Spring's Comin'

Around here the people say that when the Sandhill crane and starlings return to the river valley spring is just around the corner. I've been seeing them quite a bit on the drive back and forth to Whitehall. But right after they told me that, it snowed again.... I guess they knew what they were talking about, though, the days have been getting warmer and the snow is pretty much gone. Oh, I reckon there's still a little spring weather to come but it is nice to see the upper fourties and fifties instead of zero and colder.

It has been a good season. I do love winter and especially now that it will mean basketball season. I guess that is just a part of me that will always be there. I love the sport. it is beautiful and exciting.

Now that it is over, I'm glad spring is coming. I love the change of the seasons and especially seeing the calves and lambs romping around their mama's and the trees start to bud. The smells are wonderful and it is a chance to start another season.

Doodles or Notes?

For as long as I can remember I've always carried pen and paper to meetings with me. When I was younger, it was purely to sketch something random that ran through my mind as I attempted to listen. Then as I entered the MTC, in an effort to be a "good missionary" I tried to at least take notes. Although, looking back at those journals, they are still filled with sketches of horses, dogs, cowboys, and mountain lakes. I don't recall any of the visiting general authorities focusing their talks on riding through the Uintahs, the faithful dog trailing while the sun sets over the tops of Mt. Timp, but that could be just my poor memory.

While at the University of Idaho, I learned that there really was no time to doodle. Either take notes and mostly get the lecture or sleep and fail. I never did seem to find the middle ground there.

It has been just recently that I have taken up the old habit of doodling during church meetings. Although I hate to admit this publicly, it was more in an effort to stay awake than an intense desire to either improve my caricatures or focus on the message being given. I will say to my credit, though, in a desire to somewhat try to capture the message, I started to pick out things from the lessons or talks and I would try to sketch those. Unfortunately, when I would get home and look down at what I thought had been a masterpiece, I would find myself wondering just what the heck the thing was or why I had drawn a flower or tree. This led me to start to add notes to my sketches to help me identify the mess of squiggly lines.

Today, about half way through the sacrament program, I looked down and realized I hadn't doodled a thing. The page I was writing on was filled entirely with notes from the talks being given. Now, I should say, these are not usually nicely organized and directly related to the topic but they are my notes. It reminded me of my dad's old journals he used to carry around to meetings. I guess I've finally grown up. Realizing this, I quickly added some trees and a family fishing and a nice caricature of a cowboy. I would hate for anyone to look over my shoulder and confuse me for some boring old teacher who loves to take notes. That would be just too embarrassing.

A few updates

So it's been awhile and while I love reading everyone else's updates, I seem to hate to write them. But I finally have time, or at least I'm making time, and I thought I would let people know what's been happening.

I've been coaching girls basketball since November, which thanks to Mom and Dad, I'm sure most of you know. It has been a blast. I had the Freshman girls, I never thought I would want to coach girls, especially freshman, but it was a great experience and I can't wait for November 2009. The girls were tremendous and we ended up with a 14 - 2 record.

I also assisted with the JV and Varsity girls teams. The JV struggled a little more, to put it gently, and the varsity were fantastic. We just finished state this weekend. The girls took 3rd, which they more than deserved. It was such a great experience .

Michelle has been and is working as a Special Ed aid at the school here in Twin Bridges. She is so good at her job and loves it. We both love working with the kids.

Shawn is doing fantastic at school. He is now reading short books and acing spelling tests. He is such a great kid. He just gets bigger and bigger everyday.

The horses are weathering the storms well and Sadie is Sadie.

Well, that is the most recent updates. I know it is not full of much detail but at least its something.

Take care all.