The Life of the McDonalds

Baby Brody is here!

2010-04-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

Well I am sitting in Methodist Germantown this morning looking at my baby son. This has been one of the coolest experiences to meet this little stranger that has been hiding from us for 9 months! He is perfect! Cari-Beth was a trooper! She did so well through about 12 hours of labor and a c-section. I was feeling worse than she was I think, and I didn't have to do anything! I am so proud of her. She is going to be an awesome mom. I am going to try and pick up this blog more since Brody has arrived. I will try and add pictures once I can get them uploaded.

Bring it on 2010

2009-12-29T06:47:00.001-08:00

Well, I am sitting here at my desk on December 29th listening (kinda listening) to a web conference. In 2009 we have had some real excitement.

- First of all Cari-Beth and I found out we are going to be parents! Brody Allen McDonald is due April 15th.
- Second, Cari-Beth and I vacationed in the Dominican Republic this past June. We went with our good friends Justin and Ashley Foreman. That was a very relaxing trip in a beautiful place.
- My Sister-in-Law got engaged on Christmas Day. So we will have a wedding to attend in 2010.
- Cari-Beth moved to Bon Lin Elementary as a 2nd grade teacher
- I am about to complete my first full year back at McDonald Insurance

It appears that 2010 will be even more exciting than 2009
- Of course we will have a baby
- 2 Family members are getting married this year on Cari-Beth's side
- Hopefully the economy will be a little more improved this year. Nationwide Insurance has a new CEO that seems to have a better focus, which I hope will bring a better market for my business.
- On top of all this we always seem to be busy with 1 or 2 activities to be at each month that keep us on out toes

I also have been trying to get back into reading both for personal and professional reasons. I am working on a couple of Insurance Designations. One is my Life Underwriting Training Council Fellowship and second is the Certified Life Underwriter designation. These are really causing me to stretch in my knowledge of Insurance. I am a strong believer that in order to be the best in your industry, you must be a career student. Here is a rundown of the books I have covered or am covering currently:
1. Techniques for Prospecting: Prospect or Perish
2. Fundamentals of Estate Planning
3. The Game Plan by Warren Barhurst
4. The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
5. The Expectant Father (can't remember the author)
6. Rich Dad Poor Dad
7. The Richest Man in Babylon
8. The Psychology of Selling

After looking over my reading list I notice that I am focusing a great deal on my business life, but have neglected my Spiritual Life. I would really like to make a New Years Resolution to spend more time reading books about my Spiritual walk.

Long Time no post

2009-10-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I think it is time for me to pick this website back up and get active again.

As you all know, Cari-Beth is pregnant with our first child. She is now almost 15 weeks along. We have the Gender Appointment on Nov. 13 to find out boy or girl. We are so excited! She is doing very well. She is not as sick feeling as she once was.

I went on a worship retreat with Worship groups from Sycamore View, Highland, Ross Road, White Station, Cordova Community, and a few others. It was very refilling to be amongst brothers and sisters and to have such awesome worship! What powerful testimony we heard on Saturday night with such Transparency.

Well, I hope someone reads this since it has been so long!

Election

2008-09-09T11:38:00.001-07:00

Well, the as the election draws near it appears that the candidates are in a dead heat. It appears that John McCain has closed the gap and then some. It is an exciting time for Republicans! The first Female Republican Nominee is a great one! Gov. Palin brings a fresh look to the campaign and was an excellent choice. Watch out Obama, McCain/Palin is taking the White House!

The closer Nov. gets, the tougher it will be. McCain has to do a good job of separating himself from the current president and promote action. Nothing against Bush, but in order to capture the swing votes needed he has to have a different look than the last 8 years. Obama will continue to try and tie McCain to Bush, but I think he will be unsuccessful.

It has been a well played chess match so far and I know that the Dems. have more tricks up their sleeves as well as the republicans. I worry from an Obama led nation. I feel his interests lie in higher taxes and I also worry about Obama's ties with his previous pastor and their "Loyalty to Mother Africa" as was described on the church website. I think the republican party has been largely gagged by the media, which plays to their favor. Because poll #'s are skewed farther towards the liberals than reality holds.

We are in tough times and I think there will be changef or the better no matter who takes office. But I feel McCain is better prepared for the job and has the public interest at heart.

The Economy

2008-07-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Well it looks like Corporate America is having a time with the economy the way it is. I noticed Wachovia Bank posted a loss of 8.86 Billion for the 2nd quarter. Also I hate to see the Starbucks closings. Though I am not a coffee drinker, I noticed the location at Summer and Appling is closing (My mom is a wreck!). This is not good for Bartlett, since it was a great addition to the area. It looks like we will need to fasten our seatbelts for a long ride. Hopefully we will see a turn after the fall election since the presidential election is amplifying matters. This election is a real downer!

Anywho, I think this market lends itself well to the saying "Buy Low, Sell High".

The Dark Knight

2008-07-22T14:44:00.001-07:00

Well it has been a while... To busy for my own good.

Scott Penny and I went and saw the movie Sunday. What an awesome film! HeathLedger played the role of the Joker great and Christian Bale is a great Batman.

Siskel and McDonald give it an A+!

My Nephew Connor and the House

2008-05-02T06:36:00.001-07:00

We are so excited that Connor has now arrived. He came into our lives around 9:15 pm on the 24th of April. He weighed 7 pounds and was 20 inches. He as a beautiful baby! I know my brother and Cari are so proud.

My good friend Callie used her great ability for photography (as she has with alot of children) and took pictures of Dylan and Connor together. NOw as most of you know, it takes an act of God to get Dylan still for many pictures, so you have to be quick with the lense. Anyways here are the ones she sent me.

Also I wanted to post some pics of the new house with our stuff instead of the previous owner.

New House, Birthdays, and Fun Times

2008-03-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well, lots has happened since my last post.

We moved into our new on Good Friday. I owe alot of thanks to a few people. Scott Penny, Justin and Ashley Foreman, Brandon (MK's friend), Mari-Kate, Brian, Penny, Ryan McDonald, and Mom and Dad. We now have everything in the house and are trying to straighten out everything. The house is just wonderful. I left Ryan today at lunch as he finished smoothing out the concrete pad for our Lab Rocky. Unfortunately Cari-Beth has to finish her student teaching in Dyersburg, so she will be here only on the weekends until May. Scott Penny was awesome enough to help me paint a couple of rooms in the house. Well, Brian really painted one of them (he is a great painter.) Also I have been working Justin Foreman like a slave to help me move different stuff! He has been a champ. He did say yesterday "I sure hope you don't move anytime soon!"

I was out mowing the grass Monday and all the neighborhood kids came up and introduced themselves. I think they are trying to get in good to use the pool! They are nice kids, very curious to see if there are any children in the house to play with. I keep trying to tell them that I am just a big kid, but for some reason they don't believe me yet!

I also celebrated my 24th birthday on Monday. Of course , as referenced in her blog, Callie Lillard's birth was a short 16 hours after mine. Her blog is in my favorites, so you should look at her's and see the cutest kids ever! A group of us went to Shogun's on Saturday to celebrate mine and Callie's birthday. It was a blast. I will have to post the pictures from that.

Also we are faithfully watching the Memphis Tigers as they march to victory!! GO TIGERS GO!!

(I hope to post pictures soon)

Xbox Woes

2008-03-12T06:54:00.001-07:00

Well,
I finally got the Xbox 360 I had been wanting! If you are not aware, I have been enjoying Xbox live with Justin Foreman (which our wives love so much). I even went out and bought my favorite game Call of Duty 4. When I went to connect with Xbox Live, nothing happened.

So after 3 days of overseas call centers I finally got somewhere. They finally decided to repair or replace the console. So they will be sending me a "coffin" to return my xbox in. I will be without for 2 or 3 weeks, but since I have a new house to get into I think that will be a blessing!

Besides that the closing on the new house is on the 18th which is quickly drawing near. Hope to see you at the new house!

We are buying a house!

2008-02-22T08:47:00.001-08:00

Well Cari-Beth and I are set to move into our new house towards the end of March. It is in the Daybreak area near Quail Ridge Golf Course (FUN FUN!). We are oh so excited about the move and being back. I apologize for the long time without posting, but I have been so busy packing and finishing work that it really has been crazy.

Connor is on the way!

2008-02-22T08:35:00.000-08:00

Well,

The pictures are out. Cari went for her 4D Ultrasound yesterday and you can already tell that Connor will be a handsome little devil! We are excited to have this little preview of the baby to come.

Happy 3rd Birthday Dylan!

2008-02-02T17:34:00.000-08:00

The youngest McDonald celebrated his 3rd birthday on Feb. 1st. Oh how the time flies. He is growing so fast and getting more and more of a personality each day. I was introduced by Dylan to Taylor Willoughby as Uncle Brooks! It feels like yesterday I was holding the little man in the delivery room.

It is both an excited and scary experience to get older. I was wondering what it will be like to show Dylan the video of him opening his presents at his 3rd B-day party when he is 18. We will laugh together at how skinny Ryan was then and the funny clothes and hair that we all had back then. I am so proud of Dylan and the young man he will so quickly become. As we patiently await the arrival of McDonald #2 Conner, I cherish every moment with the #1st grandchild of the bunch. I imagine in 10 years we should have 4 plus grandchildren running wild and the birthday parties will become much larger!

Thank God for the innocence of children and the happiness they bring to our life. If they only knew how precious they are in our lives! Dylan you are a true blessing and I guess someone else will have to read you this.... since you are 3.

Wedding Crashers

2008-01-30T08:01:00.000-08:00

Well this past weekend after attending a wedding in Dyersburg, CB and I decided to take a look at our wedding calendar for 2008. What we discovered led me to believe that after my experience with weddings I might as well become The Wedding Planner! Cari-Beth has the honor of being in Nicole King's wedding on March 1st. I will be in my good friend Jeremy Lewis's wedding in June and then in Scott Penny's wedding in August. We will unfortunately miss Nick Bell and Meredith's wedding in Florida! Shhheeww. We are so excited about these events and are both honored to stand by their sides when they take THE PLUNGE! So be prepared, because to each of these events I will have my dancing shoes! If any of you know Brad King he will rock the house in March. Jeremy and Scott have some killer moves themselves!

It is a scary thing to look around and see that so many people are getting married! Scary in the fact that time flies by! The next step is all the baby showers (which we have been to quite a few already.) If it is true that time only speeds up as we get older, then I better put on my seatbelt, because I feel like the years are passing fast already!

With all the wedding talk I can't help but remember the magical day that Cari-Beth and I shared almost 3 years ago! I must include a few of those photos to share.

Grandma has the moves!

Brian and Penny back in the day!

Keith and Patty way back when (Killer Tux Dad!)

Cari-Beth and I have shared so many special moments over the past (Almost) 3 years. I hope that these couples who are getting married can find the joy that we have!

Updates!!

2008-01-28T08:39:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems that the McDonalds life will change once more. After long prayer and thought, CB and I have decided to move back to Bartlett. We really grew to miss the family and friendships we have there. So the Lord really opened up doors QUICKLY for us. We already have a contract signed on the house! My father-in-laws parents will be moving from Millington to Dyersburg. They are going to buy our house. That is perfect since our house is next door to Cari-Beth's parents!

We are moving in with my parents!! I am interested to see how this goes, but we love Mom and Dad so much and are excited that the Mayor McDonald Plaza will have a room available as we search for a home. I will be starting to work at McDonald Insurance and Financial services on March 3rd! I am extremely excited about rejoining the team. I feel I have grown so much in the business and feel I am prepared to do my best there. I have loved the experience at White and Associates and will miss all my co-workers there. Cari-Beth is well on her way in student teaching. She currently is in 3rd grade with the youth ministers wife from West Dyersburg Church of Christ. She loves the experience. She will begin Kindergarten at the primary school the beginning of March. She is loving it, but is a bit overwhelmed with the move and all. She will begin interviews soon, looking to get into an Elementery school in Shelby County this Fall. Please pray for us in that endeavor.

That is all for now. Praise God for the work in our lives. I pray that we will be open to his guidance. We are also excited about rejoining to family at Sycamore View!