12 of 12 - January 2019

12 of 12 - I got the idea from somebody else and modified it. My 12 of 12 is 12 pictures for each of the 12 months of the year (I print a 12 picture collage each month). It is really fun in January to look back over the previous year.

January 9 - Love it when Jeremiah and Taylor bring Grayson to visit the office and he gets to hang out with me for a few minutes. He LOVES the colorful poster behind us. Here he seems fascinated seeing himself on the computer screen. #GraysonIsACutie

January 11 - Brooke and I were getting ready to go out to dinner and my phone rang. I saw it was Canaan and something just didn't feel right (I seriously thought, "I hope nothing is wrong"). I answered and he said, "Dad, I need you to go get Amanda at work and come to the house. I've been in an accident. I was knocked unconscious and the paramedics are taking care of me now". By the time we got there, Canaan had been taken to the hospital. Looking at the (totaled) truck on the back of the wrecker, it was hard not to be very worried. We are thankful that God was watching over Canaan and he was able to go home that night very stiff and sore, but nothing broken and no permanent damage. #ThankfulForGodsProtection 

January 12 - We dropped the kids off at their house after the wreck, came home and were sitting less than an hour when Amanda called. Most likely because of the stress of seeing her husband in the accident, she started having mild contractions and a few other complications. Too early for baby James to think about coming! We were off to the hospital again where Amanda spent several days admitted for observation and bed rest. Canaan had to take a couple days off work as he was recovering from his wreck and he did not leave her side the whole time. Amanda had to be on bed rest for the next 2 weeks and they had no vehicle, so the kids came to stay with us for a while after Amanda was released. #BedRestIsNoFun

January 12 - Went to visit my Kiddo several times while she was in the hospital. With this 12 of 12 in mind, of course I had to take a picture with her! #LoveMyKiddo

January 15 - I love our office tradition of going out to lunch together after staff meeting to celebrate a staff member's birthday. I choose Spring Creek for my birthday lunch. Brooke was able to get away and join us (yea!) and Tammy found the official Staff Birthday Glasses which the birthday boy/girl has to pose in for a picture (LOL). #LoveThePeopleIGetToWorkWith 

January 17 - On my birthday, I got a message from Jeremiah saying, "Could you send me an audio file with you saying 'It is my birthday!!!' in a booming voice...and trust me?" Could I send Jeremiah the audio file? Yes. Trust him? No...I know he's gonna do something with it. Well, OK, I'm sure he's going to do something EPIC when he asks questions like this, so OK. You absolutely MUST watch this birthday video that Jeremiah made for me using the little D-Rex (another Jeremiah creation) cut outs here. #MyFriendJeremiahIsAwesome

January 18 - Things around the time of my birthday were pretty crazy with the kids living with us, Amanda on bed rest and all of the excitement we had experienced the week before. Although I understood 100%, I have to admit I was a little bummed to think all of the "excitement" we had been experiencing meant my 50th birthday might come and go with little fanfare (is that bad??). Brooke had talked about plans for Friday night, but I thought they got downgraded to "just going out to eat"...at least we would get a date night. But then the kids got invited, too? Say what??? I was looking forward to date night! Brooke said she was taking care of the plans for the night. I must say, I was a bit surprised to find out we were going to El Chico..the 4 of us (me, Brooke, Amanda and Canaan) since Canaan worked there. But then we headed back to the party room where I was greeted by a bunch of church friends who celebrated with me (and gave me over $150 in Whataburger gift cards!). Despite the craziness, my wife took good care of me!  #BirthdaysAreBestWithFriends  #BirthdaysAreAlsoBestWithWhataburger 

January 18 - Brooke wanted a picture of the two of us together for my birthday. She is the love of my life! (I know I have a big ol' head, but I'm pretty sure something was up with this camera angle...my head looks extra "tall"). #ILoveThisWoman  #SheTakesGoodCareOfMe

January 20 - Again, all of the "excitement" earlier in the month changed plans for celebrating everybody's birthday, but we made sure this guy got celebrated on his 21st birthday. We kinda like him and plan to keep him around! #LoveYouSon 

January 25 - A little down time and lunch together during our annual staff retreat at a lake house on Lake Palestine. We had a good time eating, playing and praying together. We spent time focusing on what we could learn from last year, looking forward to where we believe God is leading our church this year and praying how we can keep in step with what the Holy Spirit is doing and lead His church well in 2019. #FireOfGod

January 28 - January is the "Man Month" for birthdays in our family...me on the 17th, Canaan on the 20th and Dad on the 28th. Dad turned 85 this year, and I got to celebrate with him and mom by having lunch at The Catch. I have no idea how I managed NOT to take a picture when the 3 of us were together, but I missed it. I asked Mom to take a picture of Dad with the Bible I got him for his birthday (and his birthday card). It is a Charles Spurgeon study Bible like I got for myself a few months ago. I like it a lot and thought Dad would, too (he said he is really enjoying it). #ThankfulForEveryBirthdayIGetToSpendWithHim

January 30 - This picture cracks me up! The little dog in the chair is Paris, our grand dog who is living with us while the kids are here. Sammy and Paris get along OK, but it is accurate to say Sammy is not a big fan of the little dog. Sammy has NEVER gotten up on the back of the chair like this, but Paris got into "his" chair first. I think he was saying, "This is MY chair and I do NOT like you!" Bless his little heart! #DoggiePassiveAggressiveness