BroachBridge

Change

2010-04-09T19:05:00.002-05:00

I've heard that the only thing constant is change itself. I am beginning to believe that more and more. Lately the Lord has been opening doors that are leading down a different path. I am pleased to say I am happy about this. Sometimes we are rebellious to change that God bestows upon us, but man is His timing impeccable. After almost three years in the glass industry I am pleased to announce I will heading back to Carrier. This time a little different approach. Rather than just getting a job, I was blessed with a great position. Its only by the grace of God this plan has worked out like it did. Had I not went to glass connection, this would not have worked out like it did. So I learned that in my struggles, God was moving and planning the whole time. I could not feel more blessed, nor be so happy.

The Final Four

2010-04-03T09:18:00.002-05:00

I remember a few years ago as JJ Redick walked off the floor in tears. He had waited for that day for so long. Falling to a LSU team that had a little more athleticism and Big Baby, Duke began a downward spiral that has yet to really stop. Amid controversy of an easy route and cake schedule, Duke has finally made it back to the Fnal Four teams. In one of the most ridiculous tournament runs in history, it seems as though should they not win it all this year, this season would still be a failure. Seems like Duke can't catch a break, to others they get all the breaks. All I know is I am proud ofwhat they have accomplished this year. If it were to end tonight I will be highly disappointed, but I could hardly call them failures. I think they'll win it all. GO DUKE!

Vacation

2009-08-05T20:23:00.015-05:00

Here are the pictures. We had a great vacation!!Our cabin was small but we grew to love it. The jacuzzi was best. Jackson loved the rides of Dollywood and Ghost Town. I enjoyed the deer and elk. Leah enjoyed the shopping. Good times!

Petting Zoo

2009-08-05T20:16:00.008-05:00

This was a petting zoo we went to while on vacation.

Cades Cove

2009-08-05T20:10:00.006-05:00

This is Cades Cove, a scenic 11 mile loop about an hour from Gatlinburg in the Great Smokey Mountains National Forest. The bucks were in bachelor groups which allowed us to get some great pictures. We saw around 40 deer and 10 bears. I try to ride through anytime we're near.

Jackson's Birthday

2009-08-05T20:01:00.005-05:00

Here is a few snapshots from Jackson's 2nd Birthday party. Once again we had a pool party at the grandparents house. Jackson and all his friends and their parents had a ball. Jackson showed his latest technique off the diving board. Quite impressive I must say. He is joined here by Joni's two girls Anna and Ella, and Shaun's little girl Kaitlyn. In one picture here he is showing off his new basketball goal, and his new shades,

Superman

2009-06-03T21:02:00.001-05:00

Our computer is not being user freindly today, so this is the only picture we have available. We hope all is well. I will post more later.

A Fathers Fear

2009-05-20T17:34:00.004-05:00

Well greetings to all. I hope all is well out there. Things have been a little hectic here lately. Sorry we haven't posted much, but catching you up should be pretty easy. Leah is drawing near to being out of school for the summer which I know she is getting really excited and despite cutbacks in our school system she has recieved her contract and will be teaching again next year. She is moving from fourth grade to teaching music. She is really excited about the change and I am happy for her. Jackson too is drawing close being out for the summer where he will get to spend some quality time with his mom. He has done well for his first year of daycare. He is growing like a weed and continues to amaze us of what he can comprehend. The fear in the title comes from the picture. I am a fan of Jeff Gordon and do not particularly care for Dale Jr. I have bought him hats, Leah has bought him hats and he will wear them a day maybe two. Doris(Leah's Aunt from Ohio) buys him this Dale Jr. hat and he wears it nonstop. So I can sense a racing rivalry already!! Things are the same with me. Same job a different day. Pray for us, that we will be where God wants us to be, ministering to who He wants us to minister. Much Love from the Broaches

A memorable Easter

2009-04-13T21:02:00.004-05:00

The Easter season is always so packed with travel to see loved ones, big programs at church, and concentrated chaos in one little weekend. Although we did concede to seeing family, we did manage to linit the travel and focus on the event. I was able to sit down with Jackson and try to explain in the best way I know how, why and what we were celebrating. Although I am sure he will remember the candy much longer and savor the flavor of those delicious treats much longer than he will the content of our conversation. I know His word will not return void. How awesome a promise. We ventured over to my parents this holiday and had the annual Easter egg hunt....thats a weird concept if you really think about it. ....Anyways my sister once again claimed the crown, after my three years running, she has claimed the last two. I must go for now but I post more pictures later. These pictures are from a Garden here in Hartsville.

The Diffference in a Year

2009-03-01T09:02:00.003-05:00

The difference a year makes! O how time flies. Hartsville Sc is calling for 4 inches of snow today. We have had snow twice already this year which is quite a bit unusual for this area. It seems as though we will get a little bit more. Spring usually shows up early, but it is not quite ready to bloom this year. The last snow we had I got rear ended. The old explorer has definitely seen its better days of traveling the eastern seaboard. It has been a good one. From Maine to Miami a few times, Nashville too many to count, Ohio too many to count, and all in between. It only has 189,000 miles and still goes strong. It was retired and now has been activated again since my heat went out on my truck. Anyways, everyone here is doing well. I thought comparing pictures from yesterday and last year this time would be interesting. He really just has more hair and has filled out more, but it is still neat to see the changes. I have began spring softball. That always brings new challenges for me. Leah claims I am way to competitive and that it is just church league softball, but I have to win. I guess I was born that way! We hope all is well everywhere.

Spoiled?

2009-02-16T20:58:00.002-05:00

Some kids do not really have the option of being spoiled. To be spoiled is simply an expression we use that basically implies we give kids everything they want. So is it really the kids fault that we spoil them? Must they be labeled with banner that they are spoiled? I think not. I find it rather fun and so does everyone who is not his parent. So when you see the above picture please do not think that Grandad has spoiled little Jackson. Well he has, but we do not look at it that way. I just knew what I would think if I saw that picture! We hope all is well out there. The Broach clan is chugging along. We are making the most in this down economy and have been really blessed to still have our jobs in tact and able to work. Jackson continues to grow and is always a blessing. He is growing up so fast. Tonight as he was serving on a tennis game that Leah's students got for her(Wii), I just sat there in amazement. He's really bright and has a great personality. Leah continues to teach and loves what she does. I'm still working glass and things are moving a long. The church hunt is going pretty well, no direction yet, but its in God's hands. Pray for us in that area. We are ready for spring and all that it brings.Later

Snow, Duke, Super Bowl and the baby boy

2009-01-26T19:17:00.004-05:00

Greetings for my second post for the month of January. First of all as many of you know we had a little snow here recently. Leah and Jackson were able to enjoy it. The most I got to enjoy was a pretty intense snowball fight after work with the boys. Duke should be ranked #1 today. That has not been accomplished in almost three years. The Super Bowl is coming up this weekend...and I can't really tell you who is in the game. My hunting seasons are finally winding down and now I turn back to the wonderful woes of house maintenance. Jackson who is my main topic as usual, once again steals the show. We took him to a kids jamboree yesterday and he had the time of his life. He petted all the animals, played some games and won some prizes. Then he and Leah did some of the bouncy air filled jumpy things while I videoed. Then he closed the evening with some Chinese food that made him sick. He continues to amaze us with the things his mind can capture even at a young age. He is our pride and joy and we thank God for him everyday. We hope all is well out there!

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-13T18:55:00.008-05:00

Well a new year is upon us and I've posted just a few pictures to catch you up on whats been going on lately. First of all we had a great time during Christmas. Leah and I were both off about two weeks which worked out great. For Christmas we spent had a little time of just us and a good bit of time with family. We spent Christmas morning at home with Jackson and his new toys, then we went over to Doug and Patty's for lunch and then moved on to my parents later that evening. I surprised Leah this year with a new ride, well new to us. She was really excited. The explorer is still going strong, but an upgrade was needed. The explorer had been with me for 8 years. 160,000 in 8 years....WOW. That thing should be in a Ford commercial. It is a great car with lots of memories. We also made the trip to Ohio during our time off. Unfortunately we were all very sick. I haven't heard but I hope we didn't pass it along to any relatives. Well my time has run short. The last picture there is of a couple buffle heads I killed in the outer banks this year. We hope all is well. Uncle Mike wants us to post more so I will try to post twice a month now!! Thats my goal!! See ya!

It's Christmas Time

2008-12-22T21:58:00.006-05:00

Greetings again from Harts-vegas SC. It is that time again for the season of Christmas. This time of year always gives us a chance to reflect back on the details of that Holy night in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. What a night it must have been. Today Christmas is often mired by the commercialism of the season. This reminder is so important as we close out yet another year.

This year Jackson is a a year and a half old. My how time flies. This has been an amazing year. To watch a child grow from six months to 18 months is truly an experience no one can explain, only experience. He has found a love for music that is exciting to see. In the pictures above, Leah had gotten him ready for church and we were gathering our last few items. He found my hunting flashlight and began singing into it like he knew exactly what a microphone was and exactly how to use it. It was truly something cool to see. He loves music and ball. I mean what can I say he got it honest!! He also loves his momma and he got that honest too!! As we reflect and look back on how a child began Christmas many years ago, it is exciting to see as Jackson begins his journeys of Christmas' now. May we never forget the real meaning of Christmas. We wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Where do we begin?

2008-11-02T22:12:00.007-05:00

Well many things have happened since July. We have failed miserably on keeping you all posted on the lives of the Broaches. Its hard to believe the holiday season is approaching. Since we last wrote many things have changed. Leah went back to work teaching. This was a difficult decision for us. She enjoys teaching and believe or not it has been good for Jackson. He has opened up so much more. Its a little werid to say he has friends now, but he really does. He is growing up so fast. It is hard for me to believe he is drawing ever so close to 1 and a half. I have included random pictures from past month or so. The most recent is Jackson going to the pumpkin patch and picking out his pumpkin. The pictures turned out really nice. Leah is chugging along at the new job and more of the same for me. I will try to write tid bits more a little later. I hope all is well.!!

Maybe a sign of things to come??

2008-07-24T22:07:00.004-05:00

I'm not quite sure where Jackson dug up this old gamecock wig, but I have to admit it was pretty hilarious to see him wearing it. He does have red hair, maybe it is a sign of things to come.

2008-07-21T21:35:00.006-05:00

Tonight I sit and write barely able to hold my eyes open. Although it is only Monday, the week has already been long. Here are a few pcitures we took this weekend of Jackson. His new favorite thing is to ride in his wagon that was given to him by a man from church. The pictures will have to be sufficient for tonight. I hope all is well out there!!

My First Birthday

2008-07-14T20:46:00.016-05:00

Unfortunately the pictures are loaded backwards so you have to start from the bottom and work your way up. Jackson's first birthday party was quite the party. There were all sorts of things going on. It was quite unusual that a child's first birthday party be a swimming party but it turned out rather well. Pictures will do no justice to the cake eating portion of the party, but I tried to capture what I could. He had cake everywhere. The party started with some hotdogs off the old grill. After some hotdogs and a little while to digest them everyone jumped in the pool to cool down. Then we sang Happy Birthday and let Jackson tear into his own cake. This was the best part. I do believe he made himself miserable eating all that cake. After that Grammy(I think that is what she is going by now) hosed him off with the water hose. We commenced to swim for a little longer and then we opened all the presents. It was a great deal of fun and I hope everyone that came had as much fun as we did. I know we enjoyed everyones company. He retired for the afternoon under a self made tent by mommy. Unfortunately Jackson awakened Sunday with a fever and has not felt very well since, but he is making positive progress throughout the day today. Here are the pictures I promised.

The Dance

2008-07-11T20:42:00.004-05:00

The countdown is on. At 1:10 p.m. tomrrow Jackson will officially be one year old. In honor of his one year birthday we decided to post a video of Jackson doing a little dance and he even throws a little clap in there near the end. I will post pictures from the party. I can assure you there will be some good stuff on here tomorrow or the next day.

My Hero

2008-07-10T20:19:00.004-05:00

The 4th of July

2008-07-07T21:05:00.010-05:00

Normally we try to venture out on my days off since I don't get very many days, but we decided to stay home for the fourth. We took in some fireworks, did a little swimming, watched the race, worked on our lovely house and so on. This was good weekend for rest and we found ourselves being very lazy. It was really nice. We have been consistently in a construction zone with our house pretty much since we moved here. We are making some headway and hope to be able to do the finishing touches here shortly. Jackson is the man. He is doing really well and just having a ball. So many things are changing so fast. He will be one year old this Saturday. WOW!! It is a little surreal. I posted these pictures after many struggles with the camera. I finally figured out how to make them the right size to download them in a minimal amount of time. Thats all for now but I will be sure to post some pictures from Jacksons first party!

11 Months and a few days

2008-06-24T21:27:00.006-05:00

Where do I begin. Most of the pictures here come from a trip Leah took to Ohio a couple of weeks before Memorial Day. While there she visited her Uncle Arnold, and many of the Chamberlin crew. Pictured is Jackson with Uncle Arnold, Jackson with Jenna, Carly, and Owen. He is also pictured here with a Reds outfit given by Aunt Doris. The strange guy pictured here is none other than the duck commander. Phil Robertson, known as the duck commander, was speaking here at a local church and Leah and I were able to take Jackson and hear him speak. He allowed us to take a picture. Jackson was not very fond of the beard. It was a fun afternoon. That is just a few pretty recent pictures. We got a hand me down camera and I haven't quite figured out all the bells and whistle yet. It takes quite some time to download pictures now. Thus the delay. Jackson will be celebrating one year here very soon. I cannot believe its already been year. Greetings to all!!

The Heat of Summer

2008-06-09T20:59:00.002-05:00

Yes, we are still alive! We have had a few distractions that have interrupted our recent posts. First, we have a little munchkin that is moving about quite swiftly now, and also I have been playing church softball for a church here in Hartsville. As summer comes into full swing and things heat up here in the south, it seems as though our lives ramp up with the seasons. Jackson is the center of our little home world. For those of you whom we have let down, he is growing, walking, and talking. The talking is gibberish, but hey he knows what he means. It is hard for me to believe that in about a month he will be a year old. My how time flies. His red hair has remained. He's rockin about 20 lbs., and looks a lot his is grandpa. He is still not very fond of his pop-pa. My dad gets him for about 42 seconds before he breaks into an all out temper tantrum. He does well with my mom, but many times he will pick his grandpa over me as well. These days he has become a mommas boy. He loves his momma. That is fine with me......for now!! He is something else to watch and he is the joy of our lives. Leah and myself are doing well. With the rising costs we are still very fortunate that Leah had been able to stay home with Jackson and be there for him during these crucial days of infancy. I am still putting along with my job, trying to put food on the table and cool air in the house. The Lord has been faithful to provide for us and for that we are grateful. I have finished my softball season with Lakeview and we begin tournaments on the 16th. This has been a refreshing time for me. Competition can be good and bad for me. It always brings out the strengths and weaknesses. I have made new friends that can encourage me and allow me to do the same for them.
Church life is good. Leah has her own Sunday school class. She teaches the teen class. This is a great opportunity for her to reach out to our teens and gives her the interaction she needs. Her days are filled with hours of baby, so this works good for her. She also plays the keyboard for our services, and sings specials from time to time. I have had the opportunity to lead worship since the first of the year. During our search for a pastor I was asked to help out. We recently promoted our associate pastor to our pastor and I have been able to continue leading. I enjoy leading worship because it sets the tone for the entire service. Early questions about where the Lord needed us have been answered and he has plugged us in sufficiently right where we are. That is what we prayed for....to be allowed to use the talents he has blessed us with. So once again the Lord has proved faithful. All is well at the Broach camp. We will do our best to keep up and post a little more often.

Time Flies

2008-03-26T21:36:00.002-05:00

Greetings from Hartsville. I have been a little negligent on the blog side of things here lately. My apologies. The new job keeps me pretty stretched out. When I do arrive home I try to spend as much time as I can with Jackson before he drifts off to sleep. Then I save the rest of my evening for mamma and the chores that await me. The last time I wrote I had been fishing and having a jolly ole tome. Not so much here lately. Work has brought about a whole new list of chores. I find myself struggling to get home before the rest of the family is winding down. Jackson has changed drastically in just one month. He currently has four teeth and is now cutting two more. Crawling cant be more than just a few days away and we really feel like walking wont be too much longer after that. He still sports his red hair and now has a sly grin as he speaks a language only understood by babies. For Easter we went to the Broaches. We surprised my mom and dad at their church on Sunday Morning. We seldom get to visit because of our own responsibilities at our church, but it was a nice treat. Afterwards we joined the whole family at my parents house for a home cooked meal. My sister Joni and her two kids were there. Leah, myself, and Jackson were there and my brother and his family all got together. It was a very nice outing. My grandparents and my mothers siblings also crashed the party. Our traditional easter egg hunt, the one that I held the lucky egg title for 3 years running finally came to an end. Joni overtook the thrown which made for good family fun. We wrapped up our weekend with a drive back to Hartsville to start a new week all over. I'll try to post a few new pics of Jackson.

A Crappie Time

2008-02-18T22:06:00.002-05:00

This past Saturday my dad and I ventured to Lake Wateree. Wateree is one of a few lakes in this area that actually has enough water to put a boat in. Although I got outfished, I had a good time just being on the water and watching the sun rise. Dad always has like 4 poles in the water keeping an eye on all four just enough to haul in the big ones . While I enjoyed watching the ducks the most, and the occassional geese, I caught no fish. It bewilders me to understand how the back of the boat catches 8 fish and the front of the boat catches none. I like to blame it on the trolling motor and such, but the truth is I'm not a very good fisherman unless it is a well stocked pond waiting on some dinner. I had a really good time and always count it a joy when I get to spend time with pops. The fish shown here are crappie...hence the title. They were very good. Leah and I enjoyed them for supper tonight!!

Skinny Jeans and Eye Glasses

2008-02-07T23:07:00.000-05:00

Once again, it has been some time since I have written. Jackson keeps my days pretty full! He is always learning something everyday. Today, he surprised me by grabbing the straw in my cup and sipping soda just as if he had always done it! Just like that, the kid drinks from a straw!! His vocabulary is growing. He says Dada all the time, with the occaisional mama and now the ever frequent baba...which is funny seeing that he is not bottle fed. He loves to pretend cough and have you cough back, and every morning it sounds like he is practicing his german with the strange sounds he is perfecting. He took his first nose dive in the tub last week, and still seems to love water, but his hatred for socks and shoes lives on! He eats like a champ. There is nothing that he has tried that he has not liked. He eats nearly every baby food there is...loves veggies and meats. He will swallow toast whole if you let him, and today he ate part of a bannana with his two teeth. Just about anything I eat, he eats as well. The dill pickle was the funniest. I only let him lick it, and the face that soon followed was one to never forget! I thought he hated it, but then he tried to sneak in lots more licks.....however, I thought that it might be a bit much for baby Jack. He does pretty well with self feeding too. His little fingers get better daily at grabbing things and putting them in his mouth.

I have had some highs and lows these past few weeks. I have officially lost 48 pounds!!! I am just a shade below my pre baby weight, and still trying to loose. It is so nice wearing old clothes again! I had a pair of jeans on yesterday that I had not worn since I was horseback riding in mexico pre baby!! That is such a good feeling. I am hoping to loose about 20 more pounds. According to my height at the good ole doctor's office, I need to be a about 20 pounds smaller. I have never really been that small in my adult life...and I will not be terribly distraught if I do not make it, but the doctor seemed to think it was admirable goal...so why not??

On the flip side, my eye has given me quite the scare. I have been having some issues with my eyes being extremely dry. Apparantly this is very common for mothers that nurse, but I did not know this. I was wearing my contacts as normal...actually, a new pair and I woke up one morning with one eye quite irritated. Well, I did what I would always do, and tried to take my contact out and give my eyes a break, and clean everything really well. Well, I guess my eye was way too dry to take the contact out, and when I did, I removed a portion of my cornea along with my contact. So it hurt very badly, but I just put some drops in and tried to let things clear up. A couple of days later it wasn't getting any better. All of the sudden I started having extremely cloudy vision in that eye. It got really bad really fast. So, I went to the doctor and found out what I had done. My eye had become extremely infected, and the doctor didn't tell me until today that he thought I was going to loose my vision in that eye. Praise the Lord that I have not, and that it is slowly healing. I have been going once a week to keep an eye ( ha ha) on the progress. It is still in the slow healing stages, but at least it is healing. I am ever so grateful to God that He is healing my eye and restoring my vision. I try not to take things in general for granted, but having this scare has really allowed me to see that so much in life is so fragile and fleeting, and in a moments time things can completely change. I have always complained that I have bad eyes...because I have pretty crummy vision. But, I am so thankful to have vision in general that can be worked with!! Any vision is so much better than none!!!! Thank the Lord for glasses and eye doctors!!

So, that is what our days have been full of lately here at home. Thanks to everybody that comments. We love hearing what you have to say and keeping in touch. Kevin stole all the pictures to post, so I will have to post without pics this time....

A Sunday Full of Pictures

2008-02-04T19:06:00.000-05:00

My Sunday full of pictures got somewhat shortened. As I was loading the pictures it all of a sudden seemed to take about 25 minutes per picture. So I stopped short. There are a few pictures here of Leah and Jackson in the snow. We actually had a few flakes. It was nice but did not stay quite long enough to really enjoy. The other pictures are just random shots. We got a new camera and decided to snap a few poses.

Jackson is doing well and will soon be 7 months old. It is really hard to believe that the time has passed so quickly. His little feet are starting to motor a bit and his appetite seems to grow more everyday. He has quite the little gut. It is a blessing to watch him learn new things and go through changes even as small as he is. Leah is doing well. She had a few problems here lately with her eye. Somehow bacteria got underneath her contact and caused a few worries. As it continues to get better we pray that there will be no longterm effects. She is in good spirits as usual and presses on with the daily chores of motherhood. I am doing well. Many times I want to complain and say that things are tough and think I always seem to struggle, but its always at those low points that God shows me how blessed I really am. I have two parents that love me unconditionally. I have a loving wife who is always there for me through thick and thin, and I have the cutest baby boy a man could hope for. I have a God that will always love me, and the best friends in the world. Leah sang the special yesterday in church and she brought out a very good point in her introduction. Her song was People Need the Lord, and she simply pointed out that many times we hear that song and automatically think of lost people, but the reality of it is that we all need the Lord every minute of every day. That kind of hit home to me! So in the words of Darin Miles......How's your walk with the Lord???? We all need him everyday!

Leah Marie 28

2008-01-14T22:41:00.000-05:00

Tonight we journeyed to Florence for a taste of a family owned restaurant called Percy and Willie's. The reason for going to such a high profile restaurant was due to the fact that a certain young lady got a little bit older. Today we celebrated Leah's birthday. Her first birthday as a mother seemed to be a special treat. Although we thought it would be nice to go out alone, I decided it would be neat for Jackson to come along and be there for his momma's birthday dinner. Dad took over the normal mom chores and kept him situated with lots of puffs and other entertainment. The night went well. Of course after Leah was finished eating she had to have him. We enjoyed a nice family outing, it was a good time. Since Jackson and Leah were both dressed for the party I snapped a few pictures.

The Duck Hunting Beard

2008-01-12T16:53:00.000-05:00

This is my rough and tough look. I never like posting pictures of myself, but in this situation is was a must. Its funny what a Carhart toboggan and a beard can do to a man. Another year rolls around and now is the time for the annual duck hunting trip to the Outer Banks. This year cousin Shaun and I made a pact on Dec. 8 that we would not shave our beards until Jan. 19. I understand this is immature and unprofessional, but there are some things in life worth going for..... Since our picture taking has slowly ceased, I decided to take a few today. I took a few with Jackson because he will probably not see me like this very often and it was a Kodak moment. His hair was kind of wild too...as you can see. Life around the Broach household is running smooth. Jackson is six motnhs old today. He learns new tricks everyday and he is such a joy to have. We have been blessed so much. We wish everyone a great week to come. I will post comments and pictures from the trip when I return next week.

Happy New Year!!

2007-12-31T19:36:00.000-05:00

Well Happy New Year!! We have been out of the loop for some time now. My skills as a blogger are somewhat rusty. I know many of you would like to see a few updated pictures of Jackson. It is hard to believe that he will be 6 months old on the 12th. Time has really been passing quickly. I am settling in to my new job here in Florence. That is the best part about it. It means a great deal to me to be able to be at home more now. Leah and I are doing well. No drama for us actually a good thing. With the switching of jobs and a five night performance of a Christmas special, our December seemed to wisk by rather fast. Andrew and Michelle came in from Virginia for Christmas and we were able to spend some time with them. Christmas brought many days of duck hunting and many nights of games and losing.(at least for me) The odd picture there in the middle is of our splendid fireplace. As the night draws near to a new beginning, we look forward to the new year and hope to keeps things a little more updated in days to come. We wish you all a happy new year!!

Almost 4 Months

2007-11-06T20:28:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that Jackson is almost 4 months old. We have been a little busy lately. Two weeks ago went went to Knoxville for the weekend to attend Cousin Wes' wedding. Leah had singing honors and performed quite well I might add. After the wedding Leah ventured to Nashville and I ventured over to Neyland stadium for the USC/Tennessee game. That is all I have to say about that. While in Nashville, Leah visited Heather and Mark, along with Michelle and other friends. The pictures above were taken by Heather. She was very gracious to let us have pictures made using her fancy equipment. Heather if you read this THANKS!! Give my love to Zeeta! This past week we have had some big decisions to make concerning my future. I was offered a new job here in Florence and have decided to take it. A big burden has been lifted with gas at almost 3 dollars a gallon. Driving three hours a day was getting quite expensive, and nearly taking out and eighteen wheeler with the explorer factored into my decision. With new changes coming to the Broaches we will be sure to update you as we go.

Jack Daddy

2007-10-23T21:13:00.000-05:00

Jackson visits Nanna, discovers his new to him used purple bumbo, and trys on his winter clothing.

The Weekend

2007-10-22T14:09:00.000-05:00

Jackson attended his first state fair this weekend. His mom and her parents made the trek to Columbia on Saturday to visit the fair and do some shopping. With it being a gameday and fair traffic, I decided to stay home and rest. I make the trip to Columbia every other day of the week so I took spent the day just chillin. Since I did not get to spend any time with Jackson on Saturday, I stole him away for Sunday. After church Leah and Patty went shopping in Columbia. Jackson and I snoozed and watched the race. We crusied the Sonic in Hartsville, then came home and enjoyed supper. Leah arrived home late just as Jackson and I were beginning to drift off to sleep again. Most of the time Leah is always around, and even when she leaves for just a bit, she is only a call away. Sunday she was gone, and her cell phone was dead. I changed more diapers than I ever have on Sunday. One point for Dad. He was very good. I had no problems with him. He is quite the ladies man. We'll watch that in the future. This weekend we head to Knoxville. I'll post pictures then.

The Chicken Curse

2007-10-22T09:58:00.000-05:00

As South Carolina began eyeing a national championship and hoping to move into the top 5 in the BCS, the curse prevailed and a miserable O-line performance resulted in -60 yards rushing. The dual quarterbacks never seemed to find any rythmn on Saturday. They spent most of the afternoon pulling grass from their helmets after being swarmed by the Commadore defense. Even the Carolina optimists now question the teams abilities to move the ball. Were we really eyeing a national champoinship? No. We are a bit more realistic than that. The frustration comes from the inability of Carolina to blow out opponents. The sub-standard level of play to lesser opponents has been the weakness for quite some time. With the "Orange Crush" of our season approaching(Tenn, Ark, Flor, and Clemson) we hope to pull out three of four and challenge for the SEC East.

The Weekend

2007-10-14T14:13:00.000-05:00

Well another relaxing Sunday afternoon has rolled around and is quickly passing. The Lord sure knew what he was doing when he took a day of rest. I guess he knew we would all need it. Yesterday I had the luxury of sleeping in. Leah and Jackson embarked on a tour homes that they knew we could never afford but nevertheless they enjoyed themselves. I am not sure if nevertheless is a word but it sounds right to me. After sleeping in I spent some time out in the great outdoors feeding the wildlife. Unfortunately for the deer it was to entice them to eat that I might shoot them, but that is beside the point. I later came home to do a few(very few) chores and sat down to watch the 6-1 Gamecocks. #6 in the nation I might add. They went on to win. Saturday night was cousin Shauns 27th birthday party. Uncle Gary cooked a big ole pot of chicken bog and it was off the chain. I had a few plates. The party had a good turnout and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We come home to watch Jeff Gordon win for the 2nd consecutive week, and now leads the points.

Okay, now for those of you who dont enjoy hunting or sports.

This was a really relaxing weekend. We didn't do a whole bunch. Leah and Jackson toured some homes that were outrageously priced. Leah came home with some great ideas for improvements we could do to our home. The improvements would cost more than our house did. We had a family birthday party to attend on Saturday night. We had fun. We saw cousin Shaun and Lance, Christin and Danielle, Kaitlyn and Colby, and other people we know but are not mentioning because you wouldn't know them. We came home and went to bed. Please note this last paragraph was meant to portray out weekend without the hunting and sports with slight sarcasm and poor humor.

and now........pictures of Jackson

Old Fashioned Day

2007-10-07T20:17:00.000-05:00

Today at church we had old fashioned day. This simply means you come dressed like they did way back when. I pulled out the old sandstone carharts and Leah did they blue jean skirt thing. Jackson sported his new overalls and horse shirt from Grandma Chamberlin. Leah sang the special. She did a fine job. I got the honor of playing the guitar while she sang. Things went very well and we heard an outstanding sermon. There was lots of good food and afterwards Preacher Todd brought his horses so the kids could take turns riding them. Darin and David would be proud that I've already had Jackson on a pony. He looked as though he enjoyed himself. I think this is when the dad tells the mom that it would be good for the kids if we had horses!!! Maybe I'll try it! This is a picture of Leah with her mouth full, and Jacksons first time on a horse/pony.

12 Weeks - Thursday

2007-10-02T20:49:00.000-05:00

Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday we were bringing Jackson home. Now we are staring at almost 3 months wondering where that time went. Life has been quite fast paced the last few weeks. The days are getting shorter. Time seems to dwindle away at night before even beginning to accomplish anything. Jackson has made quite the journeys in his short life. Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and of course SC. About four out of state trips total. He enjoys the rides. He stays occupied with the trees passing him by.

As I mentioned we have been busy. Responsibilities at church are beginning to increase with the holiday seasons approaching. We have began practicing for our Christmas plays meaning more practice time. My work schedule is back to 13 hour days after a lovely week of working in Florence. That tends to put a strain on things. I spend most of my time at home trying to give Leah a break and play with Jackson(unless he is sleeping or eating, which usually is a part of my three hours a night). It doesn't always work out that way I hope for, but we are still working on the balance of that. We are in the middle of hunting season, which takes up some of the free time I get(but I have put some food on the table).... Also Carolina football is going strong. The weekends are full. We did have the opportunity to go to Lynchburg, Virgina and spend time with Andrew and Michelle. Andrew preached the morning service. Leah, Jackson, Myself...and her mom and dad all the made the journey. We went up there two weekends ago. Time has just been pressing on. It has been little bit since I last posted any pictures. I hope you enjoy!!

9 Weeks

2007-09-12T22:14:00.001-05:00

Here are just a few snapshots that were taken before church.

All Things Motherhood

2007-09-10T08:19:00.000-05:00

Wow, we have made it 2 months! Both Jackson and I have seemed to fair pretty well. I cannot believe how quickly time passes, how fast babies change, and how much fun being a "momma" ( as a true Tennessean would say) has been. The learning curve involved in all of this process is quite large. I feel like I learn something everyday, and Jackson just looks like a sponge soaking in all that is around him. His personality comes through a bit more daily. I have noticed that he is not a fan of loud noises, the church choir, or wearing shoes. On the flip side, he loves splashing in the tub, dry diapers, and naps on the couch with me. Like his father, he is fascinated with anything on wheels. He prefers to be riding over nearly everything. It matters little if it is the car, the truck, or the stroller. The important part is that we stay in motion! We often go for very long walks in our neighborhood together. If I pause momentarily to cross the street or speak to a neighbor, Jackson begins grunting and kicking. I am just waiting for him to scream out, "keep it rolling lady"! He used to snooze during the strolls around the blocks, but now he is all eyes watching every moment around him. When sleepiness starts winning out, he fights desperately to avoid it, but we always end up back home with a baby fast asleep. Mind you, when the wheels stop on the front porch, Jackson wiggles around and grunts himself awake. The rolling has stopped and he does not approve!

Jackson and I have a little arrangement going on. He is working hard on chubby thighs and dimples here and there while I am working on loosing the very same thing! I have officially lost 30 pounds, but we are not done yet. He looks much better sporting the bulging belly than I do! I must admit that the big smiles in the morning and the lazy naps together in the afternoon are certainly worth a dimple here and there for the time being! All things considered, I have never been more happy. I am so fortunate to have a healthy baby and the ability to be with him all day watching him grow. I treasure every nap and every walk. The two of us have had a lot of fun learning all about each other. Nothing melts my heart more than a big toothless grin from him letting me know I made everything just right. Just now, he has drifted off to sleep with his blanket on his cheek, but right before the last droop of the eyes I got a smile. That is what being a "momma" is all about!

The Tennessee Mountains

2007-09-08T10:32:00.000-05:00

The following are pictures of our Labor day weekend to the mountains of Tennessee. Myself and Leah along with Jackson, Shaun and Christin along with Kaitlyn, and Danielle and Lance along with Colby. We spent most of the day Sunday at Cades Cove. This is an eleven mile loop filled with lots of wildlife and bike paths. The guys rode our bikes. We like to think of ourselves as Tour de France material. The girls pressed on with the kids and the cars. We stayed at a little cabin just outside of Pigeon Forge. We saw turkeys, deer and a couple bears. We had a great time. It was a good chance to get away from it all pretty inexpensively. Traffic was another story, but Leah and I rode with Lance and Danielle so Lance had to deal with all the traffic. We look forward to our next opportunity to do stuff like this with Jackson. He did great on just his second road trip!!

Then Came the Morning

2007-08-31T22:26:00.000-05:00

I stole that title from an old gospel song that Guy Penrod used to sing. Well, I'm sure he still sings it, but it seemed to fit with what I had to say tonight. Leah and Jackson have drifted off to sleep. I have been blundering through old boxes and clothes trying to gather all of my hunting items together. Tomorrow is the beginning of deer season here in South Carolina. Honestly I enjoy most of the hunt. Some people like different aspects of the hunt, but I like most of them. The hunt gives opportunities to think about things you normally wouldn't. A silence, if you will, in the hectic scheme of life. If you see nothing, you enjoy being outside, the cool temperatures that come with hunting(usually), the friendships of the people you go with, and the social aspect of the relationships. Not to mention many times we eat!!! If you do have an opportunity to harvest some food, then you have many stories and a freezer full of satisfaction. All in all, I anticipate the morning because I have an opportunity to venture into God's creation and observe his handiwork. I also look forward to the morning because tomorrow we head to Tennessee for a mini vacation. We've got a cabin for the long weekend. Leah and I are excited. We will post pictures upon our return.

Raining on Sunday

2007-08-28T21:02:00.000-05:00

The pictures above are from this past Sunday. Just as we were heading out of the door for the Sunday evening service, the bottom fell out. We dont have any type of shelter to load the car so we waited for a few minutes to see if it would clear up. Eventually it did. We scampered to church(**being very careful not to draw attention to ourselves). As Leah grabbed the bags, I grabbed Jackson and the guitar and in we ran. Leah and I were supposed to sing, but due to our tardiness we were not sure of the plan. We got to sing and everything worked out! We were thankful for the rain, but the slow steady rains seem to be better for us than the downpours. God is in control and we know that, but its okay to wonder!!

** I have developed an unusual relationship with the Hartsville Police squad.

Just a tid bit - I have lived in Hartsville for 13 months, I have been pulled 5 times and Leah adds once herself. The cops have been out to our house at least 3 times about our dogs escaping and barking(which we have fixed now!)Everything from speeding, seatbelts,wreckless driving, crossing center line,transporting multiple loaded firearms, driving a vehicle without a registration, and just about anything else you can think of......We know they have jobs to do, but it seems as though they are beginning to pick on us just a wee bit. I was pulled just last Wednesday for seatbelt violation.....you may ask.. but why did they pull you over. A seatbelt violation. He was just riding behind me and realized I did not have my belt on. So he did his duty and pulled me over. While he was writing the ticket, I counted 7 people who passed me who did not have seatbelts on!!! Its a conspiracy, and my pockets are $25 lighter.

Out of all the items I mentioned above, I was speeding which I'll admit to, I didn't have my seatbelt on and my dogs do bark.....They are dogs. I also had a loaded firearm but with legitimate reason. So there...I plead my case! This is why we tried not to draw attention to ourselves!

Could be yours!

2007-08-24T20:51:00.000-05:00

Well this post has nothing to do with Jackson which is quite odd as of late. Leah and I have decided to part with the little Cavalier that has made many trips to Columbia and back. If anyone out there reading this wants any more info about the car feel free to call us or comment on the blog. I've included a few pictures. The body is in great shape, and the car runs great, but the car has many issues.(truck wont open, no air, no heat, glove box has no cover etc) It could be a good deal for the right person!!! I hope all is well!!

6 weeks

2007-08-24T20:42:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that Jackson is already six weeks old. Time has sure flown just like everyone had warned us it would. He is doing great and goes back to the doctor for a checkup in about 2 weeks. Leah is hanging in there. I will have to say she is proud to be getting a little more sleep. Upon arrival from Ohio she was a little under the weather but things are back to normal now. Tonight as I basically crawled through the door from work, Leah gave me my freshly prepared gourmet supper. When I finished eating I grabbed Jackon and we snapped a few pictures for the 6 week post.

Trip to Ohio

2007-08-23T18:20:00.000-05:00

Last weekend Leah and her dad made the voyage to Ohio for Leah's grandparents 65th wedding anniversary. This was the first time many of her parents families were able to see Jackson. I had to work on Monday so I did not make the trip. According to the stories Leah and I have talked about, they had a lot of fun and enjoyed their trip immensely. I do wish they would have brought back some of the temperatures they enjoyed. Pictured above are some of the fun moments that transpired over the weekend. (one thing Leah forgot to bring me was a John Deere t-shirt from Gamps) wink wink p.s. XL would fit just fine!

Dinner with Grandpa

2007-08-13T21:39:00.000-05:00

After a long day of work I came home to a grandios meal prepared by Chef Leah. We were joined by her parents. Jackson and Grandpa hung out on the couch while the finishing touches were being made on the meal.

Dissappointment Looms in Garage

2007-08-12T21:45:00.000-05:00

Well today we watched the race. Although things
were looking good. Jeff Gordon spun out with
two laps remaining and finished ninth. Jackson
crashed on me. The race has the same effect
on his mother. Both were out cold for most of it.
He still supported his driver by wearing this neat little outfit. It was too cool to pass up pictures on this.

Jackson meets Caily

2007-08-12T21:25:00.000-05:00

Last Monday night were able to go and visit Darin and Jody. They were in town for youngest brother David's wedding. Actually they were passing through because the wedding was in West Virginia. It had been quite some time since I have had an opportunity to talk with Darin and Jody. It was great to hear what is going on in their lives. It is awesome to see how God uses what we love to make us happy, yet allows what we love to be a tool that can glorify him in the most unusual circumstances. I commend Darin for doing what he feels as though God wants him to do, not necessarily what others want him to do. If you read this, press on brother!! Although it was good to visit old friends, the newest members of our families head lined the party. Jackson met Caily for the first time. They both behaved really well and for a few moments enjoyed each others company.(pictured below) Jackson was then ready to go home and let us all know it. Grandpa and Grandma Miles air conditioning was having a little difficulty keeping the house cool, considering it was well in the 100's. Thus explains the lack of clothing. Both Jackson and Caily were cute as buttons. Caily has about 2 weeks on Jackson.

Almost 3 weeks

2007-07-31T21:52:00.000-05:00

The challenges of being parents are finally setting in. Leah has taken most of the hits. She has been a true warrior. Her desire to be the best mom, and her desire to keep me awake long enough to drive to Columbia in the morning has transcended all challenges. Being gone most of the day is sad for me. Knowing that Leah and Jackson get to hang out all day is awesome to me, yet somewhat sad. We are praying God will provide a way for me to be closer to home. To be gone about 9 hours rather than 12 or 13 would be very nice. So to all you folks who haven't been praying, you can start now! Things are going well all in all. Leah and Jackson are doing well. Its neat to seem him grow. Its cool to watch the new expressions. Today I was reminded of how babies do not have a past. Much like when we're saved we are babes in Christ, the past is forgotten....already paid for. Its a really neat thought. Its also funny sometimes how different analogies mean different things to you at different times in your life. Enough rambling, here come the latest out of the Jackson file.

Updates

2007-07-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

Things have been going great here in the Broach household. Jackson is adapting well. He mostly sleeps and eats with an occasional playtime. He is about a week and a half old. He has been such a joy to have. Life is different, but definitely for the better. Leah is doing great. She is handling all of this like a true pro. New days bring new adventures, new expressions, and exciting events. Every action seems as though it is something we have never seen before. We hope this will continue as we do our best to raise the little one.

Settling In

2007-07-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

The pictures are really spaced out so keep scrolling!

Nanna and Jackson

Papa and Jackson

The last few days have been the most exciting few days for me in quite some time. There are many days that you capture in your memory as life goes on. The last few days for me will forever be etched on the forefront of my mind. The beauty and miracle of life is something that one could not even begin to describe. Many times before July 12 I was asked if I was ready to be a dad, and many tried to explain what it would be like. Sorry, but I could not begin to describe it. So rather than boring you with some poor analogy, I'll get to the part you really want to see which are the pictures. Leah and Jackson are both doing well. We thank God for a healthy baby! Enjoy the pics!

Jackson Douglas Broach

2007-07-14T20:52:00.000-05:00

Jackson Douglas Broach was born July 12 at 1:10 p.m.
He was 7lbs. 90z. and 21 inches long. Baby and mom are doing just great. Dad is hanging in there too! Here is just a picture or too. There will be plenty to follow.

Shower

2007-06-22T13:56:00.000-05:00

The third shower that was thrown for Leah was my home church and our friends that had not yet had a chance to be at one of her other showers. It was a couples shower so I actually had to go. Leah did most of the gift opening while I entertained the guests......somewhat. Anyway, the shower was a great success. We accrued lots of things that will be a great help in our life journey ahead of us. We are very appreciative to all who gave. Thanks!! I've included a few pictures from the shower. Lets see....We have Joni and Anna. Ella Grace. Shaun&Kaitlyn. Bobo& Kaitlyn, and the stack of clothes we received. Leah piled them up to take the tags off and wash them to be put away.

Here we have it!!

2007-06-12T19:51:00.000-05:00

The Picture you've all been waiting for:

36 weeks, 5 days

9 months of hatching

still here she is in the greatest beauty and splendor

Shower

2007-06-12T19:45:00.000-05:00

This is just a few pictures form Leah's shower at the church. Patty took the pictures so I had 46 pictures of Leah opening a bag. That was it. I am making fun of the pictures but I really appreciate her taking them. I hope she doesn't read this. Notice the baby bluedevil crocs.

Hello

2007-06-12T18:56:00.000-05:00

Well, It has been quite some time since I have had a chance to update our little blog. The face paced life that we all face has reached out and grabbed hold of our ankles. There always seems to be something pulling and tugging us in one direction or another.

Last time I wrote we had been to Nashville on a little trip. I'll try to catch you up as best I can. Believe it or not, we have had very little drama. This is not something Leah or myself has been able to say in quite some time. After all the first time we ever did anything together I dumped her off my fourwheeler in a mud whole(water over her shoulders). We should have known from that point that our lives would be quite intresting together. :)

The reason for minimal posts is that Leah is in the final stages of her pregnancy. We have made multiple trips to the McLeod Regional Medical Center. A couple of times for irritable pain, and once to stop contractions that were about 5 minutes apart. That night was pretty intresting. Leah was going to call me to let me know what the nurses had determined. I had come in from Columbia and went straight to church. She calls to let me know she was having contractions and they were going to stop them, that she would be okay and that her parents were there. She was about 34 weeks at this time. So here I am on call, trying to lead worship, and then had to teach. I apologized to the kids for my lack of concentration and they all understood. I dismissed class a few minutes early and immediately called Leah to make sure they both were okay.

We visited once again during week 35. They told us not to worry and when the contractions were about 3-5 minutes apart just to come on back and bring a car seat with us. Reality check!!

Since then things have been smooth. Leah has changed jobs. She now works here at home which I love most about the arrangements. When I get home she has everything spic and span with supper on the table. Can I get an AMEN? Thank you! She really loves it and I am happy that she will be able to stay home and raise our son. We feel really blessed that she is able to be here.

That kind of catches you up a little. I have pictures from a shower and a recent momma picture I'll post next .

No one guessed!

2007-05-04T07:20:00.000-05:00

FYI

Leah developed a new way of inserting the quilt into the cover. I do not know how to spell it so I will write it out(doo-vay). Rather than shaking the quilt into place, she decided to crawl into the the cover and spread it by hand. I entered the room and found this to be quite funny. I snapped a picture and Cocoa and myself laughed for at least two minutes. I had a really good prize but I will keep it for myself.

First Outfit

2007-04-27T22:07:00.000-05:00

Pictured above is the first outfit I have purchased as a Father to be. That still has a funny ring to it! No comments from any Tarheel fans!

Guess?

2007-04-27T21:56:00.000-05:00

If anyone can guess what Leah is doing, You win!!

Michelle's Wedding

2007-04-27T21:20:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I packed up myself and my wife (who is 30 weeks pregnant) and headed to Nashville. The three fold reason for was going was first of all, Michelle's wedding. Then we wanted to visit friends Mark, Heather, and Zita. Lastly, we have not been in quite some time, so it was a good road trip before the young lad graces the earth with his presence.

We had a great trip. Thursday night we stayed in Knoxville at cousin Wes' home. While there we had an opportunity to see Leah's Uncle Dwight and Aunt Linda who were in from Ohio. I had an opportunity to meet Grandma Jean which was very intresting. She cleaned endlessly the whole time we were there. There was a brief moment where she read the paper, but then began cleaning all the windows on Wes' back porch. It was quite a joy to watch someone who loved to clean so much. As we headed out Friday morning she was getting out her little floor buffer so she could buff the floors. I should have tried to get her to come to my house!! Our stay with Wes was short, but a nice break in the 7 hour trip!

We met up with Mark and Heather as we entered Nashville and ate at Demo's. This was my first time eating here but it was great! Then we crashed for the night. Saturday morning we headed out to the chapel (pictured), to witness the marriage of Michelle and Dane. It was the picture perfect wedding, a good song, a simple message, some vows, and a big smooch!! Then it was on to the cookout. Uncle Melvin fired up the charcoal and threw some chicken and beef on there and before you knew it we were having ourselves a picnic, right there in the park by the stream. Very Nice. After a few pictures, we headed back to the city where we met again for dinner at PF Changs. This was a new one on me too. It was Mark's Birthday and he chose this Chinese Bistro. I myself am not a big fan of Chinese, but this was very good. We crashed for the evening and early Sunday morning we headed for Hartsville. In a nutshell, that was our weekend in Nashville. a few notes..........You never go to Nashville without going to Bass Pro. We went. Many times throughout this email I used Aunt and Uncle and I'm not sure why, because the people metioned are of no relation to me. Mister doesn't sound right, and just using their name is disrespectful, so I used aunt and uncle. The pictures here are of our weekend.

Season of Spring

2007-04-27T18:43:00.000-05:00

This is our humble abode. This picture was taken just before a cold snap that killed pretty much everything. This have been a little hectic lately. There have not been many opportunity's to post. More will come soon.

A Walk In The Park

2007-03-12T22:37:00.000-05:00

This is Mojo taking a lil swim.
His birthday is this week. He
will be 1.

Cocoa decided to smile for me
so I took a snapshot!

Well, I was trying to make Cocoa

pose like one of those pefect dogs

in the dog show. As you see her legs
were not even quite that straight. By

the way, this is our malnourished
dog that Leah mentioned in a
previous post.

Cocoa just chillin under a picnic
table like she is somewhere on
vacation.

Here Mr. Doug is trying to coerse

Zoe into the water. The stick was

not enough motivation at this point.

This is the latest and newest fashion
that my wife just loves to see me
sport. My new Duke crocs were a great investment that will last me
for years to come. To all who
remember my first duke slippers,

I still wear them! :)

And here she is. 23 weeks into this life
changing process, the reality now shows. We
had the luxury of finding out we will be having
a baby boy! As you can see I finally obtained
another picture. We enjoyed our day at the
park. It has been one month since we last updated. It seems as though time in some
perspective is slow passing, yet in other

perspectives it just flies by. The debate now begins for the perfect name....We shall see!

The definition of a bad day...or was it good?

2007-02-13T15:29:00.000-05:00

It has been a long time since I (Leah) have been able to post. So many things have taken priority lately, but today I made time. Sometimes writing is purely therapeutic to me, and after the past couple of days, writing is just what I need. Often times, people who know me well joke of my bad luck and consequently the luck that was bestowed on Kevin when he decided to make me his wife. Sometimes, I argue that my bad luck is really good luck because all things could have been worse. Well, the jury is still out on yesterday's luck. You decide...bad or good???

It all began really when I came around the corner to my house after a very long day at work. As I neared my house, I noticed a police officer sitting in my driveway. That immediately struck fear in my heart. Before I could get out of my car, he met me at my door. He then informed me that an angry neighbor had reported us to the police and the humane society for cruelty to animals.....yes that is what he said. He said that she wanted our animals removed from our house because we were not feeding them properly. Well, it is at this point that all who know our two dogs can begin laughing uncontrollably. Our dogs are certainly well fed, and it shows. This kind officer then told me that he took the liberty to inspect our backyard and our dogs. He then said that he believed our neighbor was slightly crazy because our animals are really friendly and certainly not lacking food. After going through the procedure and having other neighbors come along and defend our plight, the officer very kindly apologized for the inconvenience of having to put us through the inspection. However, something has certainly bothered our dear neighbor that wants our dogs removed, and I am now a bit concerned about how to approach the situation. She obviously has some issues, and has never formally met us. Hopefully, we can somehow show her kindness and put this all behind us................but the story is not over there.

After that commotion was over, Kevin and I had dinner with my parents at their house. When we came home we were informed that the police had been called again to our home. This time a passer-by noticed a thief in our car trying to get away. Thankfully, his plan was thwarted and all seemed ok by midnight....but the police should have just camped out on our lawn yesterday. Now....in many ways it was a terrible day...but my dogs are still mine, and our old car is still our old car. (In case anyone is counting, this is attempt #2 at stealing the same car in less than six months) Bad luck turned good? I am not sure. Sometimes it all hits at once and it is exhausting. There are moments in life when one feels attacked in the oddest ways--like Satan tries any crazy scheme to get us down. It is easy to feel overwhelmed when events like yesterday pile on top of other things. I am glad I know that I have a loving God that can carry my burdens when I just can't. I was reminded of that last night when I was about to fall asleep. Until we moved into this house, I have never felt unsafe. Somehow, having thieves in my front yard twice has shaken that a bit. We are in the lovely historic district of this little southern town---not exactly a high crime rate sort of place--yet we have experienced our share of scares. There have been times when I was afraid in this house at night, but last night somehow I was calm, and I just heard that old song....take your burdens to the Lord and leave it there....That is what I did, and I slept through the night. Now, one might notice a for sale sign in our front yard before long :) but last night I slept peacefully. Good day or bad...depends on the perspective.

News

2007-02-09T07:55:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow we celebrate Anna's third birthday. Its hard to believe she will already be three years old. Seems like yesterday Leah and I were getting married and my pregnant sister was walking around in misery waiting for Anna to grace this earth. Now tomorrow we head to Columbia for a trip to fun zone to celebrate three years of life.
Today we find ourselves in another rut of home projects and different tasks we need to accomplish. We often wonder why God allows us to make certain decisions sometimes. We know there are reasons and we know we must learn from them. Sometimes in good faith we wonder why He didn't smack us in the head and ask what are you thinking?? All in all things are going very well. We find out the sex of our baby in early March. We look forward to finding out so we can begin to prepare for the days ahead. Hopefully I'll be able to update Leah's picture real soon.

Tah da!

2007-01-23T21:29:00.000-05:00

After much begging and pleading I was finally able to coax my lovely wife into a side profile shot with the camera. What started as a little pudge is now becoming more and more evident. This an exciting time as we watch and see the baby grow. Leah is almost 17 weeks. The sickness has lightened somewhat and from my understanding it is becoming more tolerable. Thanks for the prayers.

This is a snapshot of our current kids. As you can see, Cocoa is very photogenic whereas Mojo has not quite got the concept of "CHEESE" yet. Cocoa weighed in at 40lbs. Sunday. Mojo weighed in at 60lbs.

I cleaned the ducks from the weekend and Cocoa, Mojo and myself enjoyed a marvelous duck dinner prepared my own personal redheaded chef. Although she could not partake in the duck feast, she managed to sneak a bite to get a taste. Good times!

Outer Banks

2007-01-23T19:25:00.000-05:00

This weekend my fellow cousins and I took a little duck hunting trip to the Outer Banks. We spent most of the day out on the ocean and had a great hunt. This picture here is of cousin Lance (aka - smooth) holding his first confirmed kill. Lucky for him it was drake redhead. That was quite a duck for his first.

I was not quite as lucky to kill the fabulous redhead, but I did manage to kill my share of bluebills.

Shaun (aka slick) also held his own with the bluebills.

This was the blind we sat in most of the day. My fellow hunters here decked out in their duck commader camoflauge.

We had a great trip. We saw well over 15,000 ducks and managed to kill our legal limit just before sunset. We hope to continue the tradtion of Outer Banks duck hunting in the future.

Happy New Year!!

2007-01-05T21:53:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! Once again we have fallen behind on keeping our blog fresh. Time always seems to pass so quickly since our last post. We had a great Christmas and New Year. We spent Christmas at the Broach's this year. The whole great family submerged in the gift of giving. It was a grand time.

This year we decided to stay home for New Years. Our tradition had become a trip to Ohio to ring in the new year with the Chamberlins. With Momma Broach great with child, 10 hours in the Explorer did not seem like much fun. We made the most of our time off and worked on our lovely house(mildy coughing to disguise myself boldly saying money pit). Its really not that bad. We have made drastic improvements in the kitchen. Leah and I both had ten days off. It was just glorious.

I left out a bunch of important stuff. Leah will not be happy that I was not as detailed as she would have been. Maybe that will encourage her to write!! :)

I've got to go for now.......New pictures coming soon!

The Weekend

2006-12-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

Thursday we welcomed to the world Shaun and Christin's baby. Kaitlyn arrived healthy and on time. Mom and baby are doing well and as for Shaun, well he is doing fine as well. Leah and I spent most of the weekend involved in our first ever singing Christmas tree. In our presentation of The Christmas Shoes we retained our previous job of the solos for the Grinch song. Things went pretty well. Over the three night span we had approximately 1000 people. We also had two individuals accept Christ. So the time and dedication was well worth it.
This weekend we head to Johnson City, Tenn. to Andrews wedding. He and Michelle will be married this Saturday. I must speak with him about planning a wedding during the middle of duck hunting season. He must learn to prioritize. Just kidding! So that is where we've been and where we're headed. Have a great week. I have been told we need more pictures. Less writing and more pictures were his exact words. So I will try to include more pictures next time!

DON'T GIVE UP, DON'T EVER GIVE UP!

2006-12-07T00:55:00.000-05:00

In his 1993 ESPY Speech Jim Valvano uttered those very words. While watching some highlights from the Jimmy V Classic on sportscenter, I was inspired. After a pretty lousy start to the week, things have begun to look up. I got my truck back and its running great. I have finished all my classes for this semester which has lifted a huge burden. This semester was my toughest yet. So tonight I pondered those words on my ride home. I had decided to call a plumber and get our house back in a working condition. All the way home today I tried calling to get someone to come out and take a look and no one really seemed intrested(except the really expensive guy). I took my shovel and headed out(thinking dont give up, dont ever give up). I will leave out the details that will bore you or gross you out and just state that I finally got our plumbing fixed. This is why I am up until the wee hours of the morning. This was a huge accomplishment for me, although in the grand scheme of things it is insignificant. Must sleep! Bye!

Be Still And Know

2006-12-04T22:00:00.000-05:00

The last month has been very difficult. Often times its hard to find the positive outlook when things seem dim. About two weeks before Thanksgiving we had some issues with our plumbing as I believe Leah has written about before. As we continue to work on our house, the plumbing has hindered our progress a great deal. Our kitchen is halfway put together along with our bathrooms. The character of this old house grins a sly smile as we strive to accomplish something...anything!!! A visit and quote by the man from roto rooter inspired me to become a plumber and try this myself. I have learned since that God has called certain people to do certain things and plumbing was left off my skill list. So the house continues to be a work in progress. On top of the issues surrounding our house my little cavalier, my little engine that could......can no more. She finally died last Wednesday. A cracked head and possibly a new engine is needed. It is worth it to me to get it fixed but we shall see if she can brought back to life and continue on. I did not really want to put my truck on the road just yet. Its still new to me. I thought I had finally made a good decision in purchasing a truck to back up the ever aging cavalier.....but once again I was wrong. My truck died on me this morning as I was headed into Columbia. It just shut down on me completely.....Bam! No power. At this point I was quite frustrated. After frustrations with the house and losing a vehicle, I received a call Friday to inform me that Duke, our lab that has been missing for about two weeks, was found dead in an abandoned house a couple of miles away. Although we knew he was missing we always felt someone would call or he would find his way home. Then first thing today, we lost another vehicle, that is currently being repaired. In the meanwhile I am in the middle of exams and Leah has been quite sick with the addition thats coming soon! All in all things have been quite hectic.
I say all that to say this. As I sit tonight on the couch, in the corner of this home we are so thankful to have, I am reminded of the Scripture that says to be still and know that I am God. In spite of all that is going on in our lives at this very moment, it is so important to understand that God is in control of every aspect of our lives. In the hustle and bustle of my studying for exams, God sends a still small voice to remind me to that I can't do it all. He reminds me that some things are impossible by myself. He reminds me that simply if I could do it on my own, then I wouldn't need Him. How sad life would be without Him! When it seems sometimes that nothing in life is going right. Be still and know that He is GOD!

Happenings...

2006-11-21T18:37:00.000-05:00

Life has been ever so full lately. I never reported that we finally found our sweet little labs. An ederly couple had taken them in and contacted us. We were so grateful for their caring hearts toward our little renegades. After numerous attempts by Kevin to prevent this from happening again....alas, we have one that is missing again. Duke has been gone since Saturday night. We are hoping still that he will find his way home....we have Houdini dogs!
We returned from a lovely vacation to several surprises. Our plumbing has revolted on us in every way, the kitchen has been a never-ending project that sort of resembles a war zone....and we were astonished to find out that we are going to be parents!! That was certainly the biggest surprise of all. Imagine my surprise if you will! I spent a vacation horse back riding among other things that were not exactly reccomended! However, the Lord has been gracious and everything seems to be progressing well. I have heard the heartbeat already and am just in sheer amazement. Kevin and I are certainly happy and anxious as we enter this new phase of life for us. Early July we should have our newest addition. Kevin certainly needs an extra prayer or two. He has so many responisbilities. Between our aged house and the woes of the plumbing, his work schedule, school schedule, and his wife that cannot exactly help him renovate quite as much...he is a bit overstretched. He is such a blessing to me. He has willlingly taken the brunt of all the work and still finds time to treat me to little indulgences like my sudden passion for maccaroni and cheese :)!
Well, that is a bit of life here lately. Hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving!

A Time To Rest

2006-11-12T23:48:00.000-05:00

I know I am running a little behind on the posting of pictures from vacation, but its better late than never. I am not sure how to put the pictures in the order I'd like them to be in so I will have to explain them as listed. First, we have me on a horse that was way to small for me. This picture was taken in Grand Cayman Islands. This was the excursion Leah and I chose for the day. Although not quite what we expected it was well worth the trip. This was our first time riding horses on the beach.

Next we have Leah and Rebecca with our Indonesian server named Superlahn. He asked us to call him Superman which we agreed to do. He was the man....if you have ever been on a cruise you know how well these guys hook you up with the food.

This is our boat the "Westerdam" from the Holland America cruise line. This boat was unbelieveable. Words could not describe all this boat had to offer. I could go on and on about it but for the sake of my time and your intrest I will carry on.

Here we have Leah cruising down the Mexican Beach. She managed to stay on the horse and enjoy herself.(high five). We both had a great time horseback riding on the beach.

The last picture here was our last night. The gentleman in the middle was Remi. He was our Head Server. The couple with us are friends from Leah's hometown in Tennessee. She and Rebecca grew up together.

We enjoyed our time away very much. Rest is always good when much needed. As I close this out I look forward to the Holiday Season and wish you all the best.

Ready for a Break!

2006-10-15T19:56:00.000-05:00

Those great commercials that talk about which insurance to have "when life comes at you fast" could make a few bucks when it comes to the lives and Leah and myself. Time after time we find ouselves in situations we can't explain. We are happy to finally get a chance to go on vacation. This will be our first vacation since we have been married. We have been to visit families and have taken a few weekend getaways but oh for seven days in the Carribean. We will leave on the 23rd and have ourselves a grand ole time. I will be so glad to leave the 20 hour work/school days at home and just enjoy some time with my wife. Those of you who have been on a cruise.....send some ideas our way of things you enjoyed while cruising. We'll be sure to post some pictures upon our return.

Heartbroken.....

2006-09-19T21:54:00.000-05:00

I haven't written in a long time. I always find that writing makes me feel better, so I thought I would jot some lines down. We are still without our little labs. They have become like family to us, as silly as that sounds to some--but I feel like our little nest has been robbed. I have walked the streets and driven the streets of this town till my feet ached. I have talked to every passer- by and all say that they haven't seen them. They are both pretty young and fragile. Duke has a hip problem, and I just brought Mojo home from the vet with an infected eye. His medicine is just sitting here waiting ....
Missing these little guys makes me think of the stories in the Bible where things were lost and searched for until they were found. The shepherd and the sheep and the widow and her coin. How our Father's heart must ache when we go astray...and no amount of calling us brings us closer home. We have to find our way back to Him. He walks the avenues of our hearts and calls us gently to himself. He waits patiently for us to turn to Him and return home. How deep is the Father's love for us.

Hopefully Homeward Bound

2006-09-19T12:47:00.000-05:00

After a few hours of search last night, Leah and I decided to get some food and take a little rest. Unfortunately we have been unable to find Duke and Mojo. Although we have not given up hope, we know the longer they are away the less chance of opportunity to get them back. Today I'm reminded of the movie Homeward Bound in which the dogs find their way home. Please pray that we will find them. Until then.....

Lost Pups

2006-09-17T19:30:00.000-05:00

The weekend turned out to be quite an entertaining event. After having to spend my glorious Saturday working, I decided to take a bit a luxury time and do a little deer hunting. The only thing I was able to kill on my adventure was time and misquitos. Although I enjoyed my time very in the great outdoors very much, when locking the gate to the property I must have dropped my cell phone. After retuning home, I realized I did not have my phone. I returned early Sunday morning to the river to see if I could locate my phone. Luckily I found it and it was still in working condition. With new joy I returned home only to find that Duke and Mojo had dug out of the fence in our yard. The currently are still MIA. I have looked all day but have yet to find them or anyone who has seen them. I will keep you posted on our progress in the hunt.

Still Working

2006-09-11T20:47:00.000-05:00

I knew when school started back I would be unable to keep up with my posts. So I apologize for the time that has transpired. School keeps me quite busy during the week. The part of my day that work does not consume is vaporized by schoolwork. Pray for me and for Leah as she has to deal with me on a day to day basis. Although things have been quite hectic, we have accomplished much in recent weeks. We have updated one of our bathrooms. Leah has began to put the finishing touches on everything in that particular room. Two weeks ago I ripped the kitchen apart and moved a few appliances. My trusty saws-all helped to mutilate the cabinets. The demolition was not as fun as I intended it to be, but it sufficed my desire to destroy. On the outside looking in we have almost completed the bathroom, but the kitchen still lacks some TLC. We have to move a water heater and Leah is deciding on some counter tops. In the hustle of our days we strive to make as many little accomplishments as possible.

2006-08-21T08:31:00.000-05:00

Often times we perceive ourselves as big dogs in the ordinary scheme of life. This was a humbling picture I stumbled across. This picture serves as a simple reminder that in the big picture of life we often think more highly of ourselves than we should.

What comes to mind when you see this picture?

Borax to the Rescue

2006-08-21T07:09:00.000-05:00

It may sound funny to try but I can vouch that it works. Borax cleaning solution is good ole home remedy that cures the common poison ivy. After a week bout with the poison it has finally began to dry up after a couple doses of Borax cleaning solution. Add a little water and make a paste. Spread the paste on the necessary areas and wrap it up with a ace bandage. So far it has dried up pretty quickly and also takes away the irritating itch. It makes quite a mess that my wife can vouch for but it works!!

Papa and Hunter

2006-08-19T20:49:00.000-05:00

This is something not seen very often so it is good to post. My grandad very seldom gives hugs and shows love. It is always a stern handshake and a yes sir! Finally we have some proof all that love he's been holding back. Cousin Hunter is not as enthused about this hug as we are, but one day he'll be glad we have the proof! Hunter and I are the youngest cousins. We are 21 years apart. He almost seems like a nephew but I still call him Cuz! Papa is 81 and still sharing life lessons with all the grandkids.

Poison Ivy

2006-08-16T08:56:00.000-05:00

This pitcure says a thousand words to me. After my adventure the marshy swamps of the Lynches River this past Saturday, I found myself with a touch this lovely flower. I actually came out a little better off than the others with me. So if you ever see a plant that looks as nice as this one. I advise you take a picture and move along without touching, sniffing, smiling, or even looking at it. Thats just a lil piece of advice for today.

Little Anna

2006-08-14T19:11:00.000-05:00

I'm known as uncle Kevin and I get prayed for a lot. Right along with others she loves. I'm not sure where my name ranks on the list but Anna has been known to mention my name quite often during bedtime prayers. Yes, I am bragging. She has little to do with me when Nana and Papa are around, but every now and then I can grab her and get a quick hug in there. As you can tell she looks real enthused in this picture. Most often you can find her doing what this second picture shows .......eating! We all enjoy our time with Anna. She always has those intersting comments that make us all laugh.

Engagement News

2006-08-13T22:02:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Andrew and Michelle. They will be getting married during Christmas break. More details to follow....

Slowly Getting Settled

2006-08-13T21:42:00.000-05:00

I know it has been a while since our last post. I could not begin to try to catch you up on what has transpired over the last few weeks. We have been quite busy here in the big city of Hartsville, SC. We have made a few improvements on our new little home. Things have moved very slow. Two key ingredients to the slow progress has been time and money. As we slowly settle we can hopefully begin to make a few noticeable changes. The pictures above are a small indication of what we are dealing with. Built in 1901 there was not much need for larger closets. Leah wanted some built in shelving to compensate, so this is what she got. She was happy and so was I. The first shelves were an old entertainment center we had tried to use as bookshelves. These new shelves added a great deal of space to our bedroom. We have begin to remodel one of our bathrooms. I will post some pictures as soon as we finish the project.

All Worn Out

2006-06-22T08:40:00.000-05:00

We have lived in our house for almost two weeks now, and I am all worn out! Our schedule has been frantic without adding moving into the equation. It has been most fun, and I will post some pictures of the current progress tomorrow on my day off!!! I am taking a day to recuperate...or excavate (maybe would be the better term) the remains of 0ur belongings from the boxes that have recently become our furniture. I thought that we would surely be all situated by now, but alas we are not. There was/is more cleaning that I thought possible! This old house seems to scream BLEACH ME! Every little cabinet, nook, and cranny needs a thorough cleaning--some places I wonder if they have ever been cleaned in the 105 years the house has existed! Even still, it has been a blessing to be in a home and have no surprise plumbing disasters or electrical mishaps. We have been most fortunate to find a good home that simply needs some attention. I cannot wait to have it full of friends and family! I love to have a full house warm and cozy! I hope the Lord will bless us with the abilities to be hospitable. I love a well-worn welcome mat.

Happy Homeowners

2006-06-06T11:27:00.000-05:00

Well, we did it! After three failed attempts at closing on Friday, Monday we finally became homeowners!! With much excitement, we look forward to moving this weekend. We do however, have to sell our neighbor her driveway to appease the powers that be. That will be for another day, because right now I am just happy about finally being able to call the house ours. Very soon, we will begin cleaning it up! I can hardly wait for all the work!! We are currently accepting volunteers for hard labor---we'll provide plenty of sweet tea and a dip in the local lake!

The Temper of a Red Head

2006-06-01T14:43:00.000-05:00

Normally--as often done before--- I would dispel any old myths on red heads and bad tempers...but lately, I believe the myth just may have some truth to it! We are supposed to be closing on our house tomorrow but all the powers that be seem to want to keep this from happening at all costs. It all started Tuesday afternoon when our bank decided they just were not going to have the paperwork ready. After much ado about nothing and letters to the president of the bank, we finally got that worked out and things were on as scheduled. Suddenly, at four o'clock today we have discovered that our neighbor's driveway encroaches on our property...well no big deal one might say....oh no not so. These houses that have been next to each other for 100 plus years cannot encroach on one another a minute more. So we are in the process of tracking down the neighbors and having them sign a waiver that states they will not sue us if they are injured in their/our driveway---or else they need to bust up the concrete and move their driveway a couple of feet over. This all, of course, must be done prior to eleven a.m. tomorrow. This is the point in which my red hair plays a valuable role. I am furious...not at the neighbor...not at anyone really in particular...just furious that we seem to have as some would call it "bad luck". Those of you that attended our wedding probably remember the pastor noting that if I did not have bad luck, I would have no luck. Well, little has changed except I have now brought my husband along on the bad luck bandwagon. You see I have been thinking that maybe it all started with me defending the cause of the red head without a temper. Maybe luck would have changed if I would have just gotten mad years ago once or twice in all my episodes of such luck, but I didn't and bad luck has been chasing me down just to make a mockery of my senseless defense of the red head---so that I would indeed agree that yes, as a red head, I have a temper. Well I am surrendering. The white flag is waiving overtop my angry red head! I warn you all not to come too close during this angry moment because I have the overwhelming desire to pinch someone on the nose! I know that does not sound very threatening, but take it from me and my fiery hair---it would hurt!

Home Sick

2006-05-12T14:16:00.000-05:00

Well, this week has been a bit more challenging in the home buying process. We have hit a slight road block with the roof. Apparently, the home inspector feels that it is necessary to have a licensed roofing contractor to verify if the house is in need of a new roof. This new discovery has sort of slowed things down a bit. We are still pressing forward and awaiting the answer as well as the response of the owner. We were pleasantly surprised that all other inspections went very well, considering that this house was built slightly after the Ark hit dry land, as Kevin likes to put it. As of today, our closing date is set for June 2. We are anticipating that day very much. It has been a long process to get to this point. After numerous revisions of a contract that started back in early April, the failure of our bank to lock in our interest rate, and a series of inspections, it is starting to seem as though we may be in the house by this time next year! I am not the most patient when it comes to moving into a real house. I have the "need-some-grass-and-trees-itus" syndrome currently. Treatment comes in the form of moving trucks and cardboard! For now, here are a few pictures of the inside. I like to think of them as "before" photos, with the "after" shots soon to come! You are looking at the dining room with French doors, the kitchen, one of the bedrooms, and a larger photo of the house to make up for the tiny one previously. Hopefully, these same rooms will have a much different look to them in the coming months!

Our First Home

2006-04-29T23:01:00.000-05:00

Even though we have been married for over two years, Kevin and I have never really had our first "home" so to speak. We have been living in the condo we bought when we married, but it feels rather like an apartment and not a home. So, we have finally taken the plunge, and we are right in the middle of buying a home! We are waiting on all the finalities at the moment, but we are so excited and looking forward to moving day.The house we are buying is 105 years old! It was built in 1901 and has all the charm of an old southern home. It will be a bit of a labor of love, but we are more than thrilled to spend time making it our very own. From the rose bushes to the wrap around porch, this house says welcome home! It has all the orignial charm still in tact and a claw foot tub for late night soaks! Here is the picture that we first saw when we were looking for a home. It is a bit rough, but it has not been lived in for almost a year. As we move in and make it ours, I will be sure to post the updates!

Puppy Love

2006-04-29T22:30:00.000-05:00

Our labs, Duke and Cocoa, had their first litter of puppies about six weeks ago. They are just about ready to be placed in their new homes. We have really enjoyed being puppy parents, and we will miss our six little chocolate fur balls we have come to love. We will be keeping one of the pups, and we haven't decided on a name. The puppy we are keeping is dark chocolate (as they all are) but he has four white feet and a white belly. Any suggestions on names? These are some pictures of the puppies today.