Oops, Apparently I Still Have A Blog

So much has happened since May and I have failed to document any of it. I guess my sabbatical is over now. Or my next one is just about to begin.

Stay tuned pictures may even show up interspersed to highlight the events of the last few months.

So there was June. I don't think anything real eventful happened there.

Followed by July. Now that month sticks out a little. I had July 4th off this year, so I got to participate in the whole holiday. From the morning parade watching, afternoon cookout to fireworks. What a blast! Then a few days later, I jumped off a diving board with a rather spectacular old man dive and dislocated my shoulder. Again. This lead to a month-ish of wearing the sling. Again. And a month-ish of physical therapy. Again. Gotta be more careful with my left wing. It wants to fly free a little too much.
Then down to New Braunfels to vacation at the House of Partain. Lovely accommodations and hosts. Had lots of one armed fun, hiking the Natural Bridge Caverns, trying to kinda tube and spending a whole day at Sea World.

August brought a birthday, #34, a job change for Stephanie and 2nd grade for Josh.

September Josh turned 8. We added a pup to the house. Sparky, our miniature schnauzer was imported from Oklahoma.

October was Steph's 36th birthday. Hayden got a stick stuck in his knee on the playground, which lead to a month-long infection and multiple visits with doc's, nurses and other medical personnel. He is one tough cookie, pulled the stick out, kept playing and toughed out what had to be a heaping dose of pain as he went through the multiple diagnoses' and treatments. Steph fell walking up the steps while walking the dog. Scrapes, bruises and abrasions abound. Our insurance compnay is not making money on us this year.

And yesterday at horse lessons, Josh fell off his horse for the first time while loping. Fell isn't quite the right word as he was flung into the fence panel by his loping horse. He is a little sore today, but he is becoming more tough as he goes along. Of course he had to get back on and ride for a little while to make sure he can face this hurdle. Of course horseback riding isn't safe. Neither is riding a bike, climbing trees, swimming or playing most sports, but we allow our kids to find out about themselves and what they are made of by pushing the limits. I continue to be amazed by him and what he is turning out to be made of.

I have taught him a quote I ran across and he is learning to live it.

“The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior
takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything either as
a blessing or a curse”

Carlos Casteneda