Outfit Destroyer

Claire Kate doesn't go to the bathroom like a normal person. She holds it in for days, and then unleashes the fury. EVERY time she goes Number 2 we have to soak her clothes because her stinky ruins her outfit. You probably don't care to know any of this, but she leaked out onto two outfits today, and it's a real pain!

Tell Me About Yourself Part 2

So last time we talked about day jobs. Today I have two questions so that I get to know YOU better.

1. What is your favorite color?

2. Do you brush your teeth with hot or cold water?

No Guts for His Glory?

I saw this video on another blog the other day, and it rocked me! Your thoughts?

1000th Visitor!!!

Today the blog passed 1,000 visitors! This is a meager milestone no doubt, but one I am grateful for. Thanks for stopping by and adding pieces of your mind! Whoever this is, congrats, and let me know who earned this distinguished honor. You evidently live in Alabaster, run a Windows machine, and are a twitter user. Thanks friends!

This Dude is Awesome!

I love people like this guy! He's awesome, and comfortable being himself. I'd love to meet him!

The One Thing You Should NEVER Get a Boy for Christmas

Clothes! There's no building suspense or holding my cards close on this one. Never buy a little boy clothes for Christmas. I remember as a child being completely disheartened when I unwrapped a Christmas gift to find clothes. No doubt this is a result of being spoiled and ungrateful, but I remembered that thought while watching Trey unwrap presents this week. He ripped right through the clothes to find the next ball, car, or Elmo. I remember one year my Grandmaw gave me clothes for Christmas, and all year I told her she didn't get me anything. The only alternative is to give them clothes which are covering the real gift, be it a toy or gadget. 

**Note** Some boys like clothes when they become older, but they NEVER get tired of opening a toy! Guys, am I lying?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Two questions for you on this most blessed, awesome day: What was the coolest thing you got, and what is the coolest thing you gave?

Christmas

I remember just about every detail of every Christmas as a child. I remember the year we got the original NES system, the year dad played the new drum set in the living room as we entered from the hallway, and the year we got the go cart. I can recall the excitement we felt as we went to sleep the night before, and how I never had a problem being a "morning person" on Christmas. I was always the first one up. Those are some awesome memories! Tomorrow morning we begin those memories with the babies. I hope they love it as much as we did.

When Did it Happen?

I remember a time when I got extra money and immediately went to the guitar store to pick up the next guitar or pedal. Holly and I had a great system. We took turns buying things we wanted. If she spent $600 on an armoire, I got to spend $600 on guitar stuff. It was a masterful plan that worked to perfection. Then something happened...kids. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind. I would much rather have our babies than another guitar. By the same token, (don't miss this) I still want just one more guitar, pedal, or gadget! Anyway, the other day I got some money we didn't know we would be receiving, and you know what I did? Bought groceries and put $100 in savings. WHAT?!?! I know what you're thinking, "Robert, you are such a party animal!" So my question is this, When did it happen? When did I become a grown up?

With Friends Like These...

Jonathan sent me this video this morning and I needed to share it with all of you.  Enjoy!

To Santa or Not to Santa?

Growing up, our family never believed in Santa Claus. My parents never wanted to tell us that something was reality if it wasn't in fact real. However, Santa came to the house with gifts every year, and He was always referenced in gift givings during this most glorious time of year. Now as parents Holly and I will probably carry on the same tradition. We'll say Santa's coming even though our kids will know that there's no Santa. It was fun growing up, and I hope our kids enjoy it like we did.

I know everyone has different traditions. Any of you guys believe in Santa growing up? Were you deeply scarred when you found out that He was a sham, a fraud, a fake, a phony? I didn't know every family wasn't like ours, and I spilled the beans to my cousin James. He was devastated. I beat him up for being a crybaby. I was mean, but somehow ended up on the "nice list" every year.

Tell Me About Yourself

Some of you check in every day, which by the way is incredibly flattering. You read about my serious thoughts, things going on in my life, and you watch my children bust their heads on door frames while their uncles laugh at them.  Anyway, you're sharing in my life but I don't know anything about you! 

Let's start off with something easy, what's your day job?

Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

I wonder if they even know they are a wolf. I think they think they're doing God all kinds of big favors as they stir up dissension, strife, and conflict. Why are we caught off guard by these people? Christ promised us they would be there. The question in my mind is how do I love them like I'm supposed to, yet deal with the problem?

Daddy's Girl

From the minute that we met, there has been a special connection. When she was a few days old, the sound of my voice would make her stop crying. Nobody gets the smiles that I do, and she talks like crazy when I hold her. She is a big time Daddy's girl! This is one of the grins I get every time she can see me. What a spoiled rotten angel. I can't wait to watch her grow. 

Junk Email

A year ago today I began leaving all my junk email in the junk inbox instead of deleting them. I wondered how many I would get in a year, because it seemed like I would get 50 a day. During that time I received 11,245 junk emails. That's 31 junk emails a day on one email account. I've got 3. This is not the first long term experiment I've done. I did one the first year Holly and I were married, but I'll keep that one to myself. If you care enough, email me and ask.

Anyone else do stuff like this?

Me and Holly

There are a lot of areas of my life that are not what I want them to be, but my marriage to Holly is pretty awesome. (This would be a good point to interject that the goodness of said marriage is due in large part to her awesomeness.) As with any marriage it's a two way street, but her lane is much bigger than mine. She's incredible at every aspect of being a wife. One of the reasons I feel like our marriage works is because we are interested in each others interests. Before we were married I could care less about paint colors, outdoor swing sets, back splashes, and pillow shams. I would have never flipped to HGTV or known who Carter Oosterhouse was. Likewise, she didn't care about the Chicago Cubs, and couldn't tell you the difference between a Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster. However, now I can match a ceramic tile with a formica countertop, and Holly can explain the difference in tone between a cedar and koa guitar top. This all happened because we love one another, and love to be together. The only logical thing that could have developed was that we gave attention to the interests of the other. It's one of my favorite parts of being married to Holly. She understands why I need that other guitar and I understand why she needs another pillow on the couch.

I look at my Christmas presents before Christmas

Ok there it is, and it's true! Every year growing up I knew almost everything I was getting for Christmas, because I would search and investigate. Here's the thing with surprises...you're surprised when you find out what it is! What is the big deal with it being wrapped? I got just as excited when I saw it on the Walmart receipt as I snooped in mom's purse, or when I unwrapped the gift, and rewrapped it before anyone knew otherwise. I also tend to be a phenomenal guesser. I'm not good at a lot of things, but you let me feel the box in my hand and shake it, I know what it is. All of this drives Holly absolutely crazy! 

Do you like to be surprised as you unwrap the gift, or when you see it in your parents closet?

Labor Of Love

One of the things I love about being married to Holly is listening to her sing. This past Sunday we sang "Labor of Love" by Andrew Peterson. My good friend Mike captured it and posted it. Merry Christmas!

I am Second

Hey everybody, I know that everything in the world is thrown at you on this great tool known as the internet, but I found out about a brand new website tonight that I would love to pass along to you. If you take a second to check it out, I'm sure you won't regret it! It's called I am Second. Click here, and pass the word along.

Top Christmas Gifts of My Life

Christmas is probably my favorite Holiday. Easter means the most to me, but I love the celebration of Christmas. I think this is probably due to the fact that I LOVE to give and receive gifts. I wish I had about $100 per person to spend on me and Holly's family, but it just isn't there. Anyway, I got to thinking about the best Christmas gifts I have ever received today and I thought I would share them with all of you.

1. Jesus - Not to be cheesy or cliché, but seriously consider that Creator God became THE integral part of creation. Without His humiliation, there would be no hope. I wonder if He walked around at times reminiscing about forming the Sea of Galilee, or if He glanced up at the stars at night with a smile knowing that they would not have given light if He had not hung them there. Without a doubt, the greatest gift I have ever been given is Jesus Christ!

2. Taylor Koa T-5: Most of you will read this and have no clue what a Taylor Koa T-5 is, but for those who read this and know, you understand my glee over it. Ever since I began playing guitar, I wanted a Taylor. They are awesome guitars! In addition I've always loved the sound of Koa wood. Holly and I had talked about it, but I never thought I would get one. One night I was up at the church practicing for praise band, and Holly stopped by...with a brand new guitar. This earned her Wife of the Century Honors, and a spot under Jesus on the best Christmas gifts of my life!

3. Elvis, my first dog - I remember it like it was yesterday. Dad said we were going to pick up a Christmas present, which sent the four of us boys into an all out frenzy. We stopped off by his job to pick something up and into the back of the van he loaded a doghouse. I had been wanting a dog for a long time, and that night I realized I was gonna get my wish. We went to pick him up, and he was everything I could've hoped for. To top it off his name was Elvis, and he was perfect...except for the fact that he hated fat people. I kid you not, the dog had a great dislike for persons of excessive girth. As a matter of fact, one day he bit a fat kid walking up the street and we had to send him to be put down at the Humane Society. That part was sad, but the part about me getting him at Christmas was awesome!

Honorable Mentions - Dukes of Hazzard cardboard town, drumset, my first guitar, Rosetta Stone Latin American Spanish Levels 1 & 2, a go cart, Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and several bicycles.

Anybody else get some cool stuff for Christmas in the past?     

Lemons anyone?

I know, I know, I'm a horrible parent, but this is SOOO funny. This is Trey's first experience with lemons. It's a couple of months old, but still funny. He loves them now.

Oh, also, tonight when I was in the tub with Trey giving him a bath, he dropped a floater on me. There was a quick evacuation and extraction followed by a swift drain and refill and we progressed on just as pretty as we pleased. Ah the joys of having kids!

Kids playing

I don't know what it was like in your house growing up, but in our house with the 4 Hope boys, there was always chaos. It was awesome! One of the things that stands out most to me was our innate ability to create a game out of nothing. I remember we used to have this one game we played on the trampoline called Dhalsim, that's right, the Street Fighter character.  The purpose of the game was to wet down the surface with water and then slide kick one of the brothers until they fell. No one was eliminated, we just slide kicked each other. 

Little kids can create a game out of anything. Tonight we kept a few kids for a church function and it made me think of our childhood and those games we made up. What sweet memories! I hope Trey and Claire Kate have that much fun growing up!

Any of you guys have any funny games you played growing up?

Hilarious

I laughed out loud during this clip. Totally Awesome!

Dreams

When did it happen? When did we quit dreaming? Are you in that place? It is such a sad state when we begin to focus life on simply existing, making it week to week. Dreams find themselves under the accumulation of memories and we cease to look forward. We refer to the "good ole days" when the best should be up around the bend. Did we give up when we were told that the dreams of our childhood were ridiculous or unattainable? Has adulthood taught us to fit in, lose all imagination, and survive? I never want to be a person who loses sight of the prizes on the path ahead. I never want the thoughts of yesterday to outnumber the aspirations of tomorrow. As I learn and grow, may it only expand my horizons, and never narrow my vision. May my heart be determined to live for more than survival. I pray we never let go of our dreams!

Tough

Trey is tough! Here's one of the reasons why. Holly thought about sending this video to AFV. Do you think it's worthy?

Dear Auburn Fans

Dear Auburn Fans,

We as Alabama fans understand the pain you have endured this season! We have dealt with it for the past six years. We don't by any stretch of the imagination feel sorry for you, but we know your pain. Please understand that we find great joy in your most embarrassing demise. I only comment to let you know that we are on top now, but we know what you're going through on the bottom. Enjoy your free Holiday time seeing as how you won't have to watch any bowl games!

Until Next Year...

Robert