Goodbye...

The day has come. I won't be posting on this blog anymore. I'll leave it up, though. Samuel and I are getting married in just 44 days(!!!!!!), and we have our own blog now, and as I won't be a 'Hale' anymore, it didn't make sense to try to keep up with two blogs....Maybe we can convince either Sarah or Hannah to start one to keep y'all up with what's going on in the Hale family....and entitle it, "Life Without Esther, what a glorious relief"..... ;)

~<3 ~<3~ <3~ <3~ <3~<3~<3~<3~

Merry Christmas!!!

From our family to yours!!!

Samuel & Esther, Hannah, Mommy & Daddy, Sarah

Robert, Amy & David, Peter, Andrew, Daniel, Anna, Jack & Rachel

Hoping everyone had a very Merry Christmas enjoying friends and family, and don't forget to be grateful to the One who made us all, and gave His only begotten Son to die for us!!!!! 

10 Months!!! :D

So today was a special day....today marks 10 months since a very special fellow asked me to be his special girl...and what a journey it has been since!!!! I am very thankful the Lord saw fit put Samuel in my life, and every day am blown away by His continual goodness and mercy towards me!!!!! Happy 10 months, Sam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

A few pics from the camping trip I went on last weekend with the Schattes! :)

(I'll be posting more pics from the trip soon!!!)

Remembering.....

The text of President Bush's address Tuesday night, after terrorist attacks on New York and Washington:

"Good evening.

Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts.

The victims were in airplanes or in their offices -- secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers. Moms and dads. Friends and neighbors.

Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger.

These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.

Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C., to help with local rescue efforts.

Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.

The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow.

Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.

The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources for our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them."

"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. 

We will preserve for our children this, 

the last best hope of man on earth, 

or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. 

If we fail, 

at least let our children and our children's children say of us 

we justified our brief moment here. 

We did all that could be done."

-Ronald Reagan

If my people, 

which are called by my name, 

shall humble themselves, 

and pray, 

and seek my face, 

and turn from their wicked ways; 

then will I hear from heaven, 

and will forgive their sin, 

and will heal their land.

-2 Chronicles 7:14

"For I am persuaded, that neither 

death, 

nor life, 

nor angels, 

nor principalities, 

nor powers, 

nor things present, 

nor things to come, 

Nor height, 

nor depth, 

nor any other creature, 

shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

-Romans 8:38-39

Comforting song.... I'll Never Let Go Of Your Hand by Don Francisco

A bit of a celebration!!!

Last Saturday, Samuel passed his last test and got his A&P license!!!

Us with the License! :D

Faith was taking the pictures, and she told us to look at each other....

...which always makes us bust up laughing!!!  :D

This is Faith. Cleaning chocolate icing out of the air vent. Yeah, don't ask! ;P

Sam and Faith were very happy to be done with the study questions!!!

It had also been 9 months since Samuel started courting me....just another reason to be thankful and grin from ear to ear!!! :D

Good bye, Uncle Roy.... ♥

Saturday night my Uncle Roy(Daddy's younger bother), left this earth and went home to be with the Lord for eternity.

Uncle Roy has battled cancer for several years now, and two weeks ago had a really bad heat stroke that he nearly died from. We are very thankful for those two weeks that God gave him back to us for, so we could hug him and tell him we love him one more time before the Lord took him home. Although we miss him terribly, we know that if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we will see Uncle Roy again in heaven for all eternity!!!

"For God so loved the world,

that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son

into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through Him might be saved."

(John 3:16-17)

Uncle Roy with his wife, Aunt Rene and youngest grandson, Ryan.

All the Uncles at Christmas last year. I am very thankful that Samuel was able to be there and get to meet Uncle Roy while he was still alive!!!

Uncle Earl, Daddy, Uncle Charles, Uncle Jerry, and Uncle Roy

Uncle Roy's Obituary:

Funeral services for Roy Hale of Lindale are scheduled for 10:00 am Saturday, August 11, 2012 in the Caudle-Rutlede Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Robbie Caldwell officiating. Graveside services with be held at 3:00 pm Saturday init eh Stewart Cemetery near Commerce. 

Family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Friday at the funeral home

Mr. Hale was born November 27th, 1957 in Commerce, Texas the son of Harold Roy Hale Sr. and Lena Mae (Hamm) Hale. He passed away Saturday, August 4, 2012 at his residence. Mr. Hale lived in Lindale for the past 30 years and was a member of Central Baptist Church in Lindale. He was employed by Tyler Pipe for 15 year before becoming employed with Lindale ISD in 1998.

Mr. Hale was preceded in death my his father, Harold Roy Hale Sr. 

He is survived by his mother, Lena Hale of Commerce; wife, Rene Hale of Lindale; children, James Lucas of Longview, Samantha Lindsey of Brownwood, Wayne Lucas of the USMC; brother, Charles hale of Glen Rose, Mike Hale of Commerce; sister, Barbara Maxfield of Blosson, Texas, Doris Waters of Pari, Donna Hester of Bastrop; grandchildren, Gavid, Aiden and Ryan Lucas and Aurora Lindsey. 

Uncle Roy with his granddaughter, Aurora Jane

"I have fought the good fight,

I have finished my course,

I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for a crown of righteousness,

which the Lord, the righteous judge,

shall give me on that day:

and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."

(2 Tim 4:7-8)

Please keep my Aunt Rene, Grandma and all the extended Hale family in your prayers <3

8 months!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday it's been 8 months since Samuel came over and asked me to start a courtship with him! 

I am so incredibly blessed to have this wonderful fellow in my life! 

He is a huge encouragement to me, and is an amazing man of God!!!!!!

us! :)

Praise ye the Lord. 

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, 

in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great, 

sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

His work is honourable and glorious: 

and his righteousness endureth for ever.

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: 

the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

He hath given meat unto them that fear him: 

he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

He hath shewed his people the power of his works, 

that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

The works of his hands are verity and judgment; 

all his commandments are sure.

They stand fast for ever and ever, 

and are done in truth and uprightness.

He sent redemption unto his people: 

he hath commanded his covenant for ever: 

holy and reverend is his name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: 

a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: 

his praise endureth for ever.

~Psalms 111~

the flowers and chocolate he gave me! :)

Just had to add this one...taken the night he came over and made it official :)

Baptism Sunday

Sunday was Baptism Sunday at our church. Such a blessing to see these young people publicly committing their lives to Christ!!!

Mr. Hutchins giving a brief  talk on baptism

The witnesses

Esther Alysse Oglesby

Matthew Wells

Benjamin Ferguson

Rachel Davis

Benjamin Davis

Bethany Davis

Kathryn Davis