Goodbye THS and Trinidad

Graduation is done! May 17, 2009 we watched our daughter walk across the floor to receive her diploma from Trinidad High. It was a bittersweet moment for both of us. We were thrilled to see her complete her high school education but it means the end of her youth. There are several other factors that go along with this milestone. Most of you know about the problems we have been having with Elizabeth in the past year, many of which have been compounded with our move back to Aurora 6 months ago and her 18th birthday in January. She continues to tell us, not in specific words, but with innuendos, that we are not wanted in her life, yet when something big happens she comes running to us first. This is such a hard thing to deal with, I want to take her in my arms when things happen and just hold her but she pushes me away. So I have come to the conclusion that I must stay away, take the news at a distance and wish her all the best. I was able to hug her and tell her congratulations on her graduation and I told her I love her but the reception from her was very cold. Take it and move on..I told myself. The news of her engagement was a shock to a point but was also expected at sometime within this year of graduation. So I took it with shock the night before graduation when they came to our hotel to tell us, wishing them nothing but happiness which is what every parent wants for their child. The next day I was over my shock enough to go to her party and wish them both the best and to welcome Derek into the family. Going to take some time to get used to saying son-in-law and at least for now I can say she is not pregnant. She does have a job lined up and will begin working soon, I even know and respect her boss, so I am proud of her for doing this as much as I am proud of her for graduating.

We will be saying our final goodbyes to Trinidad this next weekend when we take a moving truck down to retrieve our household goods which have been storage there since the move to Aurora. We have been approved for and will close on a 16x80 ft single wide mobile home in eastern Aurora this week. Though David still does not have a job and I only have my part-time job, we did get a partial increase from the VA which is enough to live on. The mobile home is pre-owned and in good shape, not our dream home but is much better than continuing to live in my parents 5th wheel. We are going to live in this place for at least a year to see if our credit scores improve to purchase something more like what we want. For now, it is 3 bedrooms - one for each of the boys, 2 baths and more square footage than we have had in quite a while. The best part is the laundry room that is so large we can put our freezer in there along with the washer and dryer and still have room to move comfortably. I will take some photos this week when we do our walk through and post them soon.

Thank you everyone who reads this blog and keeps us in your prayers. We will continue to pray for all of you. God Bless everyone!!

Halloween Trinidad Style

Since we don't have little ones to trick or treat with anymore we don't do a lot on Halloween most years. This year, Mr. Curro the band director, decided since the kids had to play for the football game on Halloween, instead of wearing their uniforms they could wear costumes. It was such a fun night. Everyone dressed up in some fashion and Mr. Curro's dad got into the act by dressing up as ghoul and moving in among the band while they were playing. He did his best to distract them, some of them were so distracted they couldn't play they were laughing so hard. Molly, one of the Drum Majors, almost fell off the stand cause she was laughing so hard. What a great way to close out their football season, cause the team wasn't all that great, they lost, I think the score was 38 to 7.

Oh well, we had a great time, hope you will enjoy some of the photos of the night. God Bless you all!!

Southern Colorado Regionals 2008

Yesterday, the Trinidad High School Mighty Miner Band participated in the Southern Regional Marching Competition. They came home with 1st Place in Division 2A and it appears on their way to State on October 27th. Their participation in State is dependent on the outcome of the other regional competitions, only eight bands from the entire State will compete in Class 2A. State is being held in Aurora at my Alma Mater, Hinkley High School at the Aurora Public Schools Stadium. I can't wait should be a great show and will give me time to see my parents if they attend the competition. So Good Luck Miners on to State!! We are proud of you!!

Homecoming 2008

My handsome sons and beautiful daughter.

Elizabeth and Derek

James & Justina, Ben & Julie, Beth & Derek (top photo)

Ben & Julie with James & Justina (bottom photo)

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This was the best part of Homecoming for all. Friday night the football team lost to Ellicott 34 to 7. We have all been talking about the game and it seems the entire school just fell apart. The Cheerleaders weren't together and just wanted to stand around talking, the football team lost to a team they have never lost too, and the band made so many mistakes that they are in for a severe butt chewing on Monday. Poor Ben admitted that the moment he stepped on the field he could only remember his first two moves. He had to rely on the kids around him to help him get thru the performance. There were two flag girls who messed up so badly they ran into each other them had a disagreement over who's prop was on the yardline they were at. Then they thought it was funny and were laughing about it on the field. What a night, at least it didn't rain so we didn't have a two hour delay like last year.

I was in tears while watching and helping Beth to dress. This is her last homecoming. She was saying "Please don't cry Mom you will make me cry and that will ruin my makeup" But what do you expect when your child is growing up so fast.

Hope you all enjoy the photos, I have all of them posted on my myspace page if you want to look...you don't have to be a member just to look at my photos. The link is www.myspace.com/butterflygalkristi take a look when you have time.

God Bless you all!!

Labor Day!

It was truly Labor Day for all of us. We have an annual fundraiser for the THS Band which requires us to be at the County Fair to sell concessions. That usually isn't so bad but when you add on parking for the fair and the rodeo, that makes for a lot of work. To top it all off, the kids are supposed to help as well as the parents, but it seems everyone, except the "regulars" had their own plans. So our lack of "staff" made for a very long weekend for all those who were working so deligently to raise money to keep the band on their journey to Regionals and State competitions.

As a general rule, the band must maintain a budget with the Band Boosters somewhere in the range of $10,000 a year for expenses incurred to travel to Regionals and State. These expenses are for the normal travel expenses that the school district does not cover, such as hotel and food. The Band Boosters take great pride in helping to keep the band on the move to becoming the number 1 band in Southern Colorado. Most of wish these efforts involved the cooperation of more than 12 or so parents. But what can you do, if they won't come you can only keep asking and praying for those who really care.

All in all, I think the weekend was a great success other than the loss on Friday night at the football game...LOL! David and I are very sore but very blessed that we had the fellowship with the wonderful individuals who were there to help. We have some great friends! Elizabeth was the only one of our kids who able to help us as Ben came down with either the flu or a very dibilitating cold. He wasn't even up for marching in the parade yesterday, a first for him to miss out on such a grand event.

Some sadness fell over this weekend, as we marked the last year for Elizabeth to march in the Labor Day parade. Only one of many lasts for all the seniors at THS. We look forward to her graduation and her moving on to bigger and better things.

Here are a couple of photos of this weekend, hope you all enjoy them. God Bless you!

Elizabeth on the left holding the Colorado State flag for the National Anthem.

Waiting to march in the Labor Day parade in Trinidad.

First Game of the Season

Tonight was the first football game of the new school year. Trinidad played their biggest rival in the Coalbucket Game for the traveling trophy. Despite being the favorite to bring home the trophy for the third year in a row, the Miners lost 21 to 22 to the Raton Tigers. Good game for all.

We weren't sure if the boys would even get to play. The game was due to start at 7pm but kickoff wasn't until 8:30 due to all the rain and lightning. The band had to wear their raingear and march with no plumes on their hats. First time in a long time that they have had to do that. Their performance was great!

All in all a great start to the long Labor Day weekend. We will be working at the county fairgrounds all weekend serving up drinks and food. Also we will all be helping with the logistics of the parking for the County Fair. This is one long but usually profitable weekend for the Band Boosters and kids. Will let you all know how it goes when all is tallied up.

Until next time, May God Bless you always!!

State Fair 08/23/08

Trinidad High School Mighty Miner Marching band are the champs in Division 1A/2A and their 10 member flag squad, which includes our daughter Elizabeth, took first for Divisions 1A/2A/3A and F. We couldn't be prouder of all the kids but most especially our son, Ben, who plays trumpet and Beth. Now it is on to football games, Regionals and State competitions. Go Miners!!!

Elizabeth, first time on flag squad

Ben, third from the left waiting to step off

Beth, waiting for the music to begin

Ben, fourth from the left waiting to begin

Washington, DC

This is the link to a video of the kids marching in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC. Posted on youtube by one of the parents who accompanied the band. Hope you will enjoy watching them march down Constitution Avenue. Pictures to follow soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZobOqPsFTkI

WE ARE GOING!!

We did it!! The last $15,000.00 needed to pay for the trip to Washington, DC was received on June 5 at the Cougar Canyon Golf Tournament. We will be getting on the planes on July 3 and the kids will be stepping off at 12 pm EST on July 4. We have heard that CNN will be televising the parade, so be sure to watch for the Trinidad High School Marching Band to make their appearance. If you miss it, when I get back I will try to download the video of them so you all can see it. What a great opportunity for our kids and for us.

We just found out last week that there is room for James to go with us, so this will truly be a family vacation!! Hope to hear from some of you that you saw them on television. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Until we return, may God Bless you all!!

May 26, 2008

Once again I want to spotlight the Trinidad High School Marching Band. Most of all I want you all to see some of the photos that the Colorado Springs Gazette published on their website when they did a great article about the kids fundraising efforts to get to Washington, DC. We owe them a great deal for the article as it has helped bring in over $9000 in donations. I also want you to see why they were invited to particiapte in the National parade, so I have included some of the photos from this year's marching season. I hope you will enjoy them.

Mr. Michael Curro, THS Band Director
Elizabeth

May 23, 2008

As you can see above, the countdown to the National Parade and our trip to Washington, DC has begun. We are all excited to be going and having our kids represent their school, town, and state in the National Parade. Hopefully this will be televised so that all of you will see the entire band marching down Pennsylvania Avenue. Be sure to see if you can see Ben in the trumpet section near the front and watch for Beth in the flutes, she will be the only one playing the piccolo.

We look forward to going and to coming back with lots of photos to share on this blog and on our myspace pages.

Will keep you posted on any changes, until then keep us in your prayers for a safe journey.

May God Bless you all!!

THS Marching Band in the News

Please check out these links to see an article that appeared in today's Colorado Springs Gazette and the photo slide show with music and voice commentary from the kids and Mr.Curro concerning the band's efforts to march in Washington, DC July 4, 2008!!

http://www. gazette. com/articles/march_35973___article. html/money_raising.html

www. gazette. com/interactives/trinidadband

I think you will enjoy both of them. I know the kids in the photos will enjoy seeing themselves and hearing the music they were playing.

Update April 10, 2008

I know it has been a while since I posted an update so here goes....

We are still waiting on the Veteran's Administration to increase David's disablility based on his hip replacements. They could take as long as 18 months and have already taken 8 months so we may have quite a wait still. In the meantime, David has not had any luck in finding a job here in Trinidad, he did have an interview today that we are very hopeful about. Right now any amount of income would be a help, my hours have been cut which does not help.

We are anxiously awaiting for May 9th to arrive, this is the day we get to go to Greeley to move James home from college. He will be attending Trinidad State Junior College next year or he may be working for a year as a Certified Nursing Assistant in training. In order to get into Nursing school he needs to get his CNA before hand.

Beth and Ben are getting excited about their trip to Washington, DC in July. The fundraising efforts have brought them over the 1/2 way point to making the trip. It is looking good but we still need some help. If you know of anyone who is willing to make a donation, please contact me at zehrfamily@msn.com make sure your subject says something about THS Marching Band. Corporate sponsors are greatly appreciated and for a donation of $1000.00 or more you will have your name on the back of the t-shirts the kids will wear not only in DC but they will wear them for the next school year especially during marching season. So get some publicity for your business while helping a very talented group of high school musicians.

Well that is about all the news for now...hope to hear from some of you soon...keep us posted on your day to day lives when you can.

God Bless you all!!!

Time is Running Out!

Time is running out to get in on the raffle for the Harley Davidson Limited Edtion 2008 Fat Boy!

The drawing for the winner is April 5, you do not need to be present to win.
Tickets are only $50 each, please contact me if you want a chance at this beautiful motorcycle.

REMEMBER you will be helping a talented group of musicians from Trinidad, CO to go to Washington, DC to represent the State of Colorado and their school as one of only two bands from Colorado to be invited to march in the National 4th of July parade.

Please HELP!!

January 15, 2008

Wow! We made it through Christmas and New Year's without any problems at all. That is a first for us in many years! Yesterday David got a clean bill of health as far as his hips are concerned. They are healing very well, so well that he does not have to visit with the doctors again for two more months. He can start looking for a job and do anything he wants as long as it does not hurt. The only sport he can't do is skiing of any kind and riding a horse.

The kids have returned to school and are doing very well. We took Elizabeth to the Neuro-Opthomologist yesterday to see if there was any damage from the car accident last year. She has no nerve damage and her vision seems to be improving so much that there is a possibility that in two years she may not need glasses or contacts.

James did have some problems with classes at college the first semester and is on academic probation. This means his financial aid is in danger of not being accepted for next year so he must bring his grades up this next semester. He must repeat his English class and pick up a History class. Then this summer he is going to take his Certified Nursing Assistant classes and possibly EMT training here at the Jr. college here in Trinidad.

As the time draws nearer for the kids to go to Washington, DC they get more and more excited as do David and I. In order to assist them with there fundraising, the Lion's Club here in Trinidad is raffling a 2008 Harley Davidson Fat Boy Motorcycle Limited Edition for $50.00 per ticket. If you would like to get in on the chance to win this fabulous machine, please email me or leave me a message about how to contact you on this site. I will be happy to get with you and get you in on the raffle.

We are always anxious to hear from any of you about your families and you yourselves. Please email or just send a message on here to us. Much love and God's Blessings to you all!!

Life update

Wow can't believe this year is almost over. This has flown by! But as I was saying to someone the other day, seems like when we are young the days drag by until we are older like we want to be and when we are that older age they just fly by! God is amazing!
This has been such an eventful four months in our lives and many of you have been keeping up by reading this blog and the one on my blogspot. But for those of you new to this, I will try to catch you up and for those of you wanting to know more about what I have been up to I will catch you up too.
Beginning on June 30, David lost his job due to many problems attributed to his disablility and current medical condition. At this time we are appealing the decision and have filed with the Colorado Civil Rights commission for an wrongful termination of a disabled person. The CCRC and the EEOC investigations are a long process that can take up to a year to complete, then we have the process of dealing with the State of Colorado Department of Personnel to see how they react to the findings. All of this may take a year or more to conclude.
In the meantime we are trying to live on his income from the VA disability and my small income from working at home online. We have applied for an increase in his disability from the VA but that can take up to a year or more to receive that increase as they have to review the medical records. So, in other words we are in a hurry up and wait situation from not only the State, CCRC, EEOC but the Veteran's Administration as well. Please pray for good and fast outcomes in all areas.
David had surgery on the left hip on August 7 and on the right hip October 23. He is recovering nicely from both and says he feels like the Bionic man now. I have to remind him that he is not able to run as fast as the Bionic man they didn't put those parts in him...LOL! He is looking forward to getting back to work to find a job after the first of the year. I can truly say even though I have enjoyed having him around to talk to during the day, I will be so glad when he returns to some kind of job. He is making me a bit crazy with staying around and looking over my shoulder all the time...LOL!
The kids have been very busy at school. James is a freshman at the University of Northern Colorado. He seems to be doing ok at this point with a bit of trouble with his English class with all the writing. He has never been very good at reading and writing, but he is getting some help. Elizabeth is a junior at Trinidad High School, a flute and piccolo player in the marching band and an editor for her yearbook. She loves band most of all and is looking forward to their trip to Washington, DC in July 2008. Ben is a freshman at THS, playing in trumpet in band and loving every minute of the attention he is drawing from the girls at the school. I told David we need to have the shotgun to scare the girls away from him not from Beth....LOL!! He is just as excited about he band trip as his sister, we all are, David and I will be going as chaperones. The only member of the family not going will be James, he will be taking summer classes at Trinidad State Junior College to catch up on the English classes and hopefully will be taking his Certified Nursing Assistant classes so that in the fall he can apply for Nursing school.
I have been working very hard all year at my job with Alpine Access. I am a customer service representative for GE Consumer Finance working on Walmart credit card accounts. The very best thing about my job is that I get to work from home online and I only work 4 hours each day first thing in the morning. This allows me to help with anything the band may need in the way of taking care of their uniforms. I love the people I work with in my virtual office and most of the callers I speak with. As with any job in customer service there are some you would rather tell to go jump in a lake but you can't. I have had very good ratings from all my supervisors so I must be doing something right.
We will be celebrating Thanksgiving, my birthday, David's birthday and Christmas this year by giving thanks to Our Lord and Savior for keeping us together, healing David's body and for always watching out for us in our time of need. We have been blessed with our families and we thank God for them each day and with every prayer. We also take the time to thank Him for the many blessing we have in each and every one of our friends.
Thank you all for always being there when we needed a shoulder to cry on or just an ear to listen to the woes. God Bless you all!! Keep in touch!! We love you!!

Marching Band Results

The Trinidad High School Marching Band finished in 3rd place in Division 2A for the State of Colorado.

WTG! Miners!! We are so proud of you.

I will have new pictures to post of them once I get my camera back from the kids.

God Bless Everyone!

Marching update #1

Just got word from the kids they are now in 3rd place after the semi-finals. They are only down about 2 points so they can come back and move into 2nd place again. They will be marching at 6:30 pm tonight. I will keep you all posted on the outcome.

Go Trinidad take State!!!

Colorado State Marching Band Competition

Tomorrow, Sunday, October 28, our two youngest kids will be traveling to Grand Junction, Colorado with their high school band to compete in the Colorado State Marching Band Competition. This had been postponed last week due to the storm that dumped snow on the mountains and in several other areas of the state.

The kids are very excited to be going into the competition in 2nd place. They will have to make up almost 8 points to beat the team in 1st. They have been practicing every day for the last two weeks to try to better their scores from regionals.

Please be praying for their safe travel and for good results. I will post the results as soon as they are known.

God Bless you all.

State Postponed

Due the storm Grand Junction and the surrounding mountains are experiencing the State Marching Band Competition has been postponed for one week. We are hoping that David will be well enough in his recovery that I can accompany the band as originally planned. We will keep you posted as things develop.

God Bless you all!!