Jason's 29th Birthday

Here are a few pictures from the big party!

It's Official!

Becky and I are proud parents to be! We're looking for a July birth. Needless to say we're very excited!

A Good Read

A great website about Bartlett, Tenn.

www.imagesbartlett.com

Laugh for the day

Eric sent me this link. It's pretty funny. Wanted to share - "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..." Prov. 17:22
http://www.102jamzorlando.com/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=681367

10 Month Milestone

Judah, now 10 months, just came by my office so I could see how he's walking. Yes, he just started walking this week! As if he just decided, "It's time to start walking," he just took off. Jennifer will need a leash once he gets the hang of it. He'll be running instead of walking. He's so fun. I could just eat him up! (that sounds like my granny :) ) Wish I could hang out with him all day. He's lots more fun that this cube I sit in all day. And, just to brag a little, I'm glad he loves his Auntie Becky. I like it when he starts smiling when I walk in, or when he reaches for me to hold him. My head swells with pride.

Baby Lex

Here is the newest Droke, whom we've introduced before. Lex is now 1 month old & such a pretty baby. (This picture doesn't do him justice. I'll have to get some better ones.) I don't think I'll ever get over how big his hands & feet are. I couldn't resist taking off his shoes to show off his toes the first time Jason saw him. That first toe is unbelievable. It truly is his "big toe!" And he has dimples! Watch out girls!!

Oktoberfest

Last weekend was Oktoberfest in Hohenwald, TN. It's one of my favorite things of the year. Not only is it the beginning of one of my favorite seasons, but it's a chance for our family to get together & enjoy the festivities, i.e. bargains, fun, food, games, etc. It's fun to see old friends, the "treasures" people try to sell, and the many unexpected items in the mix. We didn't buy as much as expected, but I did buy some nice mums! One of the highlights is the music played down at the Meriwether Lewis Park. It's hilarious & pretty terrible!! The yearly tradition is the "Big Butt" song. I can't even begin to explain it, but trust me....if you could hear it you'd think the same. "Gotta big butt? Well, scratch it!"

Here are 2 great pictures from the weekend. AbiLyn had been playing & Uncle Jason was chasing her around. Man, is she lots of fun!! I love that girl!

Birthday Girl

Tomorrow is AbiLyn's 3rd birthday!! She was born exactly one month after Jason & I were married. Hard to believe she's getting so big! She's having a party Saturday, which we will be attending. I can't wait to see her & Lex! I wish we lived closer so I could take her to the park for her birthday. We'll make the best of our time together.

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y AbiLyn!!

Becky & her Judah

We got to keep Baby Judah the other night for a little while. He's working on learning to say "Becky." Maybe it will even be before he says "Momma!" He is so much fun!! You can't help but laugh & smile when you're around him. I went shopping with him & his mom & it's so fun to see how everyone talks about him. They always comment on how cute he is & how he is so smiley.

He loves people & life. I hope he always keeps that characteristic. The world needs more like him. As he grows, I pray that he will learn to love the Lord & the things of the Kingdom more than anything else. I ask the Lord to keep him from all the evil he will face & help him to resist the temptations that Life will set before him. To know the Lord & have a true relationship with Him is more important than Judah ever saying "Becky."
I love you, Judah ben Hurr!!

Power Weekend

TPC's Power Weekend service was Sunday, Sept 23 at 2:00. It is one of our biggest services throughout the year. The church usually makes a big advertising push. Above is a sample of the design I did for the event. Below is a quick video of the billboard at I240-Getwell. Thanks, Janet for the "near death experience"- just kidding... although, those cars were coming fast.

Addition to the Droke Family

Alexander "Lex" Eric Droke was born today! He came into this world at 8 pounds 13 ounces and 20.5 inches long. In the words of his proud father, "He's a Looker!"

3 days old

What a handsome fella!!

Chattanooga, TN

Becky and I went are in Chattanooga, TN for our 3-year wedding anniversary. The first picture at the upper left is at Lookout Mountain overlooking 7 states. The second a close up of the two young love-birds. The last picture is at Rocky City.

Life's Little Challenges

Life presents us with challenges on a daily bases. Some are small and some seem huge and almost too difficult to overcome. Take the unspoken advise from my niece, Ellie, who is 4. She had her first day at her new school- Harding Academy. All she could do was smile at the unknown situation... she will chose to make the best of it (even if encouraged by her parents). Don't we all need to encourage each other when facing life's little challenges...

Tribute to Hohenwald, TN

Becky and I are in quite Hohenwald, TN, for the extended weekend. There is something about a small town that is relaxing and yet refreshing. It gives me a break from the "big city" and allows me to reflect of all that is right with America (ok, maybe not all).

The girls have just finished cooking dinner and Walter and I just got back from playing 9 holes of golf (he is teaching me on what to do). Other than the fact that it was the first round of golf I have EVER play- I'd say I did alright.

Tomorrow we will have a 1:00 service for the 5th Sunday and then the church will have a pot-luck dinner (whatever happened to those). Then it's more time with family and friends.

Well, I'm off to dinner... with sounds of the rodeo in the background (literally about a block from the Droke's house).
- Jason

Great Experience

I recently graduated from Leadership Bartlett. This class is sponsored by the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce as a professional development course for business people who want to take more of a leadership role in the Bartlett community (and if you talk to me for more than five minutes you know where I stand on that.) The program was a six month long series of classes ending in a group project. I developed a business plan for the Bartlett Arts Council and ways to increase awareness and funds for their non-profit organization.
I am staying active in the Leadership Bartlett Alumni Association and am always looking for opportunities to better my community.

Time Passes On. . .

Sorry for the lapse in time and not posting a new entry in over a month. I'll try and not let that happen again. I know all 8 of you missed reading what Becky and I have been up to.

I can tell you that we went to Pickwick Lake with Nathan/Kim, Bill/Jill and Janet (and of course the kids) this past Saturday. It was a lot of fun, other than being caught in a storm... not fun. Afterwards, we went to see Aunt Doris (DOR-is) and Crystal in Selmer, Tenn. They had cooked us a homemade dinner complete with my favorite- strawberry cake! We laughed and really enjoyed our short visit (never long enough). Oh what fun.

St. George Island, FL

Becky and I rented this little car to drive around the island. We are having a big time. For more pictures see Jennifer's website: www.barrynjennifer.com/gallery

Vacation

We're on vacation... Becky and I are on vacation in beautiful St. George Island, FL. We've been here since April 29. We are here with Becky's family. The beach house is wonderful and we are about 70 yards from the water- which by the way is the clearest I've ever seen it (you can be in water waist deep and still see your feet and the bottom).
We have mainly been staying at the house, but yesterday we went into town (back across the bridge) to "mingle with the locals." We went shopping and then ate lunch at the Owl Cafe- mine and Becky's favorite restaurant (honeymoon memories).
Today (Wed) we are going to rent some scooters and go ride around and maybe even have a picnic at the park at the end of the island.

Jennifer is going to try and upload some vacation pictures to her website- if so I'll email you all the link.

- Jason... I'm off to go drink some coffee on the deck...

Easter 2007

Becky and me on Easter Sunday.

This picture is the TN State Capital building on "the hill". At one point it was the tallest point in Nashville. This is where the TN House of Representatives and the Senate meet.

The second picture is in one of the committee rooms at the TN Legislative building. We were listening to a lecture from a Capital Hill Lobbyist.

Official Business

I have just returned from a day long series of meetings at the TN State Capital attending both the House and Senate sessions. This whole day has been extremely interesting and educational. I had the opportunity to observe my local elected officials in action. I even saw Representative Dr. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald at the House general assembly. I waved at him from a distance- he waved back, but I could tell he wasvpuzzled by who I was (it was rather far).
I have about an hour before our Leadership Bartlett class has dinner with our House Representatives: Jim Coley and Ron Lollar and Senators Paul Stanley and Mark Norris.
I have greatly enjoyed this day and I know that tomorrow will be even better.
I hoped to update the blog with some pictures I took, but was unable to get the camera to work(more on that later).

Breaking News. . .

I got to tour the WMC News Channel 5 studio today and chat with several of the weather anchors. This is a picture of the news "on-air" studio desk.
FYI- all the artwork in the background are actually banners. That is also the same studio where the old Monday Night Wrestling was held- Mohammand Ali and Hulk Hogan both fought in that studio.

A Different View

This is what I got to experience today. It was atop of a 95 foot ladder on the Bartlett Fire Dept's newest fire truck. I could see Wolfchase Galleria just as plain as day and even a couple of buildings from downtown Memphis.
I was able to meet with leadership from the Bartlett Fire Department as a leader in the City of Bartlett today to discuss their dept and how citizens can be more involved. I must say all the men and women of the BFD were professional, knowledgeable and extremely inspiring.

So Cute!

Isn't he just the cutest thing in the world?!?! This picture of Judah Hensley was taken at 2 months old.

Snow makes it all better

Don't you just love it when it snows? In Bartlett we hardly ever see snow. Snow seems to put everyone in a great mood- I know I am. Here is what our house looked like this morning.

Funny Wedding Story

This past weekend Becky and I went to a wedding for one of my co-workers. We started the day at TPC for an Annual Planning Retreat then went to the wedding. Before leaving the church we went to change clothes. While preparing to put on my suit I noticed that my pants were missing from the hanger. After I made Becky search the car and the ground, nothing turned up.
I had NO choice but to wear my french cuff button down shirt, tie, suit jacket and dress shoes with my JEANS! To say the least I was totally embarrassed. After the wedding was a formal sit down dinner and everything. Everyone from my work got a big kick out of the whole thing.
- Jason

Busy Lives

Do you ever feel like you are just too busy. . .
Sometimes I feel like I volunteer for so many things that I find it hard to devote my time and energy to the things that I really want to be involved in. I guess you could say it's like being spread too thin. I must do a better job of realizing the projects I enjoy the most and can make a real difference in and focus on them. It's like having your hands in multiple projects that you don't become effective in any of them. I have a lot of creative ideas for things, but because I am involved with so much I don't develop the creative ideas- then I begin to lose the original passion I had. God, help me to develop a passion for the things I can have the greatest impact in.
- Jason

Getting Started

I am starting something new today. I have started my very first blog, much to Becky's dismay. I will try to do a good job of keeping up with the posts, but don't hold me to it.
Hopefully, through this site you will learn even more about Becky and me than you currently know.