I finished reading Heather and Ben's blog and she inspired me with all her activities. Of course, I am not shepherding 3 boys or anything the like, but I do fancy myself quite a dog sitter!
Alice's work has slowed down to the point they are making cutbacks wherever they can. That means "perks" and even insurance. So we will see how all that pans out. Were it not for having two mortgages and all that goes with it, the trimming down would be no big deal in the scheme of things. But that is not the case. If nothing else, this whole ordeal will continue to teach us to be more conscious of our spending habit and look for ways to economize. Having said all that, she is still very busy. Which is a good thing.
We are exploring new "improvements" to the Lubbock house to see if we can't get it off our backs. We had just finished having the master bedroom painted and the master bath. Now we are looking at floor covering in the kitchen, master bath, and perhaps guest bath. Although the $3,000 price tag is not inviting. It may be necessary.
Currently I am working on a couple projects. One is especially fun, it is writing a discipleship study guide. I am trying to do one chapter a week and so far, I'm only behind by one week!!! :)
I have another article that my "mentor" has encouraged me to seek publication on, but I just can't seem to pull the trigger on that one. And I am working on an article for our new pastor to see if the SBC would be interested in publishing it in their newsletter.
It seems that I have about 5 books going at the same time, from a reading standpoint, and my poor little mind is not use to that. So I get confused easily. Nothing new there, but at least I am not wandering the streets with no idea how to get home!
Eli and I are walking every day and he just loves it. Just mention the word walk, and he is at the door or jumping around waiting for me to get my walking shoes on, treats for him and the leash. Sometimes the preparation is more than that poor little puppy can stand! Or me for that matter. But he is turning into a very good walker. We have even taken to jogging a few short stints along the way. He likes that as well.
Have not heard from Paul and Autumn since there move, so we are looking forward to news and some pictures.
Well, there ya have it. Exciting isn't it?
Hope everyone is doing well.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The Birds
Straight out of Alfred Hitchcock's film THE BIRDS...this afternoon I looked out my study window and the sky at the end of the street was filled with birds. It was raining so it was hard to get a good picture of them in flight, but here are a couple pictures of what they looked like in our neighbor's yard. There were hundreds of them!!!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A couple of Lunkers for Lindsay!!!
Wow....imagine, your first time fishing and you catch not one, but two river trout weighing 6 pounds each!!! That was our niece Lindsay's experience just this past weekend during a fishing derby/fund-raiser, in Oregon. Here is a blip from the local Roseburg, OR paper and a picture.
Lindsay Allen, with help from guide Jerry Phelps, was the top angler during the recent 16th annual Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby. Beginner’s luck was in her favor.
Lindsay, 11, reeled in two 6-pound rainbow trout during the Jan. 31 Fishing Derby’s Kids Day at Cooper Creek Reservoir east of Sutherlin. She was one of 54 fifth grade students who enjoyed several hours of fishing in the drift boats of professional fishing guides.
“He was hard to get up,” she said. “He kept pulling away and going under the boat. I was worried I was going to losing it. My arms were tired.”
But finally the fish tired and Phelps netted it.
“I thought it was cool,” Lindsay said. “This was my first time fishing and I caught one that big.”
Several minutes later, the young angler caught another fish that was just a bit smaller than her first.
“They were both fat as pigs,” Phelps said of Lindsay’s catch. “She was really excited about catching them.”
WAY TO GO LINDSAY!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! What's for dinner? :)
Lindsay Allen, with help from guide Jerry Phelps, was the top angler during the recent 16th annual Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby. Beginner’s luck was in her favor.
Lindsay, 11, reeled in two 6-pound rainbow trout during the Jan. 31 Fishing Derby’s Kids Day at Cooper Creek Reservoir east of Sutherlin. She was one of 54 fifth grade students who enjoyed several hours of fishing in the drift boats of professional fishing guides.
“He was hard to get up,” she said. “He kept pulling away and going under the boat. I was worried I was going to losing it. My arms were tired.”But finally the fish tired and Phelps netted it.
“I thought it was cool,” Lindsay said. “This was my first time fishing and I caught one that big.”
Several minutes later, the young angler caught another fish that was just a bit smaller than her first.
“They were both fat as pigs,” Phelps said of Lindsay’s catch. “She was really excited about catching them.”
WAY TO GO LINDSAY!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! What's for dinner? :)
Saturday, February 16, 2008
A Quick Review
Let's see....
First, as far as Alice's face-plant, it looks like there was additional bleeding in one of her front teeth. It is not something that can be repaired, so we'll see how it progresses and decide whether to do something cosmetically or not. She did get her root canal done, so that was a good thing - in theory of course.
Alice has been in Florida most of this week and returns "today". It is the annual builder's conference. So hopefully she will come back with some great ideas on how to sell houses, because they need to sell houses.
We have not had any movement on our house in Lubbock. We did have the painter in again and do the master bedroom and the master bathroom. So perhaps that might jog some folks loose. The new person next door has expressed an interest from a rental property standpoint, so that is encouraging. We may do some flooring, since many people do not seem attracted to stained concrete, or simply re-stain what is there. Not sure yet.
My mom is doing okay with her leg problem. She has restricted arteries in one leg and it causes a great deal of pain to walk for an extended period. The doctors have her on medication and a walking regimen to increase blood flow to that area. The intent is to avoid surgery. The concern her is not so much the blockage, although that is a concern, but that this could sideline mom and she does not do well on the sidelines. She is very active and wants to remain active. She has been doing the walking although it causes a great deal of pain. So I worry about her.
Paul and his family are moving this weekend to McKinney, TX. Not far, but closer to Autumns new office. They have a "new" house there and of course the kids will need to change schools mid-year. This is a challenge for everyone so please pray for the kiddos especially. A new "family", new schools, new home all within a very short period. Kids can be resilient, however, these kinds of transitions in a relatively short period must be challenging for them. Also keep Autumn in your prayers as she continues with her pregnancy of Trysten Paul due later this Spring.
From what Heather tells me, Shad and his girlfriend Elizabeth, will be making a trip to England in May. Of course, I don't hear anything from him, and it has been that way for almost three years now. I did get one email, but that was a unique communication. He is doing well in his rehab efforts and from what a saw from a picture on Heather's blog, looks very good. So we are pleased about that.
Penni is doing well and making tremendous progress on her new CD. Just a couple more songs to go and she'll have it done. She is excited about the support she is receiving from major music names in Nashville and other areas, so it all sounds very promising. The girls are doing well and of course, Jenna is headed in to her softball season.
I am hoping to get pictures from everyone soon. Of course, for Heather and the boys, you can visit their blog through a link on this site. Often, they have so much to tell and so many great pictures and video, it's beyond my technical skills to move them over here. As you have seen from previous attempts. :)
Finally, we are getting close to finding a church home. We will have a "dinner with the pastor" this evening and hopefully, that will seal the deal and we'll make the move in tomorrow's service. The church is Lee Park Baptist Church and the pastor, at least until April, is also a local news anchor for a major station in Charlotte. I must tell you, it is a bit odd seeing your pastor behind an news desk during the Six O'Clock news each evening. Nevertheless, we are excited about the prospects. :) :)
Well, I hope, if you are reading this you are well and happy. God Bless!
First, as far as Alice's face-plant, it looks like there was additional bleeding in one of her front teeth. It is not something that can be repaired, so we'll see how it progresses and decide whether to do something cosmetically or not. She did get her root canal done, so that was a good thing - in theory of course.
Alice has been in Florida most of this week and returns "today". It is the annual builder's conference. So hopefully she will come back with some great ideas on how to sell houses, because they need to sell houses.
We have not had any movement on our house in Lubbock. We did have the painter in again and do the master bedroom and the master bathroom. So perhaps that might jog some folks loose. The new person next door has expressed an interest from a rental property standpoint, so that is encouraging. We may do some flooring, since many people do not seem attracted to stained concrete, or simply re-stain what is there. Not sure yet.
My mom is doing okay with her leg problem. She has restricted arteries in one leg and it causes a great deal of pain to walk for an extended period. The doctors have her on medication and a walking regimen to increase blood flow to that area. The intent is to avoid surgery. The concern her is not so much the blockage, although that is a concern, but that this could sideline mom and she does not do well on the sidelines. She is very active and wants to remain active. She has been doing the walking although it causes a great deal of pain. So I worry about her.
Paul and his family are moving this weekend to McKinney, TX. Not far, but closer to Autumns new office. They have a "new" house there and of course the kids will need to change schools mid-year. This is a challenge for everyone so please pray for the kiddos especially. A new "family", new schools, new home all within a very short period. Kids can be resilient, however, these kinds of transitions in a relatively short period must be challenging for them. Also keep Autumn in your prayers as she continues with her pregnancy of Trysten Paul due later this Spring.
From what Heather tells me, Shad and his girlfriend Elizabeth, will be making a trip to England in May. Of course, I don't hear anything from him, and it has been that way for almost three years now. I did get one email, but that was a unique communication. He is doing well in his rehab efforts and from what a saw from a picture on Heather's blog, looks very good. So we are pleased about that.
Penni is doing well and making tremendous progress on her new CD. Just a couple more songs to go and she'll have it done. She is excited about the support she is receiving from major music names in Nashville and other areas, so it all sounds very promising. The girls are doing well and of course, Jenna is headed in to her softball season.
I am hoping to get pictures from everyone soon. Of course, for Heather and the boys, you can visit their blog through a link on this site. Often, they have so much to tell and so many great pictures and video, it's beyond my technical skills to move them over here. As you have seen from previous attempts. :)
Finally, we are getting close to finding a church home. We will have a "dinner with the pastor" this evening and hopefully, that will seal the deal and we'll make the move in tomorrow's service. The church is Lee Park Baptist Church and the pastor, at least until April, is also a local news anchor for a major station in Charlotte. I must tell you, it is a bit odd seeing your pastor behind an news desk during the Six O'Clock news each evening. Nevertheless, we are excited about the prospects. :) :)
Well, I hope, if you are reading this you are well and happy. God Bless!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Some Updates
First on Alice.... She finished some of the primary dental work from teeth damaged from her fall. Now she has a root canal to go through because the is some internal bleeding on one tooth. That should be finished before she heads to Florida next week for a Builder's Convention.
We have done some more work on our Lubbock house hoping to ignite a sale. We had the master bedroom and bathroom repainted. We are also considering putting tile down to cover the concrete floors. Nevertheless, the Realtor is holding another Open House this weekend so perhaps we'll get a surprise and a blessing with a buyer!
We have done some more work on our Lubbock house hoping to ignite a sale. We had the master bedroom and bathroom repainted. We are also considering putting tile down to cover the concrete floors. Nevertheless, the Realtor is holding another Open House this weekend so perhaps we'll get a surprise and a blessing with a buyer!
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