16 years....almost.

It's Sunday, a day of rest. As I've sat here resting from a busy week I've had time to think about my almost 16 year old.  He'll turn 16 on October 1 I'm pretty proud of this kid.....and it's not because This morning at about 7 AM his dad Hollered down the stairs and asked him and his brother to get up and go check on the cows up at Fish Lake and he popped up and got ready and headed up with out any complaints and then was back in time to get ready for church.  It's not because when I hobbled in from church (My ankle still hasn't completely healed) and found him putting the last pieces of silver wear on a the completely set table so that we could eat a quick dinner before Dad and Caib had to run to Richfield to get Caib's Braces put back together, and then he went out and saddled two horses so that when Caib returned they could head back up on the mountain to keep the cows off the fence He may have made them a couple of sandwiches to take with them as well.  It isn't because he hit two doubles yesterday  at his baseball game plus a few singles and an almost home run while I was inside the high school coaching the girls volleyball. and then when the baseball team finished playing their games he comes in with team and cheers his loudest as the volleyball girls play their hearts out and then pitches in to help when the Baseball team cleans the gym,  Or because he manages to do fairly well in school without any help from his mom. I think my favourite thing about this kid is that he's fun to be around and joke with.  That he loves his little brothers and sisters and though he teases them a bit much...when he's gone they all tell me how much they miss him.  I think it's because he's a good example to them and life has been so much better these last 16 years because he's here to share it with.  Thanks Braden for helping life be a whole lot better then it ever had been.  Happy Birthday in a few weeks.

What is it about this time of year?  Late Summer/ Early Autumn I think it may be the light.... I love the angle of light during this time of year.

Now one more year is winding up
Life is pressing on.
summer left us in a swirl
a flash it's here and gone

The kids are inches taller now
they all grow tall and straight
Anxiously I watch them grow
and In silence contemplate,

about their youth the things they know
Are they learning what they should
all the things we've taught them
have they understood?

We sit at dusk with dusty clothes
the days work now all done
satisfied and happy while we
watch the setting sun.

So it is with life and things
the seasons come then go
and life seems satisfying
Through work, as our children grow.

-Cathy Brian-

Home, after 12 hours on a horse gathering cows

What a Job

So... I've been really busy...or at least it feels like it.  Just to let everyone know. I Love Volleyball.  I love coaching.  I even Love high school kids.  But I'm sure learning a lot!!!  I've just got to figure out how to build a Volleyball program that's successful and beneficial to the girls who play high school ball.  I've got to figure out how to manage my three little ones so that they are succeeding in school and at home.  I've got to make sure the house stays in order and that everybody has clean clothes to wear.  I've got to figure out how to convince high strung players that we really need them. and convince them not to quit the team. I've got to help Freshmen understand that they now have be to be responsible and accountable (I LOVE the freshmen)
I have to learn a whole new set of rules for Volleyball with three different positions for each player for each serve rotation AND receiving rotation.  I've got to remind my body how to serve, pass and hit the ball.  I've got to know how to give a pep talk before the game and what to say after a game if we win/loose.  I've had to learn what a Libero is and how to use her in a game if I decide I want to.  I've got to figure out how and when to call time outs......  And believe it or not I'm really enjoying this whole experience.  Even though I never imagined I'd be a High School Volleyball coach

remember the blessings

Hobbling around for 10 days has been...to say the least.... quite annoying.  Saturday I was in a bit of a bad mood because I was so tired of having to deal with crutches and get around.  We were on our way to Orderville to watch Braden play in the championship game at a tournament they'd been in for baseball.
We'd stopped to use the restroom at one point and I was hobbling around being miserable as I tried as best I could to help Oaklee use the bathroom and clean up.  She finally looked up at me and said.  "Well, mom good thing you can still use the bathroom."

How right she was.  sigh... sometimes I forget to appreciate the things I can do with a messed up ankle.

They lost the championship game by a few runs but it was fun to watch Braden scoop up a ball way out in left field and throw it clear in to home plate to get the runner out.  he also had a couple of great hits

.

UUHHGG!!!

No I didn't do this playing Volleyball.  It was softball and second base.  I'm guessing that any serious softball player has had an encounter with second base if not home plate...sigh

 the swelling.  It's kind of hard to see all the bruising but it's black and blue halfway up my leg.

 Aubree thought I needed to show the back side of my toes because they were so purple.
I just hate being unable to get around on the volleyball court.