Lakehouse at Tenkiller

We had the best time hanging out with some great friends of ours over Memorial Day weekend. This is the lakehouse of Rod's moms that we stayed at with them. The view from the deck on the second floor overlooks the lake and is a beautiful view. It was a very fun and relaxing weekend just getting to be around some really great friend of ours. The kids all had a blast on Rod's wakeboard boat and I think we all ate too much while we were there. I am already looking forward to the next time we get to go with them.

In an instant

It seems that more and more here lately, God is revealing to me how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away. My brother Brad who has the construction company in Fort Smith, had a crew working on the Fort Smith convention center this past weekend. There was nothing unusual about the task that they were doing. The building had sustained hail damage and they were hired to come fix the damage it had done to the exterior finish. Later that day he received a phone call from the police department letting him know an accident had happened. There were two guys in a basket that was attached to a forklift type of device and they were up in it working on the side of the building. Apparently, one of the guys was leaning out of the basket and did not have his safety harness on and the guy operating the lift went to move it and it moved too quickly and one of the men fell from the basket. In an instant, what was a normal ordinary day, turned into tragedy.

The man's name was Estaban and I had worked with him before opening up the dealership. He had fallen roughly 20 feet and landed on his head shattering his skull and breaking his back in 2 places. They rushed him to Sparks but he was not able to recover and no vital signs ever came back for him. They had to disconnect him from the machine that was keeping him alive Monday, May 19. 2008 at 9:20pm. He was 37 years old and a father of 4 children and was married.

We wake up each morning and just assume that our day will be just like the one before. This guy was working on this day but was planning on taking his family to the Air show the next day to just enjoy the day with them. Please lift his family up in your prayers. Also please be praying for my brother in this loss also. I know Brad and him were close and there kids were similar in age. Its events like this that make you realize how precious each day and each moment is.

Miss this condo and summer vacation

This was the condo that we used to stay at in Perdido Key, Florida every summer. It belonged to my mom and stepdad. We would always take our last vacation of the summer there before school started back. When Hurrican Ivan came in 2004, it wiped it out and they lost it and alot of the personal belongings that were kept there. We have missed finishing up our summers there every year since. We have not been back since 2004. This picture is was taken from me standing right at the ocean's edge, thats how close it was to the water.

Ready for a beach

Was just looking at some of the pictures we took while we were in Nassau at Atlantis and its really making me want to get back to a beach soon. I still can't get over how great this place was.

One of my favorite pictures

This still has to be one of my favorite pictures of Denise and Brennen. Was just thinking about Mother's Day this morning and how special of a day that is. If you really think about it, we, as parents, have a very small window of time given to us to make an impact in the life of our children. Those years though, are so crucial in the development of who that child becomes and how they see the world. That responsibility to me at times can be very overwhelming and scary. Denise and I both know that his future rest in our hands and how we develop him as a young man and what values we help him to establish in his life, are based on what he learns now.

Brennen and his cousin Blake

Took this picture at Denise's birthday party of Brennen and Blake trying to act all cool and grown up.

Denise with her dad being silly on her birthday

Denise wanted to pose with her dad wearing this hat with the built in ponytails and the nice tie he was wearing. Just one of the many custumes he has.

fuelchurch fun day at the park

Took some pictures at the fuelchurch fun day at the park. Was a perfect day for just hanging out with friends at the park after church. Good food and good fun. Shane even got to do some baptisms also.

Happy Birthday Denise

Took this picture of Denise and Brennen while we were at Marketplace Grill On May 3rd. for her birthday party. Happy Birthday Denise, I love you

Where are all the men?

Thought this was a great video from Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill Church about being a man and why the church is in the state that it is today.

Thinking about Mother's Day

Can you ever really thank your mom for all that she has done for you over the years? They do so much for so little in return. As I think about this upcoming Mother's Day, I can't help but think about the people that I know that don't have there mother's still with them. As I watch Denise and Brennen interact with each other, there is something there that can never be replaced or duplicated by dad. The depth of there conversations, the bond that they have, and the trust in each other for safety and protection. It makes me realize why when you see star athletes interviewed on tv, you hear them say "hi mom" instead of "hi dad". O I am sure they love there dads too, but there is a certain bond that only a mom and a child can have.

I think about all the sacrifices that a mom must make for her children. And how giving they have to be and how they have to deny themselves of so much. To all the moms on this upcoming Mother's Day, thank you for being there, thank you for loving so unconditionally, thank you for being Mom. To Denise, thank you for being such an amazing mom to our son, you are molding him into a very passionate and Godly young man. And to mom, thank you so much mom for all you did and all that you continue to do for me, in prayer and in life.