Unsung Heroes....

       This is a shout out to the Volunteer Fire Departments in Hunt County and all over the State! Hunt County has had at least 3 or 4 fires every day it seems like! 

Soooo, a BIG THANK YOU to all the Firemen who might read my little blog here! 

Happy Birthday to Daddy!!!!!

today is Daddy's --th  birthday!!! 

Daddy has been a tremendous blessing to me, and to tons of other people! I have never met someone that didn't immediately like Daddy! Fun-loving, caring, and can give very Godly advice, and I am blessed to call him Daddy!!! :)

From being a leader in the Republican party at the grassroots level, to being an Elder in our church. From ministering to all our customers, to preforming wedding ceremonies(and those aren't as unconnected as they seem.... :), Daddy blesses people in several areas of his life.

So, I compiled several pictures of the adventures and fun times we've had with him! 

Daddy and me....20 years ago!!! :)

Daddy and one of his favorite dogs

No, he is not choking himself - he is showing us his hand motions that he came up with to remember the order of the plagues in Egypt, and this is death of the first born!

Daddy teaching us during a Passover Seder

Enjoying a family dinner for Hannah's birthday, which always includes sharing stories and lots of laughing!!! 

Daddy and Mommy at the Smith's house 

Daddy, Mommy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith all squished into the truck to ride down to the creek! :)

Eating at CiCi's after going on a canoe trip(Daddy took this pic)

Rachel graduating from Midwifery school - the lady in the middle is RoseMarie Vance, the midwife that delivered Me and my three younger brothers and inspired Rachel to come a midwife :)

Daddy and Mommy at David and Amy's wedding

This was taken the night they announced David and Amy's courtship :)

Mr. Blair, Daddy, Jack, Daniel and David at Jack's Graduation from collage

Teaching our boys and the Mallett boys about gun safety

Pouring concrete.....we've done this quite a few times!!! :)

Faith, Mr. Childress, Daddy and Peter working on fixing up the basement

State Representative Dan Flynn, me, Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett, Daddy and David at the 2010 Rep. State Convention

Daddy and Mr. Schatte

Mama and Papa Bear :)

Singing

Playing pool at our Uncle's house

Playing chicken foot in Galveston

visiting at the beach

Mommy and Daddy - Christmas morning 

in Alabama 

kids picture - Galveston 2010

Playing 42 - a Hale tradition....

getting off the flight simulator at the museum in AL

Daddy also loves to tell stories - Thanksgiving 2009 at the Smith's house

at the Flea Market in Crumb, TN - Nov. 2009

We spent a lot of time laughing at the Doug Smith's house!!! :) 

Hannah and Daddy, Mr. Blair and Ruth

Preforming Skylar and Tina's wedding - June 2010

Daddy and Mr. Davis jamming guitars together

All of us with Governor Perry and St. Rep. Dan Flynn - 2006

♥ ♥ ♥ Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!!! ♥ ♥ ♥

(I framed this for him :)

of birthdays, singing, and possums

Sept. 23rd was my good friend, Esther's 18th birthday!!! 

She had a quaint little luncheon out on the porch at her house!  

this picture doesn't do the sky credit, but there were some really pretty cloud on the drive there....

visiting before lunch

Singing Happy Birthday to Esther

The beautiful table all set out

Es made place-cards with our names, meanings and a verse on them - very lovely!!!

Danny is so adorable!!!

Kathryn and Daniel popping bubble wrap :)

Kathryn helping Es unwrap her gifts

Playing confusion - a very fun game!!!

the girls doing the 'goodbye wave' as the Penningtons and Warrens left...and, I might get in trouble for posting this one.... ;)

It was soooo fun to have Ruth Vande Hei in Texas for two weeks!!! 

the girls in pink and white

Rachel, Ruth, Esther, Faith, Lizzy and Rebekah

♥ The Esthers ♥

Happy 18th Birthday Es! you are a huge encouragement to me!!!

That evening, the Beeman's had some families over for a singing-along

Esther, David, Daniel, Faith and Kathryn

Singing together is one of the sweetest forms of fellowship, I think! :)

the little ones playing in the middle of the floor while we sang

the 'orchestra':

Jedidiah, the Elizabeths and Ruth jamming 

I took a turn at the piano for a while, and Peter snapped a picture :)

Elizabeth and Ruth fiddling afterwards :)

Rachel playing along with her spoons 

Sarah visiting with Mrs. Hunter

Esther and Elizabeth

sneaking pictures through the window from the living room to the kitchen...

~ Buddies ~

(and I love the fact that I got these boys to pose with a doll.... :)

at some point, Rachel B went out to the garage and saw an opossum, and Andrew and Samuel went after it...but it was hiding under a dresser :)

"Yes, I am going to kill it with a broom!"

they asked me to hold the gun, and since it was a pretty awesome-looking gun, I got Bekah to take a picture of me! :)

it went behind a set of shelves, with just his tail sticking out, which prompted us onlookers to start quoting Winnie-the-Pooh :)

He was a pretty big fellow!

unfortunately, Andrew stepped on and broke a water line and the Beemans were with out water the rest of the night! :(

any thanks to the Schattes and Beemans for their wonderful hospitality!!!  Had a glorious time!!!!!