Spiritual Outdoor Adventures...Literally!

I just want to start out by thanking my Dad for introducing me to the world of Grizzly Adams and Clark W. Griswold at the same time. Ha! What I mean by that is, my Dad loves to fish, but there was never a dull moment on a fishing or hunting trip with him. Either one of his sons drove the car off an incline and tore the drive shaft to bits, or they hooked themselves in the head (ie: ME) with a lure, thus again keeping him from fishing.

GROWING UP LIKE BOYS
But once again I thank him so much for letting my brother and I be boys when we were growing up. Thank God that in the midst of our crazy schedules, that my brother and I can still find time to have a few but memorable moments out on the lake, field or stream. The trip I want to share with you goes down in the books as one of the most memorable outdoor trips that I've ever had with my brother. It was with one of the top hunting and fishing programs called Spiritual Outdoor Adventures w/ Jimmy Sites.

THE TRIP
We began by meeting up at the most beautiful ranch in West Texas near Abilene. Some of the most beautiful land you have ever seen and miles of it. This was my first Turkey hunt and my brothers second or third. However he has never got himself a Turkey on the prior hunts. We starting out very early in the morning, earlier than Bryan and I generally like to wake up since we both have young kiddos. I love outdoors trip as such, cause there is not a Starbucks for miles, maybe hundreds, and generally not even cream or sugar. You pretty much drink and eat the way thinks come out of the coffee pot or pan. This is the Grizzly Adams part of the deal that our Dad got us use to at an early age. I LOVE IT! Most people that have gotten to know my brother (Bryan) and I later in life is usually dumbfounded at the fact that we were anywhere around anything involving camo and guns. Generally we hear, you two pretty boys going Turkey Hunting? Ha, they've got a lot to learn! Okay, so Bryan got his very first bird in the morning hunt. He did amazing, for the first shot ever at a Turkey. Way to go Bryan! Of course, now the pressure's on. For those that know Bryan and I from an early age know that we can be quite competitive when it comes to hunting or fishing. Since I always caught the most fish when we were younger, not that any of that has changed (wink, wink), this always cause Bryan to try and put the pressure on immediately on a trip of this nature.

THE HUNT
The afternoon comes for the second hunt. Boy was I worried that we wouldn't see a gobbler before the end of the day and thinking, what the heck would I do if I missed. You only get one chance with these birds. They are very, very smart. Jimmy (the host of the show) was in the tent with me using every Turkey call in the book. I don't think Jimmy liked hunting with me very much. I can't seemed to sit still for long periods of time without wiggling a bit and squeaking my chair and Jimmy is Mr. Grizzly Adams himself. I've never seen a man with so much patience. Sorry Jimmy! It was nearing the very end of the day and it was not looking good for getting myself a bird this trip, as I had to head home to Austin the next morning. Then low and behold, we get a text from Bryan and the Camera man, Brandon. "Two Toms coming from 2 o'clock!" Of course Jimmy and I totally thought they were messin' with us so we didn't put much stock in it.....until.......OH MY GOSH, here they come! Wow, my heart started pounding. Two big Toms coming our way. It'll make your heart pound when your hunting guide tells you to take the safety off. That's kind of a surreal moment. So I take the safety off and put my shotgun in position. I draw a bead on him and am ready to fire. As the Toms begin to create amazing footage for the show by completely destroying our decoys in a fight, Jimmy just keeps putting me off until they have what they need on camera. I'm totally ready to go, until he finally say.......okay......shoot em! Well now, by that time the only shot I had caused me to hold the butt of the gun directly on my bicep while the barrel of the gun is sticking out a tiny hole of our camo tent. For those of you that know anything about hunting, that's exactly where you DON'T want the butt of the gun. But, that's the only shot I had so I let 'er rip! First shot ever at a Turkey and...TURKEY DOWN! It was truly an amazing moment, and how cool that it is all documented on video and I was able to share it with my best bud and brother, Bryan.

THE MIRACLE
Generally after ever kill on a hunting show, the group of guys hunting all go out and take a look at the animal taken down. They have somewhat of an interview over the dead animal carcass. Our wives really love that part (sarcasm). Bryan and Jimmy went out with me and we began talking about how amazing it was that we got our very first Turkeys on the very same day of the first Turkey hunt we've ever been on together. Jimmy said over and over that it truly was a miracle. Some people hunt for years and years and never get a bird, let alone the size of ours on their first hunt. We also began to reflect on me and my brother's relationship over the years. In our younger years we didn't get along very well, anyone in our family could tell you that. I believe he got me in trouble a few times that I didn't deserve it and I'm pretty sure I beat a few doors down to get to him. Yet here we are, sharing our first Turkeys together on the same day in this amazingly beautiful land that God created for us to enjoy to the fullest. This also caused us to ponder on the amazing moments we had with Dad at a younger age. We just couldn't stop saying "we wished our Dad was here, we wish he were here." This hunt truly was a Spiritually Inspiring moment that we'll never forget, and that goes for everyone on the trip I believe.

Thanks to Jimmy Sites and Brandon Chesbro for providing such an amazing opportunity for my brother and I to reflect on how God can rekindle a brotherly relationship and how much influence our Dads have on us at an early age. That brings me to thank my Dad also for always letting Bryan and I be boys and teaching us all that he knew about the outdoors. OH.........and thanks to our lovely wives, of course, for letting us go!

If you're interested in viewing this two part show, go to www.SpiritualOutdoorAdventures.org, or keep your Tivo set.

COMING SUMMER 2008!

What do you consider SUCCESS?

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”
– Sir Winston Churchill

I felt that this quote was so appropriate for what I've been feeling for quite some time now regarding my career. That's the question, what do I consider SUCCESS?

So many men feel that we're defined by what we do for a living and that we are more defined by the paycheck that we receive. I believe that couldn't be farther from the truth. I believe that we are defined by how we respond to life's challenges and what legacy that we leave behind for our family other than a large inheritance. Before we know it we could be twenty years down the road with an amazing retirement plan, dream home, vacation home, multiple cars, college funds and investments out the Wazoo. Yet our kids have absolutely no idea who their Dad is, their wacked out on drugs, having sex with anything that says hi to them and have absolutely no plan to take advantage of those College Funds for anything other than the opportunity to create their amazing social network on their myspace and facebook accounts. Is that what you consider "success?"

We all need to take another gander at the quote by Winston Churchill above and think through the aspects of your career to where it has been all about you and has done nothing but define you. Then think of how you can fulfill the last part of the quote in your life and that's to "make a life by what YOU give." Guys, invest time in your family and don't let your career or material things define your SUCCESS in life. Let that fall in the product of what others see in your family. That's where true SUCCESS should lie in our lives.

Is it a Boy or a Girl?

Wow friends, I don't really know where to start on this one. My wife and I had an appointment with the Doctor to find out what the sex of our baby was this morning. Everyone keeps asking, "what are you wishing for, a boy or girl." Honestly I'm not real sure how to respond to that one. You definately think about it but can never come to answer that question with complete honesty. I really just answer the way you should out of respect for my unborn child, "I'm just wishing for a healthy baby." HA! That's the right answer right? Well, I'll break it down briefly for ya.

Okay, here's the honest truth. I'm a bit nervous to have a girl cause I grew up with just a brother and am a bit overwhelmed at trying to do her hair when Mom is out of town, amongst other things. If the little one is a boy I'm a bit afraid that two boys in the house (excluding me) might drive my wife completely bonkers. Well there ya go! I guess that balances my answer out to "I'm just wishing for a healthy baby." However, it just so happens to be......a.........BOY!

Blog Newbie

Blogging is so many things to me already. It can be overwhelming, underwhelming, confusing, creative, therapeutic and exciting. I am so new to the world of blogging and it is a bit intimidating as well, hints the reason it's taken me several months to post again. I feel that I have so much to say with no outlet. The funny thing is, I'm not sure if anyone is reading this either. BUT, you know what??? I don't really care at this point. I think that sometimes I think that it's best that we have a specific outlet to just put our thoughts, concerns and ideas on paper just so it's there and not stuck in our head. I'm sure once I begin seeing that people begin reading my blog I'll begin thinking a bit more strategically with what and how I write. I would hate to lead anyone a stray just because I need an outlet to vent. However, I'm excited to have this outlet not only to write but to read. It's amazing to see how many amazing people have brilliant talents and amazing voices on so many levels in the blogging world. WELCOME to my blog as I feel WELCOMED!

Labor Day Weekend!!!

Labor Day Weekend, wow...where do I start? I had the opportunity to visit a buddy of mine's ranch just west of Austin, TX to go Dove hunting for the first time. He had been inviting me for over 3 years now and it has just never worked out with our schedules. What an excuse, huh? Below I'll have a few stories of the trip by title. That's just how I roll to make writing easier for myself not necessarily the reader. Funny huh, cause it's just all about me I guess.

The Big Bass:
As my buddy, Clayton, took me for a ranch tour of his 2500 acre ranch, I knew we would be riding by his ponds (tanks, as they call them in Texas). I just had to grab my fishing pole and tackle just in case we had time to wet a line. As we drove through his property on his Polaris Ranger, the most amazing off road machine I've ever riden in, we saw about four Havilina Hogs running away. Clayton swiftly drove to the top of the hill and handed me his rifle as he grabbed his 45 caliber pistol short thereafter and said "get em!" I began to shot round after round from probably about 100 to 200 yards away. I was suprised at how close I was getting. All of the sudden I gained a much higher respect for that guys in the old western movies that could get on the ground and take an outlaw OUT in one shot from even further than I was shooting. I may not have hit a hog that time around, but I sure did have em on the run!As we continued on the ranch tour, we saw some beautiful country side of the Texas Hill Country. Then we finally came to the most beautiful spring fed pond (tank). This water was more clear than my drinking water at home in Austin. I told Clayton, "I know we don't have much time, but I just can't not throw a line in a few times while I'm here." I probably only casted my line 6 to 7 times before what felt like a brick had been tied to my hook pull my pole to the ground. For a moment I thought I'd just caught some moss, but then the moss began to tug tug tug. I had the lightest rod and reel and this fish felt as if it may be a 10 to 12 pound fish. I assumed it was a bass, and low and behold, the most beautiful green spring fed tank Large Mouth Bass jumped straight up in the air and pounded back down on the water! I remembered Clayton and I just looking at each other with no words to say. At least none that I would repeat on this blog. It shocked me more than I expected. As I pulled this Largemouth bass in, all I kept thinking was that this is the largest bass I've ever caught, and said it over and over as if I'd never caught a fish before. I have amazing photos and my brother said "that bass looks so big it looks fake." I agree, as he probably weighed close to 7 or 8 lbs. We didn't have a measuring tape or scale. Of course, that's what a fisherman always says, right?

The Hog
There are hogs on every ranch, also known as Havilinas, or better known as pains in rancher's butts. They eat all of the food from their deer feeders and tear up their land as well. A rancher always says, "the only hog is a dead hog." Clayton had seen this hog the night before I arrived and wanted to shoot it then. But, he was gracious enough to save him for his guest, me. We went dove hunting and fishing most of the day and I was just pooped! Clayton loaded the day with plenty of fun and LOTS of BBQ. Cooper's BBQ I must say. By 10 o'clock I had crashed out on the couch with clothes still on as well as my cap. As I had soared into a deep sleep by 11 o'clock, I felt a nudge several time and heard a voice saying "WAKE UP, WAKE UP!" As I peeled my eyes open, I saw a blury Clayton handing me a rifle saying, "WAKE UP, your hog's here." I slowly peeked over the back of the couch and saw out the window ony to see a nasty hog in the spotlight of the deer feeder just going to town on Clayton's deer corn. I walked out on the porch, barefoot and my cap on backwards, half asleep. Clayton follow suite, but I think he was wide awake. There were several other hogs eating with the big Momma, which was my target. Clayton said, "I'll count to three, and we'll both shoot at the same time." Here I am still wiping my eyes to wake up, and Clayton begins to count. I'm still trying to figure out the gun I'm holding, I'm barefoot on a ranch porch with crickets crawing all over my bare toes, and I don't know if this scope is going to kick back and smack me in the head or not when I fire. Wow, that's a lot to think about with half a mind working. But, Clayton wasn't taking the chance of this hog taking off, or of me missing my chance to take out my first Havilina (hog). I then hear "3!" BAM, we both fired and all of the hogs then took off. Now's the fun part, tracking them down and making sure that you actuall hit your mark. We jumped in the Polaris Ranger, turned the lights on and went tracking. Clayton spotted the blood, he drove the Ranger and I followed the blood trail, YUCK! I love hunting and fishing, but this was a whole nother world. It's about as redneck as you get. We didn't go 25 feet and I spotted that nasty sow. Whew, hogs are not the prettiest things on the planet. Once I saw this 100 pound...thing, I didn't feel so bad for shooting it. We then took a few pictures and loaded her up. Wow, this was most interesting for this city boy. This is a time that the book Wild At Heart then made a lot more sense to me and why I loved it so much. This kind of stuff is just implanted into men in a way I just can't explain.

Needless to say, this was one of the greatest hunting and fishing trips that I've ever been on. However, I feel like any hunting and fishing trip that I've had as been the best and they only just keep getting better.

DW (Sept 2007)