tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28959986837113541242024-03-13T17:11:14.467-05:00The Howell Houseas for me and my house we shall serve the Lord.Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-45883864241691458892010-06-28T22:18:00.003-05:002010-06-28T22:28:14.631-05:00Wheat Harvest at the Howell Farm<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/TClnItajIeI/AAAAAAAABBI/kBuDhn3a-wM/s1600/026.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488031020255224290" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/TClnItajIeI/AAAAAAAABBI/kBuDhn3a-wM/s400/026.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/TClmM_W1SSI/AAAAAAAABBA/RxUrZVM8WKA/s1600/020.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488029994279323938" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/TClmM_W1SSI/AAAAAAAABBA/RxUrZVM8WKA/s400/020.jpg" /></a> Wish I could have gotten some more picture but did not have much time. The Howell Brothers finished cutting wheat this week. These three guys are amazing to me, Dad 80 years old, Uncle Jack 78, Uncle Jimmie 76! They get it done just like the young farmers do maybe even more so, they have NO sprinklers, yes they still move pipe everyday, just the three of them.<br /><br /><div></div></div>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-30605471053977390442010-05-13T21:30:00.003-05:002010-05-13T22:10:32.570-05:00Memories(Mr Potato Head! His parts came off, and you could change his looks. There was also a Mrs. Potato Head)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S-y-YjnyiHI/AAAAAAAABA4/1lJ2uZvkY-A/s1600/mr-potato-head.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470956976436578418" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S-y-YjnyiHI/AAAAAAAABA4/1lJ2uZvkY-A/s400/mr-potato-head.jpg" /></a><br /><div> </div><div>After reading Trey Morgans blog today, about what we remember about church when we were kids, got me to thinking a lot about memories tonight. I posted a some what long comment on Trey's blog about what I remember church being when I was a kid. One thing that I remember most was that "church" began in our congregation after we were all dismissed from the building. We were such a close group. Even after Cheryl and I were married and attending there was the same. There were no programs in place to try to make us get closer, we just were because we enjoyed each other and wanted to know each other better.<br /><br />Anyway, that got me to thinking about other memories of long ago. One memory that I will never forget as long as I live is, my dad walking to the front of the church and taking me out, because I was talking and messing around during the sermon. A week later when I woke up and all the bleeding was stopped I was impressed with my dads strength.<br /><br />Another memory is when I was very young, like in the 3rd grade or so. We lived on the farm North of Bovina, dad was farming and raising cattle and horses. I remember we had a lot of cattle in a pen. I decided to crawl over the 6 foot pipe fence into another area. The panel I climbed on fell over on me and hit me in the head, and knocked me out. I remember waking up and my dad was carrying me to the house through our trees. I remember feeling safe and thinking everything was going to be OK. I was in the hospital for several days with a concussion. My cousins brought me a <strong>"Mr. Potato Head"</strong> (how many of you remember a Mr. Potato Head?) to play with while I was in the hospital. Another cousin brought me a stuffed Monkey, that I called Snubby!!<br /><br />I loved living on the farm when I was a kid. I remember my dog, "dot" she was a bird dog, and another dog "rusty" was a cow dog. I remember both of them running in the tall wheat fields, jumping up every once in a while to see where they were at. I remember my dad getting so mad at them when they would jump in his irrigation ditch to cool off during the summer. I remember my dad teaching me how to "set tubes" out of an irrigation ditch, and how to adjust them just right. I remember sitting in our back yard and watching the spray pilot spray the corn behind our house. At each pass I thought he was going to go right through our house. I still love to watch spray planes spray crops.<br /><br />I remember a friend of mine that lived a few miles from us, Steven McCleran. Dad would let me drive my Grandads old 1962 model Chevy pickup around the farm. I did this when I was like in the 4Th grade, farm living was GREAT!! Anyway, that old pickups break fluid leaked. Dad always said, before you drive it make sure you check the break fluid. Well Steven and I drove it to his house one day, and yip, NO break fluid. Drove it right into his house. Put two holes in his parents house. His parents were not home at the time, I remember us thinking that we would drive to California. We decided not too, and ended up hoeing cotton for most of the summer to pay for the damage to the house.<br /><br />I remember getting mad at my sister because she would not play baseball with me. Just as she walked into the house, I hurled a dirt clod at her, hit her on the back of the leg. It was an amazing throw, from a good distance. Dad did not see it that way. Again when I woke up later, I was impressed with dad's strength.<br /><br />Well I could go on and on. Maybe more later, lots of memories from living on the farm. We moved to town when I was in the 6Th grade. Lots of memories from town living as well, but maybe later.</div>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-23783917751535602852010-05-03T11:05:00.003-05:002010-05-03T11:36:05.366-05:00Why Do I Not Blog/ Senior Banquet and StuffI guess with all that we do, I just do not take the time to blog any more. It maybe because I do not want to put forth the thinking energy to come up with something to write that I think someone might be interested in reading. But really the blog should be for me to release what is on my mind. I have not ever really cared much what others had thought, although deep down I think that I really do.<br /><br />Our lives are so busy, keeping up with our business, working with the youth at our church, staying up with Kyla and Dylan's activities and trying to find time to spend time with family. It really gets crazy at times. I seem at times to walk around with this blank look on my face, wondering what I am supposed to do next. I pray that God gives me the ability to manage my time better.<br /><br />Kyla has been doing great at Nazareth, she has fit in really great and everyone at NAZ has been so great to us and her. She will finish her first year at the end of this month. We asked her if she thought she wanted to go back to NAZ next year, she left no doubt that NAZ would be where she would be graduating. Also next year she will be the Swifty, (Mascot) for NAZ. She as well as us are excited about her doing that. She will be a great one!! She had surgery on her toe the first of April. She had two cysts on her toe that had to be removed. She has been on crutches for several weeks. The last few days she has gotten off of them, and hopes to be ready to go to b-ball camp in June.<br /><br />Dylan finished up little dribblers basketball a few weeks ago. He did really good for his first year playing. We tried to get him on an AAU team, but it did not work out. So maybe next year. We put in to transfer him to NAZ for next year as well. He says he wants to go, we will continue to pray for God to lead us and tell us what we need to do. He still loves to help out at the church, he helps every where he can. He has his mothers heart.<br /><br />We had our Senior banquet at church yesterday, we honored Teddy Culwell, and Cole Barlow. It is amazing how fast kids grow up. In just a short few years, Kyla will be a Senior, oh boy what will we do!<br /><br />So much going on this summer. Our calendar is filling up really fast. We are looking at when are we going to take a vacation with our family. Kyla has B-ball camp, Cheer leading camp, church camp, we have VBS and so much more. We may have to put an "X" on one of these things in order to be able to get away with the family. Cheryl and I got to take a trip in late March and first of April with one of our insurance companies. It was great to get away from everything for a while. We knew most of the people that were there with us, and got to meet a few new people, some that were very interesting. One gentleman from Houston, who was there by himself kinda attached himself to us for some reason. He made out trip well, lets just say, he made it in a few words, "interesting, fun, at times embarrassing, and different," we started calling him "Bob," from the movie, "What about Bob." He really was a good guy though. At times I think, "wow it would be great to move to another place, where no one knew you and you would not have to be involved in much and just sit back and relax for a while." Well that's not going to happen for a while anyway.<br /><br />Well that is about all my mind can come up with, without going into overload. Please pray for Cheryl as we think she may be having some "Gallbladder" problems. We see a doctor Tuesday afternoon.Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-50144617978293857342010-03-14T22:16:00.013-05:002010-03-16T21:21:39.827-05:00State Tournament Trip!We left early Friday morning and headed to Austin for the State Tournament. Nazareth boys made the tournament, and there was NO WAY that we were not going to watch them play. The girls decorated the car for the trip down. The back side windows said GO NAZ! It was a great trip for our family, Kyla took a friend that goes to school with her, and Dylan was excited to see where the Texas Longhorns played at. Naz boys can really play B-ball. Some doubted them, but they truly left NO doubt that they were State Champs. They beat the #7 team, (Lipan) early in the year in the Naz tournament. They beat the #4 team, (Vega) twice, once in the reg.tournament. Then beat the #1 team in the Sate in the first round of the State Tournament (Slocum). Then beat Grady, who was ranked 13th. They really played great all year long. Congratulations NAZ!!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A5SEQnbcI/AAAAAAAABAw/vTuoVdf1hIQ/s1600-h/069.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449418531662163394" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A5SEQnbcI/AAAAAAAABAw/vTuoVdf1hIQ/s400/069.jpg" /></a><br /><div>We ate at this place on the way. It was in Gainsville. They had the BEST fish!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A43dVqiGI/AAAAAAAABAo/hgqY6yqLGbk/s1600-h/064.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449418074537756770" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A43dVqiGI/AAAAAAAABAo/hgqY6yqLGbk/s400/064.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Saltgrass Steak House was right next to our Motel. We ate there on Friday night after the game. It was good, but I still think Jeff's in Kress has the best steaks anywhere. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A4YdNFgGI/AAAAAAAABAg/OV9gODyVzRg/s1600-h/068.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449417541925830754" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A4YdNFgGI/AAAAAAAABAg/OV9gODyVzRg/s400/068.jpg" /></a> The front of our Motel building at Round Rock. We were lucky to find a place to stay. Most everything was booked. Next time we will make reservations sooner to try to get closer to the Stadium. This was a nice place to stay though, it was about 15 min. away from the stadium, had to fight the traffic. But it worked good. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A3uRItvJI/AAAAAAAABAY/8m9jRVjpyME/s1600-h/066.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449416817131764882" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A3uRItvJI/AAAAAAAABAY/8m9jRVjpyME/s400/066.jpg" /></a> The kids at the Capital building on Sat. afternoon. We all had a great time.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A3L-XhHgI/AAAAAAAABAQ/ml2-8Bpf6pE/s1600-h/072.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449416227978026498" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A3L-XhHgI/AAAAAAAABAQ/ml2-8Bpf6pE/s400/072.jpg" /></a> Got to go in the State Capital. It was really interesting to see everything.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A3LjnnWzI/AAAAAAAABAI/mzZD8C0OYHY/s1600-h/070.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449416220797786930" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A3LjnnWzI/AAAAAAAABAI/mzZD8C0OYHY/s400/070.jpg" /></a> We played Slocum in the first round Friday night. Slocum ranked #1 in the State, Naz ranked #2. It could have been the best game we have seen this year. Naz pulled a good lead in the 3rd quarter and never looked back. Slocum was a great team. Slocum beat Naz last year in the State Finals. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A2Nes0RNI/AAAAAAAABAA/suBXsrMpXrg/s1600-h/IMG_0420.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449415154325538002" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A2Nes0RNI/AAAAAAAABAA/suBXsrMpXrg/s400/IMG_0420.JPG" /></a> Rick Perry awarded the medals. Most of Naz's boys are Seniors. They had 7 Freshman on the bench from the JV. They all got to get in the State Championship game Sat. night for a minute or so. The thinking is that we will be going back in a couple of years with this group of Freshman. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A1XkcRQOI/AAAAAAAAA_4/fk_QUXdzxAQ/s1600-h/IMG_0579.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449414228153811170" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A1XkcRQOI/AAAAAAAAA_4/fk_QUXdzxAQ/s400/IMG_0579.JPG" /></a> Celebrating after the final game. We beat Grady in the finals. Watching them play both games at Austin, you just felt like they were not going to be denied another State Championship. This is Naz boys 5th state Championship in the last nine years. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A0WGfV7FI/AAAAAAAAA_w/841lpvMW7RI/s1600-h/IMG_0565.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449413103422139474" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6A0WGfV7FI/AAAAAAAAA_w/841lpvMW7RI/s400/IMG_0565.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div align="left">Naz's Sage Black was tournament MVP! This was a good team, they could all play ball. They really played smart. Some of the things they did ont he court amazed me. We loved watching them play!!!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6AzqxT77lI/AAAAAAAAA_o/PF5Hy9C8_zc/s1600-h/IMG_0607.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449412359002779218" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6AzqxT77lI/AAAAAAAAA_o/PF5Hy9C8_zc/s400/IMG_0607.JPG" /></a>This is how the girls decorated the car on the way home. STATE CHAMPS!!!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6Ay10IgNVI/AAAAAAAAA_g/nlzjTuKawLI/s1600-h/083.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449411449227064658" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/S6Ay10IgNVI/AAAAAAAAA_g/nlzjTuKawLI/s400/083.jpg" /></a> The State Tournament has been something that I have always wanted to go to. It was great to be able to finally get to go, and it was even better to have a team playing in it. Our hope now is that maybe we will get to go back and watch Kyla play in it one day. With the team that Naz girls will have over the next 3 years, this will be very possible. Looking forward to it. </div></div></div></div></div></div>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-15364964994248180362010-01-26T18:09:00.004-06:002010-01-27T21:43:43.076-06:00Why Men Are Never DpressedIts been a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGG time since I have even thought about blogging. Maybe its because I have been too busy, or maybe just because my mind can not think of anything to say. Could be both!! Anyway for what ever reason it has been a long time. 2009 really went fast! Some changes for our family in 2009. The biggest change is that our daughter Kyla started school in Nazareth. It is amazing how kids see things that are not right and realize that they may be entering into something that is not good for them. Kyla came to us towards the end of last school year, and said, "I want to go to High School in Nazareth." We were blown away, we had no idea that she would want to do this. After a lot of prayer and consideration we told her that we would support her if this is what she truly wanted to do. It has been amazing for her. She has done so good and she loves Naz. All of the people in Naz have been so good to her and to us. We thank them for accepting us like they have. Its such a great school and things are so different it is amazing. She ran cross country and is playing on the JV basketball team and is doing really well. We are hoping for a trip to Austin in the next 3 years!! That would be a great bonus to everything else that is great about her move to Naz. <br />Dylan still goes to school at Tulia, we are still thinking about what we want to do there. We hope to decided by the end of the school year what to do about moving him or not. Dylan has started little dribblers and is really excited about playing instead of just watching his sister play. We are excited as well. <br />I know that there is lots more but my mind is empty now, besides Trey Morgan says, not to let your blogs be too long. The following is an e-mail that I received and thought it was funny. <br /><br />Men are just happier people: What do you expect from such simple creatures:<br />1) Your last name stays the same<br />2) the garage is all yours<br />3) Wedding plans are taken care of<br />4) Chocolate is just another snack<br />5) You can never be pregnant<br />6) You can wear NO shirt to the water park<br />7) Car mechanics tell you the truth<br />8) You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.<br />9) New shoes never cut, blister, or mangle your feet<br />10) One mood all the time<br />11) Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.<br />12) You know stuff about tanks<br />13) Your underwear is $8.95 for a three pack.<br />14) You almost never have a strap problem in public<br />15) You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes<br />16) The same hairstyle lasts for years<br />17) You can do your nails with your pocket knife<br />18)You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache<br />19) You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24Th in 25 minutes<br />20) Everything on your face stays its original color.<br /><br />No wonder Men are Happier!Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-79950375046085538652009-10-15T09:53:00.000-05:002009-10-15T09:55:46.554-05:00I am Second<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cnx2MungsGI&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cnx2MungsGI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-51222920385467362822009-08-19T21:35:00.002-05:002009-08-19T22:36:10.748-05:00What About Bob?There are things that you see in your life sometimes that just amaze you. I have been working with our youth for a couple of years now. I must admit that at times I have been frustrated thinking, "are we really doing any good here, are we getting through to these teens." Then one of them does something that really makes you proud.<br /><br />I first meet Bob Sunday morning at our church, when you first look at Bob you can tell right away that he has not shaved in a while and probably has not taken a shower in a while. See Bob is homeless, but he came to Tulia and to our church Sunday morning for a reason. Our church put Bob up in a local motel Saturday night and Sunday night. I went and picked up Bob on Monday morning and we had some coffee and talked. Bob started telling my his story. He was living in New Mexico. Bob has had some tough times in his life, and he would tell you that a lot of those tough times were brought on by some of his choices, no one elses. Bob decided one day that he was tired of living around drugs and alcohol and decided to leave his home and look for answers in his life from God. Bob ended up in the mountains of Colorado. He was living off of ramond noodles, living in a tent, sleeping on the ground. Bob told me in his words, "I was ready to give up and just die, but then Phillip walked into my camp." Phillip is a member of our youth group here at Central Church of Christ. Phillip talked to Bob each day that they were there and him and his family helped feed Bob each day, see Phillip and his family were on vacation in the mountains when they came across Bob. During their conversations, Phillip told Bob, "if you want to go some where and get help, you should come to Tulia to our church and they will help you." Bob hitchhiked from Colorado to Tulia over about two weeks and worshiped with us Sunday morning and then ate with us at our pot luck. <br /><br />It is Wednesday and Bob is still in town, I went and picked Bob up and he came to church with us tonight. I thank everyone from our church that welcomed Bob and had conversations with him. One of our youth member gave Bob a huge hug tonight which is what Bob needs more than anything, Thank you Halle! I have spent the last couple of days with Bob trying to find him a job here in Tulia. Have not had a whole lot of luck. Bob is currently at our local Half way house. He is not there because he is currently on drugs, but it is a place he can stay and they can help him find work. Thank you to Greg Culwell for helping me with Bob and making him feel welcome. Bob did NOT really want to go here, but I told him they could help him find some work. I left him there yesterday, (Tuesday) I could tell that he was a bit scared and not sure about staying. I went this morning to check on Bob, he meet me at the door with a big smile on his face and said, "this was a good idea, i think I will be able to stay here for a while." Bob asked me to come get him to go to church tonight I did and he enjoyed it a lot. <br /><br />This whole thing has really opened my eyes to my blessings. I believe that God has put Bob in my life, to help me open my eyes to a lot of things. Bob tells me all the time, "thanks for helping me," but really Bob has maybe helped me more than I have helped him, and for that I thank him. The other thing about this story, I am remined about Jesus telling us to become like little children. Phillip is not a little child, he is a teenager, actually he did something that most adults would not have done. He saw Bob as having a future, he did not judge him, he loved him and was a friend to him. Sometimes as adults, we see people like Bob and we look the other way, and judge them. One of the things that Bob told me was that the last several days has been the best days that he has had in a long time, "I got to sleep in a bed, take a shower, eat a real meal it was paradise." This real meal was from Sonic, I am so spoiled, I have never thought about Sonic being a real meal. The future is bright for Bob I believe, Phillip has planted the seed, and God will make it grow. I ask for your prayers for Bob, I will keep you updated about what is going on with him.Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-50428498108039208702009-08-12T17:50:00.001-05:002009-08-12T17:51:48.658-05:00Do we want it like this??<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gdx_2cuPgQQ&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gdx_2cuPgQQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-91689803280617223952009-08-02T22:21:00.000-05:002009-08-02T22:23:10.631-05:00Roller babies<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IIt5lGhFyE0&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IIt5lGhFyE0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-17144755289140158932009-07-27T19:04:00.003-05:002009-07-27T20:44:46.296-05:00Common Sense Health Reform<span style="font-size:130%;">So many things happening in the Health Care debate, its hard to keep up with. I spent most of the morning this morning writing e-mails to Senators and Congressman. This afternoon I read that some are coming together and maybe going to propose health reform with OUT the government option, which is what we want. Anyway, just for fun since I am really getting into this, I have come up with a "bill" of my own. Not that anyone really cares, but who knows. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I do <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">believe</span> that we need health reform, but not a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">government</span> option. President Obama keeps telling us that there are all these people without health <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">insurance</span>, I agree with that but who are they? It has been my experience, being in the insurance business that the following groups represent the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">uninsured</span> in America.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>6 foot Tall and Bullet <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Prof</span> Group:</strong> These people are mostly males 21 to 31 years old. They are either newly married, or just coming off of their parents insurance plan, and do not see health insurance or Life insurance for that matter as a priority in their life. They think, "Nothing is ever going to happen to me, I will never get sick." </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Self Insuring group:</strong> Most of this group is 32 to 50 year <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">old</span> and mostly farmers and Ranchers. They can afford the premium, but just elect not to pay the premium. This group does a good job of taking care of themselves as far as doctor visits and minor stuff that comes up. But then when the big one hits, they find that they need insurance and then can not get it. The big one being, heat trouble, cancer, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">diabetes</span>, and other things that deny coverage. You would not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">believe</span> the people that call me that are in this age group that tell me, I have not had coverage in 10 years or so, but now I need it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">because</span> I have been diagnosed with something. This is kinda like <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">shutting</span> the gate after the cows get out. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Oh One of These Days I will Check Into That group: </strong>This group is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">actually</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">eligible</span> for some type of coverage, such as Medicare or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Medicaid</span>, but either do not know it or just do not check into getting enrolled. I do not know how many times we have had the conversation with someone: "Mr Smith did you know that you are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">eligible</span> for Medicare?" Mr. Smith: "Oh yeah I have been told that, but I am so busy, I just have not had time to check into it." WHAT??? You are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">eligible</span> for a plan that helps pay your doctor and hospital bills, and can get a supplement to pay 100% of what that plan does not pay, and you have not taken the time to check into it, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">UGGG</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>I Can Not Afford Group</strong>: There is this group, that just can not afford health insurance,their job does not offer it, and they can not afford to get it. This is sad, and we need to do something to help this group.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">So here it is a Part of my "bill" understand that this does not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">probably</span> cover all that needs to be done, but maybe it would help some:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Common Sense Health Reform Bill 1:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">1) <strong>Premiums:</strong> We must get premiums down and stop them from rising so fast. One thing is we must stop the fraud with claims. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Especially</span> in the Medicare program. Example: We have a client that before he went on Medicare he was getting a shot by the doctor each month for his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">condition</span>. He had NO insurance, the doctor was charging like $150.00 for this shot. When he went on Medicare the doctor charged Medicare Part B, like, $1,500. This is crazy! To get premiums down the medical <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Field</span> and the insurance companies must come together and come to some type of agreement on procedures and payments. No more over charging and no more cutting payments back. Also in this part of the bill there must be a provision where there is some type of limitation on doctors being sued. This way maybe we can cut back on doubling up of tests. Insurance companies should have to give at least a two year rate <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">guarantee</span>, then be limited on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">percentage</span> that they can go up after that. This part still needs some thought and work, but can be accomplished.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>2) Enrollment Period: </strong>After the above is accomplished, lets give <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">everyone</span> the opportunity to get insured. Starting January 1 of given year, till June1, of same year there will be an OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD. During this Open Enrollment Period, anyone regardless of health condition may choose a plan and an insurance company and be insured. The insurance company must take each applicant with NO riders, NO waivers NO waiting periods, NO <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">preexisting</span> conditions. At this time any existing riders, waivers and waiting periods or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">preexisting</span> conditions will come off of all existing policies. This is where I disagree with the reform bill. It is not fair to the insurance company for someone to never pay a premium, and then when they have a problem expect to get coverage at that time, and expect the insurance company to pay out many high claims, when there has been no premiums payed to the insurance company. We must realize that these insurance companies are in business to make money, not to lose money. So under my plan, you would have 6 months to get insurance regardless of health. If you do not take advantage of that 6 month period, then you can apply later but will be subject to be declined. Maybe we have this Open Enrollment every two years or so. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>3) Right to Shop:</strong> If you have a plan that you have kept for 2 years, and decide that you want to change companies for what ever reason, as long as you have had that creditable coverage you may change and the new insurance company that you are going to has take you regardless of health. NO riders, NO waivers, NO <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">preexisting</span>.</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>4) Medicare: </strong>Fraud is killing Medicare. We must get rid of it. Part 1 of my bill will hopefully address part of this. Medicare should reward <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">preventative</span> care for our Seniors, some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">preventative</span> tests are not payed by Medicare each year, this should change. We would do away with Medicare Advantage, there is NO advantage of being on one of these plans, and it would save our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">government</span> LOTS of money. Prescription Drug plan would change to the following:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>1) NO MORE</strong> donut hole or Gap in coverage. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">2) Able to change plans in middle of year if needed, No more having special enrollment periods and being locked out if not enrolled, no more penalties for not enrolling.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">3) Standardize co-pays: Generics $7.00 Brand $25.00 Specialty drugs 25% coinsurance: Insurance companies can still set premiums, but would be regulated and would have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">guarantees</span> for 2 year periods. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">4) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Pharmaceutical</span> companies must lower cost of prescriptions. We have a client who takes a pill that cost for a 30 day supply around $1,000. This is outrageous. We must find away to lower cost of these prescriptions.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This is the basics to my bill, it is not complete, but it is a start. I have sent some of these ideas to Senators and Congressmen in Washington, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">probably</span> will have not effect, but who knows. Please continue to pray for our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">country</span> and for this bill. Only God can change all of this. I truly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">believe</span> that this bill would be the biggest effect on our country. Please continue to pray that God gives us all wisdom to make good choices. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-70449285468236692692009-07-25T09:25:00.013-05:002009-07-25T14:58:41.709-05:00I'm Only A Bill<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SmsWgAihc8I/AAAAAAAAA9w/09PWG__Ld1A/s1600-h/stethoscope.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362404520471131074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SmsWgAihc8I/AAAAAAAAA9w/09PWG__Ld1A/s400/stethoscope.jpg" border="0" /></a> I usually do not get Political, in fact I have always said that I am not sure what side of the political side I would be on. I have always thought that Democrats had some good ideas about how to better our country, as well has Republicans have good ideas about how to better our country. If we could just get the two sides to come together and work for us the people, then things would be a lot better off. I most likely lean towards being conservative in most issues. So don't think that I am taking a side on Health Reform, just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">because</span> I am Republican or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Democrat</span>.<br />As most of you should know, unless you have been living under a rock there is a bill in Washington that's intent is to Reform our health insurance in this country. There are actually two bills, one in the Senate and one in the House. The House bill is somewhat over 1,000 pages and the Senate bill is 615 pages. The thing that I find crazy about both of these bill's is that our elected <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">officials</span>, the ones that we voted into office to look out for our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">interest</span>, have not even read either bill, but yet were ready to vote on health reform by August 1st. That, thank goodness has been put off.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362407536528964530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 383px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SmsZPkOvu7I/AAAAAAAAA94/ER8Fwwq4JYI/s400/bill_english.jpg" border="0" />I am reminded of the song and cartoon on Saturday mornings that I watched when I was a kid, called "I am only a Bill." I showed us what a Bill goes through before it becomes law. Remember the song? "I am only a bill, and I'm sitting here on Capital hill......." <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">something</span> like that. If my memory serves me right, I think that song and cartoon showed us that the ones that were voting on that bill actually READ the bill before voting it into law. The following is the link to the school house Rock song. <a href="http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ">http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ</a><br /><br />Maybe our elected <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">officials</span> have not read this bill, but I have. Well not every sentence of it, but I have read a big portion of it and i am still studying it and trying to figure out some of the things that it says, and I have come to some conclusions.<br /><br />I should say that I want to thank Lauri Beck President of Insurance Network of America for sending me a copy of both of these bills. Also thanks to Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Socher</span> President of Old Surety Life for his insight on these bills and what it would do to our country and our freedom.<br /><br />One of the things that is great about our country is our freedom. If you listen to the media, most being on the side of the Obama administration, but even the conservative side like fox news. They talk about how much this bill will cost us, and I agree with that, but one thing that jumps out to me is, our freedom is being taken away from us. One thing about health insurance, we all have the freedom to chose what we want, and who we want it with. If my premium gets too high, I shop for another policy that gives me the same coverage or more for less premium. If I decide to upgrade my policy I can do that, or if I decide to downgrade my policy I can do that as well.<br /><br />Reading the 1,000 page House bill you do not have to get very far before you realize that our freedom to shop for health insurance will be taken away.<br /><br />Obama keeps saying if you like what you have you can keep it. Makes you think that you can keep what you have and continue to choose private health insurance right? Think again.<br /><br />Page 16 of the House bill there is a provision making <strong>INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE ILLEGAL! Yes this provision would make <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Individual</span> Private Insurance Illegal, under the heading of the bill called "<em> Protecting The Choice To Keep Current Coverage," "Limitation On New Enrollment."<br /></em></strong><br /><br />This section states, and I quote straight from the House bill:<br /><br /><em>"Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day, of the year the legislation becomes law."<br /></em><br /><br />So we can all keep our coverage, just as promised, with of course, exceptions: Those who currently have private individual coverage will not be able to change it. Nor will those who leave a company to work for themselves be free to buy individual plans from private carriers.<br /><br />From the beginning opponents of the public option plan have warned that if the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">government</span> gets into the business of offering subsidized health insurance coverage, the private insurance market will wither away. Companies and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">businesses</span> that offer YOU group insurance will be drawn to the public option to save them money. Therefore they will put you on the public option, you will NOT have a choice, and you will NOT be able, (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">because</span> of the provision above) to go out and buy from the private sector. This in turn will start putting private insurance companies out of business. When companies go out of business, we get layoffs. This in turn will make our unemployment rate go through the roof.<br /><br />This reason among many is why I do not think that a private, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">government</span> run insurance plan would be good for our country.<br /><br />Most people in America will be <strong>FORCED</strong>, into this private <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">government</span> run plan. Why would we think that the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">government</span> would be able to run an insurance plan. Oh wait, they already do its called Medicare and Medicaid, which are going broke!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362418341545649154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 333px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SmsjEgDeJAI/AAAAAAAAA-A/ep03A965Fz0/s400/10597128_SS.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Several weeks ago President Obama was at a town hall meeting. A lady asked him a question about her 104 year old mother. The answer was scary! This lady's mother needed a pacemaker to live, yes she is 104 years old. One doctor that she went to said, "I will not put the pacemaker in, she is too old." The second doctor that they went too said, "yes I will put in the pacemaker." The reason, well he took into <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">consideration</span> that this 104 year old woman still had a lot of will to live, she fully understood what she was facing, she was full of life, and was not ready yet to give up. The daughter of this 104 year old woman, asked our President, remember we live in America, we are FREE right, this was not the leader of Korea that this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">question</span> was being asked, this was not the leader of Iraq that this question was asked, this was being asked of the President of the United States of America, the land of the FREE. She asked, "if my mother would have been on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">government</span> run insurance at the time she needed this pacemaker, would she have gotten it, under the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">government</span> plan?" The answer was telling. Basically our President, the one that is President of America, the land of the FREE, said in so many words, she <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">probably</span> would not have gotten the pacemaker. Does this not tell you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">something</span> about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">government</span> run health insurance?</p><p>My dad takes cancer <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">treatments</span> every so many months, he is 79 years old, if he is put onto the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">government</span> plan, those cancer treatments will most likely end. Under the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">government</span> run plan, President Obama and his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">admisistraiton</span> will decide who gets treatments, who gets surgeries. The choice and freedom will be taken out of your hands and out of your doctors hands and put into the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">government</span> hands. I can not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">believe</span> that in the United States, that a question like the one above would have to be asked. "Will you let me live, or will you let me die, Mr. President? </p><p>I should say this, and I know that this is getting long. I do agree with our President, we need to reform health insurance in some ways, but a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">government</span> run option is NOT the way to do that. Why not figure out what works with our current system and do not fix what is not broken, and figure out what does not work and fix that? I belive that there are many out there that have great ideas on how to fix our health care, if we could just get our gonvenment to listen to us. Understand as well that people come to this country for our health care system, so it must not be that bad. </p><p>Since this is getting really long, I will cut it off for now. In a few days, I will post my "bill "on Health Care Reform. </p><p>I do belive that God is in control, and I pray every day for our country and for our leaders. I ask you to please write your Represenatives, and remember the Republicans are NOT for this goverment run program, we must reach those who are for this program and change their minds, most are Democrats. Pray for our country and for our leaders and for this bill. As the song states, <strong>"I am Only A Bill."</strong> That is true for now, we must not let this <strong>"Bill"</strong> become law.</p><p>More later to come. </p><p></p>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-55660667143955348902009-07-09T10:34:00.002-05:002009-07-09T11:05:47.361-05:00Vacation<span style="font-size:130%;">We got back from vacation on Tuesday night. We had been gone for about a week to Missouri. We wanted to go some where different, some where we had not been before, so we chose to go up around Kansas City. We took the kids to a park kinda like Six Flags. Dylan rode his first big roller coaster. He rode it with Kyla, she is the queen of roller coasters. He would not get on the REALLY BIG one with her, so she rode it by herself. I am not a fan of roller coasters or of theme parks, they charged me $10.00 just to park!, but the kids really had fun and that is what it is about. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We spent a lot of good time together as a family and got away from pressures of work and just every day stuff. It is hard to believe that Kyla will be a Freshman, we only have 4 more years with her, so these times away with just the family are important. I know that the next 4 years will fly by. I asked her if she was going to leave me in 4 years, she said, "yes but I will come back and visit, and you will always be my daddy." That day will be hard on me. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Our summer has been busy, Kyla has played a lot of basketball, seems like every weekend we were going somewhere to watch her play. Then all during the month of June she played on Tuesday and Thursday's in Littlefeild with the Naz. girls. I am hoping that it will slow down for us for a while. Kyla will go to Church camp in a couple of weeks and be gone for a week. Cheryl and I are not going this year, we have had so much going on we had to cut some things out. QMCC with temps. over 100 was at the top of my list to cut. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Its hard to get back into the grove of things after a vacation. Our business is going very good. We are very blessed. I am not sure what will happen if Obama gets his government run health care passed. I keep telling myself that God is in control. Looking at what is proposed by the Obama administration, government run health care would not be good for anyone. Many think that this would not effect them, but it will. In recent days I have sent e-mails and letters to congressmen, urging them to look outside of the box when it comes to health care. Our current system needs help, but lets fix what does not work, and leave what does work alone. I strongly believe that government run health care will force many out of jobs, and make our unemployment go up to numbers that we have never seen before. We all need to take a stand, and let our Representatives know how we feel. Obama keeps saying that if you like what you have that you will be able to keep it. Trust me that will not be the case, business's will go to the government run health care to save money, and force employees to take that option, regardless of what is best for you. This in turn will put insurance companies out of business, therefore layoffs and people out of jobs. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Did not mean for this post to be political, but please pray for our country and for what is before the congress.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> One other thing that is going on, my eyes have really been bothering me lately. So I made an appointment with our eye doctor. He told me I needed bifocals. I thought only people over 60 wore bifocals. I am going to try contacts for a while and see if I like them. I hope that they help my see better, things have been a bit blurry at times and hard to focus on. I guess I am just getting old! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Hope that you all have a blessed day and week!</span>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-47503841630838991762009-06-18T21:07:00.004-05:002009-06-18T21:37:06.852-05:00A Swift<span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348856584390062178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/Sjr0uVsUMGI/AAAAAAAAA9o/6KIi-REntMA/s400/swift.png" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We got the call today. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Naz</span>. school board approved Kyla's transfer last night. She is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">officially</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Naz</span>. Swift. She has been playing basketball in a summer <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">league</span> with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Naz</span>. girls and has made some new friends. This has been Kyla's decision and we have supported her all the way. We pray that she is doing the right thing, we all feel good about it. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Our summer has been really busy so far. Kyla has been playing summer <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">league</span> b-ball in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">littlefield</span>, she has been to b-ball camp in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Weatherford</span> Oklahoma, and a camp in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Naz</span>, and weekend games in Amarillo and Lubbock. Dylan had basketball camp in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Naz</span> all this week. We went and watched him today, he did really good. We still have a lot coming up as well. Family reunion, Kyla has team camp at WT and church camp and we would like to get a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">vacation</span> in somewhere. Cheryl is going on a retreat middle of July. Before we know it, summer is going to be over and school is going to be starting. Wow how time flies! Four more years with Kyla, it's going to go too fast. </span>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-44915519241198999512009-06-07T19:43:00.002-05:002009-06-07T20:15:07.653-05:00VBS70 kids on Saturday for VBS and 59 came back for Sunday morning including several parents. Kids are funny, here are some of the things that I heard during VBS.<br /><ul><li>I love Jesus</li><li>We all need Jesus</li><li>Where's my mom</li><li>I want my mom</li><li>I need a band-Aid</li><li>I'm Thirsty</li><li>Are we having donuts again this morning</li><li>Question "What's your parents name?" Answer: "mom and Dad" :)</li><li>I want out of this place!!</li><li>Can we eat yet</li><li>I need to go to the bathroom</li><li>I think I'm going to throw up</li><li>That's not my mom</li><li>I don't want to go home</li></ul><p>We had a great VBS, hope that we planted some seeds. </p>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-21157858375280441922009-05-18T21:15:00.004-05:002009-05-18T22:17:27.457-05:00Happy Birthday<span style="font-size:130%;">Tomorrow May 19Th is my 42ND birthday. Wow how time has flown by. Seems like just yesterday I was graduating from high school. Now I am turning 42. A lot has gone on in 42 years. I have learned a lot, and still have a lot to learn. So here are some things that I have learned in my life. Not in any particular order, just as they come to mind.<br /></span><ol><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Life is so much better when God is number one in my life:</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">When you are in an Elders meeting and you think the church needs to hire a youth minister, let someone else say it first :)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Teenagers know a lot more about stuff they shouldn't, than I did when I was a teen.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Marriage works a lot better when you communicate to each other. (this one took me a while, just ask Cheryl)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Raising kids takes patience: (I am not sure i have this one figured out yet, but still working on it)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">No credit cards and No debt are a lot better way to live: (Got the No credit card thing down, working on the No debt, getting there)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I can't go back in time to fix things that I messed up, so I must strive to do what is right.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Integrity is a very important thing</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Loud mufflers on pickups can be annoying; (our neighbors when I was a teen, wished i would have figured that one out a lot sooner)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Having a family is the greatest thing in the world.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I enjoy watching my daughter play basketball more than I liked playing it. (can't wait till Dylan starts.)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I can be kind of a loner. A lot of times I just like to be alone. It does not bother me to go into a restaurant and eat by myself. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I have one best Friend, that is my wife. I have found that her and I can take on the world together and win!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Kids are my greatest blessings</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">My son may end up being better at video games than me. (I will not give up the crown of Champion of The World easily though)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I still do not talk to God enough or spend enough time with him. (I have got to learn this one.)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the best things in my life right now is that I get to eat breakfasts with my parents every morning. When I was a teen you could not pay me to hang out with my parents, I have learned that it is a really cool thing to do. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I am not as afraid of flying as I used to be. (don't tell Cheryl, but I kinda like it)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I need to see more places with my family, I will look back and see how important this was when i am 82. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">That typing class that I took in High School, was a HUGE benefit to me. Ms. Sudureth told me it would be, i did not believe her at the time. Thanks </span></li></ol><p><span style="font-size:130%;">As I look at the list, hopefully I will learn more in the next 42 years than I did in the first 42 years. Only time will tell. So how about a list of things that I need to learn in the next 42 years. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">This kind of list could be a VERY, VERY long list, so here is the short list:</span></p><ol><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Learn to Relax. I get too up tight sometimes, Cheryl says I am going to have a heart attack one of these days.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Pray more, spend more time with God and in his word. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Be more patient</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Be more forgiving</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Be a better shopper, I need to shop around more for better deals, getting better at it, but have a ways to go. I am bad about seeing something that i want and just get it.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Learn more about technology, it has passed me by, I need to catch up.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Teach, I need to be a better teacher: Need to learn to relate to youth better.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I need to learn to look at what I have instead of what I do not have. God has blessed me greatly, I am a Rich Man, I have a beautiful wife and two great kids ( ;) Trey)</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-size:130%;">This is just a very short list of the things that I still need to learn, but I need to learn to go to bed early so I can get up in the mornings. So have a great day!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">9. I need to learn how to spell!!!!!</span></p>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-75349289456263573292009-05-10T20:54:00.004-05:002009-05-11T12:37:42.273-05:00Decisions<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SgeFtDw5ZZI/AAAAAAAAA9g/OMxgdIMoP5E/s1600-h/Decisions-714972.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334379292794643858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SgeFtDw5ZZI/AAAAAAAAA9g/OMxgdIMoP5E/s400/Decisions-714972.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">Decisions that we know are going to change things in our lives are hard to make for adults. But for teens and young people those decisions seem even tougher at times. Although as we watch our teens it seems that they make decisions on a whim and don't even think twice about it. We have had to make decisions in the past few years that we knew where best for us and our family and were we wanted to go, but hurt us really bad to make. Our daughter Kyla has been faced with a tough decision in her life recently. She came to us several weeks ago and told us what she was thinking and what she thought she wanted to do. It is a HUGE change in her life and for that matter in our life as well. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">There are times I believe in life that as parents we must let our kids make their own decisions. The decision that Kyla has made is really what we would call a "grown up" decision, but she made it on her own and I am so proud of her. When she first came to us and told us what she was thinking, we were amazed and truly surprised. Cheryl and I talked about it and talked to a LOT of other people that have made the same decision, (the only difference is that their parents made their decision for them, Kyla made her own decision) and decided to let Kyla decide what she wanted to do. The first thing we told her to do is to take her time and pray before she decided anything for sure. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">She came to us a few days ago and told us that she had made her decision. We are so proud of Kyla, she has removed herself from situations that she felt was going to drag her down. It was tough on her, I saw her going through a lot of suffering because of what was on her mind and on her heart, but she let God lead her. We pray that all will work out and that she will be supported by everyone around her. </span>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-13190087603723753322009-04-20T12:21:00.006-05:002009-04-20T12:45:01.129-05:00Our little track star<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeyxWz0Vq-I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/-kFqhpf3arU/s1600-h/IMG_0272.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326827464697424866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeyxWz0Vq-I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/-kFqhpf3arU/s400/IMG_0272.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">District track meet was in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dimmitt</span> on Saturday. Our 8<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Th</span> grade girls placed 2<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ND</span> in district. We were only 6 points out of 1st. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Childress</span> won the district. Our sprint relay team would have won, but got disqualified on the last exchange, they were out of the zone and they were right there to win it. The above picture is our 800 relay. Kristen Adams handing off to Kyla. We were in 3rd <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">place</span> when Kyla got the stick, when she handed off to the last runner we were in 1st. She ran them down, we were so proud of her and all of the girls, they did great!<br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/Seywb19KEvI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/zNymvEe6qZ0/s1600-h/IMG_0254.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326826451659002610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/Seywb19KEvI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/zNymvEe6qZ0/s400/IMG_0254.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">Kyla and the long jump. She also did the triple jump. There was a girl from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Childress</span> that jumped 34 feet 3 inches, in the triple jump. That is amazing for an 8<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Th</span> grader. Her mom told me that if she was in high school she would be 5<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Th</span> in the state. Kyla did well in the triple jump, she jumped 26 feet 5 inches.<br /></span><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326825909482110578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/Seyv8SMHPnI/AAAAAAAAA9I/yyhqLKIaf8U/s400/IMG_0253.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;">Getting ready to jump!<br /></span><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326825462846676466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeyviSV7XfI/AAAAAAAAA9A/AJvH8OxtTVE/s400/IMG_0239.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;">My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">beautiful</span> daughter, she is growing up. We are proud of you!<br /></span><div></div></div></div></div>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-12168608162094952562009-04-13T22:03:00.006-05:002009-04-13T22:28:50.168-05:00Our Trip<span style="font-size:130%;">Cheryl and I qualified for a trip with our business, this is the second year that we have been invited to go with this great company that we write for. It was a great trip. The thing that has impressed me both years is that they are such a Christian oriented company. Before each meal we had a prayer and when the Vice President and CEO both spoke, they spoke about how God was such a great impact in their lives, and in the company. They really made us feel comfortable and welcomed both years that we have gone. Thank you Old Surety, you are the best! See you next year!<br /></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeQARa_K4sI/AAAAAAAAA8w/oBLSDyav_yY/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324380958760821442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeQARa_K4sI/AAAAAAAAA8w/oBLSDyav_yY/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeP_3tINTYI/AAAAAAAAA8o/kRM-4xDfPJk/s1600-h/IMG_0063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324380516953968002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeP_3tINTYI/AAAAAAAAA8o/kRM-4xDfPJk/s400/IMG_0063.JPG" border="0" /></a> My wonderful wife, and partner!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeP_K-pJLfI/AAAAAAAAA8g/oGhbZnTdU8Y/s1600-h/IMG_0030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324379748561399282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeP_K-pJLfI/AAAAAAAAA8g/oGhbZnTdU8Y/s400/IMG_0030.JPG" border="0" /></a> A view from the balcony of our motel room:<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeP-yIP3P2I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/xNVaDBgVxDM/s1600-h/043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324379321642991458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeP-yIP3P2I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/xNVaDBgVxDM/s400/043.jpg" border="0" /></a> This was our transportation: It's really not as big as it looks, as tall as I am, I had trouble getting in and out and having leg room, but it was fun.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324381131690511010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SeQAbfM0iqI/AAAAAAAAA84/hwQiD3lJA6M/s400/040.jpg" border="0" /><br />Not a very good picture, but this also was transportation for us to go across the bay when we wanted to. </div><div>Thanks again to Old Surety Life, for a great trip!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-7230629620427344542009-03-24T21:18:00.003-05:002009-03-24T22:09:36.364-05:00Not Mine<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/ScmVdROaxyI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/xoZjd88zpqM/s1600-h/montana-meth.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316945165160204066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/ScmVdROaxyI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/xoZjd88zpqM/s400/montana-meth.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">I have been reading a lot in the last few weeks about teens and drugs. I feel that I have a responsibility to learn as much as I can about signs and about how teens get into drugs and why. A lot of what I read is parents who think that it will never happen to their teens or kids. I must admit, I am a parent who falls into this category. One of the things that I always try to tell our teens is that someone is always watching you. As a parent I must realize that someone is watching me as well, my kids, our youth. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">I have read story after story of kids trying to imitate their parents smoking habits, or drinking habits, trying to be like who they look up too, only to have it back fire on them. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">There is a high likelihood that your teen and mine, will be exposed to drugs and alcohol, and there is a good chance that they will try drugs. Why?</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Most teens don't think that they will become addicted, and simply use drugs or alcohol to have a good time and be more like their friends. Most teens who are addicted won't see a problem with their behavior or their drug use. For some teens drugs make them feel good, and are a way to relieve the stress of school, problems at home, disagreements with friends, and other pressures of growing up.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">What can I do as a parent or someone who works with teens? I think that we must show them that we care and that we love them and encourage them to make wise decisions. I also as a parent must keep the lines of communication open. As a parent I must talk to my kids about drugs. I must let my teen know that it is my business who they are "chillin" with, and "hangen" with and who they are "texting." </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">We must remember that being a teenager is often a confusing and challenging time, which can make teens vulnerable to falling into a destructive pattern of drug use. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">I have been talking lately to our youth group about the effects of drug and alcohol and other addictive things. I pray that as we visit about all sorts of peer pressure's that our teens face, that we can have some type of impact on all of them. It is amazing the things that our teens face in this world today. I pray for all of them, and I ask that you pray for the youth of the community and church that you are in. Remember these teens are the ones that will someday lead our cities, our counties, or towns, our country and our churches. Say a special prayer for them today. </span></div>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-18027929418987461372009-03-21T10:33:00.003-05:002009-03-21T11:05:30.586-05:00House Divided<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/ScUJdWKmpOI/AAAAAAAAA8I/UWqzMpL-zt8/s1600-h/duke+texas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315665334951650530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/ScUJdWKmpOI/AAAAAAAAA8I/UWqzMpL-zt8/s400/duke+texas.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/ScUJN0gc2MI/AAAAAAAAA8A/yLe2fYafvSk/s1600-h/100_3362.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315665068218439874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/ScUJN0gc2MI/AAAAAAAAA8A/yLe2fYafvSk/s400/100_3362.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Our house is divided today. Duke plays Texas in the 2ND round of the NCAA tournament. I have been a fan of Duke basketball since I can remember. My daughter (Kyla) is a Texas fan. I think she really likes Texas just because I do not like them. So for today our house is divided, I will be cheering on my Blue Devils and she will be cheering on her Longhorns. Dylan will be on my side and Cheryl will be caught in the middle. GO DUKE!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">I love this time of year, March Madness, best time to watch sports, (get with it Trey Morgan) The following is my sports outlook:</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">1) I like college sports more than pro: College games are much more exciting, the players really want to do good, and want to win. The atmosphere at a college game is so much better than pro: Pro players get paid regardless if they win or lose and they ALL have that attitude: I know that there are some college teams breaking rules and paying kids to come to their school and I hate that part of it. But the game still is much more exciting than any pro game. You can feel the school spirit in most college games, even through television, but especially if you are there. Pro games are just kinda, yeah we gotta play today and then we can get out million dollar checks:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">2) I just don't watch much pro football or basketball: I will watch the Superbowl, and the NBA finals, but that is really about it:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">3) My favorite basketball teams: Duke of course: I also like Tech men's and women's: And yes I am an Aggie fan as well: I like North Carolina if they are not playing Duke: I like anyone who BEATS UT!!! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">My favorite Pro basketball team is the LA Lakers: I will watch them some but not much until the NBA finals and I still get frustrated watching Pro. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">4) My favorite football teams: Texas A&M is my team (they will be back someday, and I wait patiently) I also like Tech, except when they play A&M: Oklahoma is OK: And again I like anyone who is playing UT!!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I have a love hate relationship with the Dallas Cowboys: I have gotten to where I like to see them lose more than I like to see them win. I have decided that I don't think much of Tony Romo: When Troy Aikman, Jay Novacheck and Emmit Smith were there I loved the Cowboys, but these new guys have ruined the team. So I really do not have pro football team that I care for:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">5) I got into NASCAR some in the last few years, but have not really watched it in a while, I was the fan that wanted to see the wrecks, and that was not good. Although I am in a Fantasy League, that I really am not very good at picking the drivers. Trey said I needed to confess my NASCAR sins and I would do better. But I could not give into Jeff Gordon: I decided that I cheer only for Dale JR., because it bothers Trey so much. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">6) I have to mention as well that I like to watch women's basketball: Although you do not have the dunks, if you really watch the women, most of them have more talent than the men do. My women's teams are: Duke: Tennessee: Tech: </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I don't get to watch them much but these girls can play some ball. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Of course my favorite is watching my Kyla play b-ball, even though she is a Longhorn fan. She can bust those 3 pointers:</span>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-59237867200461789392009-03-11T07:42:00.003-05:002009-03-11T08:05:04.804-05:00Whats Going On<span style="font-size:130%;"> We have a busy day today, have appointments in Lubbock, its going to be a big busy day. Then back tonight for KFC, (Kids For Christ) and Church tonight, one of the AIMers is coming to teach our class tonight. We have been practicing LTC each Sunday with the kids. It seems that each year it gets harder and harder to get things together, but we are doing good this year, time just seems to fly by. We go to LTC on the 10th of April. The week before Cheryl and I will be gone on a trip that we got through Insurance Sales, we are coming back on Thursday and then leaving on that Friday for LTC. It's going to be a crazy time. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">One of my good friends lost their wife this week to cancer. He called me yesterday and asked me to be a pallbearer at the funeral Thursday, I was honored. We worked at Swisher Electric together. We pulled call together every six weeks. Working together during thunderstorms and snow storms at 2:00am, you get to know each other really well. I pray for him today, that God gives him comfort, I know that he is hurting. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Kyla has a track meet here on Thursday. The weather is not going to be good, but that is part of track I guess. She usually runs the sprint relay and the 880 relay, but there are several girls hurt so there will be no sprint relay or 880 relay. She will do the Long Jump, triple Jump, 100, and 220. It's going to be cold and maybe snowing and raining. Open house at her school was last night. I sometimes do not understand our school system, but oh well, I get this way every year around the time she takes the TAKS. She is being taught to pass a test, not learning. Sorry, I will move on!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I have been struggling lately with how to handle some things with in our youth group. How do I handle some things that come up? How do I react to certain things? One of our AIM kids told me something Sunday that made me think. How did Jesus handle some things that he came across. He handled them with Love. He never stoped loving those that made mistakes. Our youth and teens are going to make mistakes, we must handle those things with Love. I pray that God gives me patience and understanding, and helps me to Love during times of difficulty. I ask all of you to pray for our teens, there is so much going on in their lives it is amazing that they handle it as well as they do. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-15255965890045139522009-03-02T11:20:00.003-06:002009-03-02T11:54:56.160-06:00Thoughts<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SawWY2cjMDI/AAAAAAAAA7w/vYkraZL8CRE/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308642676950904882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SawWY2cjMDI/AAAAAAAAA7w/vYkraZL8CRE/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Some things that I am thinking today. </span></div><ol><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I wonder if the guy who put the engagement ring, to surprise his Fiance, in a milk shake and she swallowed it, is going to buy her a new one. It went in on like Wednesday and came out on Thursday. HMMM. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I am really excited about the Bible being on my Blackberry now. I downloaded it this morning. I am getting more and more dependent on my Blackberry, I think if I lost it I would be lost. One scripture that I read this morning after downloading it: <span style="color:#ffff00;">Proverbs 30: 7-9:</span> </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I wonder sometimes what my boundaries are as a Youth Minister? How far do I, in so many words "stick my nose into a Teens business, especially when I disagree with a Parents decision." Who's idea was this "Youth Minister" thing any way:) I did not think it would be this tough at times. I wonder why these teens have the peer pressure that they have.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I wonder why our dog gets under our couch in the sun room and barks at us. I have a really good video of Cheryl and Kyla trying to get him out. I wonder if Cheryl would be mad at me if I posted it? </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I wonder why the State of Texas punishes our children with the TAKS test. Kyla takes one tomorrow. She has been working so hard the last several weeks on her school work. She has really done great on the tests that she has taken, and she has been studying so hard for the TAKS. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I wonder where my sunglasses are? I found them while we were on the ski trip. Wore a pull over that I have not worn in months, stuck my hand in the pocket and there they were. I wonder why I can not keep up with them? I wish I could put them in my blackberry!</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </p>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-15134157921435517362009-02-23T18:09:00.007-06:002009-02-23T18:48:58.034-06:00Family Day<span style="font-size:130%;">A good friend of mine gave us two tickets to the Texas Tech and Texas A&M men's basketball game for Saturday. So we decided to make it a family day spent together with just us and the kids. We left around noon and went to Plainview and ate at Taco Bell. Not a extravagant meal, but we were together and had a lot of fun on our way to Lubbock. We did some shopping at Academy. Dylan needed new shoes and Kyla needed some track shoes. We went to a few other stores just mainly looking around. I was looking for a pullover that either had Texas Tech on it or Texas A&M. Believe it or not I could not find one in the whole town of Lubbock Texas, not even at the game. Well there was one at the game, but it was a 3x, I am not that big, and I have lost 12 pounds over the last several weeks. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We bought the kids some tickets at the game, and we all got really luck and were able to sit together. I could not really decide who to go for, since I am an Aggie fan as well. But there were so many Tech fans sitting around us, I had keep that to myself, and actually found myself pulling some for Tech. About the middle of the first half, a man came up to our seats and asked Dylan if he would like to participate in the half time show, and do a lay up contest. So Dylan and I got to go down on the court at half. He was against another kid. They started at one end of the court, they had to run to a pair of shorts that were on the court, put the shorts on, (over his jeans, he first thought that he was to take his jeans off and put on the shorts, lucky he asked about this before the contest stared and they explained the rules to him in more detail,) then he was to run to a pair of over sized shoes, put them on, then run to a huge jersey and put it on, then take a basketball and shot a layup. He was ahead the whole time until he got to the jersey and he got tangled up a bit, and the other kid got the shot off just before he did and won. But he had a blast doing it, and it was a lot of fun to watch him. After the game we went to TGIF to eat, got home around 11:30pm. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Our family day was great. We got to be together and just have a lot of fun. Thank you Josh for the tickets. Below are the pictures I took of Dylan during the contest. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM8tY73j3I/AAAAAAAAA7E/qJoazMyafx0/s1600-h/dylantt+start.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306151536457912178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM8tY73j3I/AAAAAAAAA7E/qJoazMyafx0/s400/dylantt+start.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM8Y6pIqOI/AAAAAAAAA68/SHrUlBehjp4/s1600-h/dylan+tt+shorts.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306151184728893666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM8Y6pIqOI/AAAAAAAAA68/SHrUlBehjp4/s400/dylan+tt+shorts.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM8JadJhGI/AAAAAAAAA60/hvcDGL0M3DM/s1600-h/dylan+tt+shoes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306150918390645858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM8JadJhGI/AAAAAAAAA60/hvcDGL0M3DM/s400/dylan+tt+shoes.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM73Kcd9NI/AAAAAAAAA6s/l7vhO_rnBGY/s1600-h/101_0823.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306150604855178450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM73Kcd9NI/AAAAAAAAA6s/l7vhO_rnBGY/s400/101_0823.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM7g7uqT6I/AAAAAAAAA6k/YQdQMUaiOJ4/s1600-h/dylan+tt+done.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306150222947831714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM7g7uqT6I/AAAAAAAAA6k/YQdQMUaiOJ4/s400/dylan+tt+done.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM7Q1TbjDI/AAAAAAAAA6c/9uvsCl8GmJM/s1600-h/dylan+tt+redraider.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306149946345098290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SaM7Q1TbjDI/AAAAAAAAA6c/9uvsCl8GmJM/s400/dylan+tt+redraider.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-40545463001362239222009-02-19T09:48:00.003-06:002009-02-19T09:53:20.050-06:00Sportsmanship<span style="font-size:130%;">It's refreshing that sportsmanship has not been totally lost, that there is something more than just winning, read this article in the paper and thought that it was good.</span><br /><br /><br /> The coach never considered any other option.<br />It didn't matter that his DeKalb, Ill., High basketball team had ridden a bus 2½ hours to get to Milwaukee, then waited another hour past game time to play. Didn't matter that the game was close, or that this was a chance to beat a big city team.<br />Something else was on Dave Rohlman's mind when he asked for a volunteer to shoot two free throws awarded his team on a technical foul in the second quarter. His senior captain raised his hand, ready to go to the line as he had many times before.<br />Only this time it was different.<br />"You realize you're going to miss them, don't you?" Rohlman said.<br />Darius McNeal nodded his head. He understood what had to be done.<br />It was a Saturday night in February, and the Barbs were playing a non-conference game on the road against Milwaukee Madison. It was the third meeting between the schools, who were developing a friendly rivalry that spanned two states.<br />The teams planned to get together after the game and share pizzas and soda. But the game itself almost never took place.<br />Hours earlier, the mother of Milwaukee Madison senior captain Johntell Franklin died at a local hospital. Carlitha Franklin had been in remission after a five-year fight with cervical cancer, but she began to hemorrhage that morning while Johntell was taking his college ACT exam.<br />Her son and several of his teammates were at the hospital late that afternoon when the decision was made to turn off the life-support system. Carlitha Franklin was just 39.<br />"She was young and they were real close," said Milwaukee coach Aaron Womack Jr., who was at the hospital. "He was very distraught and it happened so suddenly he didn't have time to grieve."<br />Womack was going to cancel the game, but Franklin told him he wanted the team to play. And play they did, even though the game started late and Milwaukee Madison dressed only eight players.<br />Early in the second quarter, Womack saw someone out of the corner of his eye. It was Franklin, who came there directly from the hospital to root his teammates on.<br />The Knights had possession, so Womack called a time out.<br />His players went over and hugged their grieving teammate. Fans came out of the stands to do the same.<br />"We got back to playing the game and I asked if he wanted to come and sit on the bench," Womack said.<br />"No," Franklin replied. "I want to play."<br />There was just one problem. Since Franklin wasn't on the pre-game roster, putting him in meant drawing a technical foul that would give DeKalb two free throws.<br />Though it was a tight game, Womack was willing to give up the two points. It was more important to help his senior guard and co-captain deal with his grief by playing.<br />Over on the other bench, though, Rohlman wasn't so willing to take them. He told the referees to forget the technical and just let Franklin play.<br />"I could hear them arguing for five to seven minutes, saying, 'We're not taking it, we're not taking it," Womack said. "The refs told them, no, that's the rule. You have to take them."<br />That's when Rohlman asked for volunteers, and McNeal's hand went up.<br />He went alone to the free throw line, dribbled the ball a couple of times, and looked at the rim.<br />His first attempt went about two feet, bouncing a couple of times as it rolled toward the end line. The second barely left his hand.<br />It didn't take long for the Milwaukee players to figure out what was going on.<br />They stood and turned toward the DeKalb bench and started applauding the gesture of sportsmanship. Soon, so did everybody in the stands.<br />"I did it for the guy who lost his mom," McNeal said. "It was the right thing to do."<br />Franklin would go on to score 10 points, and Milwaukee Madison broke open the game in the second half to win 62-47.<br />"I got kind of emotional but it helped a lot just to play," he said. "I felt like I had a lot of support out there."<br />Carlitha Franklin's funeral was Friday, and the school turned out for her and her son.<br />"Even the cooks from school showed up," Womack said. "It lets you know what kind of kid he is."<br />It hasn't been the greatest season for the team, but they have stuck together through a lot of adversity.<br />"We maybe don't have the best basketball players in the world but they go to class and take care of business," Womack said.<br />"We have a losing record but there's life lessons going on, good ones."Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895998683711354124.post-41625830567115123922009-02-16T19:38:00.006-06:002009-02-16T21:16:06.850-06:00Memories<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SZoVgH7d6fI/AAAAAAAAA6U/NOKgGQFsZEQ/s1600-h/Memories_of_the_past_by_WiciaQ.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303575152810650098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m2YySJlzO1E/SZoVgH7d6fI/AAAAAAAAA6U/NOKgGQFsZEQ/s400/Memories_of_the_past_by_WiciaQ.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>A few weeks ago I joined Facebook, I am not sure why I decided to make this leap, when it comes to technology it seems that I look at it and go Duhhh. I am still trying to figure out everything on my blackberry that I have had for a year now, I got a new laptop at Christmas and it gets the best of me at times, although it is really cool, and I love saying "I have a Lap top, see I am not even sure how to spell it. Anyway, I think that I am hooked to Facebook. It is amazing the people that I have found that I know and that I went to school with. It has been fun finding out what everyone is doing that I went to High School with. It has brought back some great memories. I went to school in a small town, smaller than Tulia even. We were all very close and you knew everyone. Some of these people I have not seen or heard from since we graduated or since some of them graduated a few years ahead of me. We had some great times and some of the times I would probably just like to forget. I have changed so much over the years, not just physically but spiritually. I guess maybe I have finally grown up. As I reflect on some of the memories I am so happy that God let me be a part of alot of these people lives. Some of the memories that connecting with some of these people on Facebook are:</strong></div><ol><li><strong>One of the greatest memories that I have is how close our Church congregation was where I was raised. I remember that EVERY Sunday after morning services we were always going to someones home to eat the noon meal or someone was coming to our home to eat. The adults would talk about all sorts of stuff and us kids would just be kids and play and have a ball. The really cool thing was that it was a real closeness and a real love for each other, it did not matter who did what, or who had what, everyone loved everyone and everyone had a great relationship with everyone. When I got older and Cheryl and I married, we lived in Bovina for awhile and the closeness that we had with other couples at our Chruch was awesome. We go back there every once in a while, and we still feel that closeness with those who are still there, and it is really refreshing. I miss this so much. </strong></li></ol><p><strong>2) One memory is living on the farm. Dad farmed North of Bovina until I was in about the 6Th grade. I did not realize then, but I loved living on the farm. I recently found our neighbor that lived down the road from us on Facebook. It was really cool to see his picture and think about the times that we had as kids. He was several years older than me and he had a brother that was older than him. I remember riding the bus to school, and being scared to get on because they always picked on me and thumped me on the head. They drove me and the bus driver crazy. They would climb out the windows when we got to the school. Funny, I remember as much as they picked on me, I always looked forward to them coming to the house. </strong></p><p><strong>It also brings back the times that I played B-ball in the drive way for hours. Dad got me the goal and we buried it in the ground. I still have the picture of dads <span style="color:#006600;">John Deer</span> tractor pulled up against the goal to keep it still until the cement dried and me in the drive way with my b-ball ready to try it out. I remember the time that we were working cattle in the lots, I was just a boy. I got scared of all the cows in the pen and climbed up on a panel to get away from them and the panel falling on me and knocking me out. To this day I remember waking up in my dads arms as he carried me to the house, at the time I woke up he was carrying me through the line of trees beside our house where I would always play with my toy tractors and cars. I had a concussion and spent several days in the hospital. That's where I got my stuffed Monkey "Snubby," and a "Mr. Potato Head." There was another boy in the room with me, just recently I found out that he owns a furniture and flooring store in Hereford. </strong></p><p><strong>The farm brings back memories of our pets, since we just got a dog here at the Howell House. My cat ribbons, that use to sleep on the pillow above my head, and lick my burr hair cut. Mom said she thought that I was one of her kittens. My dog <span style="color:#ff6600;">"DOT",</span> a bird dog. I would watch him run in dad's wheat Field and hunt. You could not see him because the wheat was so tall, the only time you could see him was when he would jump up above the wheat to see where he was. <span style="color:#663300;">Rusty</span>, our cow dog. He loved to follow Dot around and learn the In's and outs of being a farm dog. They were great dogs together. I remember Dad getting so mad at them when they would get hot during the summer and jump into the irrigation ditch to cool off and take a bath. I miss them.</strong></p><p><strong>3) I remember moving to town and thinking wow this will be so much better than the farm. I can be closer to my friends now. Being in JR High this was important. I remember riding my bike every where. I remember how important B-ball became as I got older. I would play in the neighbors drive way until after dark. As I got older a good Friend of mine a couple of houses down would come and we would shoot hoops together. Her and I would talk about everything under the sun, she was a good friend and we would give each other advice about who we were "dating" or who we wanted to "date." Important things like that! I have yet to find her on Facebook, I talk to her husband every now and again, who is also from my home town and was a friend of mine, he owns the car wash here in Tulia, small world. </strong></p><p><strong>Then there was the <span style="color:#ffff00;">"Spectrum."</span> The spectrum was a basketball court behind my house. It was built by myself and a friend of mine that was older than me. I was a Freshman, he was a Senior. It was in a dirt lot behind my house. With some help of a local maintainer (road grader) he graded off a court for us. We buried two goals at each end. The thing was that we buried those goals where the basket was only 8 foot off the ground. A dirt court, hard as a rock mind you, 8 foot goals at each end, the <span style="color:#ffff00;">"Spectrum"</span> was born, it was <span style="color:#ff0000;">SLAM TIME!!</span> Most everyone could dunk it at the spectrum, wow the games that we had, it got wild at times. That friend that helped me build the spectrum, is now owner of the pharmacy in Dimmitt. Times at the spectrum will never be forgotten.</strong></p><p><strong>Town life was good for me all through High School. I remember getting my first pickup. A 78 Chevy, I thought I was the coolest dude in town. Dad still has that old 78 Chevy, he uses it at the farm in Dimmitt. I know that I had to have put 2,000000 miles on it. The sun roof I put in it is still there, but dad says it leaks when it rains. I remember dragging main in that truck, with the stereo blasting and it loaded with all my friends. That truck and I had some times together, if it could only talk. Well maybe its best it can't talk, since dad still drives it around the farm some. The best thing about that old truck is that I meet my wonderful wife while in it. It took Cheryl and I on our first date. I have a new, updated model pickup now, but it will never have the memories that the old 78 Chevy has. </strong></p><p><strong>4) High School basketball and Football. I still remember the times of coming onto the field and onto the court, with my teammates and my friends. I did not know then, but I do now how special that time was, and how fast it all went. Football was not that good to us during most of my High School times, or maybe we were not that good to Football. We went through so many coaches, it was a hard time each Football season, but we were together on the field each Friday night, and that was the important thing. I did not play Football my Senior year, too long of a story to tell why here, and this blog is getting long. Basketball was more my sport I guess, I loved it then and I still do today. Oh if only I knew then what I know now! I have not talked to our High School Coach in a while, but I know where he is and pray that he and his family is doing well. He is one of the great influences in my life, he holds a special place in my life, thanks Coach Lanham for the direction you gave me, wish we could do it all over again. We did well in B-ball, never won state or anything but did well. Our girls team was really good my JR. and Senior year. I have reconnected with some of them on Facebook. Also some of the guys that I played with. One in particular has two kids, one girl and one boy both play for Shallowater and are doing really good, and I have connected with their dad through Facebook. I remember the games that we would have at the goal down the street on Sunday afternoons. I always played for the Lakers and my friend always played for the Celtics, the games we had were almost as good as the real teams that played during that time. </strong></p><p><strong>It's good to think back and remember the times that I had growing up. Facebook has helped me do that. To all of my friends from childhood, I am glad that we have been able to reconnect and I thank God for each of you. I thank God for the memories and the life that I lived. A lot of the things I would like to forget, but all of these memories and the path's that I took growing up has lead me to where I am today. That path lead me to my wife and to my children, and to where I am today. Thank you God for all of it. </strong></p>Matt H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658853811551081745noreply@blogger.com0