Bad Calls

Last Saturday night, my hometown high school basketball team was playing for the State Championship.  The stage was set.  Small town boys from across the state took the floor at The Pit to duke it out for the blue trophy.  When the dust settled, my hometown team was defeated.  The worst part was that the game was lost on a last second questionable charging call made by an official that took away the winning basket we scored.

Sometimes, you get bad calls in life.  Politics causes you to be overlooked for a promotion.  Lung cancer appears in a body that never puffed a cigarette.  Infertility prevents a dream from becoming a reality.  A layoff spirals into bankruptcy.  The wedding ring you want to badly appears nowhere in sight.

You get bad calls in life.  It's a hard lesson to learn at 17, and I can tell you, it's not much easier to learn at 31.

I trust that these boys will learn that lesson and how to move on to great things.  I hope that they will realize the great accomplishment that bringing home a red trophy is, even when they wanted blue.  I hope they will appreciate the support of our tiny community that spent the last week hoping and cheering and painting red and white signs.  I hope they will relish the physical ability to play basketball at all, regardless of the outcome on the scoreboard.  I hope they will appreciate the friendships they have formed with their teammates.

Mostly, I hope they will spend the rest of their lives working hard, keeping their heads down, and fighting for whatever championships they seek to achieve.  Because sometimes, you get bad calls in life.  It's how you respond that will really matter.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

"Maybe you'll get everything you ever wished for.  Maybe you'll get more than you ever could have imagined.  Who knows where life will take you."

1.  These girls.  All three of us are good ol' country, Eastern New Mexico girls who have somehow managed to get ourselves stuck in the big city.  Fortunately, it's nothing a little Red Dirt music can't fix.

Out and about for Pharmer Girl's birthday

2.  The NCAA Tournament.  Don't get me wrong here, I'm still irate over the fact that Oklahoma State and UNM sucked it up big time.  And that my bracket is totally hosed.  But as someone who always loves cheering for the underdog, this is my year to love March Madness!  I'm all about Florida Gulf Coast.  They are awesome!

3.  My friend Almost Gypsy Soul.  Do you know what that girl did?  Mailed me 5--count them FIVE--Red Dirt cds.  Yep.  I'm in heaven.  And have not turned off the cd player since they arrived.  And they got here just in time for my upcoming road trip to the new home.  She has cemented favorite friend status for the week.  Maybe the year.  They are that good!

4.  Speaking of music, I'm in love with this song that my blog friend Brianna posted.  Seriously adorable.

"I'm looking for a yes ma'am man, open up the doors, shake my daddy's hand, shootin' 22s at an old tin can, never been ashamed of his two-toned farmer's tan. I'm looking for old tailgate, take me out fishing on our first date, dancing in the kitchen to old George Strait, heart as big as the lone star state."

Amen to that.  And the video of them dancing in the kitchen?  Melt my heart.  Love it.

5.  The quote below from Kid President.  You tell 'em kid!

A Little Motivation for Your Thursday

First off, can we please stop and take a minute to celebrate that the NCAA Tournament starts today?  In my mind, it's a national holiday.  Non-stop college basketball for the next four days, and then great games continuing over the next two weeks?  PLUS, my Pokes are FINALLY back in the dance?  Well this girl pretty much could not be happier.

That's not true, I could be happier if this guy was still our coach!

Now, moving on, I thought that I'd provide a little motivation for your Thursday.

1.  In honor of the NCAA Tourney, I wanted to share this quote from coach Tim Larranaga back in 2006 when George Mason (an 11 seed) made the Final Four.  I loved this quote then and have never forgotten it!   "When you dream, do you dream about playing great against an average team? Hell no! When you dream, you dream about playing your best against the best. You dream about playing your best with your teammates." 

2.  My blog friend Katy wrote about things she does that help her to be happy.  One of her items was the knowledge that she only has to make it until bedtime, because God's mercies are new each morning.  I love this concept.  No matter how stressful or crazy or painful the day is, we just have to make it until bedtime.

3.  I read this quote by St. Therese of Lisieux that I absolutely fell in love with.  Like I may need to get it tattooed on my hand so I can see it every day.  "Enjoy with peace the joy God is giving you without worrying about the future."  Amen.  This worrier needs to remember this!

4.  Have you heard the story of how Pope Francis chose the name Francis?  I just love this guy.

5.  My friend Dr. Kyra closed an email to me yesterday with this little gem:  All is well, and what's not well is a good story!  I seriously feel like this should be everyone's outlook on life.  And I thinks he should write a book, but she fears the secret service or Navy Seals or something might come after her.  But that's another blog for another day. 

6.  And lastly, have you guys seen the video that a high school senior made asking Kate Upton to the prom?

The best part?  She called in when he was on the Today Show and said that she is going to check her schedule and try to go.  If she comes, he's going to try and get his curfew extended.  This is what happens when you dream big, kids.  You might end up taking a super model to the prom.

Go Lady Horns!

“You're never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true.”  ~ Richard Bach

Last weekend I watched a group of girls from Logan High School win the 2013 State Basketball Tournament. This just a year after our boys won state last year.

I couldn't have been happier for them.  No Logan girls team had won that banner since 1980.  The last time we had been in a state semi-final was my senior year, when these girls were in kindergarten.  I know all the years--all the hours of practice, all the suicides ran, all the free throws taken, all the plays practiced, all the blood, sweat and tears--that went into getting that trophy home.  We all know.  And that's why the whole town packed The Pit on Saturday to be part of this.  I loved cheering these girls on this year and I'm proud to be a Longhorn! 

And because I'm a bit competitive, I may have made a bet with my dear friend Pharmer Girl, who happens to be a Melrose High School alum, the team that my girls beat on Saturday.  To see the results of my winning that bet, go to her blog here.

What I'm Loving and How Pinteresting Wednesday

"Love is playing every game as if it were your last."  ~Michael Jordan

I'm going double link up today as well since it worked out so well last Friday.

We'll start off with What I'm Loving Wednesday.

1.  My friend Almost Gypsy Soul has this awesome thing on her blog where she has a different playlist each month.  This month she went completely Red Dirt and I love the entire thing.  It'e been on repeat in my office for two days straight.  Go to her blog.  You will thank me.

2.  Speaking from the playlist, I particularly L-O-V-E "Never Been Out West" by Mickey and the Motorcars.  How had I never heard this song before??

3.  Let's talk about my Pokes.  You know, the #15 ranked basketball team in the country.  As a girl who was at OSU during the Eddie Sutton/Final Four/John Lucas/Tony Allen era, I say it's about freakin' time we're back where we are supposed to be!  Check out this dunk by Markell Brown.



That, kids, is how you dunk a basketball.  Bring on the tournament!

4.  Last weekend my friend Fellow OSU Alum and I went to see Silver Linings Playbook.  I'll admit it started out slow for me...probably 45 minutes in I was wondering if we were ever going to go anywhere.  But I realized that I really was into it when it got close to the end and I thought it was not going to end the way I wanted it to end and I was seriously fuming.  Sign of a good movie.  I also learned that this movie is based on a book (I apparently live under a rock?) and since the book is always better I've ordered it from Amazon and plan to read it ASAP.  Oh, and Jennifer Lawrence is freaking adorable.  She and I would totally be friends in real life.

5.  Sometimes nice guys finish first.  Have you guys seen this story?  When a woman accidentally dropped her engagement ring into a homeless man's cup along with some change, he returned it when she came back two days later looking for the ring.  He could have pawned it and made $4,000, but he did the right thing.  Well through the media attention this has created, people have now raised over $175,000 to help him back on his feet and he's reconnected with his family.  I love a happy ending.

6.  Yesterday I had the best English muffin I have ever tasted.  My boss/friend showed up with them yesterday to thank us for working on a certain case.  They.were.amazing.  No, you don't understand, I think I'll probably be dreaming of these things when I move to Texas.  I could have taken a picture, had I not inhaled it in 10 seconds.

And, now, let's talk Pinterest.  Yes, I admit it.  I'm an addict.  It's happened.  Sheesh.  Here are a handful of my favorite pins from the last week.  (All images via Pinterest.)

Love OSU!

Amen to that!

My favorite hymn.

Love this quote.

Totally doing this in my new yard!

This made my day!

Friday's Letters

"Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap."  ~Robert Folghum

As I'll explain below, my whole life is sort of off kilter right now due to taking a nap.  So......we're doing a quick blog and linking up with Friday Letters!

Dear job:  I did not appreciate you making me wake up yesterday morning at 3:30 am to fly back home.  And then making me be at the office in a feeble attempt to be productive.  I did, however, enjoy the fact that I was able to leave the office at 3:00 in the afternoon to take a nap before the Thunder game.

Dear Thunder:  The aforementioned nap may have lasted a bit longer than I intended....like from 4 in the afternoon until 1:45 this morning.  This may have caused me to miss your game.  Sorry about that one.   The outcome was not what Oklahoma would have liked, but cheers to a great season.  And to learning not to foul with 5 seconds left on the shot clock for no apparent reason in game 4.  Just saying.

 Dear Kiddo: Please don't be mad at my failure to text you back last night. As you can see, I clearly needed a little sleep.  You are still my favorite.  

Dear weekend:  Hallelujah you're almost here!  I'm feeling some spin classes, some treadmill work, some pool time with College Roomie, and hopefully meeting up with my cousin and his girlfriend who are going to be in town!

Dear Mom:  Thank you for making me spit water all over my computer laughing at your comment on my blog yesterday.  "For awhile, I had asked Dad to work on the windchime because some of the pieces had come off or become twisted, etc. He had not done it yet. However, after reading this blog, he went to the tree and the shop, and now the windchime is repaired! Could you PLEASE do a blog tomorrow about your sweet memories of when you, Denton, and Dad would change the oil in my car?"

Dear Loud Oklahoma Girl:  Two weeks from today and I will be in Tulsa for your wedding!  Two weeks.  Your wedding.  HOLLA!  Pedicures, mimosas, a candy bar, and the Hard Rock.  Cannot wait.  Oh yea, for the wedding part too!

Dear Casey Donahew Band:  I know that you came out with your album "Double Wide Dream" like forever ago, but can I just tell you that it's still one of my favorites.  I've had it on repeat on my iTunes for the last week and it just makes me happy.  Good work, boys.

Dear Sister-in-Law:  Thank you for making my day with the recent Little Cowboy photos on facebook.  Could this child be any cuter?  No.  This is why it IS necessary for Aunt Tiff to send him things like slingshots from Costa Rica and extra large packs of fun dip in the mail.  You're welcome.

Top L:  Helping mom.
Top R:  I assume this is an 8 Seconds pose.
Bottom L:  Watching the rodeo.
Bottm R:  Surfing at the pool.

What I'm Loving Wednesday #23

"If you let love guide you, you will never regret the story that is written about you."


It's going to be a quick blog today because I'm currently in Oklahoma City for work.  Yes...another trip.  Seriously, I'm setting some sort of record for amount of time away from home (and my wonderful own bed).  Sigh.  Oh well....on to some things I'm loving today!  Linking up with WILW.

1.  More wedding photos.  Photos continue to emerge from the crazy Texas wedding last weekend.  Here are a few of the funnier ones.  I can't beleive I am publishing some of these for the world to see.

That would be my attitude face during the "Jump On It" song.  Classic.

I think this picture of Brett-Brett pretty well sums up the reception.

Jewish chair dance thing...clearly I did not get the details...before they
dropped poor Brett-Brett.  More than once.

Conclusive proof that I have no business doing any dance other
than the two step.  Poor dude in the bowtie next to me looks confused.

2.  This blog about 25 things I want my ranch kid to know.  Love it.  Lived it.  Hope to teach my kids it one day.

3.  This quote from Modern Family.  Hilarious.  And feeling a little true these days.

4.  This song.  Moon River....one of my favorites.  I just love their version!

5.  This article about loving Oklahoma for loving the Thunder.  I love the comparison to a 20 year old yoga instructor.  Hilarious.  Oh, and Thunder, it's time to Thunder Up, by the way!  Let's get this thing back to OKC where it belongs.

6.  These articles about things that she's like to tell teenages.  I think that she's spot on with a lot of these.  Maybe I'll do my one one of these days!

What I'd Like To Tell Teenage Girls

What I'd Likt To Tell Teenage Boys

There we have it, boys and girls!  Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

Every Mile A Memory (Part 1)

"Every mile a memory, every song, another scene, from some old movie going back in time, you and me." ~Dierks Bentley

Oh y'all....last weekend was something else!!  Every time I thought to myself, "Oh this has to be the craziest part of the weekend" it just got crazier.  I can't fit all of this chaos into one post.  So here is part one.  Stay tuned tomorrow for part two (which will involve the Spring football game, a quarterback photo, old age striking and an emergency landing).

The Race

As you all know, I went to Stillwater in order to participate in the Remember The Ten 10K race, which is held eacy year in memory of the 10 members of the OSU family who were killed in a plane crash back in 2001.  I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this race.

The race began with 14 seconds of silence---ten for each one of the victims of the 2001 crash and 4 for each of the victims of the 2011 crash.  Because I was determined to focus on the purpose of the race, I wrote each person's name on a little sticky note that I carried with me throughout the race.  Each kilometer, I prayed for the family of one of the ten, and one of the four, plus the coaches and other players who were at OSU during the crashes.  It was a great way to keep my mind on the real purpose behind the race.  Remembering the Ten means remembering the 10 men, along with those that they left behind, and I felt like this exercise allowed me to do that.

Running this race course was like running back through memories of three of the best years of my life.  I ran by my old dorm room, by the football stadium, by the Animal Science building where I'd meet the boys for lunch and help them do their homework, by the flag football field where College Roomie and I cheered the guys on before they got kicked out of flag football.  We ran down Western Street, which made me remember the Dry Cleaner Girl that all the guys were in love with, and the Animal House that was seated just off this road.  We ran by the Tri Delt house which made me think of the Oklahoma Girls and  Pink Boots, and by elementary schools that made me think about working with relay for life.  By the Strip that holds more memories than I could even start to list, and by the library that brought back all the mock trial practices we had in there.  We finished the run by running right behind the library and the stadium to the finish line.  While we did so, we passed several groups of prospective students there for open houses.  So because I had been praying all day, I said a quick prayer for these kids--that OSU would be as good to them as it was for me.

And finally, the race details.  It had to be a success given my two biggest fans....Little Linebacker who gave me a good luck hug before I headed out to the run and my God Daugher, GBaby, who was all decked out in OSU gear back in New Mexico.  Seriously--could these children be any cuter?

As I always do, I set three goals.  First, to run the entire race.  Second, to run it in less than 70 minutes.  Third, to run it in 10:00 mile average (62 minutes).  I knew the third goal was pretty far out there, but was hopeful for the other two.  Turns out, I did hit two of the three!  I ran the entire race without stopping in 66:67.  I was quite a bit over my desired 10 minute/mile pace, but hey, there's always next year! 

Meeting a Legend

If you would have told me that I would come home from Stillwater with a picture from the race AND a picture with our future quarterback and neither of those would be my new facebook profile, I would have called you a liar.  That was because never in my wildest dreams did I think I would meet Coach Sutton!

For you non-sports fans, Coach Sutton is a legend--the court inside OSU's Gallagher Iba Arena is named in his honor.  He took us to the final four.  He's one of only 8 coaches to win over 800 games.  He's in the Hall of Fame.  He was also the coach when the plane crash occurred.  And in true OSU style, he is in Stillwater for the memorial race every year.

I actually saw him before the race started, but there were a lot of people around and I had to get over to the starting area, so I just went on.  For the next hour while I was running, I was kicking myself for not taking a picture of Coach Sutton.  When the race was over and I was waiting on my friends to finish, I went to get a water and there he stood.....Coach Sutton.  He was talking to a family member of one of the Ten, so I just waited.  When he finished, I walked right up, shook his hand and introduced myself.  I told him that he was the coach when I was in school and how much I loved watching his teams.  He said, "We sure had some good times, didn't we?"  We talked about the Final Four, about where I lived and what I was doing.  Then he saw the camera in my hand and asked if I wanted a picture.  DUH!  And so here we have it.

I've already checked "Picture with a famous person" off my bucket list twice (Alex Weeden and Easton Corbin) but I will just tell you neither of those held a candle to this one.  I was so excited, I almost cried!  Me and Coach Sutton, in a picture together.  Between the trash pile and the bike rack, with me covered in sweat.  It was perfect.  That, alone, was worth the whole trip and running for an hour.

From Tragedy to Triumph: OSU WNIT Champs!

"They have something very tangible to show for persevering: a trophy that would make both their fallen coaches extremely proud." ~ESPN


Last November, the Oklahoma State Cowgirls began their season in Gallagher Iba Arena. They were not there for a game, but instead for a memorial service honoring their fallen coaches, Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna, and fans Mr. and Mrs. Brandstetter. The plane crash, the second to strike the OSU basketball family in 10 years, dealt a devastating blow to the OSU family. Last weekend, the Cowgirls were back in Gallagher Iba Arena to finish their season by winning the WNIT tournament championship. The words tragedy to triumph only seem fitting. When it came time to cut down the nets, it was not an Oklahoma State player who snipped the final string. It was instead, as it should have been, Coach Budke's widow, Shelley, who did the honor.

We preach about Oklahoma State being a family. But that's not just talk. It wasn't talk when the orange faithful croweded into Gallagher Iba arena for the memorial service. It wasn't just talk when Shelley Budke joined coach Gundy on stage to accept the Fiesta Bowl trophy in January. It wasn't just talk when the local radio station gave airtime to the crazy funeral protestors to prevent them from showing up at the memorial service in Stillwater. And it wasn't just talk last weekend, as a gym full of people--and thousands more watching from across the country--wiped tears from our eyes as Shelley Budke triumphantly hoisted the net into the air, and then broke down into tears.

Most years, I would not care less who won the NIT. (For those of you non-sports fans, this is the tourney for the teams not making the NCAA Tournament). But this year, I'm reminded again, as I said about high school basketball, that basketball is about so much more than basketball. It's about overcoming adversity, keeping someone's memory alive, and about a school and community rallying in times of tragedy. As our alma mater proclaims, "Ever you'll find us, loyal and true, to our alma mater, OSU." That means in tragedy and in triumph. Go Pokes!

March Madness: Live!

“I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot...and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why... I succeed.” ~Michael Jordan

Oh my gosh....was it ever an exciting weekend! You guys are going to be in for picture overload this week! Today, we'll start out with the NCAA tournament games that I went to last Thursday.

As I said last week, I've been a March Madness fan for as long as I can remember. Got this bucket list checkmark. Actually seeing the tournament in person was pretty darn awesome!

I got to see the Baylor Bears v. South Dakota State Jackrabbits for the first game. I was cheering for the Bears because of Cousin Swiss Mister, but I have to admit the Jackrabbits were a lot of fun to watch and they almost pulled off the upset. They had a great fan base that traveled to NM for the tournament. Sidenote: I hated Baylor's uniforms. Hated.

Before the second game (UNLV v. Colorado) I decided to sneak down to see if I could get my picture taken on the floor at the NCAA tourney. I made it to the floor and asked a guy sitting on the front row to take my picture. He promptly refused to do so. Really, dude? REALLY? Anyway, a nice guy sitting next to him said he would. I get all posed and about that time the mascot from Colorado comes over and attacks me in a bear hug. These things only happen to me! So here's the picture of me on the floor being assaulted by the mascot.

The UNLV/Colorado game was intense! Both teams traveled really well and their fans were loud and crazy. The Pit was packed and the atmosphere was exactly what I expected it to be like.

Then, in a random coincidence, I got to the airport on Sunday at the same time as the UNM Lobo team arrived back from Portland. I got to walk out with them to a whole group of cheering fans. I may have pretended they were cheering for me? And shout out to Coach Alford and the boys---you know they were tired and disappointed after the loss to Louisville last night, but I watched them all shake hands and sign autographs for little kids without a single complaint.

March Madness has to be one of the best events in sports. As I was traveling this weekend no matter where you were....be it a bar in Chicago, the airport, or walking down the street....people were talking about brackets and upsets and terrible last second calls that screwed Notre Dame out of win over Xavier. The tournament brings people together in a way that's really fun. You may not know the guy next to you---you may have nothing in common---but because of the tournament, you somehow understand each other. If you ask me, we need more NCAA tournament-type events in the world.

Stay tuned for tomorrow and a recap of my amazing weekend in Chicago! Such an amazing trip!

Time for Some Checkmarks!

"Tell me, what is your plan to do with your one wild and precious life." ~Mary Oliver

Well folks, my bucket list is shrinking this week! I'm planning on getting two checkmarks between now and Sunday and I'm an excited girl! (To see prior checkmarks, click here.)

Tonight I'm headed to watch two of the first round NCAA Tournament games. Going to a tourney game has been on my bucket list for a long, long time and I can't wait! I've been obsessed with March Madness for years.

It always makes me think of the time in high school when I got in major trouble with Mr. Franklin. At the school the teachers did a pool for the brackets, but instead of picking your teams, they were drawn for you out of a hat. So each participant would have 4 teams that were "their" teams and if they made the final four you got so much money and if they made the championship game you got more, etc. Anyway, Mr. Franklin had me drawing the names out of the coffee cup and he filled in the team by the teacher's name. Well....after picking him three HORRIBLE teams for himself, he told me I was fired and I was to go to the shop and not come back until class was over since I was bad luck! Totally not my fault, but I haven't won a bracket challenge since...maybe I'm cursed?

Anyway, tonight I'll be seeing Baylor v. South Dakota State and UNLV v. Colorado. Of course, due to Cousin Swiss Mister and his insane love for all things green and gold, I will be cheering for Baylor! We'll see if it can top the State Basketball Tournament last week, but I have my doubts. Stay tuned for a blog on this checkmark.

Then tomorrow I will be taking a day off of work (hallelujah!) and I'm headed for Chicago for St. Patrick's Day! Bucket list item to be had: seeing the green river. Did y'all know that they dye the river green for the holiday? I can't wait!

My love for St. Patrick's Day comes from my Gran (and my Irish heritage...it's in the blood you know?) who always celebrated every year. She would always wear a St. Patrick's Day broch to town on her green shirt and go to the Catholic Church corn beef and cabbage dinner. Sometimes she'd talke Little Brother and me along for the fun. So seeing the green river in celebration of St. Patrick and Gran seems appropriate.

Plus, I'm going to have some serious quality time with two of my favorite ladies, going to eat at Bongo Room (reason enough for the trip!), going to drink some green beer, see the parade and finish it all out with an 8K St. Patrick's Day run on Sunday. And maybe more Bongo Room....don't judge me. Anywhere that inspired the Pancake Boy blog is good for two meals in a weekend. Trust me, I'll be back with loads of pictures and stories next week!

Thoughts from An Outsider #3: State Basketball Tournament

"I think you'll find it's the exact same measurements as our gym back in Hickory." ~Hoosiers

Well unlike my two prior Outsider posts, there was a time that I was not an outsider at State Basketball....but 10 years later, I definately am! Here are a few observations from last week's tournament....starting off with my favorite photo I caught of the event! (Which I'm linking up with Show Off Your Shot.)
1. Basketball Mamas are crazy. We always joked growing up about horse show mamas being a little crazy---you know the type, super competitive, Type A, really intense. Those ladies have nothing on the small town mamas of senior basketball players. After we won the game to go to the State Championship (in overtime, I might add), those mamas were screaming and crying and headed for their babies! The announcer asked the fans to stay off the floor, but soon gave up that cause. I'm here to tell you, when Frosty and LD were headed on that court to find their baby boys, there was not going to be any stopping them! I know how stressful it was to watch those kids play for me, so I can't imagine what it's like watching you own kid play. Although after seeing one of the toughest guys I know in tears when his son won that trophy, I can imagine it's pretty dang nerve wracking!
2. High school girls should not be wearing that. I just have to say that if I ever have a daughter, she will not be wearing clothing from Victoria's Secret when she's 15 years old. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Victoria's....in particular my favorite orange sweatpants that I'd live in if I could....but I'm 28. And my parents certainly did not ever buy it for me. Really, people? Really?

3. Everyone loves to remember the good ol' days. Whether you won the State Championship in 1962 like Ski Trip Jerry, played back in 1988, or would have won had so-and-so just made that free throw that one time....everyone has a story. And at the State Tournament, that's prime story sharing time. It's fun actually to listen to generations of people relive their glory days. I also found it really entertaining to listen to the people around my age at halftime of the game on Thursday. I bet you I heard 15 people say, "If Mr. Franklin was still coaching and we had missed that many layups, he would have had us running suicides on a time out!" And they meant it...because he would have. Those really were the good ol' days in my book. It's fun to think that these boys will look back on these as their good ol' days!
4. It's not always on the ref. I'm glad I'm not a ref. No matter what call they make, half of the gym is yelling at them. Now, I'm a yeller. That doesn't surprise anyone. And when there's a crap call, I'm all for letting someone have it. But EVERY call is not a crap call. When your kid bounces the ball off his own foot out of bounds or jacks up some stupid shot from behind his head and it banks off the glass, that's not the ref's fault. I'm just saying.

5. Family is more than blood. On Friday night I headed to the Pit to watch the Corona Lady Cardinals play for the State Championship. In particular, my girl #14 (who is a total superstar in in the 8th grade, mind you!). And I sat with my dear friend Sis, who I would have been watching except for her crappy knees that keep requring surgeries. On Saturday night, I headed back to watch the Logan boys play, in particular #13 in his last game. I'm not related to any of the kiddos I mentioned above. But you know those neighbors and that showing family I talk about all the time? Well these kids are part of that. Which means that in my mind, we're family and I loved getting to watch them play for the Championship!
6. I'm officially old. You know that it's bad when you look at the boys playing ball and think, "what cute kids" and have to check out the refs, coaches and parents section if you're looking for Mr. Right. Sheesh.

7. I love Small Towns. I think that this may be one of those "you just had to be there" things....but instead it's "you just have to live there" because I'm not sure that I can describe what small towns are like. But if I could show you a picture to describe it, I'd show you Thursday night.

Our boys just won in overtime to make it to the State Championship. The stands emptied out and everyone--I mean most of the TOWN--was on that gym floor hugging those boys and hugging each other and laughing and crying and carrying on.

And back home, anyone who was not able to make the trip to Albuquerque was glued to the radio or piled in the restaurant in town watching it on tv.
We might not have a stoplight, or a movie theater, or a chain restaurant. And people will probably never know where we are unless we pull out a map. But you know what, those people are missing out. Because for all the things we might miss out on, if you ask me, we gain so much more in terms of knowing what it means to be a friend, a neighbor and a true community.
8. It's about more than basketball. Don't get me wrong. Upsetting the undefeated #1 seed and taking that trophy back hom to Logan was pretty dang awesome. But it's about more than just the trophy. These boys started playing ball in the third grade. Here's photo proof of that.

You think back to every practice they have had in the last 10 years. Think of every up and back they've run. Every freethrow they have shot. Every play they've learned. It all led up to this moment. But watching these kids made me realize that basketball really is about so much more than basketball. It's about learning to set a goal, and to work for it. About never giving up and pulling together when things get hard. About being part of a team that they'll tell you is like a family and a community full of people who support them all. And while in my mind, learning those lessons is far more important than any trophy....it was sure nice to see the Logan boys learn the lessons and get a trophy to go with them!