Basketball Season Continues

Andrew's basketball season is in full swing.  In fact, they've begun to play the teams in the conference for a second time.   Menominee Indian is always a tough battle.  The first time Gresham lost by one point and the next time was the Holiday tournament where Gresham won by about five points.  So, last night was the rematch. 

The first two outings saw Andrew riding the "pine pony."  He didn't get even a second of playing time.  Of course he was disappointed, but apparently he's proving to the coach that he can play with the big boys.  Here's my #35 going up and getting that rebound!

 I do have to say that he's a great defensive player.  I think his brain thinks in defensive mode.  Who doesn't love to make the points?  But I think he would much rather have some great rebounds and blocks.  He did have a block last night but fouled the guy in the attempt.  It was a good call.  So who won? 

Gresham did!

Since Andrew doesn't play huge quantities of time, he isn't typically in a position to be fouled.  Last night he was fouled more than once, but only once when the officials saw it.  In fact it was one of those things that you couldn't miss.  Yes, it was that bad.  Too bad I didn't get that on video.  He did a great job shooting his free throws.

In my defense, I wish I had a good camera when the girls were playing.  I would've had someone take some pictures while I worked the clock and/or book.

Snowmen

 Every year for Christmas for the past 15 Christmases, I receive a hand crafted snowman from my in-laws as a gift.  Each one is different and unique and really cute.  All are smiling.  I have a shelf that they sit on over the winter, but there are just too many of them to all fit.  Since re-making our kitchen countertops, I now have a windowsill where I can display several.  Here they are  standing/sitting in a row.

 We finally got some snow...again and so my birds are happy to have a place to come and eat.

 Here's the view outside in our front yard this morning.

I don't know if you noticed, but that last snowman on the windowsill somehow got himself turned around and seems to be longing to go outside and play.  I really don't know how he got turned and really don't care.  I saw him there last week "looking" outside and thought then it was cute, but it's so much cuter now that there's snow on the ground.

Scripture Mastery Golf

On Wednesday I got my seminary students together and we played a new version of scripture mastery golf.  I held up a word strip clue and two of the youth went head to head to see who could come up with the reference first.  I have to say that Ris is really fast at this.  

Whomever got it wrong had to putt into a can.  They got only three chances to get it into the "hole."  By the look of the following pictures you can see which team did more putting.

 Trev is really great at getting the references right, but once in a while he'd get beat when going up against Ris.

 Nolan doing his best.

 Jas.  It appears she's got it.

 Christian often pre picks a scripture so he can say it really fast.  Once or twice he's gotten it right doing that.  But not usually.

 The girls watching the guys do all the work!

Austin did the final putt of the day from across the entire gym, one handed and got a hole in one!

We have a great time together. 



A New Counselor

I had my camera and forgot to take the picture.  Today my husband released his two counselors.  President Blunck was released as well as President Beck.  President Beck was called as first counselor and Jim Wagner as the second counselor.  I love Jim!  We met him when we were part of the City of Joseph pageant.  I know my husband is very excited about the opportunity to have President Wagner as part of the stake presidency!

Promises

This week in seminary we studied the book of Joshua.  We talked about the fact that the Lord never breaks his promises to us.  A few students needed to leave early so I decided to end before they left.  I was supposed to end with four different scriptures where the Lord makes promises to us, but decided to end with just one.  I just happened to choose D&C 58:42 to end the lesson.  It reads: Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.  What a grand promise! 
I was able to testify of the truthfulness of this scripture.  When we keep our covenants, the Lord will keep his promise as well.  He will never break his promises to us as long as we are obedient. D&C 82:10 tells us:  I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise. 
If there was nothing else during the week that the students came away with, I hope they came away with the one concept that the Lord will remember our sins no more, if we repent.  It was a good week.

Another Official

This morning Andrew began his new job as a basketball official.  He and his dad went to Clintonville to work a game.  The kids were 5th and 6th graders.  His dad reports that he was nervous.  I can understand that.  Each of the four officials in this house have had our "first" games.  At any rate, he can only work on Saturdays because he practices and plays on the weekdays.  Good money for my son.

Firewood

Unfortunately there are no photos to go with this post.  Clare and Clint had a load of wood delivered to their house in early December.  A few kind souls helped get it cut and split.  Since then, there was just a huge pile of firewood that needed to be put somewhere. 
Pat and I had a "shed" which is actually a truck box, that we weren't using anymore.  We offered it to the Gourleys and they said they'd take it for a woodshed.  I believe it was Decemeber 31st that we delivered it to their place. 
Since that time, we've had some really mild weather.  In fact the past two days have been nearly 50 degrees.  Tom and I went over on Tuesday and moved a lot of wood into the woodshed.  We had to quit as the dirt was turning to mud and I didn't want to create ruts in their soon-to-be lawn.  We returned on Wednesday morning and this time Clint was available to help us.  We moved that monstrous pile of firewood either into the woodshed or into the basement.  It sure feels good to have that done for them.  Now it can snow all it wants. The wood is in and dry!
I recall being that young mom with small children and how difficult it was to help my husband get wood into the house.  I just wanted to help them out by doing something to help and besides it got me outside in the wonderful weather and getting some exercise.  I will say that my body ached last night and I yearned for a hot bath.  Didn't get one, but feel better this morning after a good night's sleep. 

Twenty-nine Years

 Twenty-nine years ago I married my best friend.  Since that time we've had a lot to keep us entertained.  The following photos give you a glimpse into our lives. 

First of all, there's Tom.  He keeps us on our toes.

Then there's the fact that we are now grandparents to three beautiful people.  Number two is showing how he can wear his Nana's glasses.

 We didn't know when Clint joined our family that he would fit in with the others so well.  I'm very thankful that he is part of our craziness.

 Little did I know when I was in second grade that this little guy would grow up to be my sweetheart.  I remember a girl in my class who "liked" this little guy.  I was confused back then as to which boy was Henry and which was Pat because I only knew of one Pleshek boy in the third grade who fit this description.

 After he grew up and served a mission, he came home to Wisconsin and proposed a few short weeks later.  Ok, maybe it was a month.  I do know it was on Easter Sunday in April that we decided that we'd spend our lives and eternity together.

 This particular January day in Washington D.C. was cool but not cold.  Probably around 40 degrees.  We didn't take many photos as it was cold enough that I didn't want to be out without a coat for very long.

 We try to make a yearly trek to Nauvoo.  In fact, this past year we trekked three times!  A stop at the Fudge Factory for turtle tails is a must!  How much do these happy people love fudge and caramels?  A lot!

 We love to stay at the Pountain home while in Nauvoo.  It's so much better than a motel.  These crazies gave us their best pose.

 The alumni game when Erin was a senior in high school was so much fun to watch.  Two of my lovlies played against their sister while daddy blew the whistle and kept things in check.

 Then there's the yearly trip to Bay Beach.  I love the Zippin' Pippin' and so does Tom.  But, Clare goes strictly for the cotton candy as evidenced below.  I know she hates this photo as it doesn't show how truly beautiful she is.  Still, it shows part of the many sides of crazy that exist in our family.

It sure has been a fun trip over the past 29 years.  The best part is yet to come I'm sure.  I love being a grandmother!  I loved being a missionary mom and look forward to doing it again in three years.  I love having adults who are my children.  We have grown up conversations...for the most part.

I'm more in love with my sweetie than ever and thank my Heavenly Father for him daily.  This journey we're on sometimes has potholes in our road and we have to swerve around other things in our way, but we're on it together and that's the important part. 

I look forward to the next year and beyond. 



Another Wedding

Over the weekend my husband and I flew to Salt Lake City and then drove to Idaho Falls with Sammi and Jeff to attend Zane and Megan's wedding.  We had a wonderful time being with our son and daughter as well as many nieces and nephews and several Robertson family. 

 I've seen the gyms at our church buildings decorated in a variety of ways over the years but never like this.  Megan has an aunt who is a wedding coordinator and she did a fabulous job.

Those who attended the ceremony as well as all the children and those friends/family who couldn't go inside the temple minus Pat and myself.

 Here's the happy couple.  I never did get a good photo of both of them looking great. :(

 There was some time spent in a receiving line which wasn't much fun for most of us.  Gramma Sue said we needed the chicken dance and Sammi mentioned that she had it on CD.  With Megan's approval as well as her parents', we had a dance.

 Jack and Aubrey in the Conga line.

 The cha-cha slide.

 Some kind of line dance.  Niece Nichola in the foreground did her best to bring about labor.

 Zack, Liz and Zoey.  What a beautiful family!

 Aubrey danced herself out.

Nichola worked hard but didn't bring on labor.  She did, however, have a daughter at 5:01pm on Monday afternoon. 

It was a quick trip but so worth it in being able to see Sammi and Jeff and all of Kurt's family that live in Idaho as well as Hannah and her children and Mike and Amber. 

Family is what it's all about!

A Busy Boy

Sometimes when a 2 year old visits,  he goes somewhere and becomes very quiet.  Then a strange noise comes from the bathroom.  I peek in to see the feminine products being flung from the basket where they're normally kept.  He was after the basket with the pretty flower on it.  Goofy guy.

Sunday Happenings

On Sunday I traveled through the snow with my husband to visit the Rhinelander Ward.  It was nice to see many of those wonderful people whom I know and love.  The reason for visiting wasn't just a usual visit though.  Bishop Lindner has served as the bishop of that ward for eight years.  He's a wonderful man whom I dearly love.  He was released as the bishop.  Tom Jones was sustained as their new bishop.  I love to see the reaction of the saints to a new unit leader.  Even more I love to hear the testimonies of those who've been newly called and released. 

Here's the new bishopric with their wives.  What a wonderful group of people they are.  They'll handle whatever comes their way no problem.  Those sisters are just full of support as well.

My husband always says in quoting some general authority.  "We've identified whom the Lord has already chosen."  Just before arriving home, my husband spotted this guy sitting atop a sign not far from our home.  What a beautiful day it was!