My husband Rocks-Protection

I am proud to say that I have a husband that towers over the most of us and is so strong. He makes me feel protected just by being near him and even more when he holds me. He is my knight when he kills the spiders, the wasps, takes care of the fire ants, scares away the door to door salesmen, and could handle the college guys living next door. He is a very protective father too. He has taught the girls about "bad" dogs and cats and Jones now has a big stick she keeps in the garage. Which came in handy two days ago when two pit bulls and a white lab came up to the garage. I wish Justin had been here to see Jones. She had her stick down by her side and was telling Georgia to come get me. She had her firm voice and was prepared to protect Georgia. Justin has taught her well! (I was by the garage in the laundry room, got the girls in and the dogs out, garage door down, and called animal control) I feel protected knowing that Justin knows how to use a gun and a filet knife(for animals only, of course, but if the threat was ever there he would be ready). Thank you Jimmy and Granddaddy for teaching and taking your son and grandson fishing and hunting. I am blessed to have a mighty man!

Summertime

I decided a couple of years ago that I would never again go to the lake on Memorial Day, July 4th, or Labor Day. Memorial Day is the worst of them all. Too many idiots in one place at the same time. I got home from work around 5:30 yesterday morning and was really tempted to go, but I resisted the temptation. Some guys eat right and exercise to keep their hearts healthy, I eat what I want and try to avoid situations that make my blood boil. Instead we went to town and ate at the Mexican joint, came home for a nap, and then spent the afternoon in the back yard. (See the video below)

I went fishing on Stillhouse this morning and only saw a handful of boats on the water. Good morning to be on the lake. This was the first fish I caught.

"When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
Count your blessings name them one by one...."

Work has been slow, but I still have a job and have had lots of time to fish and spend with my girls.

My husband

My husband rocks this week because he took Annie and me on the boat for the first time! The whole family went to Lake Belton on the boat! It was a terrific two hours. We fished a little and Georgia drove us fast! Jones found turtles in the water and a deer on the hill. The girls waded some before we left. Annie did great! She didn't fuss about her life jacket and was content to just sit and watch and then splash the water before we left. When we got home, Justin cooked supper and cleaned up afterwards :). I gave the girls a bath, then storytime, then Justin and the girls YouTubed awhile and then they were off to bed. It was a nice family night. So, my Justin, thank you for taking us all out on a boating adventure. I love you!

Vacation 09

We are home from our vacation. Wednesday we went to Inks Lake. When I was a kid we camped there lots of summers for a family reunion and I have good memories from there.(The pictures below were taken in 1983) It was fun to make memories there with my kids.

We went from Inks to San Angelo, but we don't have any pictures to post from there. My mom took all of the pictures on her camera and we never got ours out.
Good times had by all.

MHR, Bunks, Mother's Day

My wonderful husband ROCKED this past week! I was able to spend about four hours on Friday, a couple of hours on Saturday and a couple of hours on Sunday free of house and girls. Thanks Justin!! I am so proud of husbands ability to sing and I beam when people compliment his singing to me. He also rocks, because I received flowers, fresh cut flowers, from him and the girls. Aren't they gorgeous :)!


We had been discussing about getting some bunk beds for Jones and Georgia and had a plan to purchase them this week. But, on Thursday, Terri brought us some cookie dough and we were just talking about this and that and the subject came up about beds. She had some in her garage and offered them to us if we liked them. Justin and her son moved them to our house the next day. On Saturday, Justin and Jones went to buy mattress and sheets. Such a sweet daddy, Justin took Jones to Target for her to pick out her sheets! Jones picked out HSM sheets and a throw blanket. I was going to take Georgia, but at the last minute she backed out to stay at home with daddy. She told me she wanted green. And I found green and pink polka dot sheets.




Sunday morning moms were treated to muffins, coffee and juice and a mothers day video. Mother's Day pictures were taken at church by Emma and Paige. They are fifth graders that are in 4H photography and they had set up for pictures to be taken during class time. I don't think the girls smiled in their photo, and we will find out soon. We forgot our personal camera, so BIG Thanks to Kirsten for these shots after church. Happy Mother's Day!

I'm still here

I’d like to apologize to the millions of “Time of the Preacher” subscribers for my lack of posting over the last couple of weeks. Advertising revenue has been down.
The railroad continues to make cuts and I’ve slid to the bottom of the seniority pile here in Temple, but I’m hoping to still be able to work here at least through the summer. I’ve been working as a switchman in the yard (instead of sitting on an air-conditioned engine, I’m standing/walking on ballast in the heat) since the middle of April. I’ve lost an inch in my waist, my feet hurt, I haven’t been sleeping well, and I haven’t been fishing. Much.
However, vacation starts on Monday at 7:00 am. No big trips planned, but we are going to visit Inks lake on the way to San Angelo to spend a few days with my parents. I’m going to fish a BASS Federation tournament with Dad on the 16th, and we are making plans to get bunk beds for Jones and Georgia and move Annie out of her crib. Maybe next year we’ll go to Europe for a couple of weeks.

I remember wondering one day back in 1999 when or what it was in life that made guys seemingly check out, push pause on their upwithitness, not know or really care what was going on around them. Tuesday, as Aaron and I were talking about the trouble with weeds in our yards, I realized that I was in that spot in life myself. I’ve got a mortgage and 2.5 children. I realized on my way to work a couple of nights ago that the reason parents aren’t hip or cool by the time their kids are old enough to care about hip or cool is that they’ve spent the last few years of life working and worrying to make sure those kids eat, have a place to live, clothes to wear and survive to that point in life. I’ve realized that I’m closer to 40 than I am to 20. Don’t misunderstand. None of this stuff depresses me, it’s just answered that question that I had back in 1999.
I’ve listen to the Bellamy Bros. song “Old Hippie” about 327 times in the last few months and realized that I really identify with it. Listen to it. It would probably make more sense than all of my ramblings.

Hair dos or don't...you decide

Jones always comes up with new hair ideas and here are her two latest...
Notice the clothes pin addition to the two flowers and four clips?
Her other idea is to put pony tail holders on your headband, but I haven't been able to capture that one yet.

Pray for me

Lord, help me be a person who speaks words that build up and not tear down. Help me to speak life into the situations and people around me, and not death. Fill my heart afresh each day with Your Holy Spirit, so that Your love and goodness overflow from my heart and my mouth. Help me to speak only about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. Keep my mouth from speaking any evil or anything that is not true. May every word I speak reflect Your purity and love.

Fill my heart with love, peace and joy so that it will flow from my mouth. Convict me when I complain or speak negatively. Help me not to speak too quickly or too much. Help me not to speak words that miscommunicate. I pray You would give me the words to say every time I speak. Show me when to speak and when not to.

Help me to be a woman who speaks wisely, graciously and clearly, never foolishly, rudely or insensitively. Give me words that speak of the hope that is within me so I can explain my faith in a persuasive and compelling way. May the words I speak bring others in to a fuller knowledge of You.


from The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian

It's been a long Sunday with the girls and I need a shower of all the fruits of the Spirit. I thought Stormie's prayer summed it up for me today. May this prayer bring you comfort, hope and renewing too.

Weekend at the Butler's

The girls and I went to Brant and Alison's house Friday and Saturday. Friday, we had a belated birthday for all four girls. And Saturday was Claire's late 3rd birthday party. The girls had fun and the twins are adorable and definitely not preemie anymore! I can't believe I didn't get any pics of the twins, but with 6 kiddos and two adults, we were pretty busy. Alison and Brant had rented two ponies for Claire's My Little Pony party. Claire, Jones, Georgia and Ty had fun taking turns and enjoyed riding the horses. Annie would reach out to touch the ponies but she had a death grip on me when I tried to sit her on the saddle. Claire had a pair of boots that were too big and she let Jones borrow them, so all three were decked out in boots and jeans! Thanks to Alison for the stay, food, party and your friendship! See you again soon Butlers