Partners

Team Roping can be a difficult sport. You have two kids, two horses, two ropes and one cow. There are a lot of places that it can go right or wrong.

One issue that we have struggled for Racheal is finding the right partner. We started off High School Rodeo with a really good partner. Then due to a family conflict, Racheal had to find a new partner. She has had several since then.

It is almost like dating, the partners have to get to know one another. They have to get used to the way the other one ropes and handles the cattle. They have to be able to support each other. They have to be able to agree on how hard they want to work and the amount of time they are going to spend at practice.

Racheal and Brent both have great partners this year for Little Britches Rodeos. Both of their partners want to practice. They seem to support each other at pratice and in competition. Racheal and her partner won the last go of the Little Britches Rodeo in Salina. Brent and his partner have placed in a couple of Little Britches Rodeos.

Christmas Party

Every Christmas we try to have a special Christmas party for the kids from Moab. Since their home life is less than ideal, we try to make our get together what every family party should be. We have a nice dinner. We included not only my mom their grandma but their great grandparents.

Since they are so far removed from our family, their grandparents only get to see them once or twice a year. So it is really nice for them to be able to spend time with the other side of the family.

We start with a big dinner and of course there are lots of treats. Then we get to play Santa and hand out presents. We also get the kids a stocking with lots of fun things as well as things they can really use.

Emma is really entertaining. For only being 3 she loves to get clothes and she really loves my grandpa. That is unusual because most younger kids are scared of him. He is a little gruff. She made Coy and my grandpa babysit the new baby she got. It is funny when a 3 year old tells adults what to do and they all listen.

Haillee just idolizes Racheal. She likes to be included in whatever Racheal is doing. Since we can't give her a real horse, I got her a digital horse to take care of. She loved it.

Tristen is into video games and TV. He just wants to play the Wii while he is here. This is really different from our family who is all about being outdoors and doing things together. I think he really enjoys time up here where he does not have to stress or take care of the girls.

When we spend time with them, I remind myself and my kids that our lives are truly blessed. We have a great family life. We do not have the strife and the heartache that they go through. Although I say we are blessed, the reason we live the way we do is we choose to. We choose to get along, work hard, be responsible, play hard and love each other. Life is a choice. We have no excuse not to make the most of it.

Resolutions?

So it is 2009. Should we be excited? What is up with starting life over at the beginning of a new year? You see it everywhere. People are making resolutions that they are not going to keep a week from January 1.

Instead of making resolutions this year, I am going to commit to making a new goal a week. I have never been a good goal setter. I think it has to do with goals being so long term and the reward is so far away. This week's goal is get my finances organized. So by Sunday, I am going to have all of my accounts reconciled, consolidated and reviewed.

The only true way to build wealth is to know your starting point. Then you can watch it grow.

Oh yeah and each week, I am going to have an instant reward. This weekend's reward is going to see a movie in the theater.