Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving

The holiday season is upon us and I have yet to give it much thought.  Tory and I have been so busy lately that it seems like my mind is still back in August. With or without me, the holidays will move forward, so I better get on board!

Tory and I both love Thanksgiving.  Family and food...good combination for fun. We are headed to Alpena for two family get togethers and then back to Little Rock for the LSU game and down time recovering from over eating.  We are also taking Dina with us to Alpena for her first American Thanksgiving.  Given her love for food and eating, she too will be a fan of Thanksgiving.

Tonight I will also get to see my mom's side of the family in a mini thanksgiving/Birthday celebration.  My grandfather turned 80 this weekend!  On his birthday I called him at 5:25 am. I knew he is the only person in the world who had already been up for close to an hour and would pick up the phone that early on their birthday.  I was able to have a great conversation with him that morning and I asked him what advice an 80 year old man would give to a 26 year old man.  He simply stated, to live a Christian life, love and protect your family, and work hard.  Three simple principles that he has whole heartily lived out in his 80 years.

Dad and I had a successful trip to Kansas again this year!  First day was rough, but we really got into the birds the last two days.  It was full of the usual hounding for bad shooting and self promotion for good shooting. Al was kind enough to purchase us all hats that said "Art's Hen Hunt" in memory of the lone Hen pheasant Art accidentally shot last year.  I could not stop laughing! I will post pictures later with more hunting details!

It is Thanksgiving...and we have so much to be thankful for! Tory and I are blessed with great family, great jobs, and good friends.  It is our prayer that we would view all of these as blessing from God and that we would use them to bring Him glory. We are so thankful!

Just because I love Blogs with pictures...Here are some of the previous Thanksgiving photos!


 Granddaddy asleep at the computer!



All the women working hard and Gloria just looking pretty for the camera


Juno and Tory Studying for Law finals!

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Demuth, Hill, and Lewis Clan family photo


Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Cold Season

I hate waking up being able to breath only out of one nostril, a sore throat from snoring all night, and a constant feeling of snot dripping out of your nose. Yes, I have a cold!  In fact, Tory and Dina have a cold as well.

A cold often seems unavoidable. No matter the precautions you may take, they will still find you and more than likely at an inopportune time.  I headed to Kansas this week to go bird hunting with my Dad and some old Nashville buddies and I could not think of anything I would rather leave behind than this cold.  Not to mention, my father may be the biggest "germaphobe" ever! I will never hear the end of it if I manage to get him sick.

A cold can not keep my spirits down about this trip though. I am looking forward to a trip with my Dad and an opportunity to catch up with Ryan, Art and Al.  Stories will be told by the thousands.  All of them over exaggerated with a smidgen of truth tied in.  I have heard many of them probably 15 times, but I will still laugh and enjoy hearing them again. The best part is the stories that will be created this year, as inevitably someone will do something that will gain them a year of shame until the next time we can hunt together. I can hardly wait!

The other thing I really enjoy about trips like this is seeing my father in his element.  He comes alive hunting for birds and becomes almost child like. It is infectious.  He can get everyone excited and passionate about what we are doing or make everyone laugh as he demands for more shells after missing multiple birds. I am fortunate to have an active father who pursues time with me and takes time to share life, provide wisdom, guidance, and is a Godly man. I look forward to our long weekend together.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

What Happens When You Open Your House!

Tory and I opened up our house this summer to two Rwandan students, Theophile and Narcisse.  It was a blast and we shared so many laughs and memories.  Theophile started school at UALR and became friends with a girl name Dina who needed a place to live for the semester.  Theophile glady gave her our contact information and recommended that we were a great place to live!  God put her on our heart and we gladly welcomed her to live with us.  Dina has been living with us for about 5 weeks now and mentioned to us this morning about one of her Saudi Arabian friends that would like to live with us starting in March!  This gentleman was at least willing to pay rent!

We quickly explained that the Lewis Dormitory was a need base only. However, making a little rent money did not sound too bad!

Tory and I could not help but laugh!  We are the most popular international off campus housing development!

Tory and I prayed that our house would be used as a tool for God and that he would give us the opportunities to use it.  So far, he is keeping up His end of the bargin!

Mark

Monday, November 8, 2010

Weekend at the Cabin

This weekend I took Theophile, Justin, Emily, Brad and Beth Davis to the Caney Creek Cabin in Big Fork, AR.  It was a great weekend with great weather, lots of laughs, and simple living. 

Teophile experienced several first...His first time in weather below 16 degrees Celsius...first time in a sleeping bag...first time to ride on a 4 wheeler by himself...and I am pretty sure this is one of the first times that Teophile has ever put fun in front of studying!

We arrived late on Friday night to find a cabin that was not as cold as we feared, but cold none the less.
If you have never been to the cabin, the only thing we have to heat the cabin is one modern heating unit and two heating devices that Dad picked up in the 1970's that you have to unplug periodically for fear of burning the cabin down.  Ohh, but you can bring in the propane heater meant for outdoor use to "knock the cold out of the room".

Most of the weekend was spent exploring on 4 wheelers with the occasional break to eat, sleep, or visit the Law's neighboring cabin.  After the visit to the Law's Cabin, I am convinced They will never come to the Lewis cabin again.

The trip ended with a visit to Burls for the best Beef Jurkey in the world and a cinnamon roll the size of a dinner plate.  It is a dangerous combination!

Funny Memories from the trip:
  • Justin describing a trail that he had been on by using the phrase "the one with the log on it". We were in the woods Justin...need a little more to go on!
  • Teal (Brad's Dog) getting so tired from chasing 4 wheelers that she just sat down in the middle of a field.
  • We managed to eat nothing that was Name brand.  All was either Kroger Private Label or Great Value.
  • I managed to make breakfast by myself both days!  I know they could hear me preparing food, but yet no one got up!  Weird.
  • Justin and Emily were the last two to any event that took place.  They were the only unmarried couple and required excessive primping.  Mainly by Justin.
  • Everyone suffered a case of the "Meat Sweats"
Have a good week!

Mark

Monday, November 1, 2010

Weekend at the Farm

Tory, Dina, and I had a wonderful weekend in Alpena.  The weather was perfect for a little cattle work, 4-wheeling, gun shooting, and bear investigating! It was a restful weekend of sleeping in, taking a Saturday nap, and good eating! 

On Sunday we ventured to a  famous NWA cemetery known for the gorgeous maple trees this time of year, Maplewood Cemetery.  Given Arkansas recent drought the color was not overwhelming, but beautiful none the less. Below are some of the snap shots we took.






This is one of my favorite photo's I have taken of Tory!
She is just beautiful!