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.