Fish Camp

Ok, so I haven't blogged in a while. Give me a break!! So your thinking why now!! Well, I will tell you in a little bit. That is called a teaser for those of you who do not know. The last couple of weeks have been real busy and for lack of a better excuse I just have been real tired lately. I posted a couple of pictures above of a fishing trip we took with the Merriman's down to the coast. We had a blast! Even though Reese would not sleep and we were up all night we still managed to have a great time. The weekend started out on the right foot. My boss let me head down to the coast early so I was able to meet up with my wife, Angie, Ryan and all 4 kids which were piled in my dads Escalade like sardines. Ryan who was sitting in the middle of the car, not in a seat, was probably the happiest one to see me. I have never seen him move so fast to get out of that car and into my truck. I do not know if he was just uncomfortable or if it was that he was sitting between 4 kids under 4 years of age. You decide! I can not tell you how much I appreciate our wives after that trip! 14 hours in that car would have sent me over the edge!

The trip down was so peaceful wasn't it Ryan. We got to listen to the radio, talk, sleep and most importantly sit in silence. The only bad thing about the trip down was that my wife got a ticket. I think it was the car, otherwise she would have gotten off. I do not know how that works! Every time I get pulled over I get a ticket unless I am with my wife. She always get a warning and a smile. I get a ticket and another ticket just because. I guess I would give her a warning as well ,but it still is not fair!

We arrived a fish camp at 8pm and settled in for the night. We ate dinner and put the kids down for bed and thought all was well. Ryan and I set our alarms to wake up at 5am to go catch dinner and fell asleep. At 12am Reese decides to wake up and visit with her daddy. To make a long story short we did not fish until 2pm on Saturday. We decided to sleep in and put in some family time at the beach with the kids. Ben is a wild man! That boy loves the dirty sand and the water. He was all boy and it was great! I do not get to see that very much so I had a blast watching him run around. All 4 kids had a blast and I am so glad we were there to play with them that morning.

We piled everyone on the boat and drove around for a little while and then dropped the wives and kids back at the dock and went fishing. On my first cast I caught a 24" Red and we were PUMPED. We could not cast fast enough we were so excited. Shortly after Ryan caught a trout, then a Red, then another trout. I went from pumped to pissed in about 30 minutes. Until I caught another big red. Although I was out fished on my own boat I had a great time. I guess I am just a good guide!!

That night we had a great dinner and the kids played real hard and went right to bed. Until about midnight. Reese and I were up until 4:30am and the fishing was officially over. We left around noon Sunday and got home around 7pm. It was a tiring trip but I had a great time with the Merriman's. They are a very relaxed family and our kids get along great. Thank you Kelli and Angie for traveling with the kids. We love you both for your patience.

Now for the reason I am blogging tonight. My wife started her blog tonight. Yes my wife, Kelli. So the competition is on. I guess I am going to have to be more consistent on my blogging. So for all you bloggers out there, Kelli's link is posted to the right. She is excited and when it is all said and done she will be a better blogger than I. I know I will check it out!

Sorry it has been so long. I will be better I promise.

Rylan Quote of the day #1: "Daddy, did you know when I am 16 I can drive?" SHE IS THREE!!

Quote #2: "Daddy you make my heart sing all the time!" She makes me melt sometimes.

Quote #3: "I love telling you questions!" She says this alot and it cracks me up.

I love my girls! All 3 of them!

Later,

Remarkable

I heard this message from my boss Monday in our monthly meeting and I thought I would share it with you. It has for some reason stuck in my head this week.


Remarkable by Max Lucado

Every day I have the honor of sitting down with a book that contains the words of the One who created me. Every day I have the opportunity to let him give me a thought or two on how to live. If I don't do what he say she doesn't burn the book or cancel my subscription. If I disagree with what he says, lightning doesn't split my swivel chair or an angel doesn't mark my name off the holy list. If I don't understand what he says, he doesn't call me a dummy.
In fact, he calls me Son, and on a different page explains what I don't understand.

Remarkable.

At the end of the day when I walk through the house, I step into the bedrooms of three little girls. And one by one, I bend over and kiss the foreheads of the angels God has loaned me. Then I stand in the doorway and wonder why in the world he would entrust a stumbling, fumbling fellow like me with the task of loving and leading such treasures.

Remarkable.

Then I go and crawl into bed with a woman far wiser than I, a woman who deserves a man much better looking than I, but a woman who would argue that fact and tell me from the bottom of her heart that I am the best thing to come down her pike.
After I think about the wife I have, and when I think that I get to be with her for a lifetime, I shake my head and thank the God of grace for grace and think,

Remarkable.

I am learning not to take these everyday miracles for granted.
I am discovering many things: traffic jams eventually clear up, sunsets are for free, Little League is a work of art, and most planes take off and arrive on time. I am learning that most folks are good folks who are just as timid as I am about starting a conversation.
I am meeting people who love their country and their God and their church and would die for any of the three.
I am learning that if I look and if I open my eyes and observe there are many reasons to take off my hat, look at the Source of it all, and just say thanks.

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I really like this message from Max Lucado. I read it again this morning and it reminded me of how lucky I am to be surrounded by the beautiful women God has entrusted to me. It also reminded me of what an idiot I am for the way I acted to my wife yesterday. For some reason, I do not know why, I get caught up in myself and don't think about her emotions. She is stressed out to the end of her rope, and instead of giving her a little more slack I continue to pull.

Sorry for snapping at you!!

You all know what Kelli and I are going through right now and I ask that you keep us in your prayers. Kelli has handled the closing of her stores with a faith and strength that I admire. In doing so she has continued to be a light to her children even when she can not take anymore. We do not know what is going to happen, so we just have to keep faith that their is a reason we are going through all this. Thank you to everyone who has helped us the last few months. You guys mean the would to us.

Later,
Lane

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