Blogs of the Past #5...

Oh man folks, this journal entry brings tears to my eyes. Not from sadness, but from just looking back and seeing how I was back then, and where I am now. This was my first year coaching a high school girl's volleyball team, The Wildcats of Washington Christian Academy. It was my first time coaching a high school team, and yes I was alittle nervous, but you know what, we were undefeated at the end of the season.

This year's season was not a championship season, but it was a successful one in my eyes. I had a new group of girls, alot of which have never played before and by the end of the season the skill level of the new girls had increased. Like I told them, a coach's greatest gift is to see an improvement thru out the season. And alot of these girls definately showed improvements. Going to miss them all.

Enjoy the reading.

A Coach's Story
July 28, 2006 10:28 AM

Well, this week has certainly been a very interesting week. First of all it proceeds my upcoming 2 year anniversary, which actually is on July 31. We are using this weekend as our celebration. But secondly, I am the head coach for a high school girl's volleyball team. I am quite estatic. For those who know me, volleyball is like my first love when it comes to sports. I play alot of sports, don't get me wrong, it's just that volleyball has been the only sport where I feel and know that I can play this sport. It's a sport that I can just play for hours on end.

I learned volleyball from scratch back in 1991 in high school when it first came to high school boys. My first year was kind of ruff. In fact my very first game, I was a starter, and with my first hit, I was benched. Then, every practice after that, my coach pulled me from the group, and put me infront of a wall and told me he didn't want to see me bumping around, but instead hitting the ball against the wall until he said stop. I tell you this, I felt so upset and angry. (*smile*) Who would have thought that him doing that, would teach me correct body positioning to hit the ball. After that, I became a starter, in fact, as he said one practice when we had try outs and the new guys were there, "You see Channer, he's one of our hardest hitters, but still after these years, can't set". (Well, coach, I'm alot better at setting now). I don't think he knows just what he did to that young boy during that time in high school. Cause after that came community college, where that now young man spent many a times out of class and in the gym playing volleyball. Then came tournaments. Then came university and again more volleyball, but this time, he coached and loved it!

Then time passed and now in Maryland. Here he is playing in tournaments again, and now responsibile for a team of young ladies. I will tell you this, this is a major responsibility. Why? Well, because I'm in that position where I came crush or build up a dream in one of these young ladies' life. Even more major is the fact that this is a private Christian School. So, there is the spiritual responsibilty as a man, and also as a coach. My walk will need to be strong and be like a mirror reflecting Christ. I asked a parent of one of the girls on the team, "What do you expect from me as a coach?". He said to teach them Christ. To teach them that they can be competitive and still be Christ like. *smile* I have some work to do. You know God, I asked and told you that I wanted to be closer to you. Funny you allowed me to get this job, and be involved with these girls and in the process get close to you because I want to make sure I'm not pushing them from You.

Hey I found this online:

A coach listens
A coach lends support
A coach often challenges their coaches
A coach is motivational
A coach guides the coaches
A coach collaborates with coaches
A coach evolves his or her coaches
A coach asks powerful questions
A coach understands
A coach strategizes

Simply Christmas @ Church of the Redeemer

Simply Christmas. A great presentation at the Church of the Redeemer of the Christmas Story. The story is presented with the use of music, dance, singing, narration, and the message read and taught by Pastor Dale O'Shields.

Enjoy the images and hope it touches your heart as it did mine.

Why the Nintendo Wii Rules...

Its Christmas at the parents, we just ate, what better way to work it off than with your butt....

itsBASICally a Merry Christmas...

First of all, Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year!!! Christmas is never just BASIC, it can't be, if you really think about what it means to you. To me, Christmas is just the greatest time of year, next to my anniversary. You see, to me it's the rememberance of my Savior's birth, Jesus. And this is where some folks would chime in, well you know that Jesus wouldn't have been born in December because the Jerusalem winters would have been really rainy and the shepards would not have been out watching the sheep and blah blah blah...Well, you know what, I know this!! You see, we celebrate Jesus' birth on December 25th, well, because it's an agreed date world wide. You see folks, God became man, and that's what Christmas is all about. It doesn't matter when it's celebrated. What matters is why we celebrate this time.

So with that I say, Merry Christmas!!! And Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

Blogs of the Past #4...

As I read this journal from my past, it just reminded me of how important it is for guys to have other guys to just talk and relate to each other in guys stuff...Did that make any sense? Well, if it did then great you got it. If not, then just read on. Guys, chime in, tell me if you relate to this.

Iron Sharpening Iron
Jul 25, 2006 3:58 PM

This weekend I was honored to go to a couple from church little girl's birthday party, actually to help out. So, me and my wife made Dirt Cakes. Side note, if you never had it, OMG its good and it looks like dirt and everything. Anyways, so I to the house and drop off the cakes to the wife and immediately look for the husband. Well, I guess its the man thing to do, but there he was outside with another guy friend from church, working the grill. You know after exchanging the hello's and hi's and what's up's, we just lounge back on the patio, just talking about everything under the sun that guys talk about. Over the next hour or so, the patio was filled with laughter and chatter of men. About 7 or 8 of us. You know, you never know where or when you going to get your next encouraging word or give it. Cause you see, I truly believe that all guys go through pretty much the same situations one time or another. Might not be at the same time in each other's lives but usually the same situations. Oh and they usually have or think about the same concerns. It's funny, alot of times we, guys, don't out right come out and say, hey I got this issue or hey help my out with this. But you know what, let one person open up with the same concern and watch out, cause like a crack in a dam, it starts with a trickle, but them the flood gates open. Being the, what seems to be, the only married guy there without a child or children, it was just amazing to hear the stories and jokes that were shared with being a father and husband. I sat back and just laughed, thinking of the day that I'll be sharing my story. It was great to be around a group of Godly Men.

Fellowship

itsBASICally...The Power Within...

The Power Within

Blogs of the Past #3...

This is the 3rd entry of the journal entries I wrote some 2 yrs ago. I remember this one very well cause it was during a time in both my wife and myself life, when we had just experience a miscarriage. It's a touchy and sensitive subject, but what we learned out of this situation is that God is a Loving and Soverign God, Who's plan is always in control. You see, coming out of this, made us sensitive to others going thru the same situation. And because of this, we were able comfort them. Now, this is not to say that it wasn't a time of hurt, cause we were. After all, God knows that we are human.

So please read on.

Just thinking....

Jul 20, 2006 9:55 AM

It's just amazing how whenever things happen in your life, it changes your out look or it makes you just think. This is what I mean, after our miscarrage last year, even though we are trusting in God and honestly have peace in that in His time and His Will, He'll bless us with a child or children, i guess the human nature outlook at things are, why not me? I mean, if i stop and think about it too long, i can actually get upset at the fact that there are many people, married couples who wham bang thank you we're pregnant. No hush no fuss. *sigh* You know, I'm at work and there are windows pretty much all around. One set on windows face a park, and every Thursday they have something there for the kids. I was standing looking out there, and amoung the sea of moms and their kids, i saw a dad and his little boy. It looked so touching. I was like, why not me? You see if all was ok, we would be looking to have our child now. *sigh* But you know what, i know people who cant have kids. So, really and truly, I have nothing to complain about. It's all about His time. I know a couple that it took them 7yrs to get pregnant and you know what, They have twins! Like i said, I was just thinking....

Not Again...

Okay so get this right, yesterday was just one of those day. To start off, it had been raining for like 2 days. Now, I'm one of those crazy people who love to go to sleep to rain and wake up to it, but there's a line that comes up where its like come on now, give me some sunlight, oh and it's cold. If it was any colder, with the amount of rain, it would had been quite abit of snow.

The other thing was that our dog ran off, again. He did once when we were away and then again yesterday. He has a pen outside, which, he hasn't really been in these last couple days due to the weather. He has had the luxury of the indoors. Well, and this is my only explaination, because of the breed he has in him, Husky, he likes to run. On top of that, he has the deer that comes out of the woods so very often to chase. And chase he does!! The other day I allowed him to take me into the woods to try and get an idea of where exactly he goes. I really didnt know the woods were that deep. It got to the point that when we stopped running, I looked around, and there was nothing but trees. Not a single sign of a house or anything and this is in winter. So the trees have not one leaf on them. I brought my phone with me and made sure i had a signal, called the wife to let her know where we were, you know just to be safe. Anyways, so yesterday he ran off while I carried the wife to work. I guess I didnt latch the pen door properly and he was off. I didnt know where or what direction he went. I went to the edge of the woods and called, nothing. To make it worst, it was raining and cold! The next 5-6 hours or so was nerve racking. My wife made up posters, pretty nice ones too :) She was ready to call the humane society, but I was counting on one thing. The last time he ran off, he came back in the evening, why, FOOD :) He knew where his food was and he was back ready to eat. Home is where the stomach is huh :)

So, all day I was checking outside, upstairs front door, the car porch, everywhere, nothing. I left to pick up the wife from work. By now, I was just upset about the whole situation. We devised a plan. We got back to the house, I suited up in my warm as ever waterproof clothes, I took the sun....I need to make a short post about the sun :) just the most awesomest flash light there is
:)...I degris...Grabbed my walking stick and my cell phone and headed into the cold, windy, wet woods. I think I made to the edge of the woods when I heard Philippa calling me saying he's back. *whew* Sigh of releaf and joy!! He was wet and dirty and cold. We had some bounding time in the bathroom as I gave him a long hot bath :) Sandy was happy to see him also, her playing buddy, Kitty on the other hand, eh, not so happy :)

What a day.

Blogs of the Past #2...

Heys another entry for the blogs from my past. I still love to read thru them and just remember the things I was going through at the time.

Enjoy...

Back to the Grind

Jul 18, 2006 12:08 PM

Well, its 12:49pm and I'm back to the grind of things at work. The pass couple days were very quiet and at times boring, this being that my boss was on vacation. Well, she back!! With that, there are papers all over my desk, my daily task list chart is again a rainbow of colors from highliters, cross outs, arrows, and check marks. I dont mind the work, it makes the day go by really fast. Oh, a plus today, one of my gifts for Philippa came today. A little earlier than i expected, but better than late. July 31 will make it 2yrs married. WOW that was fast! After work is the soft-ball league with my church. It's really hot up here, close near over 100 degrees today. Should be interesting playing today.