Five Years Ago Today...

Julie and I were getting ready for our night wedding. It was a Saturday much like today. Everyone was in town, the fellas were staying tuned to the NFL draft updates, and Julie and I were ready to tie the knott and head to Disney World for our Honeymoon!

Here is a photo we took at Epcot during our trip as we meet another "newlywed couple". I still remember them too. They were long time highschool sweethearts who were reunited after both of their current spouses had passed away. I wonder how they are today?

Julie and I have had a great marriage! What an amazing 5 years. The trick?

Keep the Lord first in all of life

Choose your battles. Most things are not worth it.

Stay busy and enjoy life.
Have lots of dogs and lots of kids!

Be a Cowboys fan!

Love is blind if you simply follow the rules.

Here's wishing for many more!

Baseball Season is Already Done

Once again, the baseball season is over for me and it just started 21 days ago, making my long football off-season even longer this summer.

As usual, the Rangers are out of it in April with a record of 7-13. The Astros are not much better this year either.

At least my Astros have been a consistent playoff team and a World Series team in the past.

The Rangers? Can a team be worse?

Tour Korea! What a Wondefful Place!

via videosift.com

First Day Back - Nailed with Hail

Figures.

First day back from being across the world, and our sons first day in Texas.

Hail storm FROM BEYOND!!!

Check out these photos taken as we were rocked! Never seen anything like it. Thought our windows were going to smash in.

Video posted on our website here:

http://www.thefamilypost.com/Speersfamily/videos.php

Oh, So Funny

One of the funniest things about having twins is what I call the "copycat syndrome". This is the process by which they literally do and say everything that Julie and I do. From saying "Oh My Gosh!" and other accidental things like when Chloe repeated me saying "Crap" one day in the car.

Let me give an even better example of how this works with multiples, unlike those of you with singletons:

When our girls are in their full-fledge "terrible two" mode (which is nearly all day these days) they spend much of their time awake either in time-out, being told to stop doing something, or crying because of one reason or another.

So, the other day, I hear the girls playing and notice they are acting like one is either me or Julie and the other is still the toddler. It went something like this:

"Chloe! Go time out right now!" Sidney said to Chloe while pointing and looking very stern and serious.

Chloe sits down by the front door with a sad look on her face. Sidney kneels down and grabs Chloe's cheeks with both hands, "You hear me?" she demands. "No!" Chloe revolts and turns away. Sidney walks away with that "ok, we will wait until she just decides to chill" look.

Finally, things calm down and Chloe looks at her a few minutes later with those sad puppy eyes.

Then Sidney asks, "You done?"

Chloe gets up laughing and then Sidney says, "Sidney turn" and they reverse roles and do it all over again.

This can go on for hours! A "night-night" routine is also acted out throughout the day these days in which one will tell the other to "Lay down right now!" and the other will lay down and then start acting up (just like they do in real life). The scene cycles over and over with one acting up and the other saying "lay down right now!".

Just know this, whatever you say and do, will be repeated between them!

Now We Know Why Oprah Supports Obama

They believe in and are teaching the same junk. Check this out.

www.conservativelight.blogspot.com

Last Family-of-4 Outing?

We took off for GlenRose today in what was more than likely our last major family outing with just us and the girls. (It appears next week we will get our call to go to Korea for our son!). Originally we had hoped to make it to Sea World with the girls, but it does not open until May.

But I am glad we did what we did. If you have not been to Fossil Rim then you have missed out. http://www.fossilrim.com/ What a fun thing! We got to feed Zebras, Ostrich, all kinds of other animals, and Giraffes stuck their heads in our van to be fed which was hilarious. The girls loved it, but Julie and I were cracking up. At one point we were surrounded by animals, most of which were trying to find a way into the van! This is a neat conversvation that helps save animals, does research and more. The Cheetah exhibit was neat too.

Texas Stadium is Amazing

Don't get me wrong, as a season ticket and former suite owner at Texas Stadium, I am not down with new pricing structure of the new stadium at all, but "WOW!" as all anyone can say when seeing it go up right in front of their eyes like we are. We are the generation watching this thing be built and it is truly amazing.

I have been taking photos every 6 months or so, and here is a recent update. Look at the men working on this thing!!

Why We Believe

Christianity is truly set apart from all of the other religious systems the world offers.

1. No other religion promises eternal life based on the works of God alone. All the others are based on the works of man.
2. In other religions one must die to get to God. In Christianity, God died to get to man.
3. Unlike other religious leaders, Jesus could relate to everything we go through - stress, pain, betrayal, injustice, temptation.
4. Only in Christianity did the Savior die for its followers. In all of the others, one must die for its selfish savior.
5. Only Jesus rose again. All of the other supposed "saviors" are all still dead in their graves.

It's really that simple.

That's why we believe.

For more proof: check out this investigative report about Jesus by Lee Strobel, former Legal Editor of the Chicago Tribune. http://www.leestrobel.com/

Daddy Day

Took Chloe and Sidney each on their own Daddy Day time over the last few days. Was a ton of fun. Took Chloe out Saturday because Sidney was sick. We went to Home Depot (home peepo) and bought some rakes, flowers (fallas) and we ate at Grandy's. She had a blast and has talked about it non-stop for 3 days.

Last night I took Sidney out adn we ate at Quizznos, then went to Petco and Target. She thought Petco was the zoo since there were so many animals to see. She has not stopped talking about seeing a turtle, bunny rabbit and finding the new box of straws we bought at Target.

I love daddy days as much as they do!

Yep, Another Blog

I just can't stand it no mo!

http://conservativelight.blogspot.com/

Our First Korean Meal

Now, please know my wife will eat just about anything. I, on the other hand, am another story all together!

But, in our first steps of becoming Korean, we had dinner with some new Dillon friends last weekend (they are from Southlake and are adopting a girl from South Korea as well), at this true Korean restaurant in Dallas called "Sura".

There is a neat Korean area of Dallas where there are tons of stores (with food that might cause your eyes to bug out) and little cafes and Korean BBQs a plenty. Sura was very nice and the food was different yet good. The meat they serve was actually VERY good! Thank God too, cause I was getting worried...

It Feels Like Home

There is a new water tower in town. In this town that is. Not my home town mind you, but town to once was my home; for just a few years anyway.

As I drove into town I noticed the new water tower first with its beaming statement, “It Feels Like Home” proudly painted in all caps.

Brownwood, Texas. Home sweet home.

It’s been a few years since my eyes have roamed the old streets of where I spent my college days at Howard Payne University. What days they were too; filled with all kinds of experiences, relationships and puredee fun.

That was 17 years ago this spring. I guess that’s more than “a few”. But, to me it seems like just a few.

I decided to take a quick road trip from my busy life in Dallas and spend a few days down here in no-mans-land. I barely have cell phone signal here for goodness sakes and the radio stations still have two choices, country AND western, that is. Some things just never change.

People have asked me, “why in the heck are you going to Brownwood!?” Honestly, my answers make sense to me, but to those who hear them, I get nothing but weird stares, so my reply has been, “It’s a long story.”

In a strange way, since 1991, this place has just always felt like home to me. When I need a break, need to think, or just need to get away, Brownwood is here for me.

And this is one of those times.

I just need to think. I need to connect with myself and with God, even if for just a few hours tonight and tomorrow before I head home. And this is the place I know best to do just that.

Years ago it was here that I would sit in my car with the moon roof open starring at the stars and thinking about life while discussing my concerns with God. It was here we could make our way out to the lake and build a small fire without getting in trouble. It was here we could still shoot fireworks off each year. It was here that I could focus. It was here that I really didn’t worry about much more than whom I was going to date next. It was here that life was about friends, serving God, prayer, having fun and preparing for life.

And life is in full swing for me and my family.

The last time I was here my life was about to be changed drastically. My twin daughters, Chloe and Sidney were on their way. Everything was going to be different, but it would also be much better.

My wife and I are once again at the point in which a historical marker could be placed. Our son Quinn, born just 7 months ago outside of Seoul, South Korea, will be coming home with us in a matter of weeks. Paperwork for his adoption is being finalized, all attorneys have been paid and the wait for our travel call is on. Any day, we will be preparing to jump on a Korean Air 14 hour flight all the way around the world. We will cry, be amazed, thank God and head home just days later, never to be the same again.

When we get back, we will be a family of seven; two girls, one boy and yes, two dogs.

And, I cannot wait!

So, before the rush is on, I needed some time. Time to get ready. Time to think about some decisions I need to make. Time to thank God for all He has given to me. I am gonna pray, relax, think, eat at Underwoods for lunch tomorrow, and get ready for the rest of the ride life has in store.

Brownwood - it will never be home for you. It will never be home for my wife or kids. But to me, it feels like home, at least for tonight.

Huckabee Says Goodbye

After months and months of campaigning, and singing a great song few got a chance to really hear and study, Mike Huckabee has bowed out of the Presidential race and handed over the GOP to John McCain.

Huckabee is a former pastor, who has a heart for God, America and faith-based values but with little money, a much smaller staff than most and little media support he decided tonight his race was over. As he said, he fought a good fight and we are proud to have supported him and been deeply involved in the democratic process this incredible nation gives us.

Now it is time we get behind John and remain strong.

Oh momma, please not Obama.

Click here for my new conservative blog and some shocking details about this man people are fainting over.

http://www.conservativelight.blogspot.com/

Elmo On Stage

We have truly arrived as parents of toddlers in love with Elmo. We attended our first Sesame Street Live concert Friday, at 10:30AM! The girls loved it, though it cost us nearly a 2nd mortgage to go.

Funny Words, Funny Girls

The girls are in a very funny phase right now. Toddlerville is almost in the past now as we enter "little girl land" over the next few months. But the language they speak today is a riot. Here are some of the funny ways they say certain words and phrases. I thought I would share them so as to not forget these times for years to come:

1. Offy shoes, offy pants, etc - offy means "take off"
2. Twildwen - or children
3. Elfant - aka elephant
4. Bidanin - vitamin
5. Washi hands, hair, etc - means "wash my hands/etc"
6. Happycake - their word for any type of cake
7. Panpakes - panchake
8. Owie - any injury
9. Neeno - this is their word for these little character icepacks for owies that started with a Nemo shapped one
10. Chicknfilay - chick-fi-la their favorite place just like daddy!
11. I did - this is a funny phrase that mainly Chloe says
12. Lightning go boom - another funny thing they say during big storms
13. Moonsky - they say this any time they can see the moon in the sky
14. Daddy/mommy h0ld you - they say this when they want to be held
15. This is my caman-jam - this is how they say "this is my commandment that you love one another" from the children's song
16. Himimims - aka M&Ms
17. Chocwate - chocolate
18. Hand mannows - aka marshmallows
19. Backaroni - macaroni
20. Fa A-ham - this is how they say "father Abraham" from the children's song
21. Home PeePo - Home Depot
22. Kura - Korea
23. Crema - camera
24. Fallas - flowers

I will add more as we hear more! 3/17/08 add a few more...

No More Pasis

About a week ago, Julie took the brave step of having the girls throw away their pasis! (sp?)

As most toddlers are, they are addicted to them and seem to need them every step of the day. But, the girls complied and were very good about saying bye-bye to them. They get to keep one in their bed for nigh-night time and they seem to look forward to it each night now.

It is sad to see them become little girls. I will miss the blankies and pasis more than they will...

My Wife is Amazing

My wife is amazing.

She is the most amazing mother ever.

No one is more patient.

She loves the fellas.

She loves my family.

She loves Christ.

Few are better friends to others than her.

She has a great body.

She is witty and funny.

And, to top it all off, she loves me!

Here are some pics of my hot wife for your jealousy...

No, they are not potty trained yet....

This was just too funny. Watching TV, having a drink and sitting on the Big Girls potty.

Our First Lunar New Year Celebration

In honor of our Korean heritage, we attended a Lunar New Year party with our Dillon family for the first time! We ate some Korean/Asian food, had some American cheesecake, and shared stories with other adoptive parents. This photo is of their kids, many from asian countries.

Next year, Quinn and his sisters will join in the fun! This was the year of the rat...

If you are really bored and want to read about this annual tradition of the asian culture, click here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year