oh won't you please take me home!

had some time off, so i decided to go home to good 'ol shallowater, texas for a few days (and yes, the grass is green and the girls are pretty.) i don't ever go home except for a few days for thanksgiving/christmas, thus it's a pretty big deal. i've been really convicted lately that i need to start spending more time up here. for one thing, nobody's gettin' any younger and for another, life in this part of the world just runs at a completely different pace. there's nothing flashy or glamorous about it, (biggest thing to happen in town is that we just got our first dollar general yesterday!!!) but somehow, i think these people are on to something. it's as if they know a closely guarded secret that the rest of the world is desperately searching for...they know that life's not about chasin' the cash flow or being somebody "important"...it's about treating people with respect, lending a hand to your neighbor when he's in trouble, taking your grandkids out to the farm, living within your means, finding pleasure and contentment in simple things, just being satisfied with what you've been given.

i will be the first to admit that there have been times in my life when i've gotten away from that...stubbornly (and erroneously) thought i needed something more, something better. however, the 100% honest-to-God truth is, that lifestyle and that type of character (which is quickly eroding in our society) is something that i pine for. i just don't care about the world's measures of success anymore...i've played that game for so freakin' long. graduate in the top 10 percent (valedictorian or salutatorian if you really want to impress), join every club imaginable (and be the president of all of them!), go to college and graduate with honors, make the dean's list, join more organizations and acquire more leadership positions, build build build the resume, work for a senator, work the room, get the IRA, invest in the 401k, gain some equity, and dangit move on up!!!

most of you wiser, older souls already know this, but for those of you who don't...at the end of the day, all of that "stuff" amounts to absolutely nothing. funny (and lamentable) how long it takes for some of us to figure out that life isn't about what you do, but it's about who you are.

i'll leave you with some john cougar mellencamp lyrics and some photos from shooting with the cagles yesterday.

well i was born in a small town. and i live in a small town. probably die in a small town. oh those small communities.

all my friends are so small town. my parents live in the same small town. my job is so small town. provides little opportunity - hey!

educated in a small town. taught to fear Jesus in a small town. used to daydream in that small town. another born romantic that's me. but i've seen it all in a small town. had myself a ball in a small town.

no i cannot forget where it is that i come from. i cannot forget the people who love me. yeah, i can be myself here in this small town. and people let me be just what i want to be.


little jake...breakin' hearts and shootin' bbs...best mutton buster i've ever seen!!!


john gettin' our target ready...


best shot in the family right there.


oh i do love the feel of a 9mm semi-automatic!!!!

*note to readers, i do fire guns a lot, but we advocate for strong gun safety and as dad says, "make no assumptions about an unloaded gun."