Auburn Volleyball

I have started my 2nd year as the assistant volleyball coach/conditioning coach at Auburn High School. I also help with the JV and middle school teams. I realized that I've never shared this passion and joy on the blog before! We're going in full swing with our season so I wanted to dedicate a post to my wonderful players and co-coaches.

I have had the priveledge of coaching with 3 wonderful other coaches, Jan, Mindy, and Abby. We work great as a team and have a ball when we're together.

We also have a GREAT group of girls this year. They work hard, push themselves, are so respectful, and have really fun, laid back attitudes. Being a student athlete myself growing up, some of my favorite memories of my life are on the volleyball or basketball court or the softball field. I know how important these memories are to these girls. Not only is being an athlete something that's important, but as a coach, I also have the opportunity to share my faith and my life stories with these girls. I know some of the most influential people in my life (for good or bad) from the ages of 10-18 were coaches and I hope I can spare some nuggets of truth for these girls to take with them. I pray for them each every day and feel so blessed to be a part of this team. Right now we're 3-4 but we have some great games this week, including Ben Russell tomorrow night! Any who, coaching has become something I love, almost as much as playing and I am so thankful for this opportunity!

170 Beats Per Minute

That's right...that was Tater's heart beat at the doctor's office today! Everything is looking healthy! Thank you to everyone who has been lifting us up in your prayers. :)

Far Away

Living, He loved me.
Dying, He saved me.
Buried, He carried my sins far away.
Rising, He justified, freely forever
One day He's coming, Oh glorious day!

This is one of my favorite choruses...it's been on my heart. How richly blessed I am to have a risen Savior. No matter what the circumstances, God does indeed work together for good. Every day, I see His hand. Thank you Lord for your many blessings and unspeakable gift!

School has begun...and Sausage and Cheese Muffins

I can not believe that the 2010-2011 school year kicked off today and is already over. I am really excited about this school year. I have 11 students in my self-contained special education classroom, with 2 para-professionals and several other members of our SPED team. :) I am totally stoked about really focusing on functional skills like learning the public transportation system, money sense, and every day shopping and living. I love preparing my "babies" for the read world. They are too funny and never a dull moment. I also announced to them today about "Tater". Their faces were priceless! My para-pros and I joked that would be the most quiet moment in our classroom all year! One student, knowing "How you make a baby!" almost asked, "Who's the daddy?" before remembering that I'm married. I assurred them, "It's ok, remember, I'm married." Another student told me her Mama would fuss her out if she came home pregnant. I told her that her Mama was right to do so. :) So, with all that said, 2010-2011, here we come!

Sausage and Cheese Muffins
(These are one of my most favorite things in the world to make ahead of time, put them in freezer bags, and use as needed. They are Ms. Denise's (Martha's Mom) recipe.)
Ingredients:
-1 lb. lean spicey sausage, cooked and drained
-2 1/2 cups bite sized pieces of 2% velveeta cheese (I just chop up about 1/2 of 1 large block)
-6 Whole Wheat English Muffins, cut in 1/2

Directions:
1. Melt cheese on low heat in skillet and add sausage.
2. Spoon onto english muffin halves
3. Broil for about 4-5 minutes on cookie sheet
4. Allow to cool, serve or freeze for later.

1 Samuel 1:27

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted me what I asked of Him."

God has chosen to bless us with a beautiful baby! We could not be more excited, scared, nervous, or overjoyed! Such a rush of emotions and gratitude. At our first visit, everything looked perfect and "Tater's" heart beat was 126 beats per minute. (Justin decided tater would be short for Tater Tot, since that's about how big he/she is. Please be praying for me and our precious little one!

10 Reasons Why I Love my Hubs...

1. He is the hardest working person I know...pulling 15 hour days to him is no biggie.

2. He is so willing to learn. When we got married, he didn't do laundry, dishes, any kind of clearning around the house. When I got home Tuesday night from volleyball, the laundry was folded, the dishes were put away, and the kitchen was clean. :)

3. He takes constructive criticism. He is not proud of puffed up when I ask him to work on something. He listens, takes it it, and tries to do better. (*I still am working on this trait.)

4. He doesn't care what other people think. He is who he is and if you don't like him, your loss. (*I myself am a people pleasure through and through. I need to grow some tough skin.)

5. He is driven. He knows what he wants and has surrendered that to the Lord.

6. He's funny. Justin is always cracking jokes and picking.

7. He's a terrible driver. We won't mention the speeding tickets, the bump ups, the deer...but he's ok with that. His attitude is, "Oh well."

8. He's a family man. He knows all of his parents, grandparents, and great grandparents birthdays and he actually reminds me to mail them cards. He loves his family and time with them and their opinions and advice are very important to him.

9. He's HOT...let's be honest, my hubby does look pretty good. :)

10. He loves Jesus more than he loves me. I have no doubt in my mind that Justin absolutely adores me, but I know that his walk with the Lord is first in his life...I can be so much more confident as he leads our family knowing this.

Love you Justin!

What a Weekend....

The birthday boy, in typical form...

Our little fighter...

So, this weekend was quite an adventure. Saturday was Justin's birthday, but instead of doing a tone of celebrating, we spent a lot of time worrying about Mason. For those who have not kept up on Facebook, Mason got into some kind of commericial agricultural strength insecticide Saturday morning and became extremely sick. Justin rushed him to the vet where he peed uncontrollably, vomitted every where, and had convulsions. They quickly put him on the IV's and began treating him. At one point on Saturday night, the vet told us there was nothing he could do, it was up to Mason and the Lord and as of last night, he is officially out of the woods! Praise the Lord! They kept him today to keep him hydrated but he should be back home with us tomorrow morning!

As for the rest of Justin's birthday, he did get to open cards from family and I surprised him with a pair of Choco's...he has really been wanting a pair and after this summer, he's certainly earned them! Our sweet friends, Jason and Rozi, invited us over for dinner with Matt and Katherine, and it ended up being perfect because having a birthday dinner at home without Mason would have been awful. We had a blast and Justin loves playing with the Dover boys....he's hysterical with them!

Yesterday was a good relaxing day, but it still wasn't the same without having Mason around. As Justin and I talked and prayed about it, it really put things in perspective for us. Fortunately, the only people I've lost in life have been 3 of my grandparents and though it's still sad, it's normal. As we talked about how it would feel to lose Mason, we began to really feel heart broken for those who lost humans in their lives. I can not imagine that pain. I hope that this experience leaves us filled with more compassion and sympathy with those who are grieving.

And lastly, today is our 2 year anniversary! I can't believe it! Justin took me to a picnic at Town Creek Park where we ate and played gin under the gazebo. It was so nice. We are about to enjoy a yummy dinner at Long Horn and spend the night cuddling. Justin got my rings put together for our anniversary earlier this summer and they look beautiful and don't turn on my finger as much, so that was a wonderful gift! I am so thankful to have a wonderful husband who is so eager to try, willing to learn, and loves me with all he has. Happy Anniversary Justin!