't gotten my appetite back yet so I didn't even eat all of my fish. It was fun to go and visit though. It is good for us to get out and go vent. The best part was that Mollie got to go with us.

I plan to go home and not do a whole lot tonight. I guess I will do what ever Mollie wants me to. I try to do what she tells me, even though I suck at that some times. I guess that is all that is going through my mind. Please remember to pray for our country.

Until next time!

Why God?

2008-11-05T14:36:00.000-06:00

What a day it was yesterday. My day started at 2:30 in the morning when I was "driving the porcelain bus." I can't remember the last time I was THAT sick. While it did allow me a day off from work, I can't say it was worth it. I stayed in the bed ALL day. I only got up a few times. Thankfully it was only a 24-hour bug. I feel much better now, but am still a little achy.

Now, to the election. All I can say is may God have mercy on our country. I don't understand how we could have elected this man as our president. I agree with how a co-worker of mine put it. She said, "I prayed to understand why God allowed Obama to win this election.. I received an answer and it’s because we as Christians, all of us, have set idly by and let the un-believers of this country come in and remove Him from all aspects of our lives! The moral fiber is being eaten away daily and we let it happen. It is really sad!!! I only know that it happened for a reason! Maybe we will get up and fight now!! If God had allowed John McCain to win, we would've relaxed a bit and we can't do that!!!!!! America is still worth fighting for and we have a responsibility to our children and grandchildren to fight with all our might by prayer and standing up for our beliefs!"

While it was a historic election with historic results, we must not forget who is ultimately in control here. Our next president may be Obama, but he isn't our true leader. Our true leader is the creator of the universe. He is the one who spoke us into existence. He is the one who's name is greater than any other name. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is my Savior. He is King Jesus. It is in Him that we must place our trust. His word tells us to acknowledge Him in all our ways and "He will make our paths straight." That is what I hold on to. We must seek Him in all we do. While we may not like the outcome of last night's election, we must realize that God is still in control. He still reigns. This is all part of his PERFECT WILL. I will place my trust in Him and all will be fine. We must all seek His wisdom and understanding now more than ever. May God bless the United States of America!

One of those days!

2008-10-31T16:45:00.000-05:00

I am so glad that it is almost 5:00 on Friday afternoon. This has been one of the worst days. It has been one of those days when everything seems to irritate you and/or go wrong. I am sure many can relate to that. It all started when I realized this morning that I had forgotten to cancel my hotel reservations in Fayetteville for this weekend. Of course because I didn't give a 24-hour notice, then I may be charged a cancellation fee. Then I get to work. I won't go into details, but I have encountered several trying situations (for the lack of a better term). To boot, I haven't been able to sell my tickets to the game this weekend. Now I am stuck with 6 tickets and a cancellation charge. I never skip games and the one time I do, this happens. The moral of that story: "NEVER SKIP A RAZORBACK GAME IF YOU DON"T ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO."

On a positive note, I do get to sleep-in in the morning. I will be watching the football game on TV tomorrow and get to go watch my alma mater (Wynne Yellowjackets) play Forrest City tonight in Wynne. I really hope that this is a relaxing weekend. I certainly need it. After all, it has been one of those days!

Election Time

2008-10-29T14:28:00.000-05:00

Election time is here again and am I ready for it to be over! I cast my ballot yesterday. I don't want to have to deal with the long lines on election day so I try to go vote early. I am not ashamed of how I vote. I consider voting a very serious matter that we should all participate in. This year's election will probably be one of the biggest this country has ever seen. Now, I know you can probably about every election from now on, and you are probably correct.

Our pastor has been preaching on the upcoming election the past few Sunday nights. Obviously he can't promote one candidate over another, but he can talk about the issues. This is the approach he has taken. He pointed out to us that, as Christians, it is our responsibility to vote. He points to Luke 10:27, "Love your neighbor as yourself." If we love our neighbors like we should, then we will want to see to it that they have Godly leaders. Therefore, we should go and vote for those leaders. Having said all of that, I believe that is necessary to vote for those leaders who most exemplify and stand for Godly principles. I will be the first to say that neither candidate is my first choice, but I believe that the man for the job is Senator John McCain.

I would encourage you to check out www.afa.net to research each candidate yourself. Sen. McCain supports federal protection of marriage, which is the union of one man to one woman. Sen. McCain also opposes teaching homosexuality in public schools and homosexual adoptions. He believes adoption is wrong. Biblically speaking, this is that man we should elect as our next president.

I agree with my pastor in that we shouldn't vote based on our pocket books. Please know that God will protect us in all circumstances. We must adhere to Proverbs 3:5-6which says "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." I know times seem bleek right now, but remember God is in control. We must seek his guidance, not our own. This is true in all aspects of life. We must vote for a man who has Godly values. This is how it was put to me, I hope that we never reach a day that sins such as homosexuality is viewed as acceptable. If that happens, then it is no longer going to be viewed as a sin. If it is no longer viewed as a sin, then there is no need for a Savior. If there is no need for a Savior, then may God have mercy on all of us.

Please vote on November 4. If you don't like either candidate, please choose which one you like better than the other. Also, please considered prayerfully who God would have you vote for. I would also encourage you to check out Rev. Matt Pearson's blog at www.mattwbc.blogspot.com.

Until next time!

Nutt Returns

2008-10-25T12:26:00.000-05:00

I am writing today from Interstate 40 on my way to see the Hogs play. This will be a very interesting game. I say that not because both teams are 3-4 overall or because both teams are 1-3 in the SEC. I say that because on this day, October 25, 2008, Houston Dale Nutt returns to Fayetteville with his new team, The Ole Miss Rebels. I am a little nervous. I was a Houston Nutt supporter when his tenure at the University of Arkansas came to an end last year. I didn't alway agree with Coach Nutt, but that is life. In the ten years he coached here, Coach Nutt did great things for the University. No man derserved what the fans put Coach Nutt through. So here we sit. Bobby Petrino is the new head Hog and Houston is now a Rebel. Today he comes home, except this time he is on the other side. Tonight will be a very emotional night for everyone in the stadium. What will happen when Houston brings his new team onto the field? How will he react? How will the players across the field from him, that HE recruited, react? Only time will tell. The Hogs have won the last 4 games against the Rebels. The only difference is that the one who coached us to those 4 victories is on the other side now. I would just have to tell Coach Nutt, "Welcome home, Houston. I hope your stay in Fayetteville is great except from about 6-11 tonight." GO HOGS GO!!!!

Finally Friday

2008-10-17T09:15:00.000-05:00

I love the song by George Jones called "Finally Friday." I used to try and get in the car around 5:00 on Fridays just to hear them play that song on the radio as I drove home from work (It was one of those "woo-hoo! the weekend is here!" kind of songs that was perfect for 5:00 on Fridays). That was before I got an iPod and satellite radio, two of the greatest inventions ever, however, I have been getting a little frustrated as of late with my iPod. I have an FM transmitter that I can connect to my iPod that will allow me to play it throught the radio in the car. A few weeks ago I started to notice that I was getting a lot of static when listening to the iPod. I assumed that it was a short in my transmitter. Well, four transmitters later, I am still having problems listening to my iPod in the car. I have tried Mollie's iPod with my transmitter and hers works. I guess that it is my iPod that is messing up. This is not good news people. I can listen to it with headphones, just not with my FM transmitter. Well, I have found that Mollie doesn't think I should be driving down the road with my headphones in. I don't see the differnce in that and those people with those bluetooth headsets for their phones. Oh well, I don't know what I am going to do. I can have it repaired for $129 or I can get a brand new one for $250. I guess that is their way to keep repairs to a minimum. As my dad would say, "Decisions, Decisions."

It is Friday and I don't have to work tomorrow. That is always good. In addition to not having to work, the Hogs play tomorrow. That's even better!

Caldwell Christian Academy (CCA) is having a Fish Fry Fundraiser today. CCA is a private Christian school founded by my in-laws. I must say, I was against this whole idea. It is funny how God can change your perspective. I don't have any children, but I was dead set on my kids being Yellowjackets like thier dad. I wanted to make sure that had the ability to be in all the clubs and participate in all of the activities that their dad did when he was thier age. All of that is good and it really helps with scholarships, but what is more important. There is one thing that CCA can offer them that a public school can't and that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They will be taught reading and arithmatic in both environments, but they won't hear about Jesus in the public school system. That is more important than anything else. I have been ordained as the head of the house by our Lord and it is my responsibility to be the spiritual leader of my house. When I look at the situation through HIS eyes, it is crystal clear where my kids should attend school if there is the option. Having said all of that, I am now a strong supporter of a Christian education. If you have the choice, choosing God supercedes any other choice. I know that they won't get to be in all of the things their dad got to be in. They probably won't get some of the experiences that I had, but they will get to experience something openly at school that I never did and that is the word of God. That trumps everythig else. Praise God for schools like Caldwell Christian Academy!

HOGS WIN!!!! HOGS WIN!!!!

2008-10-14T13:36:00.000-05:00

I apologize for it being so long since my last posting. This will probably be a recurring theme with me. A lot sure has happened since then, some good, some bad. I will address the bad news first. My friend and co-worker Norma lost her sister to cancer this past Sunday. I was so sorry to hear this. I don't think it was expected. She wasn't great, but her condition was encouraging and then took a turn for the worst Saturday night. We have been praying for her for a long time. I am reminded at times like this that sometimes God answers are prayers, just not the way we thought He would. Norma's sister has been healed of cancer, however, God took her home to do it. Let's keep Norma and her family in our prayers. Norma is a very strong person and I know she will be fine.

On a more positive note, my Razorbacks got their first conference win of the season this past Saturday down on the plains. The Hogs beat the Auburn Tigers 25-22 in Auburn. It was a much needed win to say the least. I had a feeling after watching the Florida game that they would probably beat Auburn. That feeling became even stronger when Auburn fired thier offensive coordinator on the Wednesday prior to the game. I was a very proud Razorback fan on Saturday night. The next hurdle for the Hogs comes Saturday night in Lexington, KY as they battle the Kentucky Wildcats. I look for another Razorback victory, but a very close game. I don't want to look ahead, but after Kentucky, former head coach Houston Nutt comes to Fayetteville with his new team, Ole Miss. That should be a good one, but lets get past Kentucky first.

We are hosting a Sunday School party at our house on Friday night. We are also hosting three youth choir members from Rogers Saturday night who will be singing for our church on Sunday. It will be another busy weekend. I am just thankful that we have been blessed by the Good Lord to be able to do these things.

Until next time!
GO HOGS!

Told you so

2008-10-09T16:34:00.000-05:00

It has been three or four days since my last posting. I said from the get go that I am not good at these things. Actually, it has been a long week. On Monday we got some new furniture to go in our basement. Mollie wanted a "game table." We bought a counter high table that came with eight chairs. We worked on putting together those darn chairs for almost six hours. I was so sick of it by the time we finished that I didn't care if we had any furniture in the room. That was Monday. On Tuesday night I had a Fumble Club meeting. Since I am the Secretary/Treasurer, I had to go. That was Tuesday. Yesterday I had a haircut after work followed by AWANA's and then church choir practice. There went Wednesday. Then comes today. I had a Kiwanis Club meeting this morning, as I do every Thursday, at 6:45 am. It was an early start and I am ready for an early finish. To add to the madness, we had a new hire start this week. She will be helping in the accounting and billing departments. I have been spending a lot of my workday training her. I really hope that Mollie doesn't have big plans for tonight. Her dad has gone deep sea fishing so I bet that we go out to eat with her mom. That is the norm.

What a week. Thank goodness that there is only one day left until the weekend. Then it is time to watch those Hogs play again!

Not a Complete Loss

2008-10-04T21:54:00.000-05:00

Well, Saturday has come and gone. Just like that one more Razorback game is behind us. The Hogs fell to the Florida Gators today by a score of 38-7. The game wasn't as bad as the score shows. Everything seemed to unravel midway throught the 4th quarter. The Hogs only trailed the Gators by ten going into that quarter. For three quarters today we got to see a glimpse of what lies ahead for the Razorback football program. There were times when the offense would move right down the field. Likewise, there were times when the defense would hold the Gators for no gain or very few yards. It appeared today that Bobby Petrino's philosophy is starting to click on most cylinders. We are not there yet, but we are well on our way to being a dominating force in the SEC and I can't wait.

Next week the Hogs go to Auburn for another SEC Western division showdown. The Tigers fell today to the Vanderbilt Commodores by a score of 13-14. Just like us, the Tigers are struggling to learn a new offensive scheme. It should be a pretty good game next Saturday. The game will be on Pay-Per-View. I plan on getting the game at home and having some friends over to watch. Who knows, I may even invite my pastor and faithful Auburn Alumni Matt Pearson to come over. I am sure he will decline the invitation so he doesn't have to sit through a Razorback thrashing.

Oh yeah, as for my good friend Don, he got to see his Gators today. He was like a kid on Christmas when they took the field. Although the Gators left Fayetteville with a win today, the Hogs had Don and the other Florida fans sweating going into the 4th. It was a long day, but we had a great time and I look forward to visiting the Swamp in Gainsville with him some time in the future.

Until next time, GO HOGS!!

Hogs & Gators

2008-10-03T18:16:00.000-05:00

Well, tomorrow is the first Saturday in October. You know what that means? That means that the Razorbacks are playing tomorrow. I know, I know, some would say that there may be a game tomorrow, but the Razorbacks probably won't show. Yes, it has been a tough going for the Hogs as of late, but that will change. The Hogs are 2-2 under new head coach Bobby Petrino, but with a team consisting mostly of freshmen, that is to be expected. Tomorrow the Florida Gators make the trip to Fayetteville and like usual, so will the Woddawg. This will probably be another dismal day for the Razorback Nation, but for me it will be fun. I always like to take people to thier first Razorback game in Fayetteville. Tomorrow, I get that opportunity. I am taking Don Atter, a co-worker of mine, with me to the game. It will be just him and me. The rest of my fair weather fan group is staying home. The twist, for those of you who don't know Don, is that he is from Jacksonville, Florida and is a die hard Gator fan like I am a die hard Razorback fan. Most people would say I am crazy for taking a Gator fan to Fayetteville when the Hogs are playing the Gators, but Don is also an SEC Football fan. He is very courteous towards the Razorbacks, and I try to return the courtesy towards his Gators. I am sure we will have a good time, especially since this is his first trip to see a football game in Fayetteville. I can't wait for him to see and experience the atmosphere at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. He may walk in a Gator fan, but he might walk out more of a Razorback fan.

Now, Don did have a little suprise waiting on him when he got to work today. Don works in our dispatch office from 3 to 11 every day. Last night he thought he would play a joke on our General Manager, Billy Martin. All week long Don had been saving news clippings from the Democrat-Gazette about the Florida Gators. Last night Don took those clippings and put them all over Billy's desk and restroom. Needless to say, when he came in this morning, Billy kicked into payback mode. He told us that he wanted to decorate the dispatch office in anything Razorback before Don came in. Well, we exceeded his expectations. I have posted some pictures of what Don found when he came to work.

Hopefully, tomorrow will go well for my Razorbacks. If not, at least this past week was fun; that is, for everyone but Mr. Atter!

Houston Nutt and Don Atter. The Dynamic Duo!

Don says that this picture will have him barred from Jacksonville for life!

Yes I did!

2008-10-01T15:57:00.000-05:00

Well, who would have thought it? Two days in row? Yes, I did. Someone asked me today what I blog about. I simply replied, "nothing." That is not really true. I blog about whatever comes to my mind. As I am typing today, I am listening to Chris Sligh signing "Empty Me." In the song, Chris is asking God to "empty me of me so I can be filled with You." Think about his request. Shouldn't that be our prayer each and every day? God, empty me of me so I can be filled with you. Think about that.

Now, I don't want to come across as a bible thumper. I can't stand bible thumpers! I will say that I am a born again Christian. It will be 21 years ago next month when my mom lead me in a prayer to welcome Jesus Christ into my heart. I will be the first to admit that in the last 21 years, I haven't always lived my life like I was a follower of Christ. I have done lots of things that I am not proud of, but thank the good Lord abouve that no matter how far we may stray from His arms, God is right there waiting for us to crawl back into those arms once again. I am so glad that God doesn't give up on us as quickly as we give up on us. Having said all of that I wake up each morning with one goal in mind. That goal is to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I know that I will fail at this, but I can rest in knowing that Jesus has already paid the price for my short comings.

As a teenager, I was turned off by those who liked to throw thier faith around. I don't want to be one of those types of people. I want to be the type of person who allows Christ to live through me. What I mean by this is I don't want to be one who passes judgement on those for thier wrongdoings. While I might not agree with others' beliefs and actions, I don't want to pass judgement, but explain to them why I choose not to believe or do those things. I believe I should respect others and not judge. If I immediately point fingers, then I risk losing any influence I might have had on them. My brother in law puts it like this, and I am paraphrasing, the unchurched aren't going to come to us, we have to go to them. I agree 100%. Sometimes we have to go places and spend time with those who we normally wouldn't just so that we can reach them.

Ok, ok, I have gone on long enough. Like I said, I just start typing. Let me try to sum up my thoughts. We are not perfect. Everyday we are going to fall short of God. Having said this, we can find solace in knowing that no matter what we may do, no matter what we may say, or even no matter what we may NOT do or say, God still loves us. He wants us to love Him. He also wants us to love others as we love ourselves. We must not give up on ourselves but when we want to we must remember that we have a God and Savior who will never give up on us!

Giving it a try!

2008-09-30T16:41:00.000-05:00

Well, I have noticed that EVERYONE has a blog, so I thought I would give it a try. Let me start this off by saying that I am NOT good at this. I probably won't update it very often. There, now that I have that out of the way, anything I do with this blog will be a success.

Let me begin by telling a little about myself. I am orginally from Wynne, AR, but now reside in Colt, AR. For those that aren't familiar with Wynne, it is a small rural town in Northeastern Arkansas. I am an accountant for an electric utility in Forrest City. I am a 1997 graduate of Wynne High School. I got my Bachelor of Arts in Professional Accounting from Ouachita Baptist University in 2001.

I am married to my high school sweetheart, Mollie. She is my pride a joy. We have been married for 7 great years, but have been together since February 1996. I can't tell you how proud I am of her. She has grown to be a very successful woman in my eyes. She is good at everything she does. More than anything, I know she loves me. Words can't describe how good it feels to know that when I go home to her everyday, I am coming home to someone who loves me. Please don't misunderstand me, I have grown up knowing I was loved, but marriage is different. We have seen each other go through many ups and downs (a lot of them together). When I look back I can see how we have grown closer together each and every day. God has really blessed us with a great marriage and I am very thankful for that.

We don't have any children yet, but we do have two dogs. Our oldest is a 7 year old Miniature Schnauzer named Lexi. Our other dog is a 2 year old Snorkie. If you are saying, "what?," a Snorkie is half Yorkshire Terrier and half Minature Schauzer. They are both really smart and really spoiled.

We both come from great families who love us and support us in all that we do. I am a huge Arkansas Razorback fan. I am sure that as time goes on, that will become pretty evident. I am very active in my community. When I was growing up in Wynne, I took a lot out of the community, now I feel as if it is my job to replinish what I took out and keep the cycle going.

Well, that is all for now. I will try this again tomorrow!