Ten Things Tuesday

I am in Arizona right now, so it is still Tuesday. I have been gone for a while, I will blame it on the summer. My friend XBOX Wife has a weekly 10 things Tuesday where you list the 10 things that you are thankful for the week. You should check it out!

1 I am thankful to have a job that enjoy. It would be nice to be home with my family more, but I have had jobs that really tore me down. I am glad to have something to I can handle.
2 Jackson was nominated for Student Council at his school. I am proud of him. I don't know if that is done randomly or if his teacher see something in that would make him a good fit. I hate that I am away from him so much, but I am proud to hear that he is taking care of business at school.
3 I am sitting outside on the balcony of the Hampton Inn in Scottsdale, AZ. Lightning is filling up the sky. It reminds me of the days that I lived in Midland. I know that West Texas is not the most beautiful or inspirational spot in the state of Texas much less the world, but I am proud of where I grew up.
4 I am thankful for the friends that road to the airport with me on Monday. They were able to experience the beating of riding the bus to airport that I experience every week!
5 I won every fantasy football game that I was involved in.
6 I am thankful to participate in the KK&C Top 20. It feels nice to be involved even though I am not there.
7 I am thankful for old cowboys.
8 I am thankful for the grandparents that watch our kids. I know they can be a handful, but they take them in without hesitation.
9 I am thankful for family.
10 I am thankful for friends.

Ten Things Tuesday

XBOX wife has a wonderful exercise to promote positivity. Check out her blog and join in the fun.

1. I am thankful that my kids are healthy. I have been receiving a prayer request for a little boy who was in an accident and is now in the hospital. I fear my children being seriously sick or hurt. I pray that the little guy will be OK.
2. I am thankful for the storms we had this morning.
3. I am thankful that soccer season is over.
4. I am thankful for being home these last few weeks, and I look forward to being here a little longer.
5. I am thankful that I understand bathroom etiquette. (A new post will follow)
6. I am thankful for a short commute to work, especially with gas prices so high.
7. I am thankful that the kids have been acting more like people and less like monsters lately. They were on a tear for a while. Of course Jennifer might disagree with this.
8. I am thankful for friends that ask us for a night on the town. I wish we would've had time to participate, but it was nice to be asked.
9. I am thankful for a clean house. Jennifer worked really hard the last few weeks to unclutter the clutter as best she could. I might also add that we have done a good job of maintaining the cleanliness.
10. I am thankful for my dad taking time out of his day to come fix my dryer. It took longer for him to drive over to the house than it did to fix it. He hates driving in that traffic, and his body is breaking down on him so I am incredibly thankful for the help.

Ten Things Tuesday (Wednesday)

I had a long day at work yesterday. Go to my friend XBOX Wife and check out the details.

1 I am thankful for big trees.
2 I am thankful for big trees that do not fall on my house.
3 I am thankful for Dad and his hired hand that helped (i.e. did all of the cutting) with the removal of big trees.
4 I am thankful that my neighbor didn't mind his fence being destroyed by big trees falling down.
5 I am thankful to be staying at home for a few weeks.
6 I am thankful to be working for a generous employer.
7 I am thankful for my wife and all of the hard work she does, both with the family and her business.
8 I am thankful for our small groups.
9 I am thankful for all the people that check this blog, and for XBOX Wife's help sending a few my way.
10 I am thankful that the work day is almost over, I am still tired from yesterday.

House Cleaning

I promised these pictures for a while. I was finally able to get them this weekend. I attended a men's retreat this weekend. We talked about being manly men. What is more manly than holding a dead animal by the head? You can tell they are dead because they have "X's" over their eyes.





You can see that Dad is manly also.

I had a great weekend. I will write about it later. Right now I am tired, and I'm going to bed.

Hunting

I shot a 10 point buck last weekend. Actually that is why there has been a delay in posting. I was hoping to get a picture posted of him, but that will have to wait. All in all it was a good hunting season. We saw several bucks that were bigger than they were in years past. That area has seen a lot of rainfall, and you notice the benefit it has had on these animals. My brother-in-law shot an eleven, and my father-in-law shot a huge ten. It was actually the deer I wanted, but I really shouldn't complain. He is generous enough to let me hunt for basically nothing. He can shoot what he wants, but I had to give him a hard time about it.

I really enjoy hunting, at least I think I enjoy it. It is nice to spend some time outside in the middle of nowhere. (You can't believe the amount of stars that you can see at night) It is interesting to watch the deer interact with each other. I like the rush of adrenaline when you see a big buck, and the anxious moments waiting until you will have a shot. Even the disappointment when it doesn't work out. We have cameras set up at the feeders, and I love seeing what happens when I am not there. You learn to identify different animals, and it helps you decide which animal to take. The only part I have a problem with is the actual shooting of the deer. So does that make me any less of a hunter? I can't figure out what I am feeling from the time I pull the trigger to the time I collect the deer. I guess it is the fact that I am taking a life. I just can't put a finger on it. Maybe I will figure it out someday.

I will continue to go every year, if no other reason than to spend time with Dad (that what the grandkids call him). I married the oldest of his three daughters. Jenn says that he likes spending time with me because he always wanted a boy. Whatever the case, we have a good time and now my oldest has been going with us. In the mean time, I will wait 10 months for my new trophy to be hung on the wall.