2008: When it all started::
I am Chris Fleniken. Just a cool, quickly aging young guy that lives in Texas, Lufkin to be exact. Things never go according to plan for me and basically don’t seem to go even in the direction I plan. Which makes me wonder if I plan for the opposite of what I want … maybe it will go the right way??? Anyways, I am about confused.
I have found myself in a bit of ministry work over the last several years, and recently have parked in the small business world. Fall of 07 I started “real graphics – design & printing” and now I am about to see if I can make it as my full time job!!! Yikes. man I hope so because as a single 26 year old with tons of debt, no house, and no degree, …. I don’t have that many options. Maybe I am really at the verge of my “break” in life? We’ll see.
3/29/16. A lot has happened. Real Graphics is growing strong, met my wife, got married 4
years ago, bought a house last year and our first little girl will be here in the next 2 weeks! Life happens and happens fast! You can’t get stuck in just a moment because the moments fly!
From the pic of me and the tuba… you can see I like to try new stuff! Not sure what all is on my bucket list….just because I have not written them all down BUT..I am going to knock as many things off it as I can. Because the time on this earth…though the time is unknown…its not going to be enough. SO making the most of opportunities and events is my goal. There was a great man that I never met named Kyle Lake, and some of his last words on this earth was to “Love God, Embrace Beauty, and Live Life to the Fullest” and that…is just what I want to do! From spur of the moment trips, tattoos on Hollywood Blvd, bungee jumping, hot air balloon rides, rode a bull ( proof watch this video http://youtu.be/38Z_D7MF9rQ ), single engine airplane rides on a tuesday afternoon, getting my truck stuck in the mud for the 3rd time ….it is all unforgettable moments I am so thankful I can live out!
April 2016, biggest life change to date was the arrival of Aubrey Fleniken. The greatest joy of becoming a dad is something I struggle to find the right words to describe.
18 months later, Daughter #2 arrived in November 2017. Yep that was a fast surprise for us! Emily and I could not be happier to have these 2 amazing girls, Aubrey & Adley. The most true advise or description about life with 2 young girls arrivng back to back is….with kids 1+1 is NOT 2.
2018 I made a promise to our RG team and wife that we would not add or buy anything new for the year. I made it through the year keeping that promise. NO major changes! The years previous have had major life changes like buying and remodeling our first home in 2015, buying Sport Threads in 2016, then a 12,000 sqft building 3 months later, and remodeling it for 3 more months solid. Growing RG in its new home starting in Jan 2017, building out more of the space to buy and merge in East Tex Pringing in August. All this while doubling the size of our family of 2 to 4! Needless to say year after year of major changes and stretching beyond comfort. 1 year to breathe was needed.
Now its the start of 2019, who knows what the year will hold? TBD.
2020 The year that just happened….
I think this year was the best and most prepared starts for a year I have ever had….Work was making great achievements and started the year strong. Our 3rd ( and final) baby girl Anna arrived March 10th. Then things went a bit sideways.
Anna is the sweetest baby! She is a great completion of our already chaotic house. She made her arrival and we got her home right before Covid really began affecting everything in our area.
Like so many or pretty much everyone, we are navigating through this 2020 and making the best of it all!
In the words of Joe Dirt: “You got to Keep on Keeping on”
Well I think 2020 just merged right into 2021 without much change the chaos around, but one thing for sure is that this family of 5 continues to grow up! Not in numbers, no there are no more kids coming, but seeing these 3 girls grow, learn and discover new things is simply the best!
Did I share too many photos of the fam? There are great memories to be made everyday.
My Spill 