Tates Creek Volleyball

Tates Creek Volleyball has had some very unique challenges:

1. Coming back from loss of key senior players
2. Expectations associated with being first Lexington team to reach KHSAA final four
3. New head coach ( building an entirely new staff [not an easy thing to do] )
4. Young varsity squad ( three freshman and an eighth grader )

Since so many freshman have been playing varsity, there were only 6 left to play on the freshman team and they are doing very well. They have not lost a single game (they have won every match in 2 games) and really haven't been challenged yet. That will change when they play the freshman from Lafayette, Paul Dunbar and Henry Clay. The competition at the freshman level so far is very disappointing. That must be a huge advantage for the Louisville schools. The interest there allows them to field deep teams that get to play competitively at Freshman, JV and Varsity levels.

If you want to follow their season, you can track the team at www.tatescreekvolleyball.com

I have taken pictures at a few of their games as well:
Madison Southern (Freshman)
Madison Central Game (JV/V)
Bourbon County Game (F/JV/V)

Church Campout

Last weekend was the church campout at Aldersgate. Adam ran around with a pack of kids that were catching crawdads and cooking them during free time. Carmen and Jackie got there a day late so Carmen could attend volleyball conditioning. Becca followed goats around the campground.

Josh introduced his "Eagle Song" to us. We all played too much ultimate frisbee. Eva wore Scott and I out on a fast paced bike ride. Emily did a great job hosting the talent show. Most of all, we just spent time together in the heat (and sometimes rain).

Thanks Matt & Kim for all the hard work that went into this.

Here are all the pictures that I took:
Aldersgate 2006

Southeastern Baseball

Adam has already moved on to football, but some of his fellow Southeastern Baseball players are still playing in the Cal Ripken World Series.

Adam played rookie baseball with two of the players and played football with one from the Tide. He will also be playing football this year with another player when he gets done slugging in Maryland. They are doing very well.

For those of you that would like to follow along, here are the links:

Cal Ripken League World Series Stat Center

• Team Standings
• Individual Hitting Statistics

First Day of School

This year will be Jackie's most difficult school year. As a "hands on" parent that volunteers in order to be involved with the education of her children, the challenge of having three children in three different schools seems danting. Becca is at Veteran's Elementary, Adam is at Southern Middle and Carmen is at Tates Creek High.

Life is a Journey...

If you are looking for fellowship with children of the King.... watch this video.

Need a Ride?

Personally, this might be a little risky. I'm not sure Josh is qualified to drive and capture video at the same time.

Finishing Well

This weekend, we got to hear from Peter Lord. He spoke to us five times and encouraged us each time to dig deeper for fellowship with God through the discipline of listening in prayer.

During the weekend, he mentioned that he is reading a book call Finishing Well. I've looked up the book and see that it is by Bob Buford and he has interviewed some of my favorite people like Jim Collins and Roger Staubach. I bet he tried to interview John Wooden. The forward is by Ken Blanchard.

He didn't interview the following people that have inspired me to finish well.

Peter Lord - This weekend at 76, he demonstrated a desire to learn, grow and change through some of the most difficult times of his life. "God's working harder on me now than He ever has"

C.S. Lewis - came to Christ via long, hard reasoned road. Married late in life. Lost his wife not long after marriage. Journaled
A Grief Observed for many to read later.

Charles Victor Eby - waited until he was 88 years old to accept Christ. Walked with the Lord four years before he died. Evidence of change was difficult to distinguish when you have 88 years of habits... but the internal change helped him eternally.

Bud Etsinger - in this last month, I heard a young boy describe his 79 year old grandfather as the "greatest husband ever". I personally watched a transform in his life shortly after halftime (in his 50's) and saw another step up again this month as father to his girls.

What Cancer Cannot Do

While cleaning up around the house this morning, Bud and Jackie found one more clipping from Ruby. This was one that she asked Jackie to get at the house and place in her purse while she was in the hospital at the beginning of July....

What Cancer cannot do

Cancer is so limited.

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot eat away peace.

It cannot destroy confidence.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot silence courage.

It cannot invade the soul.

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot quench the Spirit.

Maybe Ruby's fight to the bitter end for life was because of the charge that Paul gave to Timothy in I Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

Or maybe it was to mentor her loved ones just one last time to never give up.

Or maybe it was to let cancer and Satan know for sure, that they were limited and ineffective.

I hope that one day you will be able to ask her yourself.

Ribbon of Hope

In Ruby's last month here with us, her feet were rarely soiled with the dust of the earth, so Jesus probably would not have chosen to wash her feet.

Jesus would have sat at her side and held her hand, and prayed with her and for her. He would have prayed with the family, talked with the family, loved the family and prayed to the Father for her family.

Jesus would have been the greatest husband to her like Bud was in sickness and in health.

Jesus also would have read scripture like Larry did, pastored like Ruth, Ott, Mike and Mike did, praised God with song as the family did, loved like the residents and families of Miller's Merry Manor, visited like their Sunday School class at Union Center Church of the Brethren, prepared food for the family like the neighbors of all denominations surrounding them, given gifts and letters like Kenzi did, fed her like Kim did, drove long routes like Robin, turned her and washed her and comforted her in numerous ways like the staff at Miller's Merry Manor and Elkhart General Hospital did, and wept like Ruby's sisters and daughters did.

Oh, yes, and there would be laughter and children.

Ruby always wanted what Jesus wanted, and even moreso as the end of her life approached. In early July, Ruby met with a lady in charge of Ribbon of Hope. A neighbor of Cheryl's had lived through a battle with cancer and started a support group to help others make it through the battle whatever the result. This lady had taken the baton from Cheryl's neighbor and was moving forward with ministering to more and more families.

It was not difficult for Ruby to choose a memorial foundation for donations at her funeral yesterday.

For those that were not able to make it to the viewing or the funeral, you can find out more about the foundation at the following link:

Ribbon of Hope

Georgetown Tournament

It has been a pretty tough month for Adam with his grandmother in the hospital and nursing home. His commitment to the Lexington Southeast minor select baseball team has kept him away from Indiana where he would love to be.

It has also been tough for the team this week at Georgetown. After being crushed by the giant corn fed boys of Woodford county on Friday night and again by a Frankfort team on Saturday morning, I didn't think it could possibly hurt Adam's attitude if I told him that his grandmother died before they played Harrison County at noon.

I took a lot of pictures from right field where Carmen and I were planning the rest of our weekend while we enjoyed the game, but a mother of another player took these pictures from the perfect vantage point of Adam's score over a blocked plate.

This is the point where Adam was faced with a decision. He could dive head first and touch the plate with his left hand like he had seen the professional players do many times, but he had never practiced that. He could also choose a hook slide, but he had never practiced that.

Without practice, he decided to do what Adam Howard did to him in the SouthEastern All-Star game. He was safe at home plate.

Remembering Ruby

I don't know where to start with this one, but I guess it would have to be with her persistent influence on her husband to have another child late in life. Bud told me last week that she worked on him for years to have another child. Ruby was nine months pregnant with Jackie (that late child) at Shirley's High School graduation.

Ruby was all about family life. She loved match making. ( that's what she was doing when I met her and that is what she was doing the week before she was admitted to the hospital ) She loved weddings. She loved showers. She loved babies. Three of her grandchildren were born in Kentucky and she was there for all of them. Those things are the greatest things on earth, but where Ruby is today there is so much more and now she has a better picture of what is there.

One of the things I loved about Ruby was her faithfulness, loyalty, predictable behavior, consistancy. Those attributes combined with a hardworking body and a strong will are a powerful combination that can be used to overcome many obstacles in life on earth. Her success and joy on earth was the final ingredient that made the Ruby Recipe fight to the bitter end of life.

We love you, Mom.

Old Yellow Clipping from Ruby

Even while Ruby was confined to a nursing home bed and no longer able to talk to us, she left us another clipping, this one was yellow with age. This clipping was found in a mug by Jackie last weekend and there was never a better time for her to find it.

Earlier that week, Ruby told us that she wanted to stay with us despite the pain. Each day now is precious the principle of the cross is demonstrated. Everyone who loves her wants her free from pain and while she herself hangs on to the end with joy.

Other Items in the Barn

While Dad and I were in the barn looking at his onions, I noticed this Stop Sign. From the style of the writing it looks like it might be from around 1986

Big onions came early this year

After the heavy down pour in Wakarusa in the first part of July, Dad had to pull all of his onions. The rain washed all the dirt off the top of the onions so he put them in the barn to dry.

B.A.S.I.C. Youth Camp

I'm a little late in posting this, but two weeks ago, I took a load of boys to the Hill for camp. As is the tradition for Matt and his crew, they always stop at Walmart to unwind from the long drive and kill a few minutes before arriving at Bob's on time. This year we spent more time on the dirt bags than in the store. Adam thought he was Spiderman.

Some links from Camp:
B.A.S.I.C. Training
Back from the Hill ( Matt's blog )
Bob's camp 4th year ( Jess's blog )

This year I stayed at Bob's to talk with Rick, Brady and Matt while waiting on Michael and Stephanie Wilkerson, so I ended up getting an extra assignment of taking some of the girls to Burger King at 8:00 PM.

Picnic in a nursing home?

Tammy McDaniels was wonderful to Jackie's family during this difficult time. It is always good to have good friends that know how to minister to one another.

On this particular day, Tammy showed up with a picnic basket full of sandwiches, chips, flavored ice tea, a table cloth and cloth napkins. Shirley, Tammy, Jackie and Becca all ate together in the room with Ruby.

Ruby may not have been able to join in the conversation, but she knows that her girls and grand girls appreciate the same things that she does.

The Lord is my shepherd

I shall not want.

Mike Brady called a few minutes ago while I was in the room with Ruby to tell me that he had left “B.A.S.I.C. Training” camp with Carmen and Adam. My cell phone always breaks up in the room so I went outside to the covered porch near the entrance. When I got there, someone was moving a large rock with a fork truck, so I moved to the parking lot where it was sprinkling.

It was still loud so I moved to the sidewalk near the semi that brought the fork truck, still too loud, so I walked down the road. Next, it began to thunder and lightning, so I headed for my Jeep in the parking lot to finish the conversation with Mike and here I sit.

I’m listening to God play percussion on the rooftop.

Sometimes, if God wants you to listen, he’ll herd you like sheep. If you have ever heard Ken Davis talk about sheep, you know that loud noises scare sheep. Sheep can be herded by loud noises like a sheep dog barking or a wolf howling, but they can also know the sound of the Shepherd’s voice.

After reaching a resting place for the night, a shepherd may play a song for his sheep to calm them before he sleeps himself.

Can anyone be thankful for cancer?

This is a very difficult topic, but Jackie's family is dealing with the devastating disease directly.... and beautifully. Did I say beautifully? Love is beautiful, but love has a price, thankfully Jesus paid that price and now we all can face death with confidence, pain with confidence, separation with confidence.

One thing I have observed this week in Wakarusa is that by loving people her entire life, Ruby is now surrounded by loving people.

A transformation has taken place in Ruby this week. Throughout her life, she has ministered to people via cards, notes, prayers, phonecalls, verses, songs, Guidepost clippings, cookies, pies, meals, random newspaper articles, books, photographs, gifts, service, service, and service.

This last week, her family and loved ones needed courage. God has allowed her to exude courage when she directs us to get tissues for each other and ignores the occasion tear in her eye. She can't make us a pie, or even underline a verse in a card, but she has taken care of her family when she is at her weakest moment.

I am reminded of this chapter that I have altered. Originally, it was from Paul to the Philipians, but it is appropriate verse to describe the family that I love and the saint that has been at its core.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Did Jesus Love Martha the way she was?

Over the years, I have heard several pastors and teacher use Luke 10 to teach present day Marthas to slow down.

I know an 80 year old Martha, I know a 40 year old Martha and I know a 30 year old Martha. I love them all dearly.

Would I tell any of them to act like Mary? Never...

.... but the question to you is this, "Would Jesus tell them to act like Mary?"

Luke 10:38-42
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word.

But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."

But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

A Soldier Comes Home

The world today is fast paced and goal oriented, always moving forward at the speed of electron flow beneath our fingertips on the keyboard, but today, on July 4th, a member of my family sent me a story about some of the photographs of the year that stopped me. That's one of the qualities of a photograph that I like. Photographs make time stand still.

Second Place
Todd Heisler
The Rocky Mountain News
"Jim Comes Home"

You might want to take a moment to view those photographs of a young family that gave up a great deal so that we could continue on our busy way.

Ultimately, God's purpose is much bigger. Through freedom, God's message of love is much larger than the message of war or certainly hate. In these eight simple photographs of the Cathey family, you can see that message of love.

As you freeze time with photographs of your children this holiday, remember the families that have given their lives for others all over the world.

Remember the story....

... I was telling just the other day about Adam getting rubber separators put in between his teeth just before the Pirates headed into the Southeastern tournament and how he ran into Stephan during the pregame warmups and got a black eye?

Well, Adam replayed that day for us yesterday. Different team, different day, different object, but basically the same story.

He got his braces on this week and during the pregame warmups for the tournament in Jessamine County, he took a ball to the same eye. He has another black eye, worse than the first and painful to look at.

The folks at church have given Adam a number to call if this continues.