Andy's Last Home Baseball Game

It was Senior night at the ball field last Tuesday night. Lynne and I got to be announced with #1 son at home plate. This was Andy's last regular season home game.
This is all the seniors on the team, their parents, and the coaches.


We played the Itasca Wampus Cats that night and won the game.

Yellow Iris

This is one of the Irises that I found in someones trash last year. It's bright yellow. It's growing behind the house right now in the plant nursery.

No Intelligence Allowed

This is the opening weekend for the movie "Expelled- No Intelligence Allowed". It's about how the "scientific" community prevents intelligent design from being taught in schools. It's hosted by Ben Stein. For the past two days there has been an excellent interview with Ben Stein on Dr. Lands radio show. Click here to listen to both days. If it's playing near you go and see it!

Auburn Cemetery Work Day

We had a very busy weekend. You can see our Friday in the 2 posts below. My Saturday morning started with the mens breakfast at the new Church. After that I went to the RA racer event in the old Church parking lot. You can see both of those events at the FBC Maypearl picture blog.
The next stop for me on Saturday was the Auburn Cemetery work day.My nephew David was there. I don't know what he's doing here, but it looks like he is singing into a water bottle.

Swellen and Lizzy were there too.

Don't believe half of what either of these men tell you.

GranPa is President of the association, so he led the meeting.
There was a pretty good crowd of people there that day. There were also about 5 dogs that came to visit. There were several flowers blooming that day but most of the irises had already finished.



The drive to the cemetery is pretty this time of year. If you're in the area next year, stop by and visit.

Friday Night Baseball

Dublin drove in for a game on Friday night. That's a pretty long drive for them.

Here is Andy in the pre game warm-up.

Time for the National Anthem.

Andy at Bat. The entire team had trouble getting the ball out of the infield that night. Our bats finally woke up in the 5th inning. We won 4-14.

UMHB Visit

Andy received a scholarship from UMHB but he had to attend the Awards Chapel service to get it. So we loaded up the car and headed for Belton Friday morning.
I didn't take any pictures inside but here is the Chapel on campus. All the kids who got the scholarship met outside after the service to have their picture made together.
Andy had lots of family there with him. They are all listed below.

Mimi and Papa.

Mom and Dad (of course).

GranMa and GranPa.

Aunt Sue, Uncle Alan, David, and Elizabeth. After we all went and ate BBQ at a local establishment. A fun day and another step toward getting Andy to college.

Monday Night Ballgame

We played the Hico Tigers Monday night at the ballfield in Maypearl. These are the two teams fighting for second place in district.
Our boys stood to watch Hico do their infield drills. It's a good time to check out the competition.
Two of the other fields were also busy that night. One had t-ball practice and the other had coach pitch practice. Several of the families came and watched our game after their practice was over. The girls softball game was in Hico so the crowd was a little smaller than usual.
Here is Andy at one of his at bats. The ball just left the pitcher and Andy appears to be attempting a bunt.
Here he is later about to take a swing at the ball. He did get a double later in the game.
After the game the coach told them they did good and to keep up the good work. Our boys won the game 0-1. We beat Hico twice so we are in second place behind Grandview.

I Wanna Go

I was on my way to a baseball game so I couldn't take her with me. Maybe next time we go to town she can go.

Sniper Fire

This morning on my way to work I encountered heavy sniper fire but managed to make it to the PO safely. While on the route I successfully avoided several IED's and avoided an old lady with an RPG. The armor in my LLV did it's job well. I drove home thru a hail of bullets and collapsed on the couch next to my lovely wife. Just an average day at the Post Office.Luckily Hillary's visit to Bosnia in 1996 went much smoother.

Baseball last Thursday

Hico came to town last week for a little baseball and softball. Since Hico is so far away, all of their teams came at once. JV boys played at 4, softball started at 6:30, and Andy's varsity game started at 7. You can see him above covering second base. The shortstop is Nick, our pastor's son. Andy was 0 for 4 against Hico's first pitcher, but once they changed pitchers he got a single which scored 2 runs and won the game. That made it a good night. We won 0-10. That was our first district game and win.

A Little More About Chico

Chico was born the first weekend after we moved into the new house, in Lynne's closet. His momma was half Chihuahua, half Boston Terrier. His daddy was a traveling salesman. He's only one and a half, so he's got about six months till he is officially not a puppy any more.He loves barking at coyotes, deer, and wild pigs; playing with Piper (our mini Dachshund), and bringing us presents.
This is some of the current junk Chico has brought into the frount yard. There is a shoe and a sock (I haven't found a foot, but I'll keep looking), a bottle (he prefers beer cans when he can get them), sticks, and old cow bones. Any paper or plastic products he brings home he shreds into a thousand pieces each about the size of a quarter. Yes, he makes a mess. And yes, he digs ALOT of holes. However, he looks at everyone in the family as if they were the greatest thing that God had ever put on the planet and he desires to be near us more than anything else. And who can ask for more than that.

Dogs and Cell Phones

Have you ever done something and then kicked yourself later for it? Welcome to my world. I was in the yard the other night playing with the dogs and didn't realize my cell phone was missing until the next morning. Lynne tried to call it but it went straight to voice mail. I prayed it was just a dead battery, but no, Chico had found it sometime during the night.
He's got some strong teeth. He broke the camera lens, punctured the battery, chewed the antenna off, and filled it with tooth holes. I can't blame him though, he didn't drop it.
Luckily the SIM card was intact. I put it in the $20 Go-Phone we bought when Andy broke his phone and it's working fine. Live and learn. Anyone need a dog?

A Light Dusting of Snow

We didn't get as much snow as they did north of DFW, just a enough to cover the grass and cars.

Happy Independence Day!

To The People of Texas and
All Americans In The World --
February 24, 1836

Fellow citizens & compatriots --

I am beseiged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna -- I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man -- The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken -- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch -- The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country --

VICTORY OR DEATH

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.

P.S. The Lord is on our side -- When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn -- We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves --

Travis

Time

This is Lynne. Jeff said that when I blog a post that I need to tell people that I am the one writing. Anyway, I was getting dressed this morning and realized that Andy graduates in 13 weeks. It seems like yesterday that he was born, crawling, running, and starting his first day of school. Now he is a senior in high school, a leader at school and church, and a great son and big brother. As a mom, this time in life is hard. They say it gets easier with each child but I know in my heart that letting each and every one of my babies leave is going to be hard. I know that we prepare them all their lives to be independent and great but why can't they be great and just stay home? I think about the Amish who just build extensions on their houses when their children marry. That works for me!!!

Why Should the Devil Have All The Good Music?

Larry Norman
4/8/1947-2/24/2008

His Web Site
His Wikipedia Page

Happy Birthday Momma!

Today is my Momma's birthday! I won't tell you how old she is, but her favorite son is 40. She is a great Mom and a wonderful GranMa. We love you!
We had another cool night for baseball in Maypearl tonight. In this shot you can see Nick at short stop, Andy at second base, and Garret on first. There is a kid from Kemp on second. All under a full moon. I got cold and left at the top of the sixth inning. We were ahead 0-7.

It's Baseball Season Again!

We went to Venus last Thursday night for a scrimmage game against the Bulldogs. Our first night of baseball for the season. Andy was lead off batter but got thrown out when his coach had him go for third base. He did steal second, third, and home later in the game.
Here he is playing second base. After Andy played three innings they sent in the subs to see what they could do. That's when I took my lovely bride to a romantic Valentines dinner at Whataburger.

Lynne's Other Job

Lynne has been working as the gate keeper for the basketball games in Maypearl. (Extra money because some kid wants to go to a private school!) So we went up there Thursday night and had a Frito Chile Pie (there's a highway) and watched the JrHigh games.
Here is Jimmy shooting one of two technical foul free throws. Grandview's sub went in before the Ref called for him. They're seventh graders, they're still learning.