ESU Basketball Game

A few weeks ago the kids and I went to Emporia and got to go to the men's and women's Emporia State basketball games.  Right off all three kids were on the look-out for the mascot, Corky Hornet.  We found him right away and made our way down to get high-fives from him and a picture with him.  Both girls went right up to him and stood next to him for the picture, but I couldn't convince Silas to get that close.  He stood by me and waved from a safe distance.

The women's game was great!  They played well and won.  When we attended this game the women's team was ranked #1 in the nation in NIAA Division II Women's Basketball.

When the ESU players made a basket or did something great, from the seats next to me I would hear some howling coyotes!  Popee and Phoebe were the coyotes... howling and whooping it up over and over!

After the game, the girls got to meet and take a picture with one of the Lady Hornet basketball players, Kathryn Flott.  She is from Olpe, KS where Eric is from.  The girls told her that their Grandma Great, Dorothy, lives in Olpe, and she told them that she knows her!

The men's game was sort of a bummer.  They did not play well the first half and were down by a lot at half-time.  Many fans left at half-time, but we stayed.

During both games the cheerleaders and yell leaders threw out small basketballs to the cheering fans.  The kids did not catch any, but there were some very nice people who did, and they shared their basketballs with Sarah, Phoebe, and Silas.

During the second half of the men's game, during one of the timeouts, Corky Hornet and two cheerleaders came up to where we were sitting and awarded Sarah, Phoebe, and Silas "Fan of the Game"!  They were doing a great job cheering on the Hornets, jumping up and down, coyote howling, and clapping... Someone must have noticed our cute little ESU fans!

The men played harder during the second half but couldn't catch-up, and lost.  It was still a very fun night spent watching some good basketball.

2015 Words And Wishes ~ To You And Me

As a result of experiences that my family and I shared in 2014 and people (because they are family, we worked together on a project or an event, or our kids were in activities together, we went to the same church, or I spent time with because they truly are my friend) that I was around, there are some things that I learned or were strongly reinforced to me over the course of the last year.

Some of the struggles and trials Eric and I faced together, and some I faced with his support.  Some I had to face over and over (Maybe I am a slow learner.  Maybe I am too nice.  Maybe I gave too many chances.  Maybe I should have worn sunscreen.  Maybe I was hoping for a good or right outcome, Maybe I need to be a stronger voice for God, who knows?) in 2014.  What I do know though, is every experience God gives us and every person he puts in our lives is for a reason....  So the letter below is a letter to YOU.  It is also a letter to ME.  A letter that will serve as a reminder to me of lessons learned in 2014 and things that we should not forget.

God loves each one of us very much.  He sent his own Son to DIE for YOU and for ME so that we could be SAVED.  He does not promise that we will not have hard times, but he does promise to ALWAYS be with us.  And, that there will be a better life in Heaven for us, with Him someday.  OH HAPPY DAY! 

And, if this isn't one of the sweetest reminders in the whole wide world of the VICTORY we all can have, then I don't know what could be...

So, on those upcoming days when we feel discouraged or just need a reminder of "lessons", I leave you, and me, with my letter below.  Take what YOU need from it.  Use it in your life.

To YOU (and me),

Best wishes for a FRESH, HOT, FUN, SHINY 2015!  Move forward.  Be Generous.  And, be True.  TRUE to yourself, others, and your word, and remember that your actions ALWAYS speak louder than your words.  SHINE.  Show God's love and kindness to others through your actions.  Know who you can trust and who you can't, and don't forget.  Don't be so full of yourself that you can't see past your own nose.  Get down off the pedestal YOU have built for yourself and sit in the lawn chairs WITH everyone else.  Don't keep the negatives in your life.  Let IT go, let THEM go.  Surround yourself with things AND people that are positive, happy, and good.  Be Brave.  Give your advice and honest opinions when asked.  ALWAYS stand up for what is RIGHT, even if you are the only one standing.  Speak the truth even when your voice shakes.  Loyalty can be seen as a virtue; Be careful.  Loyalty can also be VERY dangerous.  Talk to God; He listens.  Enjoy what God has blessed you with.   And, book a LOT of shoots.  Capture God's glory!  It is all around you everyday.  All you have to do is sit, be quiet, open your eyes, and breathe it ALL in.  Hold hands frequently with the one's you love.  Hug and hold on tight to those who LOVE and cherish YOU.  A TRUE friend is hard to find, a treasure to keep, and a gift from God.

From, Me

Hastings Christmas Get Together 2014

The Hastings gathered at my parents house on Saturday, December 27th.  We ate the traditional soup and salads, then moved on to desserts for the rest of the day...lots and lots of desserts.  Hastings can never have too many desserts.  For real.  Don't believe me?  Ask the dishes.  No really, just ask anyone in the picture below that married into the family... Wyonna, Gloria, Jan, Beki, Eric, Amber, Andrew, Eric, they each will tell you Hastings LOVE their desserts!

Pictured below, top row, left to right: Stacee, Lindsee, Phoebe, Dale, Josh, Paul, Gloria, Eric, Silas, Eric, Jackson, Zach, Amber, Laura (Dale and Jan's exchange student).  middle row, left to right: Hayley, Beki, Charles, Wyonna, Sarah, Jan, Jordan, Austin, Matt.  bottom row, left to right: Drew, Camryn, Johannah, Jess, and Andrew

There was game playing...

Minute-To-Win-It Games....

A big game of Hastings Pounce.... with Jess and Johannah being the big-time winners...

A lesson in how to use a new cell phone...

Some present opening...

And, some group picture taking....

Below, Wyonna and Charles with a LOT of nephews, nieces, great nephews, and great nieces.

Below, Paul's family.

Below, Dale's family.

And, below... the whole SILLY CRAZY bunch of us....

Merry Christmas to ALL and to ALL a Good NIGHT!  This is my last Christmas post for 2014, (finally I am caught up on Christmasy stuff and moving on to 2015, I hope!).

Christmas With The Grant Family 2014

We celebrated with the Grant side of the family at Mom and Dad's house December 26th.  We did a lot of visiting, playing games, and eating.  It was GREAT!

Pictured below, top row, left to right: Eric, Lindsee, Phoebe, Eric, and Matt - bottom row, left to right: Stacee, Paul, Gloria, Silas, Judy, Ernie, and Sarah

We had a big ham and potatoes dinner that evening, followed by dessert and some more dessert!  Eric's Grandma, Dorothy, and her friend, Mike joined us that evening too.

Pictured below, left to right: Stacee, Phoebe, Eric, Dorothy, Silas, Sarah, and Mike

Ernie and Judy brought some fun gifts for the kids... new pillow pal pets that attach to their seat belts in a car, books, and hooded towels.

The hooded towels were especially fun, and had to opened and tried out immediately.

Silas's towel was a super hero.  He had a little help from Uncle Eric getting it on and flying around the room...

Then Uncle Eric suddenly became SUPER Uncle Eric and flew around the living room too.  You just never know what people will do when there is a red cape and mask involved...

Silas and Toby were good friends during E and J's stay.  Toby is a very calm dog and tolerates enjoys being around my children well very much.

With a little assistance from me, Judy created this "Ginger Bread House", (below).

We had a lot of laughs and made a big presentation of the House to everyone.

Silas and Aunt Judy played cars together for a very long time.  Each car got zoomed over and over off the edge of the couch, until one conked into Silas's head... Whoops.  He took a short break for kisses on the oweie, then went right back for a little more zooming.

There were also a lot of wii Disney Just Dance challenges.  Not all danced, but all watched, cheered, and laughed AT and WITH the dancers.

Thanks for hosting a fun and heart-warming Grant family Christmas Mom and Dad!  It was so good to spend time with family.  Wish we could get together more often.