Contacts

Chase got contacts this weekend.  The jury is still out as we have experienced a little frustration with the putting in and removal process.  He got them for sports but if he gets used to them, I suspect he may wear them more regularly.

2.28.18

We had a towhall meeting for Wylie Prep last night and a variety of topics from leadership changes, building 22, and campus security were discussed.

But, one board member said something that has stuck with me.

Glance at your problems and Gaze to God!

Cowtown Marathon 2018

I ran the 40th annual Cowtown Marathon this past weekend with John Caddell.  We ran the half marathon.  Below are the results. 

Billy Graham goes home

Yesterday, Billy Graham died at the age of 99.  He is quoted as saying

Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.

A fun fact is that this is actually adapted from a quote from D.L. Moody, one of Graham's heroes.

Some day you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody, of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher, that is all; out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal—a body that death cannot touch; that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body.

Shelley and I went and saw him at Texas Stadium in 2002. Here is an article.  I was a new Christian and it was a powerful night for me.

He will be missed but his legacy will continue to grow.

Another School Shooting

Yesterday, in Parkland, FL, there was another school shooting.  Seventeen people were killed by 1 gunman.  The gunman was actually caught so we might get some answers as to Why? 

But, needless to say that this has sparked the gun control debate again.  But, it is obvious from the shooter's social media he is disturbed.  Also, it appears there was a lot of warning signs that no one did anything about.

Unfortunately, there is evil in the world and God is really the only solution.

Valentine's Day

This time of year is always special because a week before Valentine's day is when I first met Shelley and 2 days later is when we went on our first date.  Below is the video I sent her this morning.  I actually don't remember ever seeing the video because it is pretty 80s and pretty cheesy but I always liked the song.

The Olympics

The winter olympics are underway and they are in Pyeongchang South Korea.
I haven't gotten into them just yet but I'm sure I will.  The one thing that is nice is that it is a 15 hour time difference so they have scheduled a lot of things so they are live at night.

I never can decide if I like the winter olympics more or less than summer.  I like a lot of the speed and risky sports in the winter olympics.

Day 4

I skipped the weekend but I'm back.

Friday night we drove to Windstar and saw Jim Gaffigan.  It was good but probably one of the best lines came from Chase.  Upon walking into the smoke filled, lights flashing environment of the Casino, Chase said "here is where people come to make poor life choices". 

The rest of the weekend was pretty quiet as it was a cold and wet.  We even got some sleet on Sunday morning.

Day 3

Today is Friday.

We are driving to Thackerville to the winstar Casino to see Jim Gaffigan.

He is clean and pretty funny. This was one of their Christmas presents.  We have started giving them activities a lot more.  We gave Seth tickets to a TCU basketball game for his birthday.

Fun Fact:WinStar is the largest casino in the US based on sq. footage.  Who knew...

Day 2

I just wanted to write a quick post to keep my streak going. :-)

Baseball is kicking in and things are getting hectic.  The boys are playing for WPA which started practice this week.  Chase is playing for the Fury and they practice 3 times a week and the first tournament is in 9 days.  Seth is playing for another select team but they haven't chosen an organization yet but they are starting to practice as well.

I know there will be a time when we miss this.  Just like all the other stages we have been with the boys. 

To be continued...

I'm Back (for now)

It has been a long time since I posted anything and I regret that.  As I looked back on some of the post, it was a nice journey down memory lane.

So, I'm going to give it another shot.

It is interesting because one of my last posts was about meeting Shelley the first time.  The 21st anniversary of that was yesterday.

A lot of other things have changed since my last posts.

We moved from Bedford to Lavon. 
The boys are 15 and 12.
Seth is learning to drive. 😓
We have started a new company.  We are in a partnership on a water and fire restoration company.  Rainbow International of Mckinney.
My mother is diagnosed with Lung cancer.
We've lost several relatives. I'm not going to list them all out of concern that I might forget someone.

I don't know if anyone will notice that I posted again so I will be curious to see if anyone comments.

Hit and Runs First Video

Things can change in an instant

You never know how one day can change your life forever and you might not even realize it at the time.

Seventeen years ago today was a rainy, dreary day and I was supposed to go to a happy hour that I didn't want to go to.  That night at Kempis in Addison, I met a girl who also didn't want to be there and at that moment, my life would never be the same.

Seventeen years later and almost 15 years of marriage, there are two little boys who I would never have had the privilege of being their daddy.  Seventeen years later, she has made me a better person and I love her with all my heart.

I love you Shelley!

Old Friends

A few weeks ago I got an email from an old friend, Mark Mrky.  Mark and I were best friends when I was in the 5th and 6th grade, but, we moved from Iowa to Kearney.  We maintained the friendship through letters for about a year but as things always happen, we both quit writing.

We did see each other in 1990 when he was passing through Dallas and we met at DFW airport during a layover he had but that was the last time we had spoken.

But, a few months back I found him on LinkedIn and connected and then he sent me the message a few weeks ago saying he was going to be in Dallas for a few days.

We met for lunch and it was good catching up.  I think we both turned out pretty well and it makes me wonder how my life would be different if I hadn't moved from Iowa.

As I look back on my childhood, a large number of my fondest memories come from those 2 years in Iowa and being friends with Mark.

It is good to stay in touch with old friends.

Happy Birthday Seth

I know this post is a day late but better late than never.  :-)

Seth turned 11 yesterday and it is really hard to believe.  I Remember back 11 years ago when we were all a lot younger and I can't believe how far we have come and how much has changed.  That was a very special day for all of us.  Yesterday Seth got a note from Marilyn and it made us all cry.

My Precious Seth, today is your eleventh birthday. Time has passed so quickly. I am remembering being at school on January 28 and getting the call that the doctor said, "Let's go get this baby!" I told my principal that I had to leave since it was time for you to be born. I rushed to the hospital in time to see Mommy and Daddy before you were born.

    When your Daddy came out to the waiting room and told us that you were here and showed us a picture of you, my heart just overflowed with love and joy. A little later I got to hold you. You were so tiny.

    At home, I rocked you and held you so the sun would shine on you because the doctor wanted you to be in the sunlight. Looking into your precious face, I sang to you, "Grandmama loves Baby Seth Dowdle."

    That was a very happy and proud time for all of us. There have been many happy and proud times since you were born. You make me happy and I am very proud of you!

    Happy birthday! I love you!

    

    Mama

I think this says it all.

He has grown up and is becoming a little man.  I am very proud of him and love him very much.

Happy Birthday Seth!

Nothing else needs to be said

I've never laughed so hard

This post won't give the story justice but I just needed to document it.

Chase has been suffering from itchiness  in his private region.  So, yesterday I bought some jock itch spray and prior to going to bed we went to apply it.

Imagine a naked 8 year old with both hands protecting his most sensitive area.  I sprayed a test on his leg so he would know that it was going to be a little cold.  I then went to apply it but was having to fight through Chase's attempt to block the spray.

We were both having a good time and laughing at this "game".  I finally got a good shot in and he dropped to his knees yelling, "It is burning."  He was laughing while saying this and this caused me to laugh harder.

This spray has some sort of baby powder type property and when Chase stood up, looked down and in shock, yelled "It turned it white!"  I lost it and couldn't continue because I was laughing so hard.

Track

Seth has had this natural ability to run fast so in an attempt to try and grow this natural ability we signed him up for a summer track program with the City of Euless.  I didn't know what to expect but was surprised by what we experienced.

First, there were about 150 kids participating from the ages of 5 up to 18.  Second, they practice a lot in track.  They had practice from 6:30 - 8:30pm Monday thru Thursday.  Third, the coaches were great.  They were all volunteers but they really worked with the kids and focused on finding a way for each kid to experience success.  Fourth, track meets are long, hot and a lot of sitting and waiting.  You end up waiting a couple of hours for your event, you run and in 15 seconds it is over.  You then end up waiting another few hours for your next event to come up and that is how the day goes.

Some other things we discovered was Seth seemed to really enjoy it.  He was pretty good and I think he liked the individual nature of the sport.  But we also discovered that there are a lot of fast kids out there.

Seth participated in 3 meets and then the big Regional meet.  In the 3 regular meets he participated in the 4x100 relay and the 100 m dash.  In the big Regional meet they didn't have enough kids to make 2 relay teams so he ran the 100m dash and the 200 m dash.  In the 100 he finished 34th out of 59 kids and in the 200 he finished 26 out of 52.

Following the meet Seth expressed a lot of disappointment for not qualifying to go to State because only the top 6 finishers in each event moved on to State.  But, we told him he had worked hard and done great for it being his first year in track.  This all was affirmed by what happened last night at the end of season party.  Seth was awarded the Rookie of the Year award (see pic below).  He was so excited and we were so happy for him.

Great job Seth!!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxmS5GLrfOzRdEI2TzJZRGJqOXc/edit?usp=sharing

Happy Birthday Chase

Here are two post from 8 years ago.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Chase

Chase 

Chase is Here

Chase Walker Dowdle was born today at 12:47 pm. He is 7 pounds 7 ounces and 20 inches long.
Mother and son are both doing well. Pictures to follow soon...

Happy Aniversary

Today is our 14th wedding anniversary.  I am trying to let that sink in because it is hard for me to believe.

My life has changed significantly since our meeting and I am truly blessed for having Shelley in my life.

I love her....

Change Isn't Easy

Change does not come easy for the Dowdle boys.  It starts with me and I have passed it down to Seth and Chase.  So, when we started discussing moving them out of public school to a University Model School, the decision was hard for me because I knew how I would feel if I was them.

I went to 7 different schools before I graduated from High School and I had a secret desire that my boys would stay in the HEB system from pre-k to High School.  But, as circumstances changed, Shelley and I decided we thought it would be best if they were in private school.

Since the boys recently got out of school for summer they have had some sad moments as they realized they were leaving this school forever.  They also fear they will never see their friends again which may be true but it will only be if they choose so since we aren't moving and will still live within miles of their friends.

I feel for Seth even more because his baseball team is also breaking up.  Chase has been on the same team with the same coach since he was 4 but Seth has never had a coach for more than 2 seasons.  This last team looked promising but again, things change.

Now Seth is not losing his school but his baseball team.

I know God has great plans for them and he will get us all through this change but it is hard on all of us.

My Family

We are wrapping up our 2013 Family Vacation and I just want to say that I love my family so much.

A Sad Comment

The other day Seth asked, "Have the Cowboys ever been good?"

That makes me sad that neither of my boys have experienced the Cowboys that I grew up with.

21 day fast update

We broke our fast this weekend at the same time we celebrated Seth's birthday.

While it was tough on all of us, we did it.  A fast is always a unique experience and it does bring me closer to God.

The boys did great with their first fast.  They were very committed to it but excited to get to play minecraft again and spent most of Sunday playing it.

Happy Birthday Seth

At this time 10 years ago I had no idea that later in the day I would be meeting my son for the first time.  The pregnancy had been problematic so we had been making frequent trips to the doctor for sonograms and I thought the one we were having that day would be fine just like all the rest.  We were scheduled to induce labor the next day so there was no way we would do anything today is what I figured.

But, after the doctor reviewed the sonogram he turned to us and said words I will never forget.  "Are you ready to have a baby today?"  The truth be known, I was not.

The rest of the day was spent trying to induce Shelley with no luck.  Then things got scary as our little boy's heart rate suddenly dropped and it was decided it was time for an emergency c-section.  Then at 3:37 pm on January  28th, 2003 Seth Reagan Dowdle was born.

Happy Birthday Seth!

21 Day Fast

As a family we are doing a 21 day fast.  We are participating in this with our new church, Gateway, as we are giving the first of our year to God.

Shelley and I are doing a Daniel Fast.  I believe this will be our 3rd 21 day fast and we did a 7 day one once as well.  These always bring me closure to God but they are one of the toughest things we've done.

The boys are giving up playing Minecraft.  They spent almost all of the Christmas break playing it so we thought it would be something meaningful to them and would give them the opportunity to participate.

I will check back in 21 days and tell how we all did.

Seth's Piano Recital

This past weekend was the boys' piano recital.  This is Seth playing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Chase's Piano Recital

This past weekend was the boys' piano recital.  This is Chase playing Good King Wenceslas

No More Car Seats

Another thing has moved into our past and that is the existence of car seats.  Seth has been without a car seat for a couple of years now but Chase has been using a booster.  But, one night last week when we needed extra space in the back seat we removed his booster and it hasn't been returned.  It looks like we have moved on.

It saddens me because it is another reminder that they are growing up.

Big Tex

This past Friday a horrible event happened, Big Tex at the State Fair caught on fire.

This made me think back to our visits to the State Fair and running past Big Tex with 2 scared little boys.  The story of one our visits is documented Here.

At the end of the post I commented that we would be going back next year.  That was 4 years ago and I haven't been back.  I think next year we might have to try another visit and see the all new Big Tex.

Get well soon Big Tex.

Catch UP

Shelley sent me a note saying I needed to post something so since I am an obedient husband, I am posting something.

When I looked at my last post I realized I had not posted anything about our trip to Boston.

Well, Shelley as usually has it documented on her blog so I won't go into all the details but it was a wonderful trip.

The trip was full of great moments like visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame, Touring Fenway Park, having Ian Kinsler speak to Seth, watching the Rangers play the Red Soxs, touring the Freedom Trail and going Whale Watching.

 But, to me , as with all our vacations the best part is the time we were together.  Now, it isn't always cotton candy and Unicorns but isn't that part of being a family.  But seeing the boys experience all the things above is a great thrill.  I love just waking up each morning and everyone getting ready for the busy day we have planned.  I love winding down each night and reflecting on the great moments of the day.  I love my family.

Baseball season has also started.  Chase is once again on the Braves but now they have moved to coach pitch so this season may present some new challenges.  Going undefeated like they did last season is unlikely but it should be a fun season.

Seth has moved to a new team, the Astros.  We sought out this new team to try and get him in a better situation. We succeeded!  The head coach is a much better coach and his assistant has coached many little league teams. The environment is more strict, structure and demanding.  There have been moments when Seth as upset because he had been yelled at but I think this past weekend made up for all of that.  He played a double header and they won both games.  Those 2 wins matched his total wins for the past 4 previous seasons.  Winning felt good.

We have also been visiting new churches.  We went 3 weeks to Compass in Colleyville and then this last weekend we went to Gateway in Southlake.  We are going to go there 2 more times and then evaluate.

Oh, and school started.  The boys seem to both like there teachers.
Shelley is tutoring again and she is teaching 2 online classes with DBU.

singing

Post settings

Baptisms and All Star Game

This past week has been a whirlwind.  First Chase got Baptized last Saturday.

Then the following Sunday we drove to Kansas City to go to the All Star Game.  We went to the Future's Game on Sunday, the Home Run Derby on Monday night and finally the All Star Game on Tuesday night.

The boys had a great time and so did I.  I think we have memories that will last forever.

Courage

Roller coasters, water slides and horse back riding.  What do all these things have in common?  They are things that Seth has done in the last week without any fear.  This is the boy who had so much anxiety that anything new caused great fear to the point he was almost paralyzed.

He has worked hard over the years.  He has attended many counseling sessions, various types of therapy and the results are showing.

I am so happy for him.

Chase Said The Prayer

This week is Adventure Week at church and Wednesday are always Salvation night.  Last night Chase said the Salvation prayer for the first time.  I won't go into great deal because Shelley has documented it on her blog but I just wanted to make sure I made mention of it.

Happy Birthday Chase

It was 7 years ago today we got to meet Chase for the first time.  I still remember the moment I saw him the first time.  At that time I had no idea how cool this little baby would end up being.   He has made me laugh some of the biggest laughs I have ever had.  He is extremely hugable and has a laugh that is infectious.  He was the missing piece in our family puzzle.

Happy Birthday Chase!

Happy Anniversary

Thirteen years ago Shelley and I got married.  This anniversary slipped up on both of us and we have no big plans.  I didn't get her a card nor did I write her a sweet note.  I started the day bombarding her with emails giving her instructions of what I needed her to do today. We are in the middle of Adventure Week at church and we aren't getting home until 10 each night so things are crazy.  But, I never want her to feel I am taking her for granted because I love her with all my heart.

Happy Anniversary honey, I love you and I will make it up to you.

How Many Times

Last week we were watching a show on statistics and they were discussing the average amount of time the average American spends having sex.

The boys were watching with us and Seth then turned to Shelley and I and asked, "how much time do you spend?"

Shelley and I laughed (hysterically) so hard we couldn't breath.  We never did answer his question.

Sounds of the Morning

Every morning as I am getting ready for work, music is blaring out of Seth and Chase's rooms.  It warms my heart to hear because they both fall asleep listening to our local Christian pop station, KLTY.  They both know the words to almost every song they play and they often quote their commercials.

It is good to know that as they sleep they are having a positive message poured into them.

That Dowdle Kid

The past few baseball seasons have been rough on Seth.  He just hasn't been able to become a part of a good team.  And when I say good, I'm not referring to wins and losses.  I am talking more about a team and that includes the coaches.

The past 2 seasons have been better because he did have a coach that cared.  But, we weren't blessed with many kids with any athletic ability.  Most of his team mates will find success in music, school or other areas but it won't be baseball.

This past season had a lot of ups and downs and some drama as well.  The boys did get a win, got a chance to play on the little league field at Rangers' Ballpark and went to a Rough Riders game as a team.  But, we had some tough losses as well.  The last 2 games were tough losses because the boys had started playing well and had been competitive in their games but the last 2 they got beat worse than they probably should have.  The boys seemed to have quit.

Seth took this hard but during the games he was one of the few that kept trying and was playing the game tge way it should have been played.  I couldn't have been more proud of him.

While all of this is going on Chase's team is going undefeated and taking 1st place in their division.

All of this has left us contemplating what we would do with Seth and his team for next season.  We have been praying about direction and wisdom.

(I know, this is a long story but it is going somewhere)

Last night was the end of the season awards where Chase was getting his 1st place trophy.  I knew this was going to be hard on Seth and we talked about him cheering loudly for Chase because there will be a day when Chase will be cheering for Seth's success.  And he did this including taking video of the trophy presentation.

Later that evening we get a call from the mother of one of Seth's teammates and one of Seth's best friends.

She recounted a story where the coach from on of those teams that beat us badly in our last 2 games came up to congratulate her son on his season.  He was mistaken by what team he was on but when they cleared it up, he remembered our team.  The mother then reached out to the coach and said they were considering switching teams and asked if he had any openings.  He indicated he might and even asked her son if he wanted to play in an upcoming tournament with his team.

He then went on to say that there was another kid he would be interested in having on his team.  He said I would like to have that "Dowdle kid, I think he was #18."

I don't know who this meant more to, Shelley and myself or Seth.

The Talk

I had the "talk" with Seth last night and we both survived it.  I don't know how well I did and time will only tell.

I wish I could remember all of what was said but here are a couple of highlights.

I was trying to explain the biological differences.  When I told him that girls didn't have a penis, he said "so do they pee out of their butt?"

Then finally as I wrapped things up, I asked if he had any questions.  He paused, thought for a moment and then asked, "so, when did you say the college world series starts?" and that was the end of our conversation.

The Talk

It is time to have the "talk" with Seth.  We have danced around the subject and it has become more obvious that it is something Seth is curious about but yesterday he finally asked Shelley what SEX was.  There is no avoiding it now but I have no idea what to say.  I've researched it but nothing seems to fit the way I communicate with Seth.  So, I am going to pray and just use the words God will give me.

(this is 2 post in 2 days, I'm on a roll)

Update

Shelley pointed out that it has been 4 months since I blogged.  This surprised me because I didn't think anyone even read what I was writing, including Shelley.  But, it also made me feel guilty because I have wanted to provide the boys a written history of their childhood and I'm doing a poor job of it.

We have been so busy I don't even know what to write at this point.  So  here are some quick hit points.

Seth just finished the 3rd grade and finished with all As for the year.
Chase just finished the 1st grade and I'm not sure what letter grade he ended the year with on his reading but he blew away the 1st grade requirement.

We just finished up the Spring baseball season and it was full of highs and lows.  I helped on both teams and it kept us very busy.  Seth's team continue to struggle to find their way.  They did win a game this year which was one of the highlights.  They also got to play a game on the little league field at the Ballpark in Arlington.  It included the singing of the national anthem and each player being announced when they came to bat.  But, the season included a lot of drama among the players and coaches.  Losing causes a lot of stress.  We are in prayer as to whether to return to the Roughriders next season or not.

On the other hand, Chase's team came in first place.  Chase is blessed to be in a very good situation.  He is excited because next season he gets to move to coach pitch.

Shelley and I just returned from a trip to Jefferson, Texas.  It was sans children and we enjoyed our time together.  We stayed in a nice bed and breakfast, took a ghost walking tour, took a tour of the river and explored the local area.  But, the most important thing was the time we had together which did us both a lot of good.

Another big thing that has happened is that I changed roles at work.  I am now back to running the IT department.  It has added a lot of stress but I continue to be thankful to have a job and be able to provide for my family.

Can I write another post in less than 4 months, we will see. :-)

Smart Boys

I have 2 very smart boys.

Last week Chase came in first place in the first grade in a writing contest.

This week Seth took a test that is to prepare him for next year when he has to start taking the standardized tests and he got a 100 on it.

I am very proud of them...

Entrepreneurs

The boys are becoming entrepreneurs.

This weekend the first edition of the Cripple Creek News went out. Seth wrote the first edition of our street newspaper. I will leave it to Shelley to post a copy of it but it was very cute but also impressive. His delivery system was the old fashioned paperboy. Chase rolled each one up, put them in a canvas bag and hit the streets on his bike. They were all quickly distributed and I'm sure our neighbors are anxiously awaiting the next edition.

They have also gone into the recycling business. I bought them a trash can and an aluminum can crusher and they are now crushing cans with the plans of selling them for a little cash.

They are both very industrious and I'm anxious to see what they come up with next.

Happy Birthday Seth

I am a couple days late on this post but I still wanted to mark the occasion with an entry.

On Saturday Seth turned 9. He is really growing up to be a special boy.

We had his birthday party at Rangers Ballpark. I think everyone enjoyed it, especially me. We got a tour of the ballpark and got to see things like the press box, a suite and the underground hitting area. When we entered the hitting area my heart jumped a little because you could hear someone in there taking batting practice. Who is it? Josh, Michael Young, Mitch Moreland??? No, it was some high school kids whose Dad worked for the Rangers.

Despite that disappointment, it was a great tour that ended in the Rangers' dugout.

Seth had invited four friends to his party. Isaiah Brogan, Cameron Bitz, Mason Jordan and Holden Skinner. I got the duty of driving them around and having a car with five 3rd graders can be an experience. But, on the way home the boys started singing Chris Tomlin's "Our God" and then they went into Hillsong's "mighty to save." It really warmed my heart.

Having a 9 year old is making me feel old and I realize the time is going way to fast. It seems just yesterday when we were in the ICU unit feeding him with all these wires and sensors connected to him.

Seth, I love you.

Growing Up

Our boys are growing up and there is nothing I can do about it. It wasn't long ago (just a few months) that when it rained at night, the boys were getting in bed with us. I typically moved to the couch because there wasn't enough room and Shelley would often move to one of their rooms. But, they received some level of comfort by sleeping in our room even though neither of us were in there.

Well, last night we had some horrible storms with big lightening and loud thunder. They both stayed in their rooms all night. I happy they slept well but I already miss getting awaken at night.

Chase Rides His Bike

Yesterday I took Chase out to try and learn to ride his bike. It was going to be a nice day and we haven't given it a try in quite sometime so I thought it would be a good time to try. This was something Chase did not want to do. He has had a considerable amount of fear regarding this and I have had to practically force him to do it. He really was afraid of getting hurt so our past efforts were always very brief.

I knew that if he would ever give it much effort he would be able to do it because he was really close.

So, when I brought up what I wanted to do, he started to cry. He really did not want to go. I finally convinced him but he continued to negotiate. We were only going to try two times but I didn't give in to his demands.

Out we go with helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and gloves all protecting his vulnerable parts. I pushed him around a few times with him demanding that I don't let him go. Then Shelley took over and pushed him around just to give him a feel. Shelley went in so it just left the two of us out there. I pushed him and let go and he took off and went at least 20 feet on his in own. I was far more excited than he was because I'm sure he realized that I wasn't going to stop now that he had done so well. I sent him in to get Shelley and with her watching he rode his bike right to her. Again, Shelley and I were far more excited. He just wanted to get off and go inside to get the cookies Shelley promised to bake if he would just try.

But, he can now ride his bike.

A new year

We have started a new year and I suspect it will be a doozy. I am going to do my best to write more but I will always have Shelley's blog.

We will see what this year brings but I am committed to making it a great year.

Email

The boys can now check and send emails. There are some pretty cute exchanges.

Seth Dowdle	5:06 PM (1 hour ago)
to Chase

Yes, I will read to you. I love you s much

Seth

On Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 5:01 PM, Chase Dowdle <chasedowdle@gmail.com> wrote:
I love you.And can you read to me.

Chase's Two Front Teeth

This past week Chase lost both of his front teeth. I can't imagine a worse time to lose your front teeth than Christmas because everyone, including myself, is beating him down with singing "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." He is tolerating it well for now but we will see what his attitude is like in a couple of weeks.

A Poem

I haven't blogged in awhile but I needed to make sure this got documented.

Seth has started emailing a lot and he is using it as a way to express his feelings. Below is a poem he wrote and emailed me.

I love you so much,I love your heart.I will never forget you, never forget.

I love watching TV with you.

I love the Texas Rangers just like you.

I hope you like his poem,because I like you.

Father/Son Retreat

This past weekend Chase and I got away for a little Father/Son time. We went down to Glenn Rose, Texas and stayed at some cabins that Shelley, Seth and I had once stayed in. We had a great time and visited Big Rocks Park, Dinosaur Valley Park and Fossil Rim. We also did archery and went swimming.

I had told Chase at the beginning that this weekend was all about him and we would do whatever he wanted.

At one point I was trying to talk him into going and looking at something I wanted to see and he said he didn't want to.

Chase - "I don't want to, remember this is all about me."

Yes, it was all about him....

Vacation 2011

We just wrapped up our summer vacation and as always it was an adventure.

This was our most adventurous road trip to date. According to Google maps we travelled a minimum of 1,543 miles or the equivalent of 28 hours of driving. This doesn't include the side trips we took which I would say added another 3 hours to our journey. Below is a map of our journey.

View Larger Map

Shelley's blog contains a day by day account of our journey so I will just refer to that. This was an adventure and had a western theme as we visited Dodge City Kansas, road horses in Colorado, visited an actual ghost town and then ended our journey in Amarillo.

I imagine our boys wish we were like other parents and just took them to Disney but someday I hope they appreciate the adventures we shared.

A Good Sports Year

This past year has been a pretty good sports year.

It started right at a year ago when TCU made it to the college world series. They lost but it was still a big accomplish.

Then it was followed by the Rangers making it to the World Series. Again they lost but it was a big accomplish.

Then TCU won the Rose Bowl.

Finally, last night the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA finals by beating the hated Miami Heat.

The last time there was a championship in Dallas was 12 years ago when the Stars won the Stanley Cup. The Stars won the Cup right after Shelley and I got married and in fact they won game 3 on the day we got married. So, it was only appropriate that the Mavs won on our 12 year anniversary.

Happy Birthday Chase!

Today you are 6 and I can't believe it. I love you so much...

Piano Recital

This is just a note to Seth.

Friday night was another piano recital and I just have to tell you how impressed I am by you. You have worked very hard and it shows.

You have been playing the piano for a number of years and you have gotten very good. I know it has taken a lot of work on your part and I am very proud of you.

I love you

What Makes A Good Baseball Player

The best baseball players have been described as 5 tool players. Five tool players hit for average, hit for power, have speed, have a strong arm and play good defense. Well, I have been involved in the boys' youth teams since they have been playing baseball and I know have a new definition.

A five tool player doesn't complain, does what the coaches ask, plays with joy and excitement, are good sports and they try their hardest. I'm proud to say that Seth and Chase are both 5 tool players.

Reading

I just need to note this.

Last night I listened to Chase read Green Eggs and Ham for 20 minutes. It is amazing how well he can read. He reads the story with the proper emotion and I just love listening to him.

I know these moments go fast and I will miss them.

14 years ago

Fourteen years ago Shelley and I had our first date. We went and ate at Pappadeux's and saw the movie Absolute Power. Little did I know that Shelley didn't like seafood and didn't like to go to movies. I must have done something right because we are still together after 14 years. :-)

A Thoughtful Gift From Seth

Today Seth took is own money, almost $40, and bought Chase a DS game that Chase wanted. It was a very thoughtful gift.

Riding a Bike

I have been working with Seth to learn to ride his bike without the training wheels. Yesterday he made great progress and was able to ride about 30 feet without any assistance from me.

Progress!

Quote from Seth

As we were walking along, Seth said:

"I don't think many of my friends know the true meaning of Christmas."

I am impressed with my little man and his concern for others.

A Quote from Chase

This weekend the boys went to the grocery store with me. As we were going down the frozen foods section aisle, Chase saw some TV dinners for kids.

Chase - We had these at Mama's and it was GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD. (A strong emphasis on good).

Always looking for anything they would eat, I made a step toward the freezer to pick out a couple when Chase continued.

Chase - But the only thing I ate was the pudding.

A Special Gift

Last night when I came home I was immediately greeted by an excited Seth carry a small gift bag. He was so excited Shelley had to tell me that he had bought me a gift. My expectation was that it would be either something from his room that he had just "gifted" me or something that was actually for him like a small lego set. But to my surprise it was a mug like the one pictured. He had purchased it from a store that has been set up at school to help the kids buy presents and he had picked it out especially for me. I was also shocked to find out he had spent $10 of his own money on it. This is a lot of money in a 7 year old's economy. It equals either 5 teeth or 2 months of allowance.

Seth has a very special heart and the mug will always be special to me.

Is Santa Real?

Shelley and I made a decision early on that we wouldn't lie to our kids and that included topics such as Santa Claus. We explained that Santa was just a character like the Easter Bunny. This caused us to take some grief from other adults but the boys seemed fine. Christmas still seemed to contain all the joy and excitement.

But, as Seth has gotten older, he has struggled with being one of the few in his class that doesn't believe in Santa. He doesn't like being different.

Yesterday, he told me he wanted to put cookies out for Santa this year to determine if Santa was real or not. If the cookies get eaten, then Santa is real, was his reasoning.

I asked him, "You don't trust Mommy and Daddy?"

He replied, "I just want to prove it myself."

Well, there you go.

3 Days, 3 Women, 3 Needs

We spent the Thanksgiving weekend in College Station, Texas and Houston, Texas. I will document that trip at some other time but we did have something happen that I wanted to document. I don't know if we will ever know the significance but I believe God was working in some manner.

On our drive to College Station, Chase had another run in with car sickness. This time he gave us enough warning that Shelley was able to give him a bag to get sick in. As the smell became a little intense, we sought out a random gas station to pull in and throw away the bag. As Shelley got out of the car, a woman with a small child asked if she could have some money for gas. I pulled out a wad of cash and gave it to Shelley.

On day two in Houston, we were staying in downtown and had gone walking to find something to eat. On our way back to the hotel, it had gotten dark and I was anxious to get back as quickly as possible. I had told the boys to walk with a "purpose". I noticed a woman with a stroller behind us and it seemed the faster we walked, the faster she walked. She finally caught us and asked for some money so she could get her kids some food. I reached in my pocket and gave her another wad of cash.

On day three, we were on our way home from church and were experiencing car trouble. I was pretty stressed and was trying to get my family back to the hotel before our car quit running. We were stopped at a stop light and were approached by another lady in a wheel chair asking for money. Again, I handed over a wad of cash.

I think God put these women in our path because they had a need and we could fill it. But, also, I had a need and that was a reminder of how blessed we are.

World Series

Well last night, the Rangers lost their first trip to the World Series. It was a great season and a great run in the playoffs. While I am sad the Rangers lost 4 to 1 to the Giants, I am greatful for the experience.

It was thrilling to watch my "little" Rangers make it to the World Series but it was even more fun to watch what it did to our household. Our household caught Ranger fever and I loved it.

Shelley and the boys all took an interest in what was happening and even got their own Ranger shirts. They also even watched some of the games with me.

But the biggest thrill for me is the interest the boys, in particular Seth, took in the Rangers. They both started learning the players and Colby Lewis became Seth's favorite Ranger (along with Michael Young since he got a Michael Young shirt). We would go out in the backyard and play the Rangers. Last night Seth was Colby Lewis, Chase was C.J. Wilson and I was Josh Hamilton. Then once it got dark, the boys would play in the living room. They were even including the Rangers in their prayers at night.

I will remember this World Series forever not because of the outcome but because of what we shared as a family. I hope the boys will have fond memories and maybe this will be the beginning of a new generation of Ranger fans.

Baseball

I have been a fan of baseball all of my life. I played it my entire childhood, either just pick up games in the park or organized baseball. My Grandma Dowdle loved baseball and it was one thing we connected on. She loved the Cincinnati Reds so I became a Reds fan. She talked to the players like they were her sons. She would call them Petey (Pete Rose), little Joe (Joe Morgan), and Johnny (Johnny Bench).

This has been a good baseball year for me. My TCU Horned Frogs went to the college World Series and now my Texas Rangers are going to the World Series. I have suffered a long time with my Rangers and I am enjoying every minute.

But, also the boys have been playing baseball and we have spent a lot of time playing catch and taking baseball practice in the backyard. I love this time we have together and I love watching them improve. I just hope they have fond memories of these times.

The Sports Weekend

This past weekend was setup to be a great sports weekend but turned out to be a bust. First, the Rangers had an opportunity to win the ALDS either Saturday or Sunday and lost both games. Then the Cowboys played at home on Sunday against Tennessee and also lost. My only win was TCU which beat Wyoming.

But, the two best games was Chase's braves versus the Blue Jays and Seth's Longhorns versus the Tigers. Watching their games are my favorite and they both are doing so well.

Chase has a lot of natural ability and Seth has so much heart. They both are out there doing their very best. I look forward to their games every week.

Quote from Chase

Chase and I were talking about the girls in his class and I was kidding him about getting married.

He replied "I don't know who I'm going to marry because I haven't met that many girls yet."

Retiring

We went to Oklahoma this weekend, and I took the opportunity to explore some of Marilyn's property. She has 100 acres, and our dream is that we could build a vacation/retirement home there one day. Here are a few pictures of where we might build.

Sound of Silence

Silence is not a sound we have in our house. There is a constant buzz of light sabre fights, brothers fighting, TV, video games, and many other noises. But, the other sounds I actually love are the sounds of little boys laughing and talking. I'm not sure how we got two boys that talk so much but we did.

Yesterday we went to the Ranger game and we had a long walk from the car to the stadium and I'm not sure if Seth ever took a breath. His mouth was going non-stop. Then during the game, we were getting question after question, commentary after commentary. While quiet is nice, I would much rather hear the voices of my little boys.

44

Today is my birthday and I'm not sure how I feel about being 44. I don't feel 44 but also I don't feel I have accomplished nearly what I hoped to by this time.

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for Seth and Chase. Seth is going into 2nd Grade and Chase is Kindergarten. It is always a hectic day because we aren't in a routine yet for getting up and getting ready, everyone is walking their kid in so the parking lot is a madhouse, and the halls are full.

So, we took our customary pictures and video but I didn't get to savor it. It was partly because it was crazy there, and second because I was preoccupied with going to work. I know I will regret it.

I don't want these days to go by too fast. Shelley and I are doing everything we can to take these days in. We have a ton of pictures and videos so we will have plenty of memories. Plus between the blogs and facebook, we will have captured a lot of the memories.

I am not ready for my babies to grow up yet, though.

Why Me?

God, why me? Why:

do I have a wonderful wife?
do I have 2 healthy boys who are not suffering from a disease?
was I born in the US and not some third world country?
do I have a job when others don't?
do I have a roof over my head when others don't?
do I not have to worry about my next meal?
do I have reliable transportation?
do I have a great family?
am I blessed with a wonderful mother in law?


These are just some of the things I wonder about Why Me?

God is not Boring

Yesterday as we were walking into school for Meet The Teacher I guess Chase had school on his mind.

He said, "When I went to Rainbow School all we learned about was colors and God. Colors were boring but God wasn't."

Living Alone

I spent my first night last night alone and it has made me really appreciate my family and all the craziness that brings.

I got up one time and walked bare foot from the living room to the bathroom and didn't step on a single lego and I was really sad about that.

4 days, 11 hours until I pick up Chase. 5 days, 3 hours until I pick Shelley and Seth up.

Money, Money, Money

I have been stressed out a lot about money lately. And I also have been experiencing some of that green monster, envy. It seems like all my peers at work are driving new cars. I then heard this song and it really leveled my head.

Home Alone

I am home alone for then next 6 days and I already think I am going to go crazy.

Chase has been in Oklahoma for the past few days and I really miss him. Our family isn't complete without him and this hasn't gone unnoticed by Seth. Once during dinner, Seth said "dinner isn't the same without Chase." Then last night when we walked in to church, Seth said "something is missing? It's not the same without Chase."

This morning I dropped Shelley, Seth and Tate off at Alasso Ranch for a week of church camp. When I walked in the house, I realized being alone was going to be hard. I don't want to ever take for granted the blessing that my family is.

Homesick

Can you be homesick and have never left your home? Well, I am or at least preparing to be.

Yesterday Chase left for Oklahoma and will be up there for the next 10 days. Then this next Sunday I am driving Shelley and Seth to Allaso Ranch where Seth will attend camp and Shelley will volunteer for one week.

I am already missing Chase and I am not looking forward to dropping Shelley and Seth off this Sunday. I am going to be alone next week and I dreading it. I don't think we all have been separated for this long ever.

While I will be sleeping in my own bed, I know I am going to be homesick. I will be posting and updating on my "condition."

Economics 101

Chase came into a little windfall courtesy of grand mama. So, with his new found wealth he decided to go on a little spending spree.

Yesterday, he went and bought some Phineas and Ferb sunglasses. Today, I took him out to Office Depot to buy a #14 Tony Stewart Office Depot chevy NASCAR model car.

On our way into the store he told me he got more money yesterday.

Me- "where did you get more money from?"
Chase - "when I bought my sunglasses they gave me more money. Am I going to get more money today?"

I love his economic model.

Praises

This week at church the message was about glorifying God and being thankful for all he has done. This isn't the first time I have heard a message on the power of praise so here are some things I am praising God for today.

1. You sent your Son to die for me.
2. Shelley
3. Seth
4. Chase
5. Shelley's theme of family this year and how much of our family we have seen.
6. My job
7. Having a roof over our head
8. Our wonderful church
9. Good friends
10 Our health
11. I don't have to worry about where our next meal will come from.
12. I'm home this morning with my boys.

Friends

I was sitting behind the boys when the picture above was taken. As soon as it was taken I thought about one of those coming of age movies where they start out showing a picture of a bunch of boys when they were kids and then you flash forward to them all graduating high school together. I wonder where all of these little boys will be in 10 years?


In the picture from left to right - Nolan Givens,Cole Ladrew, Isaiah Brogan, Cameron Bitz, Alex Ladrew and Seth

These made me chuckle

End of another week

It's Friday and we are approaching the end of another week. This week was marked with the boys attending Vacation Bible School at Compass Christian Church in Colleyville. They both had a good time but Chase had a few rough spots.

First we had the incident of the black eye which didn't turn into a black eye but it was still a nasty little cut. Then last night as a wrap up to the week the kids got to try and dunk the pastors in a dunk tank. Seth was successful in his attempt but our little perfectionist, Chase, was not. And this "failure" crushed his spirit and we had ten minutes of tears.

So, the challenge is how do we make the most of his desire to be the best but still allow him to fail?

The rest of the week included the first week of Cowboy training camp and the Rangers took 2 of 3 from Oakland extending their lead in the west to 8.5 games and their magic number is 53 (lowest in baseball).

Black Eye

Last night while the boys were at VBS I got a text from Chase's VBS teacher that said:

"Chase got a booboo but he's laughing & smiling. Want me to send ya a pic?"

I replied "No that is ok. Thanks!" figuring it wasn't that big of deal.

She replied - "OK. Got bumped in the face & his glasses cut his cheek. But he's tough! :-)"

Well, when we saw him I was taken a little bit back and I know Shelley was because he had a nice little gash in his cheek under his eye.

I am not sure what it will look like this morning but we prepared him that he might have a black eye. We then had to explain that a "black eye" was just a bruise around the eye and his eye wouldn't be black.

I'll post a picture when I get one.

Exhausted

I woke up this morning feeling really tired. So tired that I decided to "sleep in" and not go running. But, even after "sleeping in", I was really tired this morning. Just dragging...

Well, I got in the car to go to work, looked at the clock at it said 5:00 am and not 6:00 am. I paused, tried to process that bit of information, looked at my watch and was really confused. Some how I had got up an hour earlier than I thought.

So, now I am sitting in the living room about to rest my eyes for 50 minutes before going to work. I am really losing it..

July 28 2010

What to blog about?

I've taken my blog private so I can utilize this blog more as a journal and document more personal information that either Shelley and I or the boys will find interesting some day.

So, what to blog about? I don't know...

The boys are going to vacation bible school at Compass Christian Church in Colleyville. This is their third VBS this summer. I never went to a VBS and they have gone to 3 just this summer. I wonder if they will have fond memories of these events?


The Rangers have an 8.5 game lead in the West. Will they make the playoffs?

Cowboys have started training camp and the talk of the camp is their first round draft choice, Dez Bryant.

My job is still a struggle and is not fulfilling. My prayers continue to be to find my true purpose and do something with meaning.

Parenting

This is just a note to myself to remember how hard this parenting thing is. I don't want to look back and think, "oh, it wasn't that hard."

It seems Shelley and I are never on our A game together. When one is over reacting the other is the calm in the storm. We never seem to be rationale together. :-)

I wonder what Seth and Chase will remember from their childhoods? It might be their bi-polar parents.

Sleeping with Chase

Last night was another night when Chase came into our room to sleep. Shelley got up and went to his room, leaving just the two of us. Sleeping with Chase is an adventure and I feel sorry for his little wife some day. He is all over the bed and for most of the night I have his foot in my ribs. But, then his little hand will reach out and we will hold hands and that makes it all worth while.

I just try and burn that memory in my mind because I know it won't last forever.

Family Secrets

We have had one family secret since the boys were born. It really isn't a secret but we have never talked to the boys about it because they weren't old enough. Well, that all ended yesterday.

The secret has been that I was married prior to Shelley. We have held off on telling the boys until we thought they would better understand. Lately, they have been asking more about divorce and marriage because they have some friends who have parents that have been divorced. Shelley and I felt it was time because we never want to deceive our boys.

So, last night we turned off the t.v. and gathered everyone in the living room. I was pretty nervous and wasn't really sure how I was going to start the conversation. I explained to them that I had been married previously and they both took it well.

Chase was more focused on his legos but Seth did ask some questions. He asked what her name was, where she lived and why we got divorced. I answered all his questions best I could and he seemed satisified and was anxious to start watching Stars Wars Episode I. A boy must keep his priorities.

Thinking About Going Private

I have had this blog for 5 years and my activity on it has been sporadic. I once was very active and monitored the number of hits I was getting. Now, I have no idea if anyone reads this.

So, I am thinking about turning it into a private blog. If you read this and would like to continue reading it, please email me at jefftdowdle@gmail.com and I will give you access.

California Vacation

This year our family vacation was truly a FAMILY vacation. We flew to San Jose, California with Shelley's mom and one of her aunts. We arrived and visted with two of Shelley's cousins that live in California, her aunt and uncle who live there and another cousin from Oklahoma who also flew out.

The trip consisted of us flying into California on Saturday, spending the night at Shelley's cousin Shannon's house. Then on Sunday, the four of us plus Shelley's mom and aunt Kathy drove the pacific coast highway to Santa Paula, California. We spent the night there and then got up and on Monday visited the Reagan and Nixon presidential libraries.

We arrived in San Diego at a house we had rented that was about 5000 sq foot and beautiful. Monday evening the rest of Shelley's family arrived. Her 3 cousins, 2 spouses and 5 kids. In total there was 16 of us.

Tuesday we got up and took a bus tour of San Diego and then toured the USS Midway. We ended Tuesday with a tour of the Harbor.

Wednesday was the San Diego Zoo, a miniature railroad museum and a hands on science museum.

Thursday was Legoland.

Friday was packing, cleaning the house, a children's museum and the flight home.

We saw a lot of nice things, stayed in a beautiful home, had beautiful weather but the best part for me was spending time with Shelley's family and getting to know her California cousins better. I also loved watching my boys play with their cousins and getting to know their family as well.

Happy Birthday Chase!

Happy birthday Chase!

Good information to have

Chase was in our bed and I was patting his bottom.

He said, "you know I fart every time you do that."

That was good to know.

Coaching Baseball

Out of default I have become the coach for Chase's baseball team. I have 11 five and six year olds and I have to tell you, it is tough. Getting them to listen and do what I say is not easy if not impossible.

I seem to spend all my time just trying to corral them it seems.

But, I hope somehow this will create a memory for Chase that he finds special.

Seth's Baptism

Tonight was a big night in our household. Tonight at church Seth was baptized with about 25 other kids. It was a month ago on April 22nd prior to going to bed that Seth asked Jesus into his heart.

We were so excited about his decision but he was a little nervous about the baptism. Tonight prior you could tell he was nervous but by the time for the baptism he was excited. Seth was excited to have Pastor Dave O'donnell baptize him. Pastor Dave has been his kindergarten and 1st grade pastor and Seth really respects him.

We had a group of friends and family which included Marilyn, Chris, Valerie and April there to cheer him on. He enjoyed the attention.

For me it was very moving and prior there were several times I was about to cry with joy. I am so proud of him and this decision he made.

Family

The past few days have been dedicated to family.

Friday I got to go on a field trip with Seth's class to the Fort Worth Zoo. We were able to spend the day together and we really enjoyed our time together. I am always impressed by what an awesome little boy he is. I was a chaperone over him and another little boy. While the other little boy wasn't much trouble, he did have a tendancy to go in his own direction. Seth was great because I would send him after him and he was a great help with my chaperone duties.

Then this past weekend we had a family reunion for my Mom's side of the family. This was an event that would never have taken place with out the hard work and deligence of Shelley. This was her party and she did a great job.

The reunion was about 3 hours from us so I got to enjoy a road trip with my family. I have discovered that I love taking road trips with my family.

Saturday was spent at the reunion and I saw people who I had not seen in about 8 years. Again, when I see my boys in an environment with other kids, I realize that they are very special.

I could go on about all the details of the reunion but just say it was a lot of fun and I hope we can do another one.