Brad and I just got back from a much needed vacation cruise to Jamaica and Grand Cayman. This was our first trip since our honeymoon and we had a blast. Though I am so exhausted I feel like I need a week to just sleep. Here are some pics. Had so many more to post but my Photoshop wasn't cooperating and it is late so I will post the rest another day.

They are all out of order but basically what is pictured is our day in Ocho Rios Jamaica. We went ATV riding for an hour and a half through the jungle and high into the mountains. Many of these mountain view pics were taken on our ATV tour. At the end of the tour we stopped at this beautiful private cove on the ocean and the guys took turns jumping off a 15 ft. cliff into the freezing water. I was happy to take pictures.

Also pictured is where we ate at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Another pic. is of our table on the cruise. We had the best table and got to know two great couples throughout the week. To Brad's delight, one of the guys we sat with is an NFL linebacker for the Tennessee Titans. He was very nice and it was fun getting a little inside knowledge of the NFL.

Not yet posted was our day in Grand Cayman where we went couple parasailing and went 100 feet underwater in a submarine.

Needless to say, we are already talking about where to go on the next trip. Hopefully it won't be 5 more years.

We had a whole weekend of birthday parties for Caleb to go to in between working on floors. This one was at Rocky Top Ranch right here in Keller. This place was awesome. Who knew it existed? They have horse-riding, a large playground, lots of animals (even pigs just running around mingling with the children - gross I know), hayrides, a pavilion with barbecue grills and mesh sides to keep bugs out. It's a great place for parties or family gatherings. The owner said you could come anytime and play for free. Caleb LOVED it! Above is a picture of Caleb with Fern. We think there just might be some love blooming there. :)

And some after photos! I know these aren't the best pictures. I will take more when we get our house put back together better. I also need to take some of the tile in the kitchen. But here is a preliminary look for those of you who haven't seen it. We think it is a dramatic difference. Like a new house. The pictures don't even do justice.

Down below is a picture of Caleb helping lay the floors. He was so ready for us to be finished he got some scrap pieces and started laying them down to fill in the spaces. Funny!

Floor Mania
Before pics and pictures of the process of changing out our flooring.

Caleb said he thinks "our house is going to break!"
Actually, I think it is Brad and me who are going to break. We are so sore. If you have the money, just pay someone. All those who said laying your own floors is easy...well they are lying!

The Stewarts came to visit on the weekend of Feb. 24. I regret these are the only pictures I took. Kimberly, you'll have to email the ones you took and I will post. We had a great time though I think Kimberly needed a vacation after being a single mom of two for the weekend. We got pedicures, ate fattening things and had lots of talk time so it was good! Caleb LOVED Sally and was so good with her. He kept calling her his baby. Wesley Grant has the most hilarious expressions. Caleb called him his brother at one point. After they left, Caleb asked where his brother and his baby went. Too cute. Even before Sally came, Caleb has been asking for a baby sister and has even prayed to Jesus for one so we'll see... :)

Caleb's 3rd birthday party was a success. We had a pirate party and the cake was a ship. It was so awesome. We love our cake lady. The kids dug for treasure in a chest full of beans. Above: Caleb blows out his candles. Middle: His friend Anna Kate shows us her loot from the treasure chest. Below: Didn't quite catch it as it happened, but Caleb received an unexpected smooch from his friend Fern. So cute!

Striking Resemblance

Have I mentioned Caleb is OBSESSED with batman. Now he has a life size batman doll who does everything with him. Yes, I know...he really needs a sibling.

"Jesus Loves Peanut Butter and Jelly"
I have been talking to Caleb about Jesus being in Heaven but also living in his heart. Today he was eating his typical PB&J lunch and, after swallowing a bite, said the sandwich was going down in his tummy and would pass Jesus in his heart. "Jesus will be so happy because he likes peanut butter and jelly."

What is cuter than that?

SNOW DAY! We had fun playing in the rare Texas snow yesterday. Caleb wanted to keep eating it. Below is a picture of a very strange snow creature. That would be our pitiful attempt at a snowman with raisins for a face...which Caleb later ate. Kind of looks like the ghost goblin things on the Pac-Man game. Too funny! :)

ICE STORM FUN! Okay, so maybe we're crazy...but we know how to have fun inside for 3 days when it is iced over outside. I think we came up with a new tradition. We roasted marshmellows and made smores inside. It was great fun. After 4 years of living here, this was our first time to build a fire in the fireplace. So now our fireplace isn't clean and pretty anymore, but it sure has been fun having a fire all weekend.

Early Birthday - Batman style! Caleb had a hard time understanding Christmas is Jesus' birthday. We have told him his birthday comes after Jesus' birthday, so while in Louisiana after Christmas, he kept declaring each day his birthday. He was so adamant that it was his birthday that his Nana finally got him a little cake (a batman cake) and our Christmas party with extended family turned into a little early birthday for Caleb. So spoiled! In the pictures is Caleb's cousin Carson who lives in Arizona, but hopefully will be moving to Dallas in the near future! :)

BIG TEETH! Caleb came out of the playroom with these huge fake play teeth the other day and we laughed so hard we almost cried. Back when I used to keep kids I had several little cheap items in a prize bag and these were one of them. So funny!

Developing Leaders

My friend Heather and I were in a discussion about this very topic yesterday. Most of you who know me well, know I can't say enough about my new church. The following excerpt is from my pastor Dr. Bob Robert's blog on the Northwood website. It was much longer but I just cut and pasted some of it.


Let me also say I do not, in the least, consider myself an expert in this area but a practitioner because of various ministries and projects in which I’m involved. From being a pastor, who is discipling a group of men, to working with church planters, to being involved in global development projects, here is some of what I’m learning.

First, you live the life and do the stuff you talk about. Bobb Biehl has taught me that credibility is gained by 3 threads, results-time-character. Results are simply what is seen. People generally listen not because of what you know or what you did, but because of what you are currently doing. Character is what you are. No one is perfect and everyone has flaws. Time gives us the ability to see those things, both good and bad, that helps us filter counsel from someone. It is the ability to be over consistent.

Second, you teach first from what you've experienced. Anyone can write or talk on a subject and, yet, not be a "doer." Those who "do" and those who "talk" at first sound similar, but the deeper you go, the more you learn the differences and what may sound like semantics becomes key. Also, those who "experience" it will generally read more and more because they want to understand more. I’ve learned over the years there are two ways to gain influence, one is by what you know--people want to hear you talk about that. The other is by what you do--people want to hear the stories of what and how you did something. Teaching is passing on information. Mentoring is life-on-life and the more healthy experiences a mentor has, the more he/she has to share.

Third, they have to be around you in your context. I used to not understand that--and it’s something I have to keep learning again and again. I’ve always wanted to get more education in international relations. In fact, I’ve considered getting a degree in it. So, a few months ago, I was at a meeting in D.C and a prominent professor from Georgetown was at the meeting. At a break, I went over and began talking to him about getting a graduate degree to learn more and gain some "credibility" in a field. He stopped me and said, "You’re living it, you’re practicing what those guys I teach come to school for. You’d be wasting your time unless you want to be a professor." I think the apostles followed Jesus because they wanted to watch Him.

Fourth, you have to hold people accountable. Good mentoring doesn’t start by hugging, but by listening, observing, and then challenging. We generally hug too quickly and challenge too late. We should first challenge and then hug when they do it or at least attempt to do it even if they fail and want to try again. The question is what are you trying to produce and what does the person need? Often, we let our own emotional vacuums color relationships with people we are trying to mentor. I’m not afraid to say to a young guy, "Hey man, you gotta work on this" or "That ain’t gonna cut it" or "Why do you think you’re like that?" or "Wow, that’s incredible!" To do that, you have to critique yourself with your mentors and others. An example, I recently mailed a form that I’ve used for several years that allows church members, leaders, family, and friends to critique everything from my "performance" to my character.

Fifth, you give them bite-size things and watch them. Don't give them the whole load--just a part. See what they do with it. It's the parable of the talents--you're going to find out who invests and who hoards. I think one of the reasons why I wind up being asked to mentor or meet with a lot of guys is because they’ve seen consistency and growth in specific areas that continue to open more and more doors. That happens when you are faithful with the 2 talents you’ve been given, not wishing you were a 10-talent guy. The point is not how many talents you have, but how you invest them. The key to all of this has been tackling what is in front of me as if it was the only thing, no matter how big or small it is.

Sixth, watch what's unique about them and help them discover their own uniqueness. Bob Buford has helped me with this. He’s challenged me on more than one occasion, "Roberts you have to know what is unique about yourself and focus on that. What is it you can do that no one else can." Sometimes that's really hard because you may feel you should do one thing when you can see it ain't gonna work! There are at least 3 interns that I’ve visited with on various issues that as I got to know them I could see something was going to bite them or that their giftedness was somewhere else. I didn’t tell them out loud, but asked questions and planted seeds for them to self-discover things. What I discover I value more than what someone else discovers and gives me! A good mentor blurts it out as only a last resort.

Seventh--this could be a book--I think you have to let them see you for who you really are--your good and bad. Admit your faults. They already know them and can see them. They aren’t asking you for help because they think you’re perfect. When you’re honest about your weaknesses, it will frankly increase your credibility with them. You bet--let them see you work. But, let them see you laugh, weep, sweat, everything you are. One of the men who has impacted my life has also been a man that made a bad mistake. Why do I still listen to him? Because he picked up the phone and called me, before it was in the papers or someone else called, and said, "Bob, I blew it. I love you and believe in you, I’m sorry I’ve let you down, but I wanted you to hear it from me--this is what happened . . . ." Though I was hurt and disappointed and for a while somewhat confused over all of it, this man, to this day, speaks deeply into my life. Why? Because he’s real. I trust real people--people whose smile or affirmations aren’t mixed with agendas or profit from a relationship.

In the past 5 years, my life has become incredibly busy and I’ve had to be more selective with what I’m involved. Speaking at conferences actually began to get in the way of some of the projects in which our church has been involved. I had to choose what really mattered. Do I want to be a speaker or a doer? I’ve made sure that the discipleship and mentoring is getting done. But a few months ago, God really begin to speak to my heart that I needed to be more engaged in all of that, and I have. I’ve had to say no to some other things that might seem important, but as Earl Creps recently wrote in Off-Road Disciplines, there is a discipline to passing the baton. It hasn’t been a well-practiced discipline. We often fear letting go of things because of someone who will do it as good as us. But, as Maxwell has said, if someone can do it 80% as good as you--let go. When we don’t let things go, not only do we deprive others of getting in the game, but we also don’t get to grow on to new levels of impact ourselves.

Posting Comments
Several of you have told me you could not post comments. My friend Heather finally pointed out that I had my settings to block anyone from posting that did not have a blog. Now it has been fixed, so if you don't have a blog, you can post under anonymous and you can just type your name in the comment section. I'm so not a techie.

I LOVE KLTY!
This morning KLTY 94.9 granted on air a Christmas wish for Sheila. They have provided her with a nice place to live and free childcare for all of her children. They also gave her a job opportunity and Aaron's furniture is giving her a washer/dryer and $3000. She said yesterday that she has been given an entirely new life. Isn't that what God does? So awesome. I just have to say now that I have had multiple conversations with David Sparkman and was able to talk with Bonnie Curry and Frank Reed, I know first hand the people behind my radio really are living what they broadcast. They were all very choked up about helping Sheila and Bonnie Curry said it was one of the most touching wishes they've ever granted. They are really invested in Sheila now and will be following up to see what is going on in her life. I am a KLTY listener for life now.

God has really changed me as well this Christmas and I feel I am now "addicted" to helping others. My eyes are now going to be wide open for opportunities all around me since I know how hugely God can use me even if I don't think I have a lot to give. I didn't have the money to give her, but all I had to do was write a letter. How easy is that? This has been the BEST Christmas for me!

Sheila and her girls pose for a Christmas picture. Baby Jordan was just happy to eat the wrapping paper. Who needs expensive gifts anyway?

This is what Christmas is all about! Three families who did not know each other at all a few months ago had Christmas together today. Many of you have heard me talk about Sheila. My friend who has gotten out of an abusive marriage and is struggling to make it as a single mom on her own. Well tonight a family from Waxahachie came over and provided Christmas for Sheila's family. All of this is a result of God prompting me to write a letter to KLTY for their "Christmas Wish" program. The Edwards family helped grant my wish and they drove all the way out here to meet Sheila's family and love on them this Christmas.

What I love about these pictures is the absolute purity and joy of children and how none of these children knew each other, yet instantly loved on each other. There was no awkwardness or distance kept (as with adults) because they were not familiar with each other. They immediately started playing and laughing and sharing and hugged closely for this picture. Isn't that amazing? No wonder God says we are to be like children.

Pictured from left to right is Brooke, Brittany, Bella, Noah and Caleb.
Brooke loves hats and was so excited to get this awesome pink hat!
The kids showed their creativity and decorated cookies. Well, the girls did. The boys chose to play with airplanes and pirate boats. :)
Pretty in pink in their new outfits provided by Brian and Rachel Edwards, Bella and Noah.