Long Time

Yes I am still alive, and I can tell you that I know it too! Michelle has kept you up to date on our family- she does a great job! So I blame my absence from blogging on her - Joking! Love ya!

So what I've been up to...Basketball mainly. Everyday for the last several months I've left my house at around 7am and not returned until 8pm or later (unless its a game night and then its around 11:30pm) The thing I miss most is spending time with my family, of course. But I wouldn't give it up! I truly love it! Not only do I love the game and staying in shape, but I really love working with the girls. I coach mainly the JV and Freshman teams but also get to help out with the varsity. Right now we are in the middle of tournaments, a very long and wonderful time of year. We, Whitehall, took 3rd in our District and we are headed to Red Lodge this week for Divisionals. Knock on wood, we should make it through and be on to State next week in Belgrade. We are excited and have had a great season.

Of course in the midst of all the basketball, there is teaching. I have really grown to love where I teach and the kids I get to work with. Every teacher has their own reasons for teaching. My reasons have always been pretty clear to me, but recently they have become even more defined. I do it because I love the kids. Not always everything they do but that is just part of the territory. While I struggle with some of them, I appreciate them even more, because I can see their potential and love seeing them mature and grow. Its great to be a part of their lives, even in the smallest ways.

And through all of this busy time, I have the best family supporting me. Michelle and I have really enjoyed taking Shawn to as many games as possible. He really loved coming to the games at Whitehall because he could go out before and after the games and make "shoots" with the older kids. He is getting very good, even for a seven year old. Makes me proud!

Question?

Michelle has been begging me to change the pictures in my heading. She says it looks like Shawn is about to shoot her off her horse. I was just curious, did any one else think that it looks that way before I wrote it? I told Michelle I'd be happy to change it when she took more pictures I wanted to use.

Beep, Beep, AAGH!!!

Ok, I reckon I shouldn't complain, I did this to myself. Over the summer, my usual get up time got later and later. However, in an effort to get back into a school routine, I've been getting up fifteen minutes earlier everyday. This morning my alarm was set for 6:45. I woke up at 6:07 wide awake but decided to lay there and figured I would be even more ready to get up when the alarm went off. I must have fallen back asleep because the next thing I knew... BEEP... BEEP ... AAGH! Why is it that you're wide awake if you wake up before the alarm but if the alarm wakes you up it is impossible to open your eyes? Oh well, I'll get used to the schedule soon enough.

Why we love Montana

It's August, the hottest month of the year, right? I just checked the weather channel website and our high this month was 86 degrees and our low 37. The low was yesterday. Our high for today is supposed to be 67 and the sun is bright and clear. We are very worried about the whole Global warming theory ;)

One other interesting notes since we are talking about unusuals. We spent a little time at the county fair this last weekend. Ashlie, our niece, had a pig that she showed and then sold in the 4-H auction. She did well and her pig sold for the average price. Not bad at all. The unusual came from the grand champion pig. A normal high sale price for a 4-H pig would be around $5 - $6. That's the usual high. This year, $21 a pound! That kid is now $6000.00 dollars richer. Just to compare, the average for most of the pigs sold was between $$800-$1200. I can't wait for Shawn to start 4-H.

Just an update

I decided it was time update my blog when I looked at it and saw that it still shows Rebel (Mack). It has been over a year that we sold him to our friend and replaced him with Miss Dee. I hear Rebel has worked out well for his new family and he has come along very nicely.

As for Miss Dee and Sandy, they are doing great and seem to be happy in Montana. Miss Dee especially has come a long ways and I enjoy a good ride three to four times a week. I'd ride more if I could. Even Shawn loves taking his turn.

When he's not riding the horses, he finds ways to entertain himself. He loves to ride his bike and play in the water and build sand castles.

I'm no great photographer but here are a couple of pictures.

Family Appreciation Night

Tonight we went to our ward's Family Appreciation Night, which turned out to be an entire ward family home evening. It was great! The stake president and his wife came and spoke on journaling and family history and then we had some musical numbers. The spirit was very strong and then we played a fun little game, had ice cream Sundays and visited. It was a nice little evening and we really enjoyed being there.

On a separate note, I was watching one of my old time favorite cowboy movies, Lonesome Dove (for the millionth time) and I thought I would share a couple of my favorite quotes.

"Now if you want only one thing out of life too much, it's bound to be a disappointment. So, the only healthy way to live life, as I see it, is to enjoy all the little everyday things..." ~Augustus MaCrea

I think it is important to have dreams and goals and ambitions, but I also think it is important to find joy in the little thing. learn to see the beauty around you. For example, the other morning, as I headed out of town on my way to work, I saw one of those pictures you just don't forget. The sky was partially overcast and foggy and yet the sun was just peeking through in a few spots. Though most of the Tobacco Roots were hidden in clouds and mist, one little knob stood out and was back-lit perfectly by the morning sun. It was incredible!

"I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it." ~Woodrow

This time of the school year, I really get to wishing that more parents would teach their kids this way. I don't know if they really need to run them down with their horses or beat them with a branding iron, but there's a few I don't think it would hurt. Just kidding of course but I do believe all of us, including myself, could learn to close our mouths and listen a little more. I think it would be good for us to learn to think of others and try to help them more often.

Old Journaling

While I was on my mission, I started to actually write in my journal everyday. I've tried several times to go back to the habit but apparently an old habit is hard to break and even harder to restart. I was sitting in church today and it occurred to me that what I could do was add some quotes and stories as I struggle with things to write about.

A good one I heard today:

"Question your doubts, not your fears."

One of the brothers shared this in their testimony and I really liked it. Sounds like sound advice to me.

Today isn't one of those days though that I'm struggling for things to write about. It has been a busy week. At school I got ambitious and started a Spanish Club as a foundation for our trip to Europe in the summer of 2010. It has been a ride so far. The kids are excited and things are happening fast now. Our main drive right now is fund raising and Whitehall is a community that loves to get after it. Coming up this week we are preparing for a Mother's Day breakfast and then the following week a pant sale at the Farmer's Market. Then we'll be running the TNT Fireworks Stand at the end of June and beginning of July. At the end of July, Whitehall has a community celebration and we have a couple things in the works for that time as well. So needless to say, a busy time.

A lot is happening at school as well. We're down to our last few weeks for the seniors and they're already checking out. The eighth graders are finished at the same time and we're trying to keep them going. I'm not sure it's working but we just keep trying.

Wish me luck!