Oklahoma Youth Expo 2012

10,000 animals shown; 7000 kids (exhibitors) - The worlds largest Jr livestock show! Out of all those animals, they choose only170 of the best to be in the premium sale. Out of those top 170 animals, El Reno had 9 of them! I want to give a shout out to Mr. Listen and Mr. Lopp for another job well done with those kiddos of El Reno!

I look back over this season with pride in my family. All of the times I heard KK say into her phone, "I can't I have to walk pigs." Or "I can't, I have a pig show.", paid off last night when she was able to proudly walk Speck into the sale ring and get rewarded for all the hours she put into him. Thank you Mr. Herrell and the Bank of Western Oklahoma for buying her barrow. 

The documentary people came to the show. They  were blown away by the kids in the livestock-show life. They are from New York and didn't have a clue about any of it. They told me they had never met so many kids that can talk to adults and have the social skills that these kids have. It has to be the friendships made and the enormous amount of family time it takes to do this. The documentary people thought they were coming to a sporting event with the competition in the ring and the parents cheering from the bleachers. They did a 180 in their thinking the first day they were around. They said that the longer they witnessed this life we live, the more layers they realized it had. Maybe when the documentary gets aired, more people will see that the best way to raise kids is with livestock :)

Papa Ronnie

Coming home from the OYE this evening I started thinking about Papa Ronnie. I cried a lot of the way, I miss him tremendously. I wish he was still here to see his Tooter. He loved KK so much. He would be so proud of her. I know he could be looking down from Heaven watching he as she grows into such a beautiful person. I would love to see him get joy from watching her. I'd love to watch her get joy from being loved so much by him too.
I miss you, Ronnie.

So Sorry

I am so sad today. I messed up again. Why do I listen to students when they say other teachers say things? I sent another scathing email to a teacher based on what a student said she said. I hurt her feelings bad enough that she came to talk to me after school almost in tears! Why do I do things like that! I am no better than the people I have talked about all week doing mean and stupid things! Why can't I stop my feelings and listen to the Holy Spirit? I am supposed to be this person that is soooo intuned to You God....but as soon as I get hurt or mad, I go right with my feelings and shut You out! I am so sorry. I hate that I've been so judgmental of people in my life lately. I am so sorry. I want to please You and I know saying or writing comments about the faults of your children does not please You. I am so sorry.
I have to have Your Holy Spirit at the forefront of my mind ALL the time! I can't do this in my flesh....help me God.....

Another successfull weekend of showing pigs. Josh had the Grand gilt and Rylie had the Grand barrow at the SW District. Another dinner for 25 at Jake's Rib full of laughter and great felllowship.
As I think back on the weekend, I believe Team El Reno's greatest success is not in the show ring at all. The friendships and the memories that have been made through this phenominon are it's greatest success. What started as a group of 5 families that all had one thing in common.....seriously competeing in the showring, has turned into lifelong friendships for adults and kids. We have doubled our numbers and become a force in major competitions, but what I hope people see is the dedication to each other, Bobby, and honest competition that has defined our goup for years. I can't say that everyone in the group has always loved each other unconditionally, but those periods of jealousy and anger have been very few. Bobby and Rhys have always nipped those feelings in the bud and gotten people back on track very quickly.
Bobby made the comment to me yesterday morning that we only have one more SW District where we will have our own kids showing. The thought of KK not showing didn't make me as sad as thinking about not being submersed in Team El Reno. Oh I know, I'll always be a part of it, but it will be on a different level. This makes me sad and I'm not going to think about it now.
I would be remiss not to talk about our fearless leader, Mr. Listen. He is truely the glue that holds Team El Reno together. His talents and love for kids and pig show competition has been one reason for our success. He is completely dedicated to the success of our team. We have someone very special in him. He has taken the skills that God gave him and has used them to help so many kids I can't count them all.
Yes, another pig show in the books. More memories made. Another birthday celebrated with a giant cookie back at the pens. Another post-show dinner and then convoy of trailers back home. I love you all....thank you for doing life with us.

God, I ask that you bless Adam's endevor, and my endevor, and her endevor.......if it is your will.

I know what I want; what sounds to me like what ought to happen; what I ought to pray for to happen. But above all I want your will to be done. Your will is perfect. It is how things should be. And I can accept anyway You turn things out.

How do I pray to God and ask for things that I want when I know it will turn out that way God wants and that will be perfect? I know we are to "make our requests known to God". But my request above all is that God's hand is in everything I see. I guess a good request would be for others to see His hand in everything and recognize Him. God, I ask that now.

Getin me down

I am so upset and have to vent. I had a yucky day yesterday. The OSU trip was great, but the events leading up to that and then P/T Conf last night took all the luster.

I was talking to our building janitor last night. He was telling me how he only has one helper to clean 2 buildings now. It got me wondering; Is the world of education the only place that's asked to do things very important things perfect and then not given the tools to do that job? I mean, if Jay's computer at the bank breaks down, is he told to put in a work order and hope for the best? If the janitor at the bank runs out of floor cleaner, is he told to use water until the new budget comes in in July? I really don't think so. When you run a business, you give your people whatever they need to make that business turn a profit. Why are our kids treated as not important enough to "turn a profit".

Maybe that's why so many people are looking at private schools. They are treated as a business and the kids are their clients. If the clients don't get the best bang for their buck they will go somewhere else. The public school system has got to change somehow.

This probably sounds crazy coming from a public school teacher. I see this attitude everyday from the inside and it hurts to know we aren't giving our kids the best there is. I am only blaming the system. In El Reno we have teachers and admin that really care about our kids, but I think their hands are tied in too many ways.

October!

Wow! It's been a while! I wish I could write better.....maybe I'd want to blog more. I have lots of opinions to write, but am afraid of getting in trouble with my words :)

I finally went back to Heaston Church Wednesday night. It felt like home, in spite of some people's nonwelcoming attitudes. I think I will go to church there tomorrow. I really miss worshipping with my friend, Kim. We will see what happens.

Running has become something I really like to do. I am going to do my first 5K Nov. 19th. Already nervous. Right now I can't imagine running 2 miles, let alone 3! People tell me it's a mental game, but that's the hardest part for me. I am such a settler. It's easy for me to quit and not push myself when I am training.

I guess that's it for today.