going back to work

i've been off work since last friday when jackson was born and having the time off has been nice to spend with nett and the babies but, i have to say that being a full-time parent is much harder than ANY job i've ever had and is especially harder than the one that i have now. my hat goes off to any parent who is able to make the sacrifice to stay at home with their children while they're young. it is definitely not the easy thing to do. being home for these 9 days gives me an even more profound sense of respect for what my wife and so many other parents do every day. so, here's to YOU stay at home parent; keep on keepin on, because i'm a firm believer that what you're doing right now for your children will pay off in the long run.

wasted

man, i'm so stinkin tired right now. i don't remember the last time i actually slept good. i'll get some pics of jackson up on my myspace in the next day or so. this having 2 under 11 months thing while mommy is still sore from surgery is very taxing. just another 6 weeks or so and she'll be back in full swing again. can't wait to have her back to normal. for those of you men who don't think your wife does very much, let her have surgery and be out of commission for 6 weeks. oh well, i'm laying in bed right now so i might as well take advantage of it. good night.

10 MORE HOURS!!!

in about 10 more hours we will be in an O.R. having a c-section to get little baby Jackson Perry out. it's amazing to think that it was only about 3 years ago that i had pretty much given up on ever being able to have kids, and here we are having 2 in the year 2007, only 10 1/2 months apart. if anyone ever tried to tell me that there wasn't a God i would only be able to shake my head because i know that i wake up and kiss living proof of God every morning before i leave for work. i live an amazing life; a beautiful wife, 2 incredible little boys and a career that empowers me to enjoy every second of it. i can never stop saying it...i truly am "Living the Dream"

company "puke-mas" party

wednesday we had our district meeting for Farm Bureau Insurance out at lake fork. there were close to a couple of hundred people there and it was really a lot of fun. we left at about 1pm that afternoon and i had a really bad headache and of course no one had any tylenol. we ended up getting there around 3pm and i had been absolutely miserable the whole trip. as we were pulling into the country club the road got really curvy and i just knew that i was going to puke any second. when we stopped i got out of the truck and took off to the woods across the parking lot. luckily, the fresh air helped out a lot and i dodged a bullet.

we went in to the party and everything was set up like a casino and we got to play for a chance to win prizes and money. it was really a lot of fun. we ended up leaving about 7pm that night and they all offered for me to ride in the front seat of the truck, and i gladly accepted. there was a point on the ride back that i could actually feel my face moving with every curve in the road. it was then that i realized that this was not going to end well. finally it came, i started tapping on the dash as i took off my seat belt and leapt out of the truck as fast as i could. my mouth was already half-way full by the time i hit the ground and then it began to flow like a flood. as i finished i looked up and realized that every agent in the county was staring at me puking on the side of the road. so, to relieve the awkward tension i let out a loud "WWWWOOOOOOOO, YEAH!!!". and then the endless ribbing and poking fun began, my manager told me that i would forever be remembered as the guy who puked on his first district meeting trip. it's a good thing i don't embarrass easily about that kind of thing or i would have had to ride home in the back of the truck. i'll just chalk it up as another funny story that i have to tell at our next district christmas party.

got a truck

i forgot to mention that about 6 weeks ago my dad called me and said that he was driving to texarkana to get me to negotiate a deal for him on a new truck (since i had some extensive experience in and around the car business). so, i was like "cool, no problem"...i actually like doing that because i'm very comfortable with it whereas most people are a little out of their element doing that sort of thing. anyhow, to my surprise, my dad gave me his old truck instead of trading it in! and i in turn, gave my little ford aspire to someone who needed a better car and that person gave their car to someone who didn't have a car at all.

some people wonder why i have this fascination with giving cars away as opposed to trading them in or selling them. i have to say that the fascination started about 7 years ago when 2 good friends of ours, brock and auny gill, gave us a car. i have been determined to pass on that blessing that i received in my time of need to others every chance i get. i'll tell you more about that next time.

sorry

yeah, sorry D. you're not the only one who has told me that. it's just been crazy busy starting a new career and having a little baby with another one on the way. i'll keep y'all more updated that i have. well, i gotta get my stuff ironed and get ready for work.

18 Days to go

for those of you who are wondering, i just started my new job as a Farm Bureau Insurance Agent today and it was great. i can tell that this is going to be a job that fits me. but, the real story right now is that in 18 days we will be having our 2nd baby this year!!! that's right, carson was born on january 29th and jackson will be born on december 21st of the same year. we can't wait to bring him home, these past 10 months with carson have been amazing and i can't imagine what it's going to be like having 2 baby boys around. we are getting ready to embark on what are the best years of our life thus far...

thanks for your prayers

thanks for all of your prayers, i passed the test and will be contracting with Farm Bureau of Texas as a full General Lines Agent. i'll try to keep y'all better updated on how things are going. THANKS AGAIN!!!

great opportunity

well, i know that i don't keep up with this as much as i would like to but having an 8 month old baby and another one on the way that will be here in 2 months will definitely keep you busy. but, i had to get on here and let anyone know who checks this from time to time that i have encountered a new HUGE opportunity. i have just completed the interview process to become a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent!!! now, all that i have to do is go and pass my test to get my Texas Property and Casualty License so that i can sell car insurance and homeowners insurance and i will be set to go. i just scheduled my test a little while ago and i will be going to take my test this friday (10-19-07) at 2pmCST. that's the day before my birthday so please be praying that i will pass it. if everything fell PERFECT i could be contracted with them as early as 11-1-07 but, if the Texas Department of Insurance doesn't get everything back to us in time then the latest i will start will be 12-1-07. I'M SO EXCITED SO PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!!

washing cars

i just finished washing jeanette's car and it really needed it. this is something that i've hated doing since i was a kid but, just like back, i still have someone that didn't give me a choice in the matter. those drive through car washes just aren't the same thing as a good hand wash. i had planned on doing my truck today but, man it is way too hot to be out there any longer. well, it's time to go play with carson!

first day of self-employment

wow, it feels great to have the freedom that i've always wanted at work and not having to worry about not agreeing with the boss. so, i guess, if i don't like something then i can tell myself to "shove it" ;). oh yeah, i had 5 days off during the transition from the car business to this and it was NICE!!! me and nett just played with carson and hung out for 5 days. it was great! well, i gotta get back to work before i catch myself not doing anything and start yelling at me...

Changing Careers

you know, i have been through a vast array of jobs through out my career. and, i believe that all of the positions in the different fields that i have had were all God's plan to prepare me for my future. after this month i will be stepping out of the car business so that i can have a little more time with my family. the car business is a honorable profession for anyone, believe it or not, but it doesn't leave much time to raise children and enjoy some of the things that are more important to me in my life. as of august, i will be self-employed and going into the insurance business. i will be a sales rep for a company called Colonial Insurance. i will be selling group supplemental insurance to businesses and groups. i am very excited about the future that God has laid in front of me and my family. please keep us in your prayers...

ANOTHER MIRACLE!!!

well, i can't believe it, we are pregnant with another baby. for 2 people that tried for 6 years to get pregnant, to be able to conceive TWICE inside of 12 months WITHOUT EVEN TRYING is an absolute miracle. we are so blessed that we can't even express how we feel. the new baby's due date is 12-25-07 and Carson Matthew was born on 1-29-07. I CAN'T WAIT!

Mom

Patsy Perry Arnold, better known as "Mom" to all who knew her, passed away on April 8, 2007. Mom was Jeanette's grandmother and the funnest grandparent that I have ever met in my entire life. She passed away on Easter Sunday in her home while she was surrounded by her whole family. This is definitely the way that she would have wanted to go. I had the honor of officiating the funeral service. It was one of the hardest things that I've ever had to do. It was impossible to grind through it without tears so, I just had to let them flow as I spoke from my heart about the woman that we all loved and adored so much. Mom definitely lived a life of significance that impacted everyone who knew her. We'll miss you Mom...

BIGGEST MONTH EVER!!!

well, today was the last day of the month and i finished up as salesman of the month again. i sold 15 cars and had the biggest month that i have ever had...literally, i made more money this month than i have ever made in any month of my ENTIRE life! God is so good, i worked really hard but it was really easy at the same time. God just put people in front of me that were ready to buy. IT WAS GREAT! i made what i would have made in almost 3 months of working at my previous job, it was great. now, i'm over at jeanette's family's house. i'm grilling for the family, so i gotta go before I GET COOKED.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

it's a great day to be irish! well, i guess it is...i haven't found a pot of gold or any lucky charms or anything yet, but other than that it's still been pretty awesome today being me ;) i guess in honor of my heritage i should rent all of the leprachaun movies and watch them tonight. well, i gotta go watch the little leprachaun baby right now...LATER!!!

do ribs have bones ;)

it's saturday night and we are celebrating jeanette's cousin brandon being back from iraq. he leaves to go off to special forces training in a few weeks so we are enjoying every minute with him that we can. nett's peepaw makes the most amazing ribs that i have ever had in my entire life!!! i am so full that i'm about to pop...i think i'll go back in a little bit and get some more. well, i gotta get back to enjoying the party. later...

day off

i absolutely love my days off. every saturday night i stay up with carson and then get up with him to feed him for his late night/mid morning feeding and then again at breakfast time. due to my work schedule i'm only able to do this once a week when i have the next day off. nett likes it cause she gets some uninterrupted rest and i love it because i finally get some alone time with just me and my boy. after doing this every week, i really don't understand those dads that don't do that kind of stuff with their children. they try to play it off as "being the woman's job", but to me it just sounds like a lazy dad that tries to do as little as possible to get by. heck, i'd stay up with him every night if i didn't have to work such a crazy schedule. it's the highlight of my week. well, i'm fixing to go watch him sleep now until he gets up so i can feed him dinner. i hope you enjoy your day off as much as i do!

Wallabe Darned

we went outback tonight, and man we had a good time. people who say that your life has to end when you have kids must lead very boring lives. jeanette's mom watched carson tonight while we went out. it's been quite a while since we've gone to outback. we normally end up hitting a mexican joint or something (since that's all there is here in texarkana). it was a nice change of pace to have a good steak. well, i guess i'm gonna get ready to hit the sack. we're starting to get really busy at work and i need all the rest that i can get!

savings account

we went today to open up a savings account for carson. this is something that i wish i would have had when i was a kid, so that i could have learned about saving money and how to deal with finances at a young age. i plan on doing my best to teach carson through all of the mistakes that i've made over the past 26 years. i'm really excited about having the opportunity to set my son up for success. this is absolutely the best time that i have ever had in my life. i know that i say it a lot but, i truly am "LIVING THE DREAM!"

HE'S HERE!!!

well, i'm so sorry it has taken this long to post but, we have been up at the hospital since 8am monday morning and i am just now realizing that they have public computers up here!!!

to spare you all of the details right now so i can get back up to our room, i'll just give you a breakdown. i'll have some pictures posted for you on myspace as soon as we get back home and get settled in...you'll want to prepare yourself though, he is the most beautiful baby that you will have ever laid eyes on (he looks just like his mama!). i'll post more when we get home.

Carson Matthew Caler
8lbs. 9.4oz.
21in. long
11:13pm
1-29-07

INDUCING LABOR!!!

well, we went to the dr. today and he scheduled for us to induce labor monday morning at 8am. WE CAN'T WAIT!!! so, if nothing changes, this will officially be our last weekend without little Carson Matthew.

fire

i don't know what it is about a fireplace. i'm over at my wonderful mother-in-laws house right now and seeing that it was 27 degrees at about 2:30pm today i figured i would start a fire when i got over here for dinner. there is nothing more soothing to me than starting a fire and keeping it kindled. it's just very calming to my spirit. everyone has certain things in their lives that are therapeutic to them. a couple of mine are writing, playing golf, and starting and tending a fire in a fireplace. find out what those things are in your life, and try to do them as often as possible. sometimes we all just need some time to unwind.

Out of Ministry

you know, i may regret writing this later, but i must write the way i feel. if anything, it is just therapeutic to my soul. since the age of about 15 or so i always knew what i "THOUGHT" i wanted to do for a career. i had always dreamed of being in ministry and helping to guide teenagers to Christ just like my youth pastor, Doug Porter, did with me when i gave my life to Christ.

however, after serving on staff full-time under 3 different pastors and seeing a side of the people who are running churches now days i had to respectfully bow out. i have seen more deception and manipulation in my short time in working in ministry than i have seen in my whole corporate life...and i work in the car business mind you.

ministry became more about programs, money, and numbers than it was about people and relationships. i understand that there is a business side to running the administrative side of a church, but when it is more about the administration than it is about the people there is something seriously out of balance. i've been told that it was more important to get a powerpoint presentation finished on time than it was to go to a school function for kids in my youth group. i would love for a pastor to tell that to the teenagers who were at the function. i had a pastor tell me that i shouldn't have stopped at a car accident that happened directly in front of our bus to help get children out of a smoking car that looked like it was about to catch on fire, all because it was a "youth group trip".

i'm sorry, but there is a time when my morals and my integrity rare up inside of me and become much stronger in my life than any job or superficial title such as "Pastor". i also have more pride than some people in ministry i guess; i personally can't lay down when someone unrightfully threatens me with my job over a list of rookie mistakes while all the time they are free to make as many as they choose with no accountability. a good friend of mine once told me a very profound statement that defines most churches and ministries now days; "Absolute power corrupts absolutely.". in my experience, this statement rings true.

i really do hate that things turned out the way they did, because i loved all of those kids and their families more than they or anyone else will ever comprehend. however, i cannot morally participate in something that i so strongly disagree with. and may i remind you that i work in the car business for a living. i really do wish that this entry could be something productive. however, i feel that it will only turn out to be a therapeutic rant that allows me to get just a little bit closer to closure on what can only be described as one of the most painful memories in my life...the betrayal of something that was supposed to protect.