Those Pesky Phone Calls

Rob has mentioned before receiving phone calls from his players (and coaches) at any time of day/week/year due to illness or injury. At times the callers just need a bit of over-the-phone advice; sometimes they require a meeting at the training room, a house call, or an accompanied trip to the ER.

The need for help in these situations is sometimes football related, but most often not. However, Rob is the one they call. Some of these guys don't have a mom or dad to call, maybe some call their mom/dad/guardian/friend first and that person recommends they call Rob since Rob is here. I don't know, but sometimes it can be frustrating.

Saturday night -I don't know what time it was but it was the middle of the night, 2 or 3 am?, a coach of a female sport called Rob and asked for the phone number of a coach of a male sport. REALLY people?!?! I mean it was nice that Rob didn't have to leave in the middle of the night which often is the result of those middle of the night phone calls, but seriously. This grown person calls Rob for the phone number of another grown person?! Was Rob really the only point of access for this phone number? Was Rob the first person the coach could think of to call? Was Rob the only one the coach was willing to wake up in the middle of the night to ask?

I am not mad about the phone call, but it surely blows my mind that Rob was involved in this. Of course the curious side of me wants to know WHY did the coach need the number! What happened in the middle of the night (presumably between a female player and male player) that needed the immediate attention of both of their coaches? I am hopeful that it was nothing too terrible, and I don't really need to know . . . I was just being honest about my curious side! AND, I sure hope everyone appreciates Rob!

Football Weekend Update

Back in June we provided the football schedule and extended an invitation for people to come enjoy a game and some southern hospitality, so I just thought I would let you know how things are shaping up so far.

A * next to a date indicates that someone has already booked the "All Amenities Football Weekend" with us.

2009 Cowboy Football Schedule
Sat., Sept. 5 ... GEORIGA, 2:30 p.m.
*Sat., Sept. 12 ... HOUSTON, 2:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 19 ... RICE
Sat., Sept. 26 ... GRAMBLING
Sat., Oct. 10 ... at Texas A&M
*Sat., Oct. 17 ... MISSOURI
Sat., Oct. 24 ... at Baylor
*Sat., Oct. 31 ... TEXAS
Sat., Nov. 7 ... at Iowa State
Sat., Nov. 14 ... TEXAS TECH
Thurs., Nov. 19 ... COLORADO
Sat., Nov. 28 ... at Oklahoma

There are 8 home games this year, so plenty of options.

Please keep in mind that just because someone has already booked a weekend doesn't mean that you are not welcome to come then as well.

It just means you won't get the "All Amenities Football Weekend" package. We actually have two extra tickets to share and there are several hotel options in the area (including some new ones!).

If you are going for a low budget trip, we might even be able to hook you up with some extras to make it worth your while.

Don't delay, book your stay today and come enjoy some football- Cowboy Style!

July 10-Thanks Rex

My Dad passed away 11 years ago yesterday. I think about him all the time. On July 10 I often reflect back on the events of the day. It was such a blur back then but always seems so clear each year July 10 rolls around. This year I though a bunch about my boss at the time coming over to our apartment at 6:00 AM after I called him to let him know what happened. I was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at the time and was very much at the bottom of the totem pole, but he was at our door not more than 10 min after I called him with the news. He didn't say a word, just came in and gave me a hug. I of course lost it, and he just said he was sorry for what had happened. He later drove back to IN for the visitation. It was a six hour drive. He and a couple others made the trip, spent 30 min at the visitation, then drove back six hours to Missouri. I was surprised that he made the trip and I will never forget how much it meant to me. Thank you Rex.

Doing much

better today! It was a huge blessing to have Rob home yesterday as I know I would still have no energy if I hadn't had the chance to rest so much yesterday. I am definitely not full strength, but am eating some foods (and keeping them down) and managing to get some things done around the house and at church.

Our bags are unpacked. Stuff has been returned to original locations. Laundry is done and put away. The house is (for the most part) put together. Most importantly, no one else seems to be sick.

All very good considering: Company is coming tomorrow. (yea!) More company comes on Sunday. (yea!) VBS starts in less than two weeks.

Back home

and sick as a dog! After dinner last night, I didn't feel great, but didn't think too much about it. I went grocery shopping after the kids went to bed and continued not to feel very well. I managed to get refrigerated items put away and then crashed on the recliner. I woke up a while later and managed to make it to bed. Two hours after that, I woke up and made my first trip to the bathroom where I lost my dinner and whatever else was there. For my third trip, I stumbled to the kids' bathroom because Rob was already up and getting ready for work in our bathroom. He picked me up off the floor in the floor in there and helped me back to bed before he left for work. He went to work for a few hours, but then spent the rest of the day at home taking care of the kids (and me). By noon I managed to get out of bed without passing out, but he stayed anyway. I think the kids really enjoyed their time with him today, and I know I will be feeling better sooner due to his help and care.

Many things on the agenda for the next couple of weeks, so I am hoping to be feeling well tomorrow and that my illness didn't get passed on to anyone else!

Sitting on the beach in Oceanside, CA with Krista and a mucho mango smoothie. We have been people watching ans soaking in the sun. Feels real nice!!!

Robbie the Reader

Robbie has enjoyed always reading- including being read to before he was an independent reader. Since he started reading a couple of years ago, he just keeps reading more and more.

This summer I got out some reading charts for Robbie and Alexa to use. In just two weeks time Robbie filled in the complete chart and had read 2119 pages- he was reading about one chapter book a day!

He got the "Red Plate" last night for doing such an awesome job.

(On the side, Alexa is doing a great job as well although a little disappointed she is not keeping up with Robbie. She is about half way through her chart and has read about 500 pages so far. She is an excellent reader as well, but doesn't quite get sucked into the books like Robbie does.)

Blessed!

I would like to nominate our family as being blessed with the BEST DAD! Rob works many (many!) hours each week and has an unreliable schedule (which means he gets calls during dinner, in the middle of the night, at church, etc., for problems he has to go to tend to, among other things). He works hard all those hours too.

But when he comes home, his family is his priority.

Based on the stories I hear that other people know about, it is obvious we are not far from his mind even when he is at work.

It doesn't matter if he just spent 4 hours outside in 100+ degree weather for practice, if the boys want to play ball, he is out playing ball.

He helps his daughters feel pretty and treasured.

Rob is always encouraging all our children to do their best without pressuring them to be "the best".

He makes me feel special and is supportive and complementary of my position as the mom in our family.

He teaches our children about God, His love and forgiveness, and how that should affect their lives.

Rob prays with and for our children.

He goes to church with us every week that he is town, even if he only got to town a few hours before it is time to wake up and go to church.

He goes to Parent-Teacher Conferences with me.

Although he might not have a lot of patience for the arts and crafts types of projects :), he has the enduring patience to teach the step-by-step things like brushing teeth, tying shoes, riding a bike.

He was open to letting us get a dog even when he knew it would be easier to NOT have one.

He washes the dinner dishes when we have the pleasure of his company at dinner.

He calls home each day when he leaves work to see if we need anything.

He makes us all laugh and loves to laugh at (umm, I mean with) us as well.


I realize some of these features might qualify more for the "best husband" award, but when you are at our stage of life with many young children running around, the roles kind of all combine and overlap and it is hard to distinguish. Anyway, I just know none of us would trade the dad in our family for anyone or thing else!

As part of our gift to Rob, the kids and I wrote little notes of things we like about Dad (mine also included some encouraging quotes and Bible verses) that we put in a jar to send to work with him. He can read one each day, and we hope he feels as special and treasured as he makes us feel!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, ROB!

Wii Fit

The kids are doing a little Wii Fit while they wait for me to fix dinner. Cole just chose to do ski jump and wanted to do it all by himself. He got 57 and 59! I was very impressed for his first solo trip.

Sweet Goodnights

I left Rachel and Cole's room tonight as they were taking turns pulling up their own pajama pant leg for the other one to kiss their bandaged knee. Too cute for words; just hope they stop soon so they can fall asleep.