Competitor's Creed . . .

Oneal had his first All star football practice today. The Head coach handed out the playbooks, and the first page was this creed from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes...I thought it was awesome . . .

I am a Christian first and last.
I am created in the likeness of God Almighty to bring Him glory.
I am a member of Team Jesus Christ.
I wear the colors of the cross.
I am a Competitor now and forever.
I am made to strive, to strain,to stretch and to succeed in the arena of competition.
I am a Christian Competitorand as such, I face my challenger with the face of Christ.
I do not trust in myself.
I do not boast in my abilities or believe in my own strength.
I rely solely on the power of God.
I compete for the pleasure ofmy Heavenly Father, the honor of Christand the reputation of the Holy Spirit.
My attitude on and off the field is above reproach -my conduct beyond criticism.
Whether I am preparing,practicing or playing;I submit to God's authority and those He has put over me.
I respect my coaches, officials, teammates and competitors out of respect for the Lord.
My body is the temple of Jesus Christ.
I protect it from within and without.
Nothing enters my body that does not honor the Living God.
My sweat is an offering to my Master.
My soreness is a sacrifice to my Savior.
I give my all - all of the time.
I do not give up.
I do not give in.
I do not give out.
I am the Lord’s warrior -a competitor by conviction and a disciple of determination.
I am confident beyond reason because my confidence lies in Christ.
The results of my efforts must result in His glory.

LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN.
LET THE GLORY BE GOD'S.

Kids day at Joel's blog . . .

This is Regan Elizabeth Adkins the newborn of my good friends Kenny and Melissa. Absolutely Beautiful --aint she...Congratulations guys--- Ya'll are great parents....



And these are my Pastors Rob and Tricias' Twins Emily and Evan---
Evan--is a handful--he has a look in his eye all the time --
Emily, well, she can just look at you and melt your heart.



















Always celebrate kids----they are worth it...all the potential in the world wrapped in the smallest packages...I believe these kids on this blog will make a difference in the world--all for the better...

#70

Well --Last game of the year tomorrow night---then we go to All-Stars...I have been really impressed with how O has taken to football---and something else--

This is the first year ever I havent coached Oneal...

He can make a play and look way up in the High School Stadium and find me and throw his fist up in the air or give me a thumbs up---

Thats a DAD moment---one of the very cool ones...

If you know me at all . . .

You know I love all kinds of music, but my favorite hands-down is the blues. and my favorite blues artist is Stevie Ray Vaughn. His death was tragic--his music continues to live---he is absolutely phenomenal. He says more with a guitar than most people can express with 1000 words...

If I pick up my guitar at the house, and I have a lot more often, I play along with Stevie...

Spontaneity . . .

"Spontaneity takes a certain amount of planning.... it usually consists of something or someplace that has crossed your mind before."

My Quote

Exciting and Exhausting . . .

The last few weeks have absolutely been great and I have accomplished a lot of good stuff...But to be honest --Its just about killed me-----But with new successes come lots of new strains--

I am starting to get back my groove--But because things have changed so dramatically with my work--it is really taking me a while to get back to a comfortable place...Im changing---and I think these quotes say it best...

"You cannot expect to achieve new goals or move beyond your present circumstances unless you change."

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."

Junior High . . .

Sometimes I forget Junior High is such a soap opera---I found this note in Oneals pants....

A note from a girl --his reponse is the big YES--I told him to write it a little smaller next time so it dont look so desperate--


This made me laugh . . . Hes a good kid---

Stress...

I have not blogged a lot of deep stuff lately . . .mainly because of my workload--I havent been thinking a lot of different stuff...Just work--

Most of the stress--I put on myself..
Im not a perfectionist----I just want to be better than everybody else...Ha...

I have been given an opportunity to accomplish something I'va always wanted---and I dont want it to be anything but exceptional...The workload is incredible--the stress is overloaded---but I will see the light of day and will come out with a nice tan and fresh air to breathe....

Siesta at the Potasina . . .

Oneal will be 12 tomorrow--so we all went and ate mexican and had a lot of laughs . . .

Great Day at the Fields . . .

Oneal is loving Football and with the help of Coach Jim, Chris and Doug--Is really doing good....They had a great game today---they won 16-6...Oneal is the Center and plays Linebacker on the defense...

Christian, my Pastors son is staying with us a few days and he had a soccer game----I had no idea how good he was---He is GREAT at it....he scored 3 goals and did a phenomenal job....

Good day for sports...

In a few minutes . . .

Pickle nailed it on this one.... !

Here . . .

Quote from Alan Alda? Who would've thought.

"Laugh at yourself, but don't ever aim your doubt at yourself. Be bold. When you embark for strange places, don't leave any of yourself safely on shore. Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory."Alan Alda

Pretty Woman Blues by: Joel and O'Neal Franks

Here is the unfinished blues song me and O wrote:

I figured I would go ahead and post what we had----I'll let you figure out who wrote what lines...
Its kinda to the same Blues Groove as "Rock me Baby" by BB King...more verses to come later...

Guitar Intro: O'Neal on Rythm Guitar, Joel on lead

Verse 1:

All women are trouble, no matter where they're found
I said All women are trouble, no matter where they're found,
They all look different on the outside,
But they're the same deep down.

Now short women are feisty, they pack a lot of love,
I said short women are feisty, they pack a lot of love,
But the one thing about a short woman,
you got to love her from above.

Tall women are special when they walk through the door
Now Tall women are special when they walk through the door,
They have a way of working you
into always wanting more...

Chorus:
I got the pretty woman blues
It'll sure 'nuff rot your brain
I got the pretty woman blues,
That stuff will sure 'nuff rot your brain,
See a pretty woman will love you and kill you just the same....

Guitar ----

Well, Well, Well . . .

I'm back...It has been a wild ride this past week...and lots of long hours between work and O'Neal....But that is the way I want it-----I really have a had a lot of stuff in my head ---But have been just too tired to put it in the blog....But yesterday and today rejuvenated me....The weather, the relaxation, the walks, the drives I took listening to old music (XM 73 and 74)---windows down--......a couple of trips to the gym, good church service, all the stuff I needed...


Only one way to say it...and Louis said it best:


I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
Theyre really sayin......i love you.

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
Theyll learn much more.....than Ill never know
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are there on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
Theyre really sayin...*spoken*(I ....love....you).

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
*spoken*(you know their gonna learnA whole lot more than Ill never know)
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.

In a slump . . .

Well--to be honest --I've been in little bit of a slump the last several days...The workload with the new show, almost to the point of exhaustion, stress, old memories, new worries--it all adds up...I was almost to the point of throwing my hands up---then guess what---I found that "Core" that has always been there.....I'm back...and ready to go---I worked til about 10:30 tonight---and got my second wind...I know the stretching that I'm doing now will pay off---I see it--I am getting good feedback...and am now solely aimed at my 50 year goals....11 more years...I am on the right road...its gonna work out perfect...My pastor always said--"Keep the main thing the main thing". Thats what I'm doing---

I had to cancel my Cabo vacation this month to work on the television show...but guess what---it all works out for the best---I've got an even better Cabo trip after the first of the year---completly paid for...and 2 skiing trips booked for O'Neal and me,with some of our best friends--one in January and one in February...

I must have been really tired----This life is great...

Motorcycle Sunday . . .

Beautiful Fall day---Great day for riding