The Heenans

Thought for Today

2009-08-05T06:04:00.001-07:00

This is from Sportsman's Devotional which I receive daily. I felt compelled to share it for some reason.

Bible Study Verse
Deuteronomy 32:31a
"Indeed their rock is not like our Rock," (NASB)

Thoughts
The last time I went to a favorite fishing hole we discovered that a major flood had totally changed the area. You may have had a similar experience with a special hunting or fishing spot. It seems like everything is changing around us. From politics to the economy; nothing seems very sure anymore.

Action Point
Jesus won't change on us! As my pastor said many years ago, He is the Rock that won't roll!" There is no one more solid or dependable than Jesus. His love for us is real and cannot be shaken by anything. He is not afraid of the present circumstances or of anything in the future. His personality will always be the same and His goodness will last forever. Turn to Him for encouragement, there is no friend more solid than Jesus!

Game Camera--Not the Results I was hoping for

2009-08-02T13:02:00.001-07:00

Here are some pics from my game camera. Bummer that I'm not seeing deer, but I do have a cow "posing," twin calves, and a coyote.

LATE POSTING--BHS Prom 2009

2009-07-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

Every year I brag about my wife and how well she puts the BHS Prom together. This year, I'm still bragging, but I am a lot slower getting around to posting the pics. The Prom was later this year due to postponement from swine flu. Anyway, Kudos to Rachelle and Ron Franklin for another great prom.

Hunter and Tayce Pics

2009-07-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a few pics from this summer.

Sea World 2009

2009-07-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's been awhile since my last update. Earlier this month, Rachelle and I took Hunter on a trip to Sea World and the San Antonio Riverwalk, and he had a blast. He did not, however, like Shamu. Shamu spashed Hunter when he wasn't ready. After shedding a few tears, he recovered and had a great time.

Getting Ready for Deer Season

2009-06-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

Here's the first pic from my trail camera. It doesn't show any deer, but it does show me and Heath getting the deer feeder ready.

Hunter's Very Own Movie!! (Turn your speakers up to enjoy the show)

2009-06-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hunter's First Fishing Trip

2009-05-02T09:21:00.000-07:00

Not too bad for his first time out.

Uncle Ray vs. Hunter

2009-03-15T14:34:00.001-07:00

In the 1st annual Heenan Arm Wrestling Tournament, Uncle Ray and Hunter squared off in the finals.

Uncle Ray started off with an early lead, but he couldn't hold on as Hunter's youthful strength overpowered him in the end.

Moments later, Uncle Ray and Hunter were still on a testosterone high and a physical confrontation ensued.

The winner of this confrontation was a draw. We look forward to a highly publicized rematch in the future.

Iowa Heenans Come to Texas!!!

2009-03-15T14:18:00.001-07:00

Uncle Ray, Aunt Deb, and Cousin Mandy visited a couple of weeks ago, and we had a great time! Thank ya'll for coming, we love you.

The Heenan Boys--Uncle Ray, Uncle Jason, Cousin Wyatt, Hunter, and Me.

Mandy and Tayce getting to know each other.

Uncle Ray and Tayce meeting for the first time.

Aunt Deb quickly finds the way to Tayce's heart.

Aunt Deb getting some loving from Hunter and Wyatt.

Tayce is Smiling :)

2009-03-15T14:16:00.001-07:00

Hunter--Our Future Olympian

2009-03-15T14:07:00.001-07:00

Hunter is in gymnastics and is currently training for the 2020 Olympics.

Hunter working on his floor routine.

He sticks the landing!

Hunter getting a little help performing a summersault.

Now it's time to work on the high bar.

Finally, a little stretching to cool down

More Tayce Pics!

2009-03-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

Tayce's Valentine's Day Outfit

Don't Worry, No Children Were Harmed in the Making of this Picture

Big Bro with his Little Sis

Tayce's Birth Announcement

2009-01-23T13:30:00.001-08:00

Visit from the Re-Po Man

2009-01-23T12:46:00.000-08:00

This morning, everything was going great . . . until about 7:30 am. (This may sound early, but reference my posts below. We have a new baby, so our days actually begin about 2 am). I went to take Hunter to daycare and low-and-behold, the repo man is taking Rachelle's car away. I knew I should have been paying the bills.

Just kidding. Rachelle's transmission went out. Luckily, all of the repairs will be covered by her warranty.

More Baby Pics!

2009-01-23T12:43:00.001-08:00

This is Tayce's first picture!
Our first family photo.
Hunter and his little sister.

Tayce Brooke Heenan

2009-01-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

How's this for an update--we have another wonderful child!!! In case you did not know, Rachelle and I were considering adoption another child. Last October, we happened to have a birthmother contact us. We were hesitant at first, but this young lady and her family were wonderful. Anyway, long story short, the birthmother gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Sunday, January 11, 2009. She was 2 weeks early, but everyone is happy and healthy. Tayce Brooke Heenan was born at 6 lbs, 7 ounces and 20 inches long. A few days later, the birthmother and birthfather both signed affidavits relinquishing their parental rights. Rachelle and I are extremely excited and happy to share this wonderful news with you. Hunter is also very proud of his little sister (but I think he is even more proud of his new title--Big Brother). Here are a few pics of Tayce's first week home. Enjoy.

Chrismas Poem 2008

2008-12-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008

Once again it is time, for us to reflect on this last year
So sit back and enjoy this poem, might as well even grab a cold beer

In the spring, Joey was off to Miami and Chicago, he sure was gung-ho
Rachelle and Hunter went to Oklahoma to see Buffalo

On one trip Joey was stranded, in a snow storm he stayed calm
Barely making it home in time to take Rachelle to the high school prom

Soon summertime came, and gas prices did spike
So Joey talked Rachelle into letting him by a motor bike

Come June, Rachelle’s summer vacation did begin
Her and Hunter hanging out and taking lessons to swim

We also went to the Great Wolf Lodge, a wonderful water park
Playing in all of the pools, Hunter was happy as a lark

Rachelle attended some science workshops which we have to mention
Joey kindly refers to them as “nerd conventions”

They paid off, though, because when school started
Rachelle was promoted and now runs the BHS science department

In September, Joey began traveling again
This time to St. Louis on a train he went

Soon after his return, hunting he did go
Finally rejoicing in the “harvest” of a nice little doe

In November it was party time for Hunter who turned three
The party was at our house and the kids jumped in a bounce house with glee

As usual, come Thanksgiving we ate too much
And Rachelle woke up early on Black Friday to join in the Holiday rush

Now it is December, and Joey will be off to Chicago again
Also, Rachelle and Hunter cannot wait for Christmas break to begin

Thank you for taking the time to read about our year
And don’t forget about what’s important as Christmas time nears

We celebrate the birth, of one special little boy
Jesus our King, the source of all true joy.

Love,
Joey, Rachelle, and Hunter Heenan

Heenan Family Pictures

2008-12-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

We took our family pictures recently, and they came out so good that we just had to share a few. Special thanks to Julea Ricks for taking such great photos.

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-08T18:25:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. We had our Thanksgiving meal at Grandma Andy's house. I think we are starting a new tradition with a hoolahoop contest.

Chicks Dig Guys with Trucks

2008-12-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

Hunter seen here entertaining Rivers.

It's Party Time

2008-12-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

Hunter turned three and had a big party at our house. All of his friends had a great time.

Halloween Pics

2008-12-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

Hunter was a biker this year for Halloween.

Train Riding

2008-10-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Recently I took a trip to St. Louis where I hopped a freight train and road north to W. Quincy. I stayed at W. Quincy to learn about their train operations for a couple of days. Then, I hopped another train back to St. Louis. Here are a few clips of my trip. Clip #1--Inside of a Freight Locomotive.
Clip #2--Full speed ahead in North Eastern Missouri.

Dancing Like Stars

2008-08-16T20:30:00.001-07:00

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Devotional Worth Sharing

2008-07-29T06:38:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, yesterday was Rachelle and I's 7th anniversary. This morning, I was reading my daily devotional, and it fit perfectly. It reminds me of my duty and obligation to Rachelle as a husband. This devotional is definetly worth sharing, and it reads as follows:

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.
Ephesians 5:25

Gentlemen, it looks like we have it easy. After all, our wives have to “submit” (v. 22), whatever that means, but we just have to “love.” What could be simpler than that? Flowers from time to time. Chocolates on strategic occasions. Perhaps even a power tool or two she can claim as her own even though we use it most of the time. And if the situation is just right, we might manage a mumbled “I love you” just to make it clear. Submission sounds hard. It involves giving way to someone else. That someone would be us husbands. Does that mean what it seems like it means? We’re in charge? We call all the shots? We give the orders? Well, that would be something!

We’d better check our source again to make sure we’re not jumping to conclusions. Let’s see. If we go back to verse 21, uh-oh, something here about “submit to one another.” That could be a problem. But verse 22 does tell wives to submit. Verse 25 doesn’t tell us to submit; it tells us to love.

That little phrase “just as Christ loved the church” does show us several things. First, it tells us that our examples of loving above don’t really apply. Jesus never sent flowers to the church. He never picked up a box of chocolates on the way home from work as a peace offering. He never mumbled “I love you” through a mouthful of hamburger. Jesus loved by dying. He loved by suffering, hurting, and sacrificing. His kind of love sounds hard—almost as hard as submitting. Maybe even harder.

A dying kind of love that doesn’t leave us dead turns out to be quite a challenge. It might just take everything we’ve got. But here’s the deal. One of the primary reasons our wives struggle with submission is that they often have little real confidence in our love.

Genuine love paves the way for submission (not the other way around). Jesus died for the church before the church was around to submit.

Real love (like dying) doesn’t come naturally for us. If you want to learn to love your wife as Christ loves the church, you are going to have to ask questions, observe reactions, and experiment persistently in the area of love. Ask Christ to make you like him so that your wife can experience the kind of love that brings life to her! Figure out how to love her, and you probably won’t have to bring up the issue of submission.

Great Wolf Lodge

2008-07-20T18:41:00.001-07:00

This weekend we went to the Great Wolf Lodge. I must say, it was a first class establishment, and we had a GREAT time. Rachelle, Hunter and I went with Heath, Jen and Ryder and Cash. We stayed in the "kid's cabin" hotel room. There were bunk beds, a TV just for the kids, and lots of room. The indoor water park and arcade was a huge hit!

Ryder, Cash and Hunter in the lobby next to the huge fireplace.

Hunter and another little girl in the lobby looking out into the waterpark.

Inside the waterpark.

Hunter and me taking a break.

Click on the Video (below) to see more of our visit to the Great Wolf Lodge.

Dixie Lounging

2008-07-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here is my hunting dog.

More Pictures That You'll Enjoy

2008-07-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures that you might enjoy.

Aunt Jodi and Cousin Wyatt hanging out with Hunter.

Grandpa and me--discussing the secrets of life--at our Father's Day lunch.

Doc, Grandma and Grandpa at our Father's Day lunch.

Grandma Andy playing with Wyatt.

That's me with Wyatt and Hunter.

Rachelle getting a kiss from Grandpa and Grandma's dog--"Sammy"

Rachelle and Wyatt just before lunch.

Hunter showing Wyatt some love.

That's my bike and my little wild hog.

July 4, 2008!

2008-07-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

We had a great time on the 4th of July. We headed back to Burkburnett to spend some time with Rachelle's family. We set up the "slip and slide" in Papa and Nana's backyard, and Hunter also went to the waterpark with cousins Rider, Cash, and Carson.

Hunter trying to figure out how the slip and slide works.

Hunter beginning to understand how the slip and slide works.

He's starting to figure it out now.

Perfection.

As most of you know, Hunter loves to blow bubbles.

Hunter at the waterpark.

Wildman about to take a trip down the waterslide.

Nothing like the refreshing spit from a turtle's mouth to cure one's thirst on a hot summer day.

Carson chillin at the waterpark.

Ryder and Cash trying to look innocent.

First Half of Summer 2008

2008-07-08T20:25:00.001-07:00

The first half of the summer has been hot so we've been enjoying time at the pool.

Rachelle and Hunter practicing for his swimming lessons.

Hunter--trying to look good for the ladies.

Hunter, our future olympian, and his swimming lesson coach.

Hunter learning to jump into the pool.

Hunter making friends at the pool.

Hunter and his friend Rivers taking a ride in the red wagon.

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend. The weather was gorgeous, and the extra long weekend was much needed.

Rachelle and Hunter before church on Sunday.

We even got a little potty-training in this weekend (and had a couple of successful #1's and even a #2!).

We spent a lot of time at the pool. The water was perfect, and Hunter got to show off his muscles.

What a Great Weekend!

2008-05-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a great weekend. The weather has been so nice, and we were able to spend almost all weekend outside. We grilled out tonight, played in the sprinkler, went to the swimming pool, and even practiced our archery skills.

Hunter and "Tad" cruising the neighborhood looking for girls.

No girls were found, so Hunter resorted to eating a popsicle.

Hunter getting a drink from the sprinkler.

Here we are practicing for next fall's deer season. Notice that Hunter has the rangefinder and is letting me know how far away the target is sitting.

Time to see how much practice is still necessary.

Looking good so far. I think we're ready for a tree stand.

BHS Prom 2008

2008-05-18T18:58:00.001-07:00

Well, I finally made it home from Rapid City, SD. I actually arrived around 3:30 in the afternoon (after having been up for 12 hours) just in time to chaparone the BHS prom. As most of you know, Rachelle has been one of the teachers in charge of prom for the last few years. She did another great job, and I hope you enjoy some of the pictures.

Momma I'm Coming Home

2008-05-03T04:33:00.000-07:00

As Ozzy would say, "Momma, I'm Coming Home!." I'm sitting in the Rapid City Airport and our flight is on time. The snow has stopped and the wind is relatively mild. After spending 6 straight days on the road, I'm happy to be heading home.

What a Week!

2008-05-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

I'm sure everyone is having a great week, but I have to share mine. As I am writing this, I'm stranded with 3 other co-workers (Roger, Cyndi, and Jennifer) in Rapid City, SD due to a blizzard (yeah . . . I know, it's May 2nd). But, I'll get to that in a minute.

Monday morning, we flew to Denver and picked up a rental car. After driving all afternoon (probably 4-5 hours), we arrived at the BNSF terminal in Alliance, Nebraska. We were scheduled to put on a labor relations workshop for our men/women in the field. However, before we could check into the hotel, Cyndi and Jennifer had to visit "carhenge" which I learned is the redneck version of stonehenge. Roger and I were so excited about stopping at carhenge that we couldn't even get out of the car.

After viewing this fine piece of Nebraskain art, we were able grab a quick bite to eat before checking in. Whew . . . day 1 down the drain.

We woke up early on Tuesday to make some final preparations for our presentations to the railroaders in Alliance. After putting on a 7 hour workshop, we hopped in the rental car for another 5 hour drive to Gillette, Wyoming. Along the way, however, we had to make another side trip. No offense to "carhenge," but this side trip was worth it.

I have to admit that Mt. Rushmore was a pretty good time. The bad news was, however, that we were only 1/2 way into our road trip. Therefore, we hopped back in the rental car and cruised on into Gillette, WY. We arrived tired and hungry around 10:30 or 11 p.m. Day 2 is over, but Day 3 was right around the corner.

Wednesday morning, we got up early and dazzled the railroaders at Gillette with our LR workshop. After another exhausting 7 hours, we were able to finally relax a little bit. I fell asleep early, fully dressed and with the hotel lights on.

Thursday is when things really started to go down hill. Initially, the day started off great as we visited the Cordero Rojo coal mine which is one of the mines that BNSF services. It was absolutely amazing to see how the coal is harvested and loaded onto our trains. The sheer size of the machinary was mind-boggling.

We left the mine to grab some lunch. Then we went to the the Gillette airport to catch our 4:00 pm flight home. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. Flights out of Gillette go one place--Denver--and a winter storm had Denver Airport plugged up. Our flight was cancelled, and a winter storm was approaching. We all wanted to get home as soon as possible, so we thought it would be a good idea to rent a car and head east to Rapid City, SD where we could catch an early flight (6 a.m.) on Friday morning. Thus, we rented another car and made another road trip and checked into a Rapid City hotel on Thursday evening.

Unfortunately, we did not outrun the storm. Here is a pic of our ride to the airport (in the dark at 4 a.m.). Needless to say, it was nothing short of a miracle that we managed to get to the airport.

When we arrived at the airport, the lights were off and no workers were present. A few other travelors were mulling around. The airport was closed, and it remained closed all day. No flights were allowed in or out. We attempted to get on 2 different flights with no luck. It snowed all day and wind gusts got up to 60 mph. To make matters worse, the only road in/out of the airport was shut down by the highway patrol. We were stranded. Finally, around 2 pm the wind/snow stopped and the sun light provided us with a glimpse of the 2-3 feet of snow that had blown in.

After sitting for hours at the airport, we decided to take our chances and head back to the hotel. Little did we know, we were very lucky to have made it to the airport as there were cars littering the highway.

As I write this blog, the snow and wind have let up. We are scheduled for another flight out of here at 6 a.m. Will we make it? Stay tuned. Only time will tell.

Hunter and his "Prowler"

2008-04-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a pic and a movie of Hunter showing off his Arctic Cat "Prowler." It should be a great asset for us during next year's hunting season (once he learns to drive it a little better).

Life Group Campout

2008-04-13T13:09:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, we had an awesome time with our Life Group. We went camping at Lake Benbrook. As soon as we arrived, everyone started setting up camp.

After getting the tents set up, we had some time to lounge around in the shade.

Later in the afternoon, we even had some time to wet a hook and catch some fish.

Dinner was great thanks to Chef Barker.

Of course, we had to roast marshmellows.

While sitting around the campfire, sissy got a little tired.

Everyone had a great time, and we can't wait to do it again.

Heartbreaker Heenan

2008-04-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

This is Hunter's new look. The girls love it.

Our Camera Ham

2008-03-27T17:56:00.000-07:00

Hunter "hamming" it up for the camera.

Another Easter Egg Hunt!!

2008-03-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

During this Easter Egg Hunt, Hunter had a team of egg hunters to help him.

Here are all of the egg hunters.

On your mark, get set . . .

Hunter and Great Papa Norman are off to a great start.

Aunt Danita gets in on the fun!

Papa even finds an egg.

Nana, Papa, and Momma are all helping.

Hunter, Ryder, Cash and Carson check out their stash of goodies.

Spring Break!

2008-03-20T12:04:00.001-07:00

Rachelle and Hunter are on spring break this week, and they've had a great time.

They went back to Wichita Falls were Hunter got to sit on Papa's motorcycle.

They went to the Wichita Mountains and saw some buffalo.

They went to the museum with cousins Ryder and Cash.

Rachelle, Hunter, and Nana at the Wichita Mountains.

Rachelle and Hunter at the Wichita Mountains.

Hunter on top of Mt. Scott.

Hunter and Wyatt's Lunch with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa

2008-03-19T17:06:00.000-07:00

Jason, Jodi and Wyatt!

2008-03-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

Easter Bunny Fun!

2008-03-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

Easter Egg Hunt

2008-03-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

This morning, Rachelle and I took Hunter to the BNSF Easter Egg Hunt. Grandma Andy came along, too, and a great time was had by all.

North Texas Annual Snowfall

2008-03-15T11:16:00.001-07:00

Here are some pics of our annual snowfall.

Future All Star

2008-03-15T11:13:00.001-07:00

With the upcoming NFL draft, Hunter has been training and is still awaiting his invitation to the combine so that he can showcase his talents.

Cowboy Hunter

2008-03-15T11:10:00.001-07:00

Here is our little cowboy!

More Christmas Pics

2007-12-25T13:36:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas 2007!

2007-12-25T13:27:00.000-08:00

Hunter's Monkey Face

2007-11-25T18:13:00.000-08:00

Hunter Visiting Great Grandma and Great Grandpa

2007-11-25T16:55:00.001-08:00

Hunter's Big Boy TV Tray

2007-11-25T16:52:00.001-08:00

Outdoor Lights

2007-11-25T16:42:00.000-08:00

Holiday Preparations

2007-11-25T16:35:00.000-08:00

Santa's Little Helper

Hunter's B-Day Party at Chucky Cheese Pizza

2007-11-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

Hunter Meets Cousin Wyatt

2007-11-16T19:24:00.001-08:00

What a Stud

2007-11-16T19:17:00.001-08:00

Hunter's new "GQ" haircut.

Fort Wildman--No Girls Allowed!

2007-11-16T19:12:00.000-08:00

Here is Hunter's new fort which he got for his birthday.

Hunter's Big Boy Bed

2007-11-16T19:09:00.001-08:00

Hunter is now in a big boy bed. He fell out on his first night.

Haven't Seen Any Deer

2007-11-16T19:06:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen many deer this hunting season. I think it is because my hunting partner won't sit still or be quiet.

Happy Halloween!

2007-11-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics from Halloween. Hunter was a rodeo clown, and he had a great time trick or treating! Special thanks to Cody and Julie for the hay ride.

Welcome Baby Wyatt!

2007-11-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a pic of me and my new nephew Wyatt. Congratulations to Jason and Jodi!

Hunter, Nana, and Tweety

2007-11-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

Here is Hunter and his "Nana" along with Tweety Bird a couple of weekends ago. We saw Tweety when we participated in a walk in support of juvenile diabetes research.

Dressed in Sunday's Best

2007-10-14T15:12:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of Hunter and I before church this morning.

Washington, D.C.

2007-10-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a work trip to Washington, D.C. I've never been there before, so I thought I'd stop by and see George W. For some reason, the guards told me that I could not just stop by and say hi.

BNSF Family Day

2007-10-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

Every year, BNSF has a celebration called "BNSF Family Day." There is a stage with a live band, petting zoo, games, crafts, food, etc. Rachelle and I figured it would be a great time for Hunter so we decided to attend. He fussed the entire time, choked on some snot, and barfed up a hot dog. Needless to say, we headed for the parking lot, loaded up, and headed home.

Early October Bow Hunt

2007-10-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

I went bowhunting recently and had a great time. In the morning hunt, I saw the same 3 does twice, but they never came within bow range. I also saw a wild pig that was in bow range, but I was day dreaming and did not have my bow ready.

In the afternoon, I found a deer trail leading to a small pond. I sat for several hours about 20 yards away in decent cover. I saw 2 coyotes pass by and, later, I let 2 fawn does go by. About 30 minutes after the fawns came by, another older doe came down to the pond. As I started drawing back on the bow, she jerked her head up stared in my direction for about 5 seconds, then took off running. Better luck next time.

Hunter's First Day of School

2007-09-05T18:47:00.000-07:00

Here is Hunter just before first day of school. He is very proud of his personalized camo lunch box.

Hunter Makes Some New Friends!

2007-09-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

Hunter and his new friend Mr. Otter.

Hunter and his new friend Mr. Fox.

Hunter sitting with Great Grandpa John and Cousin Payton.

Hunter was very excited to meet Great Great Grandma Contri and Great Grandma Heenan!

What a Summer!

2007-09-05T17:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm late again with my posts, but I guess it's better late than never. Enjoy!

Hunter hanging out at Grandma Andy's house.

I took a training trip to Kansas City to learn about basic train operations.

Jason and Jodi had a wedding reception and baby shower.

Hunter took his first airplane ride to Iowa.

We ate chocolate cupcakes.

Hunter rode on a tractor for the first time with Uncle Ray.

Hunter also learned to drive a golf cart.

More Pics and Stuff

2007-06-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since my last update, and so much has happened. It is amazing how God has been working in our lives. Back in April, our close friends Blake and Adrina and their son moved in with us. They sold their home and needed a place to stay. Rachelle and I discussed the situation and offered them our spare rooms upstairs. Over the next six to eight weeks, God blessed our home by allowing all of us to spend quality time together. Blake and Adrina have an amazing family, and we are so greatful that God brought us even closer together during their stay.

In May, I was offered a job at BNSF Railway Company. I have been trying to get on with this company since the summer of 2005. To my disappointment, God kept shutting the doors of opportunity. However, last month he blessed me with a new career in the Labor Relations Department where I have learned that most of my bosses and many of my co-workers are Christians. It has been an amazing place to work, and I am enjoying more time with Rachelle and Hunter. The last two years are a testiment that "God's ways are not our ways." Thankfully, he is so much wiser than any of us, and his placement of me in my new job is blessing.

Finally, Rachelle and I--along with our best friends from church--are praying and preparing to plant a church near our homes at Eagle Mountain Lake. It is an exciting experience, and we ask that all of you pray that God guide our decisions and that all our plans are in accordance with his will.

Love ya'll,

Joey

Hunter driving Rachelle's car. At least he thinks he is anyway.

Hunter playing in the backyard with his new sprinkler.

What a stud!

Hunter enjoying a day at the waterpark.

Hunter showing off his muscles.

Here is the reason computers at our house do not work.

Daddy and Hunter

2007-05-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hunter and I enjoying some father & son time.

Hunter Eating/Drinking Yogurt

2007-05-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

Rachelle and I have been working hard to teach Hunter how to use eating utensils. Here are some pictures of our efforts.

BHS Prom 2007

2007-05-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

I have to take a moment to brag on Rachelle. Not only is she an incredible wife and mother, she is also the Boswell H.S. Prom sponsor (and has been for the last 3 years). Anyway, she works very hard every year so that the students experience an awesome prom. Beginning in September of each year, she begins planning for it. This year, it was the best prom yet (in my humble opinion).

To give you some idea on how much planning it takes, I've posted some pictures from this year's prom. Just imagine trying to plan a formal dining/entertainment evening for 600 guests in a large ballroom.

Another Computer Bites the Dust

2007-04-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

One evening, not too long ago, I was sitting in my easy chair checking my email. My angel of a son Hunter came over to sit on his daddy's lap. Hunter is fascinated with computers, television remote controls, and cell phones so I decided to let him sit on my lap and watch me check my email. Now, before I go any further with this story let me warn you that things are going downhill.

Hunter wants to push buttons on the keyboard. Since he has already broken a button on our last computer, I decided that this is not a good idea. Hunter--being the persistent little fellow that he is--continues his efforts. I decide to let him play with the remote control of the television. I also move the computer off my lap onto a nearby foot stool so that I can keep it a safe distance from Hunter.

Don't get ahead of me--I already know what you're thinking and . . . no, the computer does not fall off of the footstool.

Anyway, Hunter is not happy that I won't let him pound his little fists into the keyboard, and the remote control was not a suitable substitute. Therefore, he throws the remote control with remarkable accuracy into the monitor of my laptop. As soon as the remote control strikes the monitor, the screen shoots off an amazing array of colors before crapping out. As my laptop (which if you read back a few posts you will learn was relatively new) was taking its last breathe . . . about to go to computer heaven . . . Hunter looked at me with a smile.

Hunter Easter Pictures (a little early)

2007-03-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

Good "One Liner"

2007-03-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

This one is for all you outdoorsmen reading this blog:

Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

I've fallen behind!

2007-03-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

I've fallen behind on my posts lately. I've had two computers crap out on me in the last couple of weeks. Anyway, we should be up and running again.

Following up to my previous post about our Hondoras mission trip, there will be 18 of our friends taking the trip with us. We are very excited and ask for your continued prayers. If any of you have visited www.hoi.org, you might have noticed that a recent mission group had a tragic accident. While on the mission, we will rely on military style trucks to transport us to and from villages. Evidently, the brakes on one of the trucks failed causing it to overturn and fall down a mountain ravine. Many of the mission workers in the back of the truck were able to jump out. However, the incident resulted in many injuries and the deaths of three workers, not to mention shattered lives and hearts of the mission members' family and friends. I'd ask that you keep all of these people in your prayers.

Let's see--what else--Hunter has been healthy and happy. We have arrived at the "terrible two" stage a few months early. I am convinced that he suffers from a hearing defect that prevents him from hearing and understanding the words "no, no." He is so full of life, and he continues to bring smiles to the faces of everyone he meets.

I have an interview with BNSF Railroad on Friday afternoon. As some of you know, I have never really enjoyed working as an attorney for various reasons. On the other hand, I have enjoyed working on railroad injury claims, and I have devoted almost all of my practice to this work over the last two years. I have applied for a claim representative position within the Occupation Claims department. This position fits right up my alley, and I am very hopeful that I get the position. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Rachelle is very busy and has recently started volunteering in the nursery of our church during Sunday services. She seems to enjoy it, but she had to be removed from Hunter's class. Everytime Rachelle picked up a child (other than Hunter), Hunter would cry. Hunter has everybody trained!

That's all I know for now. Stay tuned!

Prayer Request

2007-02-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe that this blog has viewers from all over the United States and even abroad. That is amazing. Thank you for your interest, and I hope all of you continue to check back regularly.

I have a special prayer request. Rachelle and I, along with a wonderful bunch of our closest friends, have been planning a mission trip to Honduras. The planning began over a year ago, and we are now set to depart for Honduras this summer. We will be staying in Honduras for only a short time, but we are hoping that our trip will have life changing consequences for us and the Hondurans that we meet. We will be taking part in an organization called Honduras Outreach, and I encourage you to check out their website at www.hoi.org.

I ask that you pray that God prepare us for the trip--mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I also ask that you begin praying for the people of Honduras that we will be working with. We are very excited, and I cannot wait to share this experience with all of you.

Winter Wonderland

2007-02-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

Here's our backyard a few days ago. It is supposed to be in the mid-60's this week. I love the weather in North Texas.

Saddest Picture Ever

2007-02-04T10:57:00.000-08:00

It was cold last week, and I took the saddest picture ever.

Hey Cowboys

2007-02-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

Buckaroos Hunter and Ryder

Rub-A-Dub-Dub-Three Studs in a Tub

2007-02-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

Bath time for Ryder, Cash, and Hunter

Happy Birthday to Rachelle!

2007-02-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

What a great weekend! Rachelle will be 29 tomorrow so her Mom, Heath, Jennifer, and our newphews Ryder and Cash came down yesterday. We had a lot of fun so I thought I would post some of the pictures.

Little Buckaroo

2007-02-01T05:50:00.001-08:00

Recent Pics

2007-02-01T05:46:00.000-08:00

I have a couple of new pictures that I wanted to post. Enjoy!

Cold Cold Cold

2007-01-19T15:12:00.000-08:00

It has been cold down here in Texas this week. Let's see . . . on Monday we had ice and sleet, Tuesday was cold but dry, Wednesday our office was closed due to more snow, ice, sleet, and it has been cold and drizzly (if that is a word) ever since. We should be getting more snow on Monday. I'm blaming the weather on a sinus/chest cold that I've had all week, and Hunter has shown some of the same symptoms--runny nose, slight cough, not sleeping well--but he might also be getting some teeth.

Anyway, I don't have any new pictures to post. It has been pretty quiet around the Heenan house. I'll try and do better next week.

I also want to mention that I had an incredible conversation with a woman today who was seeking some guidance about Jesus Christ. I was absolutely flattered that she would ask me since I have never been all that vocal about my faith. Nevertheless, we sat down and I had an incredible time telling her about the incredible grace and mercy of our God. In reflecting on this moment, I have concluded that all Christians should minister to others when God presents the opportunity. Just because we aren't preaching behind the pulpit on Sunday mornings doesn't mean that we can't reflect our love of JC through our actions. I am hopeful that the way I live my life is what encouraged this woman to discuss with me some very important and life changing issues that she is addressing in her life.

Take care, and I love ya'll.

One Year Ago Today!

2007-01-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe it, but one year ago today I received the greatest phone call of my life. About this same time last year, I was at work when the adoption agency called and told me about a baby boy who needed a good home. One year ago tomorrow, we met Hunter for the first time, and the following day we took him home.

Sissy Getting Some "Hunter Love"

2007-01-07T17:47:00.000-08:00

Don't worry, Sissy is harmless.

Hunter In The Refrigerator

2007-01-07T17:44:00.000-08:00

Hunter's New Friend

2007-01-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

Hunter on Christmas morning

2007-01-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

What a Christmas!

2007-01-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

Man, what a Christmas Season! It was so great to be moved in and have such a blessed Christmas. Christmas Eve we had a great lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Ahlstrom and Mom and Doc. For those of you who don't know, Jason and Jodi were called out on a storm and spent Christmas in Washington. We sure thought about them, and my prayer for them that night was that they have a safe return home and that they know how much we love them.

Christmas Eve we went with Rachelle's family to Christmas Eve service in Burkburnett. It is a great tradition, and it was great to see almost the whole family. Christmas day was busy . . . Hunter had a visit from Santa so we opened a few presents in the morning before heading to Wichita Falls to open presents with my family. We were back in Burkburnett after lunch to open presents with Rachelle's family. That afternoon, we headed to Rachelle's grandparents' farm for a few more presents! We were exhausted to say the least. I came back to Fort Worth that night because I had to work the next day.

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and New Years Holiday. For those of you we didn't see over the Holidays, please know that you were on our thoughts and in our prayers. We love you!

Our Humble Home

2006-12-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of our new home.

Our Baptism

2006-12-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

I wanted to update the blog before the holidays. This is a picture of Rachelle and I getting baptized by Pastor Toby a couple of weekends ago.

We've Moved

2006-12-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

Holy smokes, what a crazy weekend! I took off work to move on Friday, and we spent the entire weekend moving. Good news--we've moved everything. Bad news--everything is still in boxes. We have a lot of work ahead of us. I still don't have pictures of the new house yet. I have the camera, but the battery is dead. As you can imagine, the battery charger is in an unlabeled box.

On a side note, Rachelle and I were baptized weekend before last. This last year has certainly brought us closer to God, and we believe that the time was right to make a public statement of our faith through baptism. I have pictures and will post them as soon as I find the charger to the camera and the cable that attached the camera and computer.

Stay tuned. I hope to make a couple of posting this week with pictures.

Getting Ready for Our New Home!

2006-12-08T05:48:00.000-08:00

Another week has quickly passed. I have been busy at work which is somewhat unusual in the legal world for this time of year. Rachelle has been busy too teaching her Biology AP students about . . . oh heck, I don't know. I looked at her class notes the other day, and I am pretty sure that she was teaching them French or German instead of Biology. I sure couldn't pass that class.

Hunter is doing great, and he keeps us busy. A few weeks ago, we introduced the words "no, no" to him since he was getting into EVERYTHING. I was so proud how he caught on and was so obedient . . . for about a day. Now he just ignores us. Sometime he even gives us one of his great smiles before continuing his adventure of getting into something he shouldn't be getting into.

Our new house is pretty much finished. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it yet so you'll have to wait until next week. The final walk-through is Monday, and we are closing on Friday. We'll move in next weekend. We are very excited.

Other than that, not much is going on. I'm jealous of my father-in-law, Rodney, as he will be pheasant hunting up in the Oklahoma panhandle this weekend. Last weekend, I went quail hunting out at the farm--saw some birds, missed some shots. It seems that the bird population is a little thin this year. I'll try again over Christmas and hopefully post some pictures.

That's all for now. Stay tuned and wish us luck as we move into our new house next weekend.

A Week to Reflect and Be Thankful

2006-12-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a week. It is pretty cold down here in Texas. When I was driving to work, I noticed that it was 24 degrees. The wind chill was supposedly down in the single digits.

I cannot help but think about how big this week could have been. As most of you know, Rachelle, Hunter, and I have been in a lawsuit to keep our family together. This week we were scheduled for trial. Fortunately, this case was settled two weeks ago but--had it not settled--where would be today? This week had the potential to be the worst week of our lives. Instead, I am getting to reflect on how we've been blessed. We are obviously thankful that the lawsuit is over, but we are also extremely thankful for the friends and family who have supported us along the way. As I have reflected on the last year, I find it amazing how God used this horrible situation to draw Rachelle and I closer to him. Our individual relationships with Jesus Christ have grown stronger as has our marriage.

That is all I have to report for now. Have a great weekend. Rachelle, Hunter and I will be heading to WF to celebrate our nephew's birthday. While I'm there I am going to try and take advantage of the cold weather and get a little hunting in.