Reason for the Season

Well Christmas is just around the corner and I am going to challenge each of you to remember the spirit of the season by doing something nice for someone around you once each day. I know I need improvement on this myself we get to living our lives on high speed most of the time and just taking care of what needs to be done sometimes isn't enough. I watched the cutest kids Christmas cartoon I have seen in a long time, it is called Elf on a Shelf and it encourages kids to be at their best through out the holiday season but I think it should also be a message for adults, so on that note.

1) Pay for someone's coffee in the line behind you
2) Tell someone thank you for something they do everyday
3) Leave a note where someone will find it with simple words of encouragement
4) Take a friend out for supper
5) Offer to babysit for free for someone who needs a date night
6) Drop food off at the food bank
7) Bring a plate of cookies to someone who can't get out
8) Visit someone in the nursing home that doesn't have family
9) Adopt a family for Christmas that might need a little help
10) Smile, sometimes that is all someone might need for the day

OK I have given you ten ideas now go create your own list or add to mine but please take this as a challenge to find the reason for the season

How will I fill in my dash?

Today I was reminded that I need to be thankful for everything I have. I found out that someone that I know lost their husband, father and friend. I woke up this morning wondering why God would put so much on my plate? Why the cost of groceries, gas and clothes seem to be taking a toll on my budget? Why when I take my car in for something simple it comes out costing a fortune? Why a routine dental visit means I need to see a specialist? I forgot to be thankful so this is my reminder to you take a minute not to ask for anything but to be thankful for everything you have and ask yourself "How will your Dash be remembered?"

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

© 1996 Linda Ellis

Rock and Roll Mini-Cheer Camp

Well we survived mini cheer camp we had 68 little girls enrolled and we did a rock and roll theme for football season.

The girls made a poster with musical notes and we had the kids color them and then we took pictures of each mini-cheerleader and put it with their note. We usually paint a poster but with 68 there was no way I was attempting that.

My fabulous high school crew. The look so cute!!

The girls with all their mini-cheerleaders, rocking out

Practicing in the gym before we go show off our skills to the parents

I think the cutest thing I heard at camp this time was a little Kindergartener when we where headed out to preform I said "are you ready?" and she said "Yep I can do this this" I don't know if she was trying to convince herself or me. Cheer camp is exhausting but it is also so rewarding and I am so proud of how hard my High school girls worked, they did a great Job!!

Crazy thing I call Life

Well football season is in full swing. The RCHS did a lip dub for homecoming I hope the finished project will be posted soon I think I am as excited to see the whole thing as the kids. Riley is one of three schools in the state of Kansas to do a lip dub and we are the only school to use the whole school including faculty. If you don't know what a lip dub is check it out on youtube.com, they are a ton of fun. The high school cheer squad so far has survived Fall Preview and Homecoming now we are preparing for mini-cheer camp. We have 68 little girls enrolled for our 3 day camp.....Yes I said 68, bring on the Prozac!!!

The Junior High cheer squad is getting ready for competition, not sure where we are going this year but I do know when we can focus at practice and have time for stunting having 18 girls has allowed us to put together some pretty kewl stunts, can't wait to see what they will do in front of a panel of judges.

The girls did show at the Kansas State Fair this year, we haven't shown their for years. They both did a really great job and we had a wonderful weekend. We did a lot of people watching and sat in on the draft horse show, something I had never seen before. The people beside us at the show maybe wished they had sat somewhere else cause I kept asking questions but they where very nice about answering I just hope I didn't sound as naive as some of the questions I fielded in the sheep barn.
Then if we didn't have enough of the state fair Allissa and I returned the next Monday so the High school cheerleaders could march with the band and then I took Allissa and Kaylee back on the last Sunday to see Big Time Rush in concert it was fun to see all the girls gaga over a boy band (took me back to New Kids on the Block concerts but shhhhh don't tell anyone)

I have to give credit to Duane this time of year is crazy and I am only home one night a week so mainly it is him that keeps the family fed, the dishes and laundry done, couldn't do it without him. Just hope he knows how much he is appreciated.

Well the week is almost over but the work/fun is just getting started this weekend we head to Wichita to the KJLS each girl has three head of sheep, no goats this year so tomorrow will be kinda relaxed for us, then home Sunday for Duane to golf and maybe help announce softball at Leonardville. I will keep you posted on our crazy life until then stay safe :)

Short update

Well we have made it through the first week of school and I think it is going to be a great year. I love my schedule and I think we might have found a co-worker that we can fit into our classroom (will keep you posted on this) my schedule is amazing I spend almost all day soaking up science information perfect for me, for the first time in about 3 years I am looking forward to work on Monday.
The fall preview was last night I was really impressed with both of my cheer squads. We have some work to do with the Jr. High but fall preview always gives me a different view outside the gym and it allows the girls to work out their nerves of being in front of a crowd. The high school looked amazing and even had a stunt sequence they put together, we still have more work to do but they are a great group with lots of motivation.
The cheerleaders hosted the Welcome back dance last night, it was packed and from the post of Facebook the kids had a good time. Now we start gearing up for homecoming at least we are not in charge of that weeks activities so I can sit back and enjoy it.
I will try and keep you posted on how things are going :)

My life is blessed

We have had a really good summer. I decided I wasn't working this summer I was going to enjoy my time with my girls, really the last summer they will both be home. Allissa will be a Jr. this next year and have to get a job to start saving for college. I can honestly say I have tried to make this summer about whatever we wanted to do swim, watch movies, stay up late then sleep even later. The house doesn't look like we are expecting guest but I really don't care, our schedule has been whatever we want it to be.........love this!!! So what have we done this summer well we spent a LOT of time at the pool, I don't think I have been this tan since I was 12 and we...


We had the Clay County Style review and the fair. My niece Alex came and stayed with us for a week. I love having her seeing the farm through her eyes is always an experience, she lives in a big town so her take on what we do is so fun.




Went on a walks by Manhattan and explored path's we have never been on.




We did the spring show thing and showed several weekends in a row, great family time.
We showed goats and sheep, laughed a lot, cried a little and learned every time we left the house
Jasper helped us weed the flower bed, keeping flowers alive in the heat is a challenge, need work on this
We attended Cheer camp for the Jr. High cheerleaders, I have a total of 18 this year (short a couple in this picture) it should make for a interesting year, looking forward to it.
Kaylee played summer league basketball, she loves this sport and keeps improving each year it is fun to watch her
The High school cheer squad also attended camps this summer, there are only 8 this year (short one in this pic) but they are amazing they received the Herkie award at NCA camp for the squad that worked together the best. This is going to be a fun year with them.



We went fishing Allissa caught a good sized fish and was so excited.


Kaylee actually caught the first fish of the night it was tiny so we had to send it back but the smile says it all
Duane helping the girls take the fish off the hook, great learning experience

Grace in small things

1) A week with my niece
2) A summer spent with my kids
3) My husband (he truly gets me)
4) books--getting lost in a good story nothing better
5) My mom