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!!

Surgery is scheduled!!

Surgery has finally been scheduled on David's right hip, Tuesday, October 23! After all the time we are delighted, grateful, anxious and a bit sad.

We are so very blessed to have this date finally but it comes at a price, we will have to miss watching out two youngest kids perform at the State Band Competition in Grand Junction on Monday. If we could be in two places at one time it would be wonderful.

Please be in prayer for us as we face this new surgery and pray for our children's safe travel to and from Grand Junction, that's over the mountains to the western slope of Colorado, a 10 hour drive on the bus. The weather is supposed to be rain mixed with snow on Sunday but improving the rest of the week.

We will keep you posted on David's recovery as news becomes available. Until then, God Bless everyone!

Congrats THS!

The Mighty Miner Marching Band
The Salute before accepting the trophy
The Trophy
Brent, Danielle and Lizzy with the trophy
Brent, Danielle, Mr. Curro and Lizzy

Today dawned early and in the dark here in Trinidad at least for the students and many of the parents of the Marching Band. We had to arrive at the band room at 6:45 am to finishing loading the u-haul and the buses after a brief final rehearsal, then it was off to Colorado Springs.

The kids were going to compete in the Southern Regional State Qualifying Colorado Bandmasters Association competition. They were up against their arch rivals from La Junta, Colorado.

We boarded the buses at 7:30 am and we were off and running. We arrived in Colorado Springs just before 11 am, got unloaded and set up for warm-ups. After warm-ups the kids marched back to the field in silence, Mr. Curro wanted them going over the show in their minds one last time. David and I went to the stands with several other parents to videotape and photograph and just plain watch our kids. The performance was good, a few slip-ups as usual, could have been better, but what the heck at least it wasn't like the night before at practice, what a disaster.

After their performance was over it was off for a quick group photo, change out of their uniforms, repack the u-haul, get a drink of water, and then watch a few of the 3A bands perform before awards were announced at 3:30.
With much anticipation the wonderful announcement was made "In first place with a score of 39.something (I can't remember and didn't bother to write it down as I was trying to capture the moment in a picture) Ladies and Gentlemen put your hands together for The Mighty Miner Band from Trinidad!" The stands rocked with excitement for our kids, Mr. Curro, Ms. Kussman, Ms. Glorioso, and Mrs. Barry. What a great way to end the day, Division 2A Southern Regional Champions!!

After that what could we do but celebrate with a group photo then off to eat at some of our favorite places. We finally arrived home at 8 pm, off loaded the u-haul and buses, cleaned the band room and then came home to collapse!
Now it's off to State on October 22nd in Grand Junction and a 8-10 hour bus ride with 75 teenagers! Oh what have I gotten myself into?! TAKE STATE MINERS!!

Daniel, Beth, Brandon, Julie, Ben, and Justina

Daniel and Beth

Ben and Justina

Homecoming 2007 has come and gone but not without lots of excitment and ups & downs.

The kids had lots of fun activities at school this week from pajama day to wild hair day. They also had long days for practice for band in order to march part of their field show. They were only able to get two of the maneuvers ready for the show. There is so much to learn in a show. Wednesday was a very long day for them as they had a rehearsal from 6 pm to 9 pm, it was also a very chilly night.
Thursday we had a bbq and bonfire at 6, again it was a chilly night, loaded with lots of spirit and fun. Friday was the worst for us all. Beth and Ben were up at 6:30 to shower and get ready for school. They had a half day that included a pep rally. After dismissal they ate a bit at school, then returned to school at 1:00 to prepare for the parade. They marched in full uniform around town for about 30 minutes in the drizzling rain. After the parade they had practice until 4 then back to school at 5 for a bbq after that it was game time.

The game was 5 hours long due to a 2 1/2 hour rain and lightening delay. The kids were lucky in that we handed out rain ponchos to them during the 1st quarter so they didn't get as wet as the parents. But with the fact their uniforms are dry clean only, this was a good thing. The game finally resumed and finish with a victory for Trinidad at midnight.

Saturday dawned bright and warm. We spent the day cleaning house and preparing for the dance. Beth got her hair done so that it was perfect for the evening, she looked beautiful, check out the photos on my page. Ben looked so handsome for his first Homecoming. Beth went with a friend from church, Daniel, a first class gentleman at the young age of 17. Ben took Justina, Beth's best friend and fellow band member, she looked so good with him. All the kids came home at 11:30 pm as they were so tired from all the week's activities. The girls, Ben and Daniel stayed here to watch movies and chat. I have to compliment all of them on how well behaved they were, there was no arguments about the boys in one room and the girls in another and no breaking that rule.

In the process of all this, I have picked up some sort of bug. I feel like I am getting bronchitis. I will be resting lots more this week to get over this.
All in all this was a hectic yet fun week for us all. Please check out the photos of the parade, game and before dance. You will see how handsome and beautiful everyone was.

Take care all and God Bless you all!

Surgery Update 6 weeks

Today it has been 6 weeks since David had his left hip replaced. He had a follow-up appointment today in Denver with the orthopedic doctors to see how things are progressing. They did an x-ray and say he is healing great. He can now walk with his crutches placing 75% of his body weight on his leg for the next two weeks. After that he can put full weight on it and use a cane for support. They want him to continue to use the cane until after the right hip is replaced since it is failing. They don't want there to be any chance he might fall from the weakness on the right side. He also talked them into allowing him to walk in our apartment without his crutches but that is the only place, so if you see him without them anywhere else until October 5, please remind him to get back on them for his own safety. I need some extra eyes out there to keep him honest...LOL!

We continue to struggle financially from the job loss and the slow adjustment from the Veteran's Administration disability, so we ask for all of you to continue to pray for us. We are in the process of seeking the payout of David's retirement account from the state but that may take 60 days for us to receive. In the meantime, our families are helping, but this has been a drain for them as well, so please pray for them also. We have been blessed in many ways and are so grateful to Our Lord and Savior for all the Blessings we have received.

Until we see each of you again or until we talk again, we continue to pray for each of you daily, may God Bless you all in all you do and all you need.

Fun in Greeley and Aurora

Well we got to have some fun this weekend, finally!! It all started with a football game here in Trinidad. The Trinidad Miners played Salida and won hands down 46-0. We were there to listen to our kids play with the band, Beth plays flute and piccolo and Ben plays trumpet. Even though the band did not march at halftime, they played beautifully.

Right after the game we left for Aurora to stay the rest of the night at Mom and Dad's, we arrived at 1 am. So with very little sleep, we headed of the next morning at 7:30 am to visit with James in Greeley. We had plans to have brunch with him then go watch the UNC Bears take on Chadron State from Nebraska. Brunch was wonderful, his dorm room was clean (shock of all shocks!) and the weather was wonderful. David did very well walking from the dorm to the dining hall and was even very good when we couldn't find a seat in the stadium except on the grass by a retaining wall. David had a cushion for his rear as we found out at the game on Friday that after all the other pain he has been in that he forgot when all the other pain is gone, his tailbone has no padding....LOL!! So we sat him on the wall just behind us as the rest of us sat on the grass near the endzone to watch UNC get their butts kicked, when we left during the 3rd quarter it was 28-0 in favor of Chadron State.

We left Greeley exhausted but happy to arrive back at Mom and Dad's to await the arrival of Emma. Our beautiful 11 month old niece, came to stay with all of us while he Daddy took Mommy to dinner. We had the best time watching sweet Emma mow her way over all our feet with her walker push toy, laughing the entire time. She also discovered garlic bread and loved it. Aunt Shell gave her small pieces that Emma devoured along with small bites of fresh peach. Then she decided she was thirsty and came over to me and my sweet tea. She proceeded to drink from my glass getting about half down in her tummy and the rest all over her shirt. I took photos of her all night long and will be posting them for all to see.

Sunday was Benjamin's 15th birthday, we celebrated at Mom and Dad's with all the family and significant others. Ben got a beautiful new Bronco shirt from Aunt Jenni and Uncle Mark and the kids. He also got money from Aunt T, Uncle Justin and Emma and a beautiful necklace from Nanny and Papaw. When things improve financially for David and I, we are planning to take him shopping for the new clothes he wants, I have to say, Ben has been a gem in all this. He is patiently waiting until things get better for us and not complaining at all.
We had so much fun we didn't leave until 9 pm so we didn't get back until 12:30 am. None the worse for wear we all got up this morning to resume our everyday activities.

Well that's all for now, more in our lives as it becomes available. Keep in touch when you can and God Bless you all!!

Home Life

Well we have been home for a week now and things are slowly returning to normal or as normal as our lives can be. We have been to Pueblo for the kids to march in the State Fair parade with the band from Trinidad High. Now they are preparing for the parade here in Trinidad on Labor Day. Labor Day weekend means lots of work for the kids and the parents. But, this year it means even more so that the kids can raise the money for the band to go to Washington, DC next July. Beth and Ben have been selling tickets for a concert by a local boy who is doing very well in Nashville. They are also working the concession stand and hawking refreshments in the rodeo stands at the county fair this whole weekend. Beth even got a small job helping with games at the fair.

David and I went out the fair grounds today to see what was happening. He did very well standing around out of the way and really enjoyed watching the rodeo. I helped the parents with the concessions and enjoyed talking with most of them. We are all very excited about the trip.

Monday, the kids line up for the parade at 7:45 in the morning, then they will be going out to the fairgrounds to help all the rest of the day. Monday is a huge affair at the rodeo as it is the last day.

Next weekend we will be traveling to Greeley to see James. We will be leaving late Friday after the first home game for THS and the first time Ben will be marching in a halftime show. Then Saturday morning we are having brunch with James at the dorm then off to watch UNC play football. David and I are so excited to see how things are going for him. He called today to say "I did my laundry Mom!" He also said things are going very well, he got all his work done this week. He was invited to go to Red Feathers lake with the Campus Crusade group, I told him "GO!" this might be the only weekend in long time that you don't have any homework. I also told him he needs to enjoy any time like this he gets. He seemed to be a bit lonely, his roommate went home for the holiday but he and Cedric, his other buddy, were planning to hang out.

Well better end this and get to bed have to be up early for Church. We still don't have a surgery date for the right hip but will keep you all posted when we do. God Bless each of you!!