Inquiring Minds Want to Know

For some reason some people have found it totally amusing that I have a job (Bro. Kenny)!  LOL!  I have been working for Keller Williams Realty a little over a year now in the accounting department.

Recently we had a staff lunch, and I snapped a few pictures, so I just thought I'd share these with you.  Now no one will have to wonder if these people are real.  I have pictures to prove it.

BELOW: Linda T. (my superviser), Wayne (Gene's "coach"), 

Michelle & Alice (asst. Team Leaders)

BELOW: Linda B. (Team Leader - aka "the-big-boss"), 

Laura (agent services), Wendy (office manager)

BELOW: Kyle (technical guru), Kristie (receptionist)

Sad

Some terrible news...

Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest child died Wednesday evening after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home.

Maria, one of the Christian singer’s six children, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver’s name.

The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.

His popular song, Cinderella, was written about his two youngest daughters.

High School Letter Jacket

Cameron came home today with his letter jacket. The school actually purchased it for him because of his academic achievements!  We had to add a little bit to it to get his name on the back, but it looks really cool!  Class of 2010 - Yikes! - it is coming too fast!!!!  A few years ago, that sounded like a science fiction year and seemed too far into the future to ever get here.  We are proud of his accomplishments and his commitment to God.  Congratulations Cameron!

Here's an important one...

I have gone several times to the Apple Store to get a cover for my iPhone, but I would always leave without one! They were so expensive, ugly and BULKY! Why would I want a slimline phone that fits in a pocket and feels good in the hand and then go get a cover that makes it twice the size and weight?! I really needed something to protect the edges of my phone, though.

A friend at Keller Williams came across one that I finally said, "YES! This is what I am looking for." It is from Cozip. You can purchase it through Amazon.com for $12.99! They come in 6 colors: White, Silver, Pink, Red, Black and Blue. It doesn't cover the front of the phone, but it does provide a padding for the sides and back. I picked Silver because you really can't tell there is a cover on it and my wife chose Pink because she likes excitement! LOL! You can see them here.  It doesn't fit into the desktop docking station with the cover on, but you can plug the cord directly into the phone for syncing or charging without taking the cover off.

I know this is not so important, but maybe someone has been looking for the same thing as me!

P.S. We had a wonderful weekend!  Today is back to the grindstone.  The boys to school, me to finishing the Youth Center and my wife has jury duty in downtown Austin.  (You'll probably be hearing about that one.)  Go ahead and enjoy the good life today!

Lift Me Up...

...Above the Shadows.

A shadow is a region of darkness where light is blocked by an object. 

There are many things in life that can get between us and the Light - Jesus Christ.  In prayer tonight this old song came to mind and I remembered the picture above that I took several weeks ago outside our church.  Maybe this will help someone:

Lift me up above the shadows,

Plant my feet on higher ground,

Lift me up above the clouds, Lord,

Where the pure sunshine is found;

Lift me up above my weakness,

Lift me up into Thy strength,

Lift me up above the shadows,

Till I stand with Thee at length.

Chorus:

Lift me up above the shadows,

Lift me up and let me stand

On the mountaintops of glory,

Let me dwell in Beulah land.

Lift me up above the shadows,

For the storms are raging high,

Lift me up, my blessed Savior,

Let me to Thy bosom fly;

There no evil thing can touch me,

Over on the shining side,

Lift me up above the shadows,

Let me evermore abide.

I feel that way too often, we let things in our life block our view of God and His light.  It could be another person, a career, happenings, sickness, financial need - and the list could go on and on.  I prefer to live in the Light!  That is where true joy is found.  The shadows of life are caused by nothing but an obstruction that has come between me and God.  If I find myself living in those shadows, I have allowed things that are not of God to rule my life!  We choose where we live - sunshine or shadows.  Why not choose the beautiful sunshine of God's presence?  Then, no matter what happens in life, no matter what comes along, I can have joy!  

Come on y'all - let's get in the sunshine!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

...LINDA!!

Hope you have a great day.

We love you!

Family time

Friday night the boys didn't have youth activity, so we decided to take some time to just have fun.  (You can see Cameron trying to make Chad smile in the picture above!)  We put the top down on the Jeep and headed to a place that Cameron has been dying to eat at for a while.  We had passed it several times over the last year or so and it always smelled so good!  It is called Ironworks BBQ and it's next to the Austin Convention Center downtown.   "Originally an ornamental Iron Work shop owned and operated by the Weigl family, this little tin building was converted into The Iron Works BBQ in 1978. Shortly after opening their doors, the State Historical Commission registered the property as a historical site, honoring the Weigls and their legacy." To me, after eating there, it smells better than it tastes! Cameron really liked what he got. We had a great time laughing and acting goofy! They explored a store called Buffalo Exchange, a resale shop near UT and then we topped it off with Cold Stone Creamery. We have always loved Coldstone and stopped there every time we came into town while moving here and then decided, we have to quit this!  So, it had been a while. 

Family times are great times!  I hope you get to enjoy some relaxing moments with your family and friends.  If it has been a while, take some time now.  Nothing fancy, just time together enjoying each other's company.

Happy Mother's Day

I give honor to two wonderful moms who are living and one who has gone on to her reward:

First to my wife, Karla Holley:  

You are definitely the answer to my need.  God knew exactly the perfect lady to put in my life and be the mother of our children.  You make life so much fun!  I would be pretty boring without you.  Your radiant smile and bubbly personality brings many days of sunshine to me and the boys.  Thanks for being you and being willing to follow the will of God no matter the cost.  The last two years have been by faith and you have shown me that you have what it takes.  I love you with all of my heart and know that Cameron and Chad have the best!

To my mom, Joann Holley:

I will never forget all the wonderful things that you taught me in my years.  You taught me to forgive and forget.  You taught me that it takes hard work to be a success and you have been.  You taught me to be a giving person, willing to give of what the Lord has blessed you with.  You have taught me how to smile even when you are worrying!  The list could go on, but I'll stop.  This is one of the few Mother's Days that I will not get to be with you. (I hope Dad picked up your corsage!) I am glad that you are staying home to wish Pastor and Sis. Elms' the best on their last weekend, though.  Have a great Mother's Day!

To my wife's mom, Lila Layne:

I know that you will not get to read this, but I have to let you know what an awesome lady I think you were.  I still get teary-eyed wanting to tell you all the great things that God has done in our lives since you have been gone.  You would be proud of our boys and how they have been used of God in music - and how much they have grown!  You enter our family conversations often, so don't think that you are gone from our hearts.  One day soon we will all gather around the throne and be together forevermore!  

Here Comes Heaven

Eddy Arnold, the gentleman crooner who took country music uptown and sold more than 85 million recordings over seven decades, died Thursday. He was 89.

It caught my attention in the news this morning because it was one of his songs that I sang as my beautiful bride came down the aisle in our wedding. In fact, it was a family tradition started by my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wendell and Linda Elms. They started something neat!  The song was "Here Comes Heaven." We had to change the hair and eye colors to fit the bride in each wedding but each groom sang it to introduce them.  It brought back a lot of memories!  The words still hold true for me.  I found it interesting that Eddie Arnold's wife of 66 years just passed away March 11 and he is gone less than two months later.  Here's the song, but be careful to stare at the video too long— it will make you dizzy watching that old record turn!

Youth Center Progress

The Youth Center should be completed within 2 weeks!  The lights are going in now and the flooring should be added next week.  The above picture is the Youth Activity area and Loft.  It is looking really nice.

This is the hallway (exciting, huh?!) that leads to all the Sunday School rooms.

Here is the entry area.  

This new suite gives the church room to grow by doubling the space available and adding another restroom!  The extra restroom is important between Sunday School and Worship service — Amen?!  It won't be long now!