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

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

21.....?!?!?!

Goodness Griefess....I'm turning 21 today!

When I look back at where I was last year at my birthday and where I am now, all I can say is that God has very good to me, and I am so not worthy of it!!!

Don't ever ask the Lord to teach you patience and forgiveness, unless you are ready for a wild ride!!! :) But, He is faithful, and has taught me amazing lessons, and on top of that brought a very special man into my life!!! OK, technically Samuel was already in my life, but He gave me permission to be best friends with him! ;)

To quote John Newton in Amazing Grace: "Although my memory is fading, there are two things that I  remember: I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior!"

"I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."

~ Psalms 13:6 

(that has been my theme verse these last 4 months!!! :)

Me and my 'special-guy-friend'! :) 

A Smattering of Verses....

Read these in my quiet time tonight, and thought I'd share them! :)



The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. - Exodus 14:14

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? - Exodus 15:11

Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. - Psalms 20:6-7

I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. - Psalms 140:6

Bu Godliness with contentment is great gain. - 1 Timothy 6:6

'His eye is on the horse fly....'

....and I know He watches me!!!'



It just blows my mind away that the same God that created these really awesome eyes on the horse fly, cares for little old me!!! :D

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?

and one of them shall not fall on the ground without you Father.

-Matthew 10:29-

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

to two of my best buddies!!! 

Andrew turns 16 and Samuel turns 21 today!!! 

Both you guys are a huge blessing to me, and I'm very glad that you are a part of my life!!!!!

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

-2 Peter 1:4-8

Celebrating Christmas at the Hales House! :)

This year, because Christmas fell on a Sunday, we decided to do our family Christmas on Saturday - and of course, none of us minded doing it a day early! :)

Friday night, while Mommy and Daddy went to Dallas to see a Canadian Brass concert with Mr. and Mrs. Davis, and Daniel and I hung the stockings :)

Sarah was finishing up her gift for Grandma, and knitted toboggan

Christmas breakfast - 14 people around the table, 15 if you count R&J's baby! :)

looking in the stockings

reading the Christmas story :)

:)

opening gifts.... 

Peter's new hat from Daddy :)

David had to try it on!

Andrew's hat.... :)

Mommy opening a gift for her and Daddy from Rachel & Jack.....

♥ ♥ ♥

after all the gifts had been opened, they guys and I went out to were they had been working in the woods, and started some of the brush piles on fire! :)

two of the puppies followed us out

Andrew had carved his initials in a stump with a chainsaw :)

the creek

Andrew in his natural habitat! 

I thought the erosion from the trees roots looked kinda neat!

Samuel and Daniel crumpling newspaper to start the fire

There is something very cheerful about a fire!

the ensemble of books I got from Mommy and Hannah! ;)

my gifts from Samuel - I'd say he's figured out what I like pretty well! :)

My gifts from Hannah! :)

(we draw names to give gifts, and she drew me! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christmas morning, we had church in our basement! 

It was more like an extended family get-together than church, though!!! 

Mr. Davis reading part of the Christmas story from Matthew

After lunch, we played volleyball - but I didn't get any pictures of the games...but we had boatloads of fun!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Luke 2:7-21

⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 ⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 ¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 ¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 ¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 ¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 ¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 ²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 

Some of my favorite Christmas songs! 

Hope everyone has a very blessed Christmas with their loved ones, and ponder, like Mary did, that even in our joy and festivities, Christ come down to this earth for a reason - to give his life as a sacrifice that we could have eternal life forever with Him...if we chose to give our lives to Christ, and let Him lead us!!! ♥ 

(one of my gifts from Samuel - some of my favorite verses! :)

Words of Wisdom

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥