Happy New Year!

Happy New year!
What a year...You know we always say that every year?

Anyway, It has been another year. Time to start over...but, not really. For me and others in the school business we kinda seem to track years by school calendar years. For example we refer to years past not as a single number like 08...or 03. Instead we classify past years by 05-06, or 09-10. And if you are a coach you classify past years as seasons. And if your a basketball coach whose season is in the middle of the change well, then...who knows how you do it.-You guys probably don't even know what year it is because all you can think of is BASKETBALL!!!

I had my last treatment. I'm not off of all my medication, but close. I am frustrated by what the steroids are doing to my body. I am ready to rid myself of that man-made stupid, helpful, body-swelling, irratable drug!
Enough of that.

Resolutions: 1. Secret-I can't tell you.
Best of 09: 1. Had a wake up call with my health
2. Had a new Nephew born
3. Sister moved to Wichita Falls
4. Celebrated another year with my smoking-hot, loving, best-wife
5. A whole year of being Kris, Katy, and David's Dad
6. Sister got engaged
7. Got a new brother in law
8. Cowboys made the playoffs!

Since some of you have proven to me that you are reading, how about I ask you to respond with either a "resolution" or a "Best Part of 09" comment.

Yea!

Thanks! My goal was met, and now I will keep my blog going...thanks again to Amy Smith with her advice on Blurb...I am looking forward to printing all those posts and putting them away.

facebook vs. blogging

Okay, okay...has facebook taken over blogging? I have been blogging more than ever and I don't think anybody is reading anymore. I mean, am I that bad of a writer? Why is no one commenting on my posts? Maybe, no one is reading anymore.
So, having said that, I am fixing to close up shop.
Seriously, I like to blog, I like to read what I write. But, apparently, I am the only one.
This is not an attempt to get you to respond. Yes, yes it is...
I am about to make an idle threat...if you don't know what that is, ask my wife and kids.
Here it goes:
If I don't get at least 8-9 comments on this particular posts I am calling it quits with blogging....
so POST a stinkin' comment, or nice comment..
I will check back in a few.
Have a nice day, and if I don't hear from you....I understand. I can take it...

PS: For those of you that comment on my facebook side of this thank-you, for those of you that read the notes then open a new tab and check out my blog, thank-you...all I am asking is that you leave a comment. or 8-9....later.

Auntie

This time of year always brings on great memories. My mind is always filled of traditions and people that were involved with them. Of all my childhood memories there is a person there who is always smiling and happy and loving. She is my Auntie. I would like to share with you a little bit about this special, great lady. She is my one of my mom's older sisters. She has been a very important part of my life. As a child, growing up in Burk, there was seldom a day that went by that I didn't see her, or tell her that I loved her. Since my mom went to work early in the morning, Auntie would take all of us to school. She would also take us home from school. She was always around. The great thing about that was that it was perfectly normal. In fact, if auntie for some reason wasn't around, it would cause great concern. It was the way it was because, well, it just was! She always was there with a smile and hug and an unbelievable desire to make you feel like the most important person in the room. I could and can always count on her to be on my side and one of my biggest fans. Of course there were times she set me straight too! (because I no doubt needed it)
We all have aunts and uncles in our lives or family members that we take for granted. I know I have spent a lifetime of assuming that I would always see Auntie at least every other day.
Those days are gone now. Auntie is still a phone call away, but I miss her. I wish we could see more of her. I wish my kids could experience Auntie's love on a daily basis like I did. (Don't get me wrong, my kids have GREAT-special aunts...but, not an Auntie.)
As I look back on all those wonderful Christmas mornings, I remember how me and Tonya would show off all of our stuff, and Auntie would make over them like she was just as surprised as we were...little did we know she was with mom when mom or santa got them!
We could always count on Auntie..still can...for her smile, hugs, laughter, ears, and most of all her undying love for her sister and her sister's kids!

Humble

I can’t specifically remember the story…but, I get the point of the story. It goes something like this:

A man who is down and out and tired of carrying his burdens around, compares it to walking around carrying his “cross”-his burden.

He is allowed by God, to go to a room and change or trade-in his cross for someone else’s.

As he enters the room he notices a ton of crosses. Before he can really focus on what cross to trade for his, he sets his cross down by the door.

As he starts shopping for a new cross or burden to carry he starts to notice that all the crosses in the room are bigger and more scary looking than his. But, luckily he notices one over by the door that isn’t too big and looks a lot better than any other cross in the room. He goes over to that cross and picks it out to trade. Then God tells him that that cross is the one he came in with.

I don’t know if that is how the story goes exactly, but you get the jest.

This story really got personal for me with all this infusion stuff. My infusions are going well. In fact, besides boredom and puffyness, they are going great.

There are a lot of sick people that come to the place I get my infusions. I am young, healthy, and getting better. Some of these folks are just the opposite. I am served a big piece of humble pie when I come here. Some or most of these people aren’t going to get any better. In fact, they are here just to stay alive. I am so humbled by their attitude and appearance. I can’t imagine what they are going through. I am lucky. I am getting better. These guys are so brave. Most have injection ports and numerous bags of medicine going into their already weak bodies. I am sitting here fat, bloated and constantly squirming because I have the audacity to complain how boring it is to sit here and wait for my one bag of medicine to empty.

It is the Tuesday before Christmas. I wonder for how many in this room it is their last Christmas. It makes me ashamed to feel sorry for myself and my platelet ordeal.

So, to say the least, I am very thankful and humble throughout this whole ordeal….I am thankful for my family, my God, and my health.

FYI: My count is up to 129,000. That is good stuff. I am coming down off the steroids gradually and just one more week of infusions. It is our hope that we maybe have this thing kicked. Either way, I am so blessed for the recovery. All thanks be to God.

Tough

Tough...
What is tough? I tell you what tough is, trying not to eat everything in sight while on heavy doses of Predisone...
What is tough? Sleep. Trying to sleep while on heavy doses of Predisone.
What is tough? Being married to a big, fat, bloated man who gripes and is short fused and is eating everything in sight and not sleeping while on heavy doses of Predisone.

Just kidding, none of that is true. I am fine as frog's hair. All I need is time. And of course a couple thousand more platelets. But, they are growing, and I will be getting some more medicine in the next couple of weeks and off of the dreaded "steroids"! Which in the KP house will be a blessing.

Moving on, School is going great. I can't believe we are wrapping up the semester. It has been a great fall. I am a part of a great staff, who truly cares for their students and co-workers and I have been extremely blessed with their hard work and dedication. I couldn't ask for a better place to work. We all have our moments, don't get me wrong, but, for the most part, I couldn't ask for a better place to be.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas break. I hope that Santa gives you want you asked for and I hope God blesses your family to it's fullest!