The Way It's Meant to Be

I'm sure many of you have heard about the girls basketball team in Texas that beat another team 100-0. It's brought outrage and debate all across the country (or at least to those of us who follow ESPN).

But here in St. Johns, we had a story of sportsmanship and fun-one of the most-if not the most-unusual games I've ever seen.

Thursday night, the High School basketball teams played against Rough Rock. Within a quarter, we had the game fairly well in hand. Still, both sides kept playing tough and doing their best. In fact, at one point, a Rough Rock player actually dunked the ball! Not something you see much around here. It was a two-handed, backboard-shaking, pull yourself up on the rim sort of slam. He got a technical for pulling himself on the rim, but it was worth it for all of us. Even the St. Johns fans were cheering for him. On the court, our boys were high-fiving the kid and telling him how "bad" he was.

With the fourth quarter about half over, our coach put in some of the kids who don't get as much playing time. One of them is a boy with some difficulties. But let me tell you, he is a three point shooting king. Our goal was for him to get a basket. He would set up on the 3-point line, and everyone else would get him the ball. After each miss, the crowd would "Aaawwww!" in unison. After the first two attempts the Rough Rock kids caught on to what was going on, and backed off of him to let him get his shot. Finally, a shot went in and the whole crowd went wild.

But the story doesn't end there. There was still three or four minutes left in the game. How in the world would the boys go back to a normal game after that?! The answer is...they didn't. It now became a game to see if that Rough Rock player could dunk the ball again. The poor kid was wearing out, but time after time, he took the ball and tried to slam it in. This time, our team backed off and his team rebounded for him, while he attempted it. The crowed "Aaaawwed" and cheered him on each time. The officials (both good guys from here) were smiling and laughing with the rest of us as they overlooked any traveling or double dribbling that had to be done. He never was able to do it, but the one during the game was impressive enough.

As the final buzzer sounded, I think some of us realized that the final score wasn't the measure of this game. (Yeah, I know, I can say that because we won...) It was another instance when a bunch of teenagers showed us that really, it is just a game. And while it may be a rare thing for SJ Basketball, I think we all left the gym with a smile on our face.

Spelling Bee

Much to Sydney's chagrin, she earned a spot in the school spelling bee. After weeks of not studying, she participated in the bee today. After weeks of knowing about it-her mother failed to bring a camera. (In my own defense-I was a judge, so it probably wouldn't have been appropriate to be snapping pictures of my daughter. . .) Anyway, she did well. Not the first one out, and not the last one in. Just about perfect for her tastes.

Speaking of taste-she got out on boysenberry.

My favorite time of week

I love Friday afternoons. The whole weekend just lays before you like an unopened present.

Who cares if I really ought to be cleaning and doing laundry?

Who cares if Cade has a game Saturday night in Greyhills?

Who cares if I have Primary responsibilities Sunday?

At least for one evening, the possibilities are endless.

Wasting Time

It never fails.

I have to do Jr. Sharing time tomorrow. I've known about it all week. I even know what I want to do. But it's 10:00 Saturday night, and I haven't put it all together.

Instead, I am typing this post and texting Cade.

No wonder I have stress. I'm the queen of putting things off. So now I have to decide: Go to bed and do it in the morning, or pop a Pepsi and do it now.

I guess I better just start. . .

Me, Myself and I

It's six-thirty at night, and Ryan, Cade and Lauren are asleep. (Syd's off with a friend and won't be home for a while). They are all sick. Ryan is coming down with the flu. Lauren has had hives off and on for a week, and Cade has the teenager sickness (i.e. eats a lot, turns on the TV and falls asleep).

It sounds mean, but WHOOHOO!! I get some alone time! I don't even care if I spend it cleaning the bathroom-it's still quiet. No cartoons, ESPN or hunting shows. If there was one thing lacking in my life, it would be the time to just BE STILL. To think, to pray, to listen and to reflect.

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalms 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."

Way too often, I have to remind myself that I don't have to have everything under control. But God does, and that's enough.

KaBoom!

Cade and Steven went over to Show Low Saturday to meet some girls. He came home tickled pink, not with the girl, but with the new trick he learned. It seems they spent part of the time "setting off" Ginger Ale Bombs in the Lowe's parking lot.


I hesitate to use the word "bomb". It probably alerts all of the forces of the Homeland Security to monitor my blog. Ha! One day I will have to write about Ryan's run in with them. (It's even a true story).



Anyway, Cade was excited to show us his new trick. So, he gathered up me, the girls and Hayes and we headed up to the church parking lot. We had four 2 liter bottles of ginger ale so each kid was in charge of shaking the heck out of them as we drove. I prayed that something wouldn't go wrong in the car. . .

Arriving at the church, Cade took over.

We have lift off!

Aaaargh! Things go a bit wrong here when the bottle turns sideways and DRENCHES Cade is sticky, sticky pop.

The thing still gets nice air time as it sails off across the parking lot.

Thanks Cade for a fun show!

Basketball

Cade's toe has healed well enough that he feels comfortable playing basketball. He started playing in the Blue Ridge Tournament right after New Years. The team is doing well-what they lack in discipline (which is a lot) they make up for in sheer athleticism. It just about does Ryan in, but I think they are fun to watch. Many people have mentioned that they sure enjoy watching Cade play. Mostly because he plays basketball a lot like he plays football. While he usually plays a guard spot, he is able to play defense on some of the post type players. The minute some kid starts trying to push Cade around, you see a big ole grin spread across his face. You just know he's thinking, "Whoohooo, now the fun begins."

Syd is playing basketball as well, but they don't have any games until January 21st. Kirstin Udall is her coach, along with her cute-but-engaged-son-Jake. It doesn't stop those girls from dreaming, so they all think that they are heaven. Even when he yells at them and makes them run. Aaahhhh. Teenage Girls.

Something Old, Something New.

If I was in advertisement, this would be a blatant pitch for my own product. But since it isn't, check out the Ashton Family Recipes (link on the sidebar), for these two recipes that I just Love, Love, Love. The jalapeno recipe is an old favorite, the taco recipe is new, but soon to be a favorite.

Hooray!

My youngest sister Cortney had her first baby yesterday, January 6th! Her water broke just as my mom flew into Fairbanks to be with her and her husband. We haven't seen any pictures of him yet (not one of them has a phone capable of taking a picture!) but the word is that they are all healthy and happy.

CONGRATULATIONS! AND WELCOME LITTLE ONE!

Inner Peace

Truly, I'm usually not one to forward funny jokes, or cut and paste comments, but this one just cracks me up. Probably because it explains my life.

I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives. By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace. Dr Phil proclaimed, 'The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished.' So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before the morning was over I finished off a bottle of White Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, a package of Oreo's, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos, and a box of chocolates. You have no idea how freaking good I feel right now.Pass this on to those whom you think might be in need of inner peace.

When I first began reading it, I really was searching for some answers to find inner peace. By the time I finished, I realized, 'What the heck?!' this probably is the true answer to inner peace. PASS THE CHEESECAKE!