10,000

Last night as I worked smoking some of the finest BBQ in the DFW area in reached a milestone in my career at Whole Foods. I passed 10,000 hours of service. This brings with it some extra perks and benefits but also it is a great time to stop and thank God for giving me this Gift of my job at Whole Foods Market. I have meet some incrediable people in the last 5+ years and have grown so much in the culinary industry. I have been so blessed to be a Whole foods Team member for 10,000 hours and look forward tonight to hour 10,001. 

The Dallas Zoo

For Christmas, Sarah and the Yates family family got me and my herd year long passes to the Dallas Zoo! Well, after a 8 straight days of BBQ'n since Christmas I finally got a day off and we decided to head on down to the Zoo and enjoy the day. The Zoo is only about 35 miles from our house so it was a easy trip. After tanking up on some breakfast burritos we made thee by around 10:30 am. The weather was absolutely beautiful, a little nippy and clear sky all around. We had been to the Denver Zoo multiple times for Bethany's Bdays. This was Jude's first time experiencing a lot of these animals.

With the small nip in the air, this kept most Texans indoors with the heater on. We had the Zoo pretty much to ourselves for most the day. 

We started with the monkeys and the gators. We then went to the African Safari area. It was like walking on to a movie set in Africa. The coolest part was a ledge that the Gariffs would come up to you and you would be face to face with them. Bethany and I got to touch them and pet them. It was a unique experience. It's not everyday you get to pet a creature like that. We then had a fun picnic and then looked at a bunch of different birds. We also watched a bird show that had a parriot that could sing old McDonald. 

What a fun, enjoyable day. I couldn't help but think of Gods sence of humor as I looked at a ant-eater nervously pace back and forth with his strange body and wirey hair. They have to be the strangest creatures on the planet. 

2013-2014

Well, another wonderful, family fuled Holiday season is officially over. We were blessed to get to spend time with most members of our inner circles of families and THIS is one of the main reasons we moved to Texas. We were blessed that Nana & Grandad came down to celebrate Christmas with us here in Texas. Bethany and Jude have really missed them since we left Colorado. Being in Colorado gave Bethany and Jude a advantage of having them kind of to themselves and developing a strong bond that will I'm sure last a lifetime. 

One of my favorite Holiday has always been New Year's Eve. I love to idea of new beginnings and starting fresh. This year I had to work until 9pm. It was extremely busy at work and this was the last "official" day of the Holidays so after the last 2 months of being really hectic at work I think everyone at Whole Foods is worn pretty thin. I know that is another reason that I love the new year is that everything start back with routines again. 

After I got home from work Bethany, Cindy & I watched the New Year's Eve shows on the TV and  I had picked up some Sparkling wine and some 'Kid' Champagne for Bethany. We started a fire because it was 41 outside. We snuggled on the couch and Cindy popped some corn. We counted down from 10 and gave lots of kisses. Soon after we stared watching a movie that I watch every New Year's Eve, it's a classic..... Dumb & Dumber. I adore this movie, I will never forget the first time I saw it back in 1997 in the movie theater in Abilene, Texas. So funny. Bethany lasted about 20 minutes then feel asleep. Cindy and I finished the movie and then Cindy went off to bed and I continued to party into the night. 

Happy New Year!