CasaCarothers.com

Our visit to the Air and Space Transformers Museum 2010 part...

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:29:40 -0400

Our visit to the ~~Air and Space~~ Transformers Museum 2010 part I…more to come

somebody's got a case of the mondays

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:54:12 -0400

Today kicked off Sam’s first work-free week away from the NGA, but he found himself back with glass anyway - we took our jeep in for a windshield replacement and this picture just had to be taken to commemorate the ball and chain.

baby makes 5

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:50:14 -0400

Congratulations to my roomie Rachel & her husband Rob on baby #3 due Decemberish 2010!!!

(picture from Facebook)

praise the Lord!

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:04:11 -0400

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!

april fools

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:08:00 -0400

While visiting with family at the Harrison’s last night, Dob embarked on a 10+ minute walk down memory lane about one of his favorite days of the year: April Fools. With wide eyes, a sneaky smile, and a loaded laugh he reminisced about all of the things he has done in the past, particularly to Christin. Then it hit us: what better way to fight fire with fire than for Bailey to “go missing”? I simply suggested the ~~kid~~ dognapping, Christin awesomely executed the plan.

This morning she secretively dropped Bailey off at a friend’s house. When Dob discovered B was missing, he called to inform Sam that there are two things you should never mess with: “a man’s golf clubs and a man’s dog”…a man’s wife did not make the list. After a solid 2 minutes of denial from Sam, Dob received a call on the other line. Christin had arranged for a guy who was working at the friend’s house to call Dob using a genuine and heavy Speedy Gonzales accent and say something like this:

Speedy: I think I have your dog. (pronounced I dink i have your dog)
Dob: How do you know it’s him?
Speedy: He’s a black poofy dog in a grey shirt.
Dob: Where is he?
Speedy: He is fine, he’s staying with me right now.

Well done, Christin! I vote to shave Marshall next year (when we’re conveniently out of the state)

unemployed. for 11 days.

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:45:00 -0400

Today was my last day of work at the National Glass Association. I had nothing to do, and therefore I had everything to do. I spent the day volunteering to do all the tedious crap that everyone else had been putting off for weeks. But at least it kept me busy for 8 hours. They were nice enough to take me to lunch for the 2nd time since I gave my notice. When we came back from lunch, for the first time ever, I found an empty cardboard box sitting on my desk. I had so few items to my name in my office I didn’t even use it. I stuck my “Pirate Parking Only” street sign, along with like 3 other things, into a Target bag and walked out of the office for the last carpool with my boss.

Interesting fact #1: my boss had interviewed with 2 other companies already this year.

Interesting fact #2: the money we will save from paying tolls every day will complete any future Carothers baby’s college fund.

Interesting fact #3: I worked through the end of March to make sure our finances were in order before I left, only to discover that the check I received today was for the pay period ending on 3/15. Translation: I will receive my final paycheck in 2 weeks for not working, and it will be exactly the amount needed for Ashley to come see me graduate USAF basic training. God is good!

-sam

Easter week

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:02:15 -0400

Our new pastor, Tim White, is so in love with Jesus! He sent out this great email to get us in the right mind for Easter. It is below and we would encourage everyone to read along. God bless!

I’d like for our church to be intentional about focusing on the passion of Christ this week by setting aside some time to read through the accounts given in one of the Gospels. This year, I’d like to start with Matthew, next year, Mark, etc.

Specifically, I’d like to challenge you to set some time aside to read to your family, your spouse, or your self the following Scriptures on the following days. If discussion happens naturally, wonderful; otherwise, don’t force it. End your time with worshipful prayer about what you have just read.

Wednesday: Matthew 26:1-35
[The Worship of Mary, The Plot to Kill Jesus, and The Passover Meal]

Thursday: Matthew 26:36-27:10
[The Garden, The Betrayal, Jesus before Ciaaphas, Peter’s Denials, Judas’ Death]

Friday: Matthew 27:11-54
[Jesus before Pilate, The Scourging, The Mocking, The Crucifixion, and The Death of Christ]

Saturday: Matthew 27:55-28:20
The Burial, The Grave Secured, The Resurrection, The Appearances, The Pay Off, The Great Commission]

Sunday: 1 Corinthians 15:1-58
[Each person privately BEFORE church as this will be our text for today… The Resurrection of Christ!]

It won’t take as long as you might think and it will be very good for your soul. Will you do it? This will be a wonderful journey for our church to take together during this significant week of worship and in preparation for Resurrection Sunday!

“Before we can begin to the see the cross as something done FOR US…
We must see it as something done BY US.”

See you Sunday!
Pastor Tim

d'oh!

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:04:20 -0400

Anyone who knows even a little about my personal life knows I’m a die-hard, all-go, no-quit fan of The Simpsons. The longest running show on television and of my life. I’ve seen nearly all 400 episodes, and each at least 4 times. I’ve seen the movie, own it, and 2 board games, a video game, and a pair of Homer Simpson Valentine boxers (thanks Mom). As one can imagine, in its 21st season, the writers of the show have been calling longshots with storylines for about the last 5 years. Some of those have involved jokes aimed at the Simpsons’ devout Christian neighbor, Ned Flanders. And it doesn’t help that the town’s church has an out of touch and apathetic pastor. I have usually just blown it off and thought of it as generally harmless, as it has only been one or two small jokes pointed at any of several “religions” as a whole every couple of months up until recently.

At Ashley’s request, I reluctantly agreed to refrain from watching the show a couple months ago due to these sporadic instances. I admit it has been pretty hard having one of your favorite past times removed from your daily life. But the new episode on Palm Sunday was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me; leave it up to the most intentionally ignorant TV character to provoke a concept of Messianic falsehood on one of the holiest days of the year. I was busy that night and didn’t watch it, but I am thankful for having missed it after I read a synopsis about it the next day. I never thought I’d say it, however trivial it may sound, but at age 26 I have decided to take an indefinite leave of absense from my all-time favorite show. When TV writers can find nothing better to do than mock my Savior and claim the feat as their own, it’s not worth my time, nor I hope anyone else’s.

-sam

HBC Easter cantata

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:22:11 -0400

For anyone who is interested, Sam will be playing drums at our church for the last time at the annual Easter Cantata. The first service (of 2) starts tomorrow night at 6pm at our church in Hamilton. This is also a good chance to catch our new pastor, Tim White.

The Lord’s Supper - Matthew 26: 17 - 30

¹⁷On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

¹⁸He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ “ ¹⁹So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

²⁰When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

²²They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”

²³Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²⁵Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”

²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

³⁰When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

NJ Visit 2010…more to follow

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:07:46 -0400

NJ Visit 2010…more to follow

operate a USAF bomb robot

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:03:39 -0400

operate a USAF bomb robot

happy birthday, Daniel

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:42:13 -0400

Tonight was the kick-off to the grilling season & a long-distance toast to Daniel’s 24th birthday. Hope you have a great night in Texas, cuz! We told several Quinn stories in your honor :)

Captain Jack taking his first outdoor adventure

This is why I love living here - horses just walking down our driveway at sunset…and yes, we’re getting a new camera!

the last hurdle

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:41:00 -0400

The past 4 months at my company have been the toughest for me. Having gone through the motions and formally sworn an oath to wait an undetermined amount of time to become an Airman, something so completely different from my current lifestyle it’s almost laughable, it’s been a little tough to keep quiet at work. Having seen 30 people lose their jobs at the drop of a hat on several occasions over the past year taught me quickly that if anyone got wind of my personal life, it meant the big boss would take the first chance he got to trim some more fat. It’s difficult not even hinting at something you’re so passionate about to people you see 40 hours a week. Not to mention carpooling with your boss, who has actually asked me several times in the past month if I or anyone I knew was looking at other jobs!

We have been praying not only that I’d make it to March, but that once I gave notice of my resignation they’d let me stay the last 2 weeks and not try to find an immediate replacement (this has not been the case in the past). But oh, the Lord is good. Not knowing at all what actions or reactions to expect, I nervously but with dignity handed in my letter this morning. The response was overwhelmingly positive. When I told my boss what I was leaving the company for, I was relieved to hear him tell me that had it been any other company, he’d have tried to get me to stay and make it worth my while - but since it was with the military, he shook my hand, told me congratulations and he was no one to stand in the way of such an honorable life change. I’m not one to gloat, or otherwise enjoy spilling my inner thoughts onto this blog page for that matter, but if that doesn’t make it worth it, I don’t know what does. My boss then mentioned that he is on the board of directors for the Coalition to Salute America’s Hero’s (which I knew would give me some leverage), and that he sometimes wished he had gone into the Reserves as a young man.

For the first time in almost a year and a half the company is being forced to hire a replacement for me. That also feels awesome.

Needless to say, I had a full day of telling people about my future and didn’t finish my work. :)

The Lord is faithful and I’ll make it through the 31st to have a nice 11 days of vacation.

-sam

this time last year...

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:07:39 -0500

This week Sam’s brother, sister in law, and niece were up here visiting from NC. It was exactly a year ago that we traveled down to NC to meet Tovia for the first time when she was 10 days old! Now she is crawling (so close to walking), very interactive & sweet, and calling everyone “dada”…adorable! Brent & Andrea are excellent parents raising positively the most beautiful & well behaved baby we have ever known!

This was the last visit we will fit in before Sam leaves next month, and we had a wonderful time. God is good to arrange them coming up & a good amount of time we had with them.

Video

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:06:00 -0500

Sam & Tovia cute conversation

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:38:14 -0500

Sam & Tovia cute conversation

Wii domination

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:36:54 -0500

Wii domination

Sam & Dob male bonding over Wii

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:35:29 -0500

Sam & Dob male bonding over Wii

9 months to go...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:33:19 -0500

Although that initial assumption most of you just made would put an end to the interrogations and hints we’ve gotten since getting married in 2007, the title of this post is only alluding to the ironic amount of time I will be spend working with Life Line Crisis Pregnancy Center beginning today - a way to tithe some of the gifts God has given me. I have interviewed & toured the facility, and will begin volunteering a few days a week as soon as possible. Because I have less than a year to contribute, I will be a helpline & data worker instead of a patient advocate, honestly much to my relief! I wont be able to post much about my time there in the interest of confidentiality, but please keep this in prayer & check out the awesome work they/we are doing online!

~ Ashley

5:13

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:43:10 -0500

Minutes:seconds, this was my first timed one-mile run in 6 months. I actually almost feel bad for my older, always-crushed-me-in-athletics brother, who ran beside me yesterday on the track. I feel this record was almost an accident. Props to Brent for heaving and wheezing his way across the finish line of his 3rd lap as I simultaneously finished my 4th. I never thought it would happen, but it has. BIMP.

Tonight I began my final training program before basic, and my former Air Force Lieutenant Colonel personal trainer says as long as I keep it up, I’ll be one of the fittest people in the flight. I thank God for this experience because there is no way I’d be in the best shape of my life without the motivation of constant failure and humiliation, in the blistering heat of a San Antonio spring/summer.

-sam