Friday, May 21, 2010

4 Years of Happiness

Today Lauren and I celebrate 4 years of happiness together. It has been a year of ups with a lot of downs, but God has blessed us both so very much, and with his strength and love in our our lives we will have many more happy years together. God has blessed me so much with my amazing wife that I'm posting Proverbs 31:10-31 (The Message version) know as Hymn of the Wife.

A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor. She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!" Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!

Síochána a bheith agat le,
Tillotson Clan

Monday, April 26, 2010

IT SEEMS LIKE...

Why does it seem like things just aren't made to work out. It is not all the time, but when it happens, it is not just one thing, it is EVERYTHING. We get our hopes up and then they come crashing down. Sometimes I would love to let things coast by, but doing so goes against who I am (I know some of you might find that hard to believe.)

It is that time of year again, where all teachers in the state of Texas are just tired. TAKS season. I'm not bashing the TAKS, I agree with an accountability system, but it is just a stressful time of the year. There are some other issues that I'm not going to go into at this time as well. But last night, to top it all off, Tomar our Min-Pin mix got out.
1. I worked way to hard replacing my fence last summer for this to happen.
2. This weekend, I thought i blocked off his exits. (he started climbing the fence that separated the garden from the rest of the yard, and then on that side, we found a HUGE hole under the fence)
3. Due to not knowing when he got out yesterday, plus we got home after 9:30 and he is a black dog, makes it hard to find him.
4. But what bothers me the most I think in all of this, is that if we don't get him back, that would be 3 dogs that we have lost in 1 1/2 years.
-Darrel died 12/08
-We had to put Iris down 11/09
-and now Tomar is gone

I hope and pray that someone has found him and will call the vet today (number on his rabies tag) and we will get him back.

Síochána a bheith agat le,
Tillitson Clan

P.S.: And for those who might be thinking Lauren and I are having marital problems due to the things I will not talk about at this time, do not worry, that is not an issue.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

In Honor of Easter

Yesterday I found a piece of paper under my windshield at Sam's that had the title "My Testimony" and in honor of the anniversary of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I thought that I would post it.

"My Testimony"
Twenty-nine years ago the Lord saved me at a motel in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was about 8:00 in the morning. I was about to drink some wine and work some.
I was not happy that morning and very despondent. I know now that God worked it out that way.
I was sitting at a table in the motel room about to go to work. I turned on the radio looking for some music, but I found someone talking about God. He said, If you will ask the Lord to please forgive your sins, He will save you and give you a new life, and then thank Him.
Well, I thought about it just about a minute. I did not trust, but I went to the bed and knelt down, and said, Lord, if you are real like this man said, please forgive my sins and save me and give me a new life. Then I thanked him.
I didn't know what being saved was, but I immediately lost my despondency and I felt peaceful and full of joy. I asked the Lord, If I'm really saved, help me to not sin.
So friend, if you feel the Lord speaking to you and you would like to be saved and have a new life, get off by yourself and pray. Ask the Lord to forgive your sins and save you. If you mean business with God, He will save you.
-Inspired by God

I read this and began thinking of when I was truly saved. I was great at being a two-face. When around people I could appear as this perfect innocent person, but on my own I did A LOT that I'm not proud of. This can be a stressful way to live, because it requires a great deal of lies to keep the two separate. But, no one can keep that up for ever and the two sides eventually met. It caused someone to get hurt, and at that moment I heard God say "Shaun, stop being dumb! This is not the plan that I have for you, you will change" and at that moment I felt different, a release from the "two-face" life. I now have a relationship with my savior, and God has showed me how to use that time of my life as a way to help share Him with others.

By reading this first I have a question, Do you have that relationship with Him, that He desires? And second if so, take this time to reflect on your testimony, and the blessings that God has given you.

Síochána a bheith agat le,
Tillitson Clan

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Iris, May You Find Rest and Happiness


Iris, we loved you so much. We remember getting you when you were only 3 pounds and could fit in the palm of our hands. You've always been our little fighter who would get through anything, and I mean anything. May it be taking on a dog 5 times your size and winning, or pulling through getting hit in the head by a car you always managed to fight on.

You were our little spaz that would find the most random things to play with. May it be one of your toys or a Dr. Pepper bottle.

All you've ever wanted was to be loved and to play with us. We would play with you and your toys, and then you would curl up with us and watch TV. Iris, We love you and will miss you.

Iris Thompson
January 21, 2007 - December 12, 2009
May you find rest and happiness

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Happy Veterans Day

Today November 11th, is Veterans Day. A holiday that was started as marking peace at the end of WWI. On November 8, 1954, it was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. This is a day we honor those that have served our country to protect the rights that we have. To make it where each and every one of us can have an opinion, to disagree, or to not care if we so choose. To the men and women who have served our country through our nation's military the Tillitson Clan thanks you, and will continue to thank you.

Síochána a bheith agat le,
Tillitson Clan

Sunday, November 8, 2009

I Love Christmas Time



Now I know what most of you are thinking, "November Just Started!!!"

But those who know me, know that Christmas is my FAVORITE time of the year. But yesterday was one of my favorite things to do at this time of year, and this year we've added more lights. For the first time since we moved into the house we have put lights onto the second floor.

First we started putting up the decorations in the house, tree, stockings, banister lights, swag lights off the balcony, etc. We even put some empty present boxes under the tree (we already gave each other our gifts when we bought the new tv last weekend. Overall it went pretty smoothly.

Putting up the outside lights was a whole different game. While trying to get up to the second floor, the ladder slid down while i was on it, that was fun, but i did get onto the roof without dieing. while up there i found where the two shingles that we found on the ground went, so i went ahead and repaired them. After trying to hang light with the shingle holders i found out the weight of the lights kept pulling them off, so we had to come up with something else. Lauren suggested running them along gutter on the side of the house, to allow them to be seen on Matlock. This worked great!!! So we got that done, and as i was walking back to the ladder i tripped on my jeans and freaked out Lauren for a second time. I did make it back down though, with out an injury. During this Lauren was decorating the trees and swing in the from lawn with lights as well as setting up the big penguin. While putting up the lights in front of the garage, I forgot to take into account that the drive way slopes down. While climbing the ladder it started to fall out from under me as I was climbing onto the roof again, fortunately it balanced back out after i got onto the roof. (otherwise it would have fallen on the car) Around this time it was getting dark, but we continued. We had enough lights to hang on the Matlock side on the first floor so we did. We got all of this plugged in and I realized to get the little penguins and snowmen plugged in, I need another extension cord and Lauren realized that only half of the lights on the swing did not work. We tried to fix it, but we couldn't figure out which light was out, so we said we'll finish it in the morning.

Today after church we went and got an extension cord and a net light to put on one of the bushes. When we got home, I set up the net light and got out the penguins and snowmen. Lauren replaced the swing lights with another set we had. While setting up the penguin and snowmen, i noticed that the snowmen are made with a more fragile plastic when i break the bottom out of one while attaching it. So as the saying goes "if duct tape can't fix it, it's not worth fixing" so i duct taped it on, and it worked. But we have all of the decorations done, and hope you enjoy the pictures, more of them will be on facebook.

Síochána a bheith agat le,
Tillitson Clan

Monday, October 5, 2009

Nice Hard Work

On Saturday, Lauren and I decided to make a new flowerbed in our front yard. First we went to Ace Hardware to get topsoil, mulch, etc. and then we got to work. I spent 3 1/2 hours shoveling out the ground that was heavily rooted, so of course now i'm sore. We then began planting, laying the soil and the mulch. We've surrounded it with brick, have a set of stepping stones, a few potted plants, and some statue critters in the bed. Now we just have to wait till spring for it to start growing. As sore as I am, I love doing yard work, and being able to see the results of it. I look forward to the spring a little more now.

Until Next Time,
Tillitson Clan