Q&A with Andrew

You asked, and I made him answer 😉 .

This morning’s blog post is brought to you by…

…Andrew Shull.

Last week, when I published our HOME Q&A, so many of the questions would really have been better answered by Andrew.  While I can answer some questions about life at the Shull’s house, many questions fall under his expertise.  He’s the one that’s in charge of all things from pool maintenance to potty training (yeah!), so I asked you guys on IG what questions you had for my main man and holy cow!  You had so many!  On Saturday morning, he sat down and hammered out all of his answers (once again, making me confidently feel like he’s solidified his award for man of the year 😉 ) .

Grab some coffee (maybe some scrambled egg whites) and scroll down to see what Andrew thinks about a lot of things around here…

 

Cesar Millan, How to Raise the Perfect Dog

 

 

Shay and I both had a vision of a formal French look with straight lines.  When they were digging the pool I literally got down in there and walked around to make sure it was the right depth.

Petunias

 

I try to eat clean most of the time, but there are times when the bear comes out of the cave.  My motivation for working out and eating healthy is wanting to extend my life, and I want to look healthy.  I knew a guy one time that used the analogy of your car.  Do you put water in the gas tank?  Do you take a hammer and beat the heck out of the paint?  NO.  We wash it, clean it, and put gasoline in it.  I want to take care of myself for me.  No one else.

 

Being in Dallas I feel like I get the best of both worlds.  I can be in downtown Dallas in 25 minutes and am only 42 minutes from my deer stand.  Living in the country has it’s perks. but I love living where I do.  Growing up on the farm instilled in me many great qualities from my work ethic to mental toughness (hauling hay in the summer heat).  Having said that, being in a metro area is just frankly easier.  More access to goods and services, sports….etc.

 

 

It is just a gas heater.  I can get it to 97 degrees, although I usually hold it from 85-90.

I knew nothing of State Farm, nothing about sales before I met Shay.  After I met Jay (her dad who has been a SF agent for over 40 years) and learned more about owning a small business, I found myself chasing after that dream.

 

Dearborn.  Southfield Freeway and Ford Road.

 

I could bore you with all of the details, but I won’t.  Basically, high protein.  Lots of veggies.  I eat every 3-3.5 hours.  One of my lunches might look like this.  8 oz. of chicken cooked in the air fryer, broccoli cooked in the oven, and baked dry sweet potato.

Great question.  Right now traveling anywhere is up in the air.  I had a project in Argentina that has been put on hold.  Right now we are looking at possibly partnering up with a church in Montana.

Doing life.  I love doing the big things, but I love the day to day noise.  I love the schedules, the practices, the rehearsals, Friday nights, days by the pool, bike rides, and patio time, cuddle time, bedtime routines.  Of everything I have ever done in my life, being a dad to these four is by far the most rewarding/fun/incredible thing ever!!!!

 

Chores around the house, hunting, sports with the kids, snowboarding (what I dream of all the time), and traveling.  The more family time I can get the happier I am.  I love our group of 6.

 

Inspiration?  It was more like panic.  I already sensed teenage girls needing more closet room.  I didn’t sleep for weeks.  Ha!  No, I love solving problems like this, and that’s why I went to school and got a degree in Construction Science and Management.

I try to stay with fresh.  I am always skeptical of things being labeled “organic”.  Really though I just like the large brown eggs.  No specific reason, it’s just all I have ever eaten.  I will interject here though and say that the egg is one of the most versatile foods.  No matter where you are, they will almost always taste the same.  When I have been out in the middle of nowhere in countries like Bangladesh, India, Turkey, when food sources get more complicated and things aren’t that clean, nothing beats a hard boiled egg.

 

Anything.  Is that an answer?  When they were little we did a ton of park time.  In this season, it’s by the pool.  They have loved coming to my office lately.  I have a conference room in the back and I strategically brought my old N64 for some old school Mario Kart battles.  I am sure my staff laughs whenever I sneak back there and show my kids who’s the champion.

We talking dogs or kids??!  There is nothing magical other than persistence.  Yankee is struggling right now, but at some point the dam will break.  Be consistent and get a routine.  With kids……Step one.  Start by drinking your strongest version of a margarita.  Step two.  Pray that you are lucky.

(Side note: this is Shay, he’s being SUPER humble here!  He potty trained Madeley in two days and that includes sleeping in undies. I’m going to say, as an observer, it’s his consistency and positive praise.  I also agree a bit of luck was thrown in too, but he was really patient and consistent with her.  Now, the magic question is…where was he for the oldest two kids….hmmmm…because I was terrible at potty training them!)

Remember that episode of Friends when Joey puts his map down and tries to get in the map?  Apply that to a floor plan.  I created the floor plans for both of my office build-outs, a couple of projects in college, and our home.  Each and every time, either in the space or an open parking lot/street or field, I pulled the plans out and used tape or paint and marked off the rooms.  Being able to walk through the rooms is a must.  Seeing how they flow, working through the functionality of the space is key.

We bought our property in 2010 and started the design process in late 2012.

I do!  I have an older brother who is probably the smartest person I know.  (And I say that literally.)  Either I was hit in the head too many times playing football, or he inherited all of my Dad’s engineering genius (sorry mom, ha!), but nevertheless, my bro is super smart.  I do claim to being the best looking brother though.  🙂

4 considerations.  Time, Money, Ability and Desire. I would love to do certain tasks, but I simply don’t have time because some seasons are just busier than others.  Also, if I think I can do the task myself and accomplish it while saving a significant amount of money, I will do it.  For instance, when we added the fireplace in the master bedroom, I had the time and knew it was something I could do myself.  We saved a ton of money doing the work instead of contracting that out.  The 3rd floor closet was a little out of my league, so someone else did that.  Also, if it is out of my scope or too many things could go wrong, I punt and let someone else do it.  A great example is the new kitchen faucet we are replacing.  I could do that, but if we do it wrong and water leaks on hardwood floors, that would be a nightmare.  Finally some things I just can’t get myself to want to do (painting is a great example).  I have a longtime client named Juan who is awesome, so he paints.  If you need a good painter in the Metroplex he is your guy!!

Let me start my answer with this, I don’t know it all, and I am not a perfect person.  I am a sinner saved by God’s grace.  I always try to lead by example.  In order for our family to be spiritually strong, we have to have personal relationships with Jesus that are strong.  My day starts with my quiet time (which is why I get up at 4 am).  Time alone with Jesus is imperative.  Through this season, we have made it a priority to do online church.  Being the introvert that I am, I actually am loving it!  We are constantly talking about Jesus with the kids.  From here, it’s the little things like praying with them before sporting events, and encouraging them to spend time in their kid Bibles.  Another thing in the back of my mind is being real with them.  Shay and I both aren’t into the holier than now mentality or being “religious”.  Above all else, I want to show them the same kid of love that Jesus has for each and every one of us.  Do I fail all the time?  Yes, but there is always the next play.

It really is probably a much healthier way to live (especially when you’re like me and trying to eat clean).  I wasn’t consuming much gluten at all even before her Celiac diagnoses.  That being said though, the main reason is that we don’t want there to be any cross contamination in our house with her food and it just simplifies our lives.  We’re all making and eating the same things.

In the words of my best friend and former Pastor John…… date your wife and do your wife, as often as possible.  In all seriousness, spending time together, being intentional, grace filled, patient, kind, compassionate, fair, and strong for your wife are all must do’s.  You are a team.  It’s you and her…ride or die.  Friends, parents, jobs, nothing gets put above your spouse.

Too many issues with diving boards and kids.  I didn’t want to have to worry about it.  I also think sports are easier in the pool when you can stand on both ends.

This is an easy one, and I may have mentioned it before at some point, but it was seeing how he led our team through the passing of Coach Bennett’s wife during my first year at KSU.  He would spend all day, from 5 am until 10pm (or later) with us doing football and then head straight to the hospital to be with Phil.  Coach Snyder wasn’t flashy, animated or  considered a “cool” coach, but the man was a freaking rock.  He was composed, intelligent, and you knew if the ship was going down, he was going to still be at the helm.  He had his funny moments though.  One time, I got on the university jet to fly to Kansas City for a Catbackers (fundraiser) event.  I remember I was wearing a white button down polo shirt and khaki pants.  Coach Snyder was sitting facing me.  We take off and the ride was bumpy.  In about 5 minutes, I was pale as a ghost and drenched in sweat.  I remember he was working on something, writing (in classic purple pen style) and he looked up and then did a double take.  This 6’5″, 265 lbs guy in front of him looked like a frail flower.  All of the sudden he started laughing, (which was somewhat rare) and asked me if I was going to be okay.  I sure right then and there he started questioning my position as a starter in his defense. Ha!

Dallas Cowboys.  God’s team of course.  But if I could play any sport for any team in the world?  I would play shortstop for the Yankees.  When I dream, it’s of this.

I did.  Being from Webb City, Missouri, Nebraska was at the top of the list with a handful of other Big 12 schools.  Purdue and Tennessee were also on the list.  In the end, it came down to Missouri and K-state.

I sure did.  One of my longtime clients has been in the jewelry business for over 30 years.  Thanks Martin!

50/50 on the inside.  Outside was more me.  The grading and elevation of the back yard was me on the weekend in a Bobcat moving dirt.

 

Fertilize, weed control, and get the right kind of grass for your area.  Also keep your trees trimmed up.  Keep the canopy high.  That’s a big pet peeve of mine.

The best way is to cut that root ball out, but that is a lot of work.  I use Crossbow, a brush killer (I found it at Tractor Supply).  I keep pouring that on it every year when it resurfaces and it dies within a few days.

It’s actually just stamped colored concrete.  Unless it is like 110 degrees, it’s not that bad.

For the third year in a row I partnered up with a group of guys.  We are reading through the Bible on the Bible app.  Every day I pick a verse that sticks out to me and use the SOS method.  What does it say, how can I obey (put it to use specifically that day), and who can I share it with.  I also spend time in the prayer app praying with a a group of friends.

I do everything, but mow and edge.  I help with the weed control company we use.

Totally a mix.  All 4 have qualities of Shay and me…both good and bad.

I tell the kids all the time that I had my time in the sun.  I see so many parents who try to either relive their glory days or live vicariously through their kids.  I only want to do what they want to do.  Having said that, if they choose to play, we are going to give it everything they’ve got.  Attitude and effort.  I say that to them all the time.  You might not have all of the talent in the world but you can outwork the person next to you.  By nature, I am a super competitive, intense, and tenacious.  I try to instill traits in them that will translate to life after sports.

Awwwwww!  I love him so much!!!  Thank you, Andrew for answering all of these questions today and THANK YOU guys for sending them his way.  I hope this sheds a little more light into our main man over here.

Have a wonderful Monday, friends!! xo