Visit to Hot Springs

Linda and I had a wonderful visit with her sister, Judy, this past weekend. We had a chance to bring our dogs, Baron and Lilly, and they, too, seem to have had a wonderful visit as well.

I was found out that I am not a bad carpenter, not quite the example of my namesake, St. Joseph the Worker, but not too bad. I built two rails for Judy’s front and back porches and she should be able to safely enter and leave her house this upcoming winter. I am uploading a couple of pictures from our visit. As you can see, the dogs did quite well and enjoyed the visit and I was able to capture a stunning shot of Linda with the dogs atop the mountain in Hot Springs.

Lilly’s ‘sister’, Maggie Mae

The Dogs getting ‘rowdy’

Sisters behind the new banister

Linda with sisters, Maggie (pink stripe) and Lilly

Linda with Baron and Lilly with the mountain view behind her.

Arroyo Celebrate Labor Day Weekend

We had the Arroyo’s en mass to the house Sunday afternoon. Linda and I hosted Michael and Andrew, back from USAO and St. Gregory’s for the weekend and their grandparents, my father, Jose’ or “Joe” and his wife, Frances Arroyo. We had a fantastic afternoon and it was a great opportunity for Dad and Frances to see my two youngest, whom they have not seen since they were very small. I don’t think they have had the pleasure since before Michael was in 3rd Grade!

Frances and Joe Arroyo

Frances, J. and Linda Arroyo

Joe, Frances and J. enjoy the weather

Andrew (going to St. Gregory’s), Michael (going to USAO), and Frances Arroyo

J, Joe, and Michael Arroyo

Happy Birthday, Linda

Linda and I had a fantastic weekend! On Friday, August 6th, 13 years ago, Linda celebrated her birthday with friends at this little bar at 21st and Garnett. Luckily, I happened to be there and the rest is our family history! To celebrate this weekend, we went out to the Casino and Looney Bin! We had a blast this weekend.

Today, August 9th, she celebrates her birthday and the first day of the rest of our life together. Happy Birthday, Precious from your family.

Reunion

Linda and I hosted my father and step-mother, Jose’ and Frances Arroyo, last Saturday. I must admit that it was with some nervousness, on our part and I am sure, on their part, as well. It has been over a decade since we have had contact and so this was a reunion, and meeting. I cannot begin to describe how the healing process started but I am certainly glad that we took the steps to make it happen.

I think, and hope, it is the first step in many to come. Linda and I certainly enjoyed ourselves and Dad and Frances had a great time as well. It is rather funny, I think that Linda is the reason why I was able to make these steps, Linda is the reason that I can begin to understand Frances, Dad’s wife. Before I remarried and began to look at a “step-parent”, I didn’t really understand why Frances did many of what she did. I can begin to see, after she has been at his side almost 30 years, how much she loves my father and can be so protective of him. Linda has done the same for me over the years.

A Happy Mother's Day

Michael and Linda share a moment at Braum's on Mother's Day

Kayla with Emersyn on Mother's Day.

Kayla looks on as husband, Landon, shows Kadence something at Braum's.

Grandma tells Kadence about her gift.

Weekend with the Grandkids!

Linda and I had a fantastic time with the Million children and Kadence. Michael has been around lately while he has been working nights at WalMart.

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Alec had a blast helping Grandpa work on blowing leaves from the garage!

Anniversary Getaway

This past weekend marked our 12th Anniversary (March 14th). Linda and I had a wonderful time getting away to a local Bed and Breakfast, the Crow’s Rest, going out for Steak and Lobster at Elements and spending an evening at a casino (we didn’t come home rich!). I included a few pictures from the Crow’s Rest.

 

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We definitely want to thank Landon, Kayla and Kadence Morris for making our getaway possible. While we were away, they volunteered to take care of our dogs and really made it a worry-free weekend.

Quality Time with the Grandkids

I am putting up a couple of videos from time with Kadence, Rainee, Alec, and Chloe. The first is some great time with Kadence. She was captured doing some pretending in the bathroom, playing and having a blast.




The second video is a visit to Chandler park. Enjoy as they play!

Wow! In like a Lamb or Lion?

March is here and Spring is not far behind. I never could remember what the groundhog (or Mother) did on Ground Hogs Day so I am never remembering what it is supposed to be like!

Well, Linda and I have been married 11 years a week from this Saturday! I just hope she feels the same way but I adore her more today than ever before! Our Anniversary is March 14th, (1998). I pray that God will continue to bless us and our children and grandchildren!

It did not go as well as we hoped for Jose' but it did go much better than we imagined. I hope that makes sense. He could have, and probably should have, received a much worse situation but ended up with better. We will not see him for awhile, at least a year and as long as 3 or 4 years. I know this is cryptic but, for those of you that know the circumstances, this should make pretty good sense. Keep Jose' and his children, Chandler, Chasity, Cayden and Destiny in prayers.

Let's see, I think that we 'spring forward' this weekend. The following weekend, that of the 14th, begins Spring Break for Tulsa Public Schools! Boy, am I ever ready!

I have a nifty video which I will upload to YouTube and embed, hopefully, tonight. It is of Kadence when she spent the night with us a couple of week's ago. She is very imaginative and had a blast. I almost forgot, Chandler and Chasity spent the night last weekend. We all survived! We had a great time!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Arroyo's

Well, this Thanksgiving has its ups and downs for our family.

On the ups side: Linda was able to spend her first Thanksgiving weekend with her sisters since, well, since she has been an adult! She went to Hot Springs to visit Judy and Anet and had a great weekend with her family.

Linda and I spent the actual Thanksgiving day together alone. All of our kids and grandkids were at in-laws and out-laws family get-to-gethers and we celebrated God's Blessings together.

Keep Jose', my oldest son, in your prayers. He has hit his rock bottom and the outlook is bleak for his future. It seemed like he was getting his life together, going to school and working but he backslid and his luck ran out. His reliance now has to be on God. We are keeping him in prayers and ask you to do the same.

My job situation has become brighter. I was going through a crisis in vocation. What has God gotten me into? Well, prayers have been answered and things are brighter in my chosen profession. They have not become easy, by any means, but brighter just the same.

Rainee visits Grandparents

This weekend was a fun weekend with Rainee spending the night Friday and spending Saturday with us. We had a blast last night watching College Road Trip, a delightful Disney Family movie!

Sing to the Glory of God!

This is a video taken last week with a visit to Brody by Rainee, Chloe, and Alec.

This week has been one of ups and downs, I received my Oklahoma Teacher Certification today and last week, my Texas Certification. Linda and I got word that we have a house, then, after the brakes went out on the car and rear end had to be repaired, found we couldn't afford to put the deposit down! Brody was denied transportation to Tulsa to be with his parents, so everything looked bleak, to say the least!

“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much.”

Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

This quote has been ringing in my ears and we have been struggling with our faith but, true to the words I so often use (sometimes simply 'mouth'), God did provide. We have the much-needed deposit money through the Grace of God. Thank you Jesus!

We have the generosity of my sister, Christina, and brother-in-law, Pat to thank as well, they are coming down with a trailer to help us move some of our stuff this weekend into the garage of the new place. That will make a dent of our moving so we can bring a much smaller load next weekend and complete our move.

We are not out of the woods yet, "God has done great things for me and mighty is His Name..." as Mary says in her Magnificat. Keep the Arroyo family, and Brody, in prayers. More to come...

Anet and Niles visit in Keller

 

Linda, Stormy, Anet and Niles together in Keller. Anet and Niles came down to pick up Stormy, who visited Linda and J in Keller for the past two weeks. Linda and Stormy had a 'girls night out' last night so Stormy will probably be sleeping on the trip back to Hot Springs. Too bad that the visit took place as the house was full of boxes as we prepare for our move back to Tulsa! Next time, we will be prepared with EMPTY boxes and pictures on the walls! Niles helped J out with some ideas for how to light the new models of the Enterprise NX-01 and NCC-1701! If those ideas work out, the models will be incredible! Thanks Niles for the great ideas!

Burgers Lake, TX - a day at the 'beach'

Rainee and Chloe are getting ready for a picnic at Burgers Lake

Yes, that is Stormy Fowler, Rainee and Chloe Million waiting for the food to cook at Burgers Lake.

Alec hams it up for the camera at Burgers Lake

Linda, Stormy, Rainee and Chloe enjoying a picnic. We weren't sure we would be able to have the picnic. The wind picked up and blew a gale before our picnic and we were sure a storm would send us packing not an hour after we arrived! But, things went as planned and it died down enough for us to spend the day in the sun and water.

Fun in the Sun

As you can see, the kids had a great time in the water and the clouds did not cause a problem afterall!

Rodeo Day at Rainee's School

Well, this is a first for me and the Arroyo Family Blog - VLOG! We are uploading a new VIDEO! This is Rodeo Day at Rainee's school on Feb 1st, 2008. Full of activities, the video is our first attempt at performing full editing and captions for a video, let alone uploading it to our web site! Be kind, enjoy, there should be more to come.

It has been awhile.....

I have been a bit absent in posting for the past few weeks. Well, winter is, kinda, here in Texas. It was definitely windy today and, between the wind and the wild fires, we have been on our toes.

It looks like Linda, at least, will be coming to Oklahoma in a week or so to visit. I wish that I could make the trip but, with school, it just does not look like it is a possibility. We are considering our options as the second semester is upon us.

My school is progressing and I am working on finishing up my certification here in Texas. Where the Lord brings us as Lent approaches, we will see.

I placed a link in the title for the Catholic Voter's Guide at Catholic Answers () Consider the very important issues at hand in this election. It is important to the Arroyo Family that we keep LIFE foremost in mind this election. We have major candidates that are campaigning on such issues as Same Sex Unions, Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Abortion. What are the rights of our children?

God Bless, I hope that you are all doing well this 2008!

Finally, the rest of the house

Linda's and my room

More of the room

Our garage (and it actually will fit BOTH cars!)

Room for one more!

August 11 - Well, over the past week I have interviewed with Fort Worth and Dallas. Fort Worth sounds exciting, I would teach 6th Grade Social Studies at a 6th Grade center there. Dallas is an inner city middle school which presents some challenges. Being a History major, the Social Studies is the one that I am really hoping for. Monday will be the big day, I am supposed to hear from both of them at that time.

More of the house

This is our kitchen

This is our Dining room and Living room (in the previous post was the Family Room)

Our Entry way

Our New House

We just can't begin to say how proud we are of the new house. Here is the front.

Our back porch has a terrific view of the park which is right out the back gate.

Drew is lounging in the family room on our lawn furniture (which, one day will be something other than lawn motiff.)

Another view of the family room.