Happenings with the Fisher family during Christmas break

We were able to watch the 4th season of 24. Jack Bauer did not let us down. We love this show and can not wait for the 5th season to begin on January 15th.
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Made a trip to Topeka, Kansas to be with Nana and Papa for Christmas. We had a great time playing, eating at Taco Villa, seeing friends and opening Christmas gifts. Good memories.
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Found out the last day of school on December 16th that I had a kidney stone as I was rushed to the ER.
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Celebrated Owen's 2nd birthday. Had friends over for a small party and Owen had a great time.
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Met the Johnston's for Cici's on Owen's birthday for dinner. They love our boys and we are blessed to call them our friends.
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Preached on Sunday, December 25th at Central Church of Christ.
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Beth Ann and I went to see THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. It was incredible. They did a great job with the movie. The book was one of my favorites growing up so I had high expectations.
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A trip to Six Flags with our family and my parents. It was a beautiful winter day in Texas at about 75 degrees. We had a blast.
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Reading in the newspaper obituaries that a very good friend of mine growing up had passed away (there will be another post about this later).
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Passing my kidney stone on December 28th. What a relief. Kidney stones are horrible pain. How can something so small cause so muc pain?
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A night to open gifts with my family. It was a blessed time with the Wells and Pishey and Darlin.
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A day at the Zoo with Beth Ann and the boys. I do not have a vast knowledge of zoos across the country but the Ft. Worth Zoo has got to be one of the best.
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Eating dinner at Luby's in White Settlement with no one within 20 years of our age listening to Prince's WHEN DOVES CRY on their sound system. Very interesting.
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We went to the New Year's service at Altamesa on January 1st. We have been to this service the last two years and we love it. Riley leaned over during the song LORD HAVE MERCY and asked if we were singing, "Lord have mercy or Lord have birdseed?"

Happy 2nd Birthday to my Owen

Happy 2nd birthday my sweet Owen. It seems like just yesterday when you decided to come early and we rushed to the hospital just in time for you to be born. You have grown into a smart, sweet, loving little boy. You love your brother so much. You have an amazing relationship and connection to your mom. I love to watch you and marvel at all you know. I am blessed to call you my son. I am thankful for everything about you.

You have such an awesome future in front of you. God has many great things in store for you.

I love your:
smile
curly hair
way you love to wear my shoes
love to want to be outside
excitement I hear when I walk in the door
sharing spirit
impact you make on your Bible class teachers at church
Grandparents and how much they love you
sweet hugs
curiosity
happiness when you have your blankie

Happy 2nd birthday little buddy. I love you.

For Crying Out Loud

I try not to pick and complain much...but I am today. I have one simple request. I do not think it is too much to ask. It is something that is fairly easy. Please try to help me out here if possible.

If I come in to your store to purchase gas, a drink, or some gum, please make eye contact with me and speak. A simple THANK YOU might be nice, especially if I say something similar to you. I realize you may have had a long day but a tad bit of customer service will go a long way.

This has been a problem for me lately. Have you had similar experiences or am I asking too much?

Tagged again... 7 things

I was tagged again, this time by Travis.

My instructions are to answer the following questions with lists of 7:

List 7 things to do before I die:
1. Take my wife to New York City
2. Learn to play the piano
3. See my boys get married and have children
4. Write a children's book
5. Play golf at Pebble Beach
6. Baptize my boys
7. Travel to some fun places with the family (Hawaii, Bahamas, Scotland, etc)


List 7 things I cannot (or will not) do:
1. Jump out of an airplane
2. Eat brussel sprouts
3. Wear a speedo
4. Perform a triple lutz
5. Watch someone get a shot
6. Change the brakes on a car
7. Think that anything about accounting is fun


List 7 things that attract me to my spouse:
1. Her love for God
2. The way she mothers our children
3. Her beauty...she's hot
4. Her ability to laugh and have fun
5. Her commitment
6. Her love of things I like (sports, NASCAR)
7. Her heart


List 7 things I say most often:
1. "Sorry"
2. "I will come to Nashville some time"
3. "Have you set up a conference with the teacher?"
4. "Peace out"
5. "What are you doing?"
6. "No-no"
7. "Dude"


List 7 books or series that I love:
1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2. Where The Red Fern Grows
3. The Chronicles of Narnia
4. The Hardy Boys
5. James Patterson's Alex Cross novels
6. What's So Amazing About Grace
7. Harlan Coben novels


List 7 movies I would watch over and over again:
1. Breakfast Club
2. Sixteen Candles
3. Shawshank Redemption
4. Hoosiers
5. The first Star Wars
6. Dumb and Dumber
7. The Game


List seven people I would love to join in:
1. Chris Doggett
2. Brandon Scott Thomas
3. Stephen Bailey
4. Chris Campbell
5. Corbett Patterson
6. Mark Lavender
7. Carl Wheeler

The Swatch Watch

During our brief icy holiday from work we had some time to play at home. The boys found a tin full of watches that Riley will periodically play with when he finds the tin again. Riley found the tin this week and he and Owen began playing with the watches. There were five Swatches in the tin. It reminded me of how much I loved the Swatch watch growing up. I had numerous ones and could wear them to match what I was wearing. Accessorizing is so important. I remember the extra things you could buy to "dress up" the watch. Face guards, rubber bands and different color bands. It was so much fun. I loved going to Swatch stores.

It brought back memories for me. Are there memories you have about Swatches or other things that you were interested in as you grew up?

I Have Been Tagged

I was tagged by Danny Sims. The rules I had to follow are:

1. Delve into my blog archive.
2. Find my 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in my blog along with these instructions. Ponder it for meaning, subtext or hidden agendas…
5. Tag five people to do the same.


My 23rd blog was:
Security
A blanket. A simple piece of cloth that will barely cover your feet to keep them warm. To a child it can be an important article that helps them maintain a sense of security. I can not remember if I had a "blankie" growing up.

Both of my boys do have blankets. It is interesting to Beth Ann and I that both Riley and Owen each have a blanket that has become a part of them. Their blankets soothe, bring smiles, and make life happy when they have them.

Riley sleeps with his blanket every night. When he was younger it went everywhere we went. He needed that security at all times. He now keeps it on his bed during the day and sleeps with it at night. He still smiles when he gets in bed with it each night. I love to see that. I love to know when he feels good.

Owen sleeps with his blanket each night as well. He will carry it around with him some during the day. Owen especially likes his blanket when he is not feeling well. He likes to hold it and suck his thumb. There will be times that he will toddle back to his room and pull it out of his crib and shriek with excitement. It brings joy and happiness to him.

What is neat about these blankets is that they both were given to my boys from my sister. She gave Riley this white blanket (that is now a rag and shades of gray and brown) when he was born. He was instantly attached to it and has been for 5 years. Stacy also gave Owen a western blanket that is the softest material that I have ever felt. There will always be a connection between Stacy, the boys and their blankets. That is something that my family will never forget.

As I reflect at that post and the fifth sentence I find it interesting to where we are in our lives today. It reminds me of the security that I need to feel in God's Arms of Love. Riley and Owen feel so good when they have their blankets. Their sleep is restful. They have smiles on their faces. I need to feel the same thing as I realize how I can find security in God. How much He loves me and my family. How He always provides. How when finances are tighter than they ever have been that He will bless. How He is my security blanket. Thank you God for holding us in your gracious security.

A Tribute to Fort Worth Police Officers

The last few days I have been at Harris Hospital quite a bit. One of my employees was in a bad motorcycle accident. After surgery and a stay in ICU he is doing better. As I have been down at the hospital with he and his family I have witnessed the ongoings with the situation regarding the policeman that was shot in the line of duty this week.

Seeing the amount of fellow police officers that were there in support of their comrade was incredible to see. The community that they represent is impressive. The way that they are there for each other is invaluable.

Watching this officer's family and friends as they prayed and waited was difficult. Witnessing the raw emotion from so many was tough, but to see the support that was offered was something I will never forget.

Thank you to those who serve as peace officers. You are brave men and women. I thank you for what you do.