Expanding My Horizons

What a great start to Spring Break 2011!  We've only been on spring break for 3 days and we've hit the road running!  Friday night we had sushi, yes, I ate sushi, with some great new friends; Marci and Ryan Williams.  I had a "shaggy roll with a twist".  What was the twist you might be wondering...a LOT of cream cheese!  Didn't you know cream cheese can make anything wonderfully delicious!?!  Then yesterday we got up early, went to Troy for breakfast with my parents and headed to good 'ole Hannerville, GA for a visit with our GA family.  BTW, if you try to look up "Hannerville" on the map you won't find it.  It's a small community, better know as Parrott, where our friends Jeff and Julie Hanner live.  We spent all day yesterday "countryfying" ourselves.  Nothing like riding four wheelers and shootin' stuff.  It was super fun.  I got to shoot an old military gun and a hand gun for the first time.  And wouldn't you know, I'm a great shot.  On only my second try, I busted a glass bottle to pieces.  Julie has the funniest picture of Jeff helping me shoot while Allen is in the background with his hands over his ears like a little kid.  Allen has always been scared to teach me how to use a gun.  Not sure if he's scared I'll hurt myself...or him.  :)  Either way, my Christmas list this year will include a cute little pink piston with my initials engraved on the side.  That's right...I'll be "packing".  Our night ended with dinner with the Hanners and our other great friends Ryan and Mary Powell and their two sweet children, Taylor and baby Cal.  I forget how blessed we were with such good friends during our years in Dawson.  Oh and one more thing about our visit....Allen would kill me if I left this out....he and Julie (she's also from AL and a huge AU fan) taught Taylor how to say "Warrrr Eagle".  The expression on her daddy's face (he's a huge GA fan) was priceless when he heard her!

Before I close for the night, I want to share a few more thoughts.  This week a family that I know from Troy and Ozark was tragically torn apart by the death of a mother and her 14 month old son.  I have really struggled with comprehending what the husband/father must be going through.  There are several times in the day when my mind is on something else and then suddenly goes to the man and I can only imagine how empty he must feel.  I want to take this time to share with each of you how special my family and friends are to me.  So many times we take simple things for granted; like waking up next to the love of our lives or kissing our parents goodbye before we leave home.  In the wake of this horrible accident I hope we all can reflect on the people that truly mean the most to us and try to share our love with them as much as possible.  I also ask that you lift up this family in your prayers.  Especially the husband/father.  Pray that God will wrap His arms around him and give him peace like only our Heavenly Father can.

"OFF" Season, The Flu & American Idol

Well...we're in our "off" season...if you can call it that...and these are some of my favorite days of the year!  Leave school, head to the gym with A, and then home before dark to cook dinner and relax.  Unfortunately, our "off" season is almost over.  Next week starts cheerleader practice to get ready for try-outs the first Friday in April, then practice 2 afternoons a week until summer, then practice 3 days a week leading up to the dreaded "two-a-days" the week before camp!  The cycle never ends...but that's OK because I love it!  And I LOVE the excitement that comes with a new squad!  For Allen, next week starts elementary basketball camp 3 afternoons a week for 4 weeks, then basketball try-outs, then practice leading up to summer camps!  And in all that he's got to find 2 weeks for middle school spring football.  Oh the life of a coach!

For those of you that were not aware, my strapping/healthy husband came down with the FLU the Sunday before last.  He woke up Sunday morning with cough and congestion...layed around all day Monday (thankfully we had a holiday)...and by Tuesday was dead.  OK, maybe not dead, but close enough!  We got him an appointment to see Dr. Alan Young (a.k.a. the Lifesaver) in Enterprise.  Since we are both short on sick days I didn't go to the doc with him.  I knew he must be sick with Dr. Young called me with instructions on how to take care of him...and a warning that he was VERY contagious.  He and I both had to take a round of Tamiflu.  He finally rejoined the land of the living this past Sunday. 

One more quick note before I go...it's that time of year again...time for our favorite reality show...American Idol!  We've been watching the auditions leading up to Hollywood and Las Vegas week and now it's time for the live shows.  Last night we watched the boys perform.  Tonight is the girls' turn.  So far our favorites are Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina and Paul McDonald.  My money is on Paul McDonald...although I never have and probably never will call in...

P.S.  Still working on my blog/short story "The Jouney That Defines Us"...hoping to be ready to post in a couple of weeks.

Shot to the Heart

Oh the sadness of the end of a great season...our Carroll Eagles fought hard last night but lost by 13 to Wilcox Central High School.  I was, and still am, so sad for our boys.  Again, I layed in bed last night, unable to sleep, thinking about what a great year it has been for us.  We will truly miss our senior boys.  I took comfort in discussing next year's starting line up with A late in to the night.

On a lighter note, our Carroll Lady Eagles will be playing in the Regional tournament Wednesday against Faith Academy.  I will be traveling to Mobile with the cheerleaders and some students on a charter bus to help cheer them to a victory.  They too have had a great season and are most definitely capable of making a run at a championship!

Two more quick notes...my heart is with 2 special young ladies as they deal with a difficult time right now...and with the ZC family as they celebrate the life of a former colleague who went to be with Jesus recently.  I love you all.

Heartbreaker & My Obsession With Carroll Basketball

As most of you have probably heard, we lost Monday night in the area championship.  To make things worse...we lost by 3, in overtime, with 2 seconds to go.  Ouch!  When we got home I asked Allen which is the better case; to be behind the entire game and know you are going to lose, or to have it taken from you in the last seconds???  He couldn't answer me.  Although he did say that he would rather have a chance and lose opposed to knowing he was going to get beat before he walked in the gym....The perk, if there is one, to losing is that tomorrow night we get to travel to Allen's hometown...which he LOVES btw...Camden, AL and face Wilcox Central High School.  Allen is so excited about returning to his hometown as a coach.  We watched their game film from their win over Selma High School Monday night and I have decided that we can beat them.  Period.  Yes they are athletic.  Yes they are fast.  Yes they have 2 guys that can shoot lights out.  BUT...so do we!  I think I have become obsessed with Carroll basketball.  I love it!  After our lose Monday night, I layed in bed until well past midnight replaying the game in my head.  I just don't want the season to end.  I teach 3 of the basketball players and have really gotten to know the others as well.  I love them.  And I love watching my husband help shape their lives.  Nothing makes me happier than to see them run to Coach Maness after a win for a sweaty hug.  I have washed many of stinky dress shirts after ballgames this season....and that's been quite all right with me.

Update to follow on tomorrow night's victory!  :)

We're Going to the Ship...We're Going to the Ship

The area championship that is!  Carroll Eagles over Charles Henderson Trojans...42-33!  When I blogged earlier today that I wanted CHHS to play a good game...I wasn't expecting the nail biter that was played tonight.  The score was a lot closer than a 9 point deficit most of the game.  However, we (Carroll) pulled it out!  We will be playing Rehobeth in the championship game Monday night and man, I want to beat them.  We only lost to them by 3 the last time we played and tonight they had to go in to overtime with the number 4 seed in the area.  They are definitely beatable!  And by the way...I have ZERO connections to RHS so I want to beat the tar out of them!

Update to follow Monday night.  For now, I'll leave you with my favorite cheer the Carroll cheerleaders do:

Boda Getta, Boda Getta, Boda Getta Bah, Rah, Rah, Rah, Sis Boom Bah, Wegl, Wegl, Waaaar Eagle, Kick 'Em In The Head Big Red, HEY!

What's Love Got To Do With It?

Tonight I will be pulling against my alma mater for the 4th time this basketball season.  What's love got to do with it?  EVERYTHING!

Allen's basketball team finished the regular season 2nd in the area.  My alma mater, Charles Henderson High School, finished 3rd.  That means we are scheduled to play each other for the 4th time tonight in the first round of the area tournament.  The first time we met this season we (Carroll)...although other than when Charles Henderson is playing mine and my husband's school, WE also means CHHS...beat them (CHHS) 59-47 in the Ozark Holiday Shootout Classic Christmas Tournament in the championship game.  The very next week we faced them for regular season play and beat them 44-32.  The second time we faced them in the regular season we got SMOKED.  (Well...technically not "we" since I do belong to both teams.)  They ended up beating us 28-64.  And I must say...I can see why people don't like people from Troy...man our (CHHS) fans are very proud of their (our) teams!  And boy do we have some home-grown officials!  However, we (Carroll) can take the majority of the credit for the lose.  We played horrible!  So, this brings us to tonight...If we (Carroll) can pull out a 3rd win against them (CHHS) then we will get a chance to go to the playoffs for the first time in Allen's basketball coaching career.  To make things even more exciting...there's a chance we could go to Allen's hometown, Camden, AL, to take on Wilcox Central High School.  Wish us (Carroll) luck!

Disclaimer:  If my husband didn't have a vested interest in a win over my alma mater I would NEVER EVER EVER pull against Charles Henderson.  Once a CHHS cheerleader, always a CHHS cheerleader!  I hope my Trojans play a great game tonight...I just hope our Eagles play a better game.  Results to follow later tonight...

Chinese Food and Cowboys

Two very interesting and fun things happened in my life this weekend.  One, I discovered that I am totally in love with Chinese food!  Allen has been trying to get me to try it the entire time we have been together because it’s one of his favorites and I have been my normal stubborn self and completely rejected the idea.  You see, texture is a huge deal to me when it comes to food and everything I had tried that was Chinese was “gooy”.  However, the past couple of times that Allen has gotten a plate from the Chinese restaurant in town it has totally perked up my nostrils and made my mouth water.  So…Friday afternoon when Allen decided he wanted Chinese after a long day in the doctor’s office, I reluctantly agreed.  I must say that I have been really missing out!  And boy was Allen surprised when I made the suggestion that we eat it again for lunch today!  Am I the coolest wife or what!?!

Second, my husband took me on the most wonderful date last night.  For those of you that did not see my Facebook post, we went to D’Monico’s in downtown Dothan.  I wasn’t in love with the dinner that I chose but the atmosphere was great!  And Allen really liked his food.  I can’t remember what his was called but it was thin slices of filet wrapped around pieces of sweet ham.  Yum!  For desert I had an espresso ice cream pie!  It doesn’t get better than that!  We will definitely be making another trip to D’Monico’s and might I recommend that you take your significant other there if you want to impress!  As much fun as we had at dinner, the second half of the date was definitely better!  I have been telling Allen for months now that I wanted to go dancing.  Well, we found this country dance club outside of Dothan and had a blast dancing the night away to Shane Owens and the Bottom of the Fifth band!  It’s been awhile since I’ve danced but I must say…I’ve still got it!  J  It was so much fun swinging and swaying in my husband’s arms.  We were surrounded by complete strangers but I swear at times it felt like we were the only ones on the dance floor…oh wait…we were.  I loved every minute of it too!  It’s great to have moments like that that remind you of how it felt during the first couple of weeks in a relationship!  I am the luckiest girl in the world! 

My challenge for you this Valentine season is to recreate the moments for your significant other that made them fall in love with you!  Love never fails!