The Giving Tree and Turning 30

I just talked to my mom this morning and she was telling me that the big old apple tree in our backyard had finally fallen over. It had been rotted within for years after putting up a good fight. Every year that tree would bare hundreds of apples that my sister and I grudgingly picked up a lot of the time. My mom would always yell at me since I thought it was more fun to throw them across the yard and try to get them over the fence than to just pick them up and put them into old paper grocery bags. I usually got about half of the apples over the fence and my mom would mow over the other half that didn’t cross that green chain linked fence. That tree provided us shade from the hot summer sun, held up a hammock that we used to swing on, was our canopy for more parties than I can remember and now is firewood for an Amish guy down the street to keep his family warm in the winter. I think of the book “The Giving Tree” that was read to me as a boy and now I read it to my boy. I can only help but think of the greatest giver of all in God everytime I read that story.

As I turned 30 last month I was reminded at all that has been given and entrusted to me. I have wonderful friends and people in my life that have helped shape me into the man I am today. I have lived all over the country and experienced so much is such a short amount of time. I know there is still a lot of growth to come, but am grateful at what my life looks like today. I have served a faithful God even though I have not always reciprocated that faithfulness. Wherever you find yourself today no matter how young or old you are, take a step back and be grateful. God the giver of life wants you to know how special you are. Some of you may feel like an old apple tree that may look good on the outside, but you are rotting within. Some of you have already fallen over and everything has been exposed, what a great opportunity to realize where your trust and hope is fully lying in. There is a maker that can give you life like you have never experienced before now and forever, will you call out to Him today?

Daddy's little Cowboy

Graydon's first pair of cowboy boots. Thanks Aunt Kristen and Uncle George!

Look what I can do

International Youth Convention in San Antonio

Our little Texan
















Getting a picture by the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio



















Graydon at his first Christian Concert at IYC. Don't worry Grandparents, he had earplugs in and those big set of headphones on so he didn't even flinch at the noise.

Graydon in his new Hawaiian outfit his Uncle Elton gave him.





















Always helps to have an extra hand at folding the clothes.



















Our youth put on a morning camp for the kids in our Church neighborhood called Camp Oak Cliff. Everyone had a fun time getting wet and learning about the love of Jesus.












Our Little Firecracker, Graydon was all set for 4th of July with his new t-shirt. He was mesmerized by the fireworks, but enjoyed them more by watching them through the window inside our friend's house.

Trip to Phoenix

Graydon and I got to meet Grandma Caldwell (Sabrina's Dad's Mom) for the first time. What a sweetheart!














Sabrina got to visit her best friend Shauna and her little boy Simon. The boys don't know it yet, but they are going to be best friends too:)











Grandpa Rousay took Gradyon to his first baseball game at the Arizona Diamondbacks stadium. The D Backs lost 15-1, but it was still a neat experience to check out a new ballpark.











Visit to the Arizona Cardinals football stadium with my brother-in-law Jon. The temperature was 115 degrees at the time, so we didn't stay outside for too long.

How excited are you about reading?