My Bestest Friend

I'm sorry I haven't updated my blog in forever, but I am going to try and make up for it now. My summer has been amazing so far! You cannot beat this teacher thing. I'm going to post my summer out of order, but I'll get to everything. First up: I was finally able to visit my BFF Brie in Oregon. I heart her! I hope everyone is lucky enough to have someone like Brie.

I miss you friend!

Celtics in 6!!!

If your mind was just blown, you're welcome.

Happy Birthday Dana!

Today my older sister is 30, flirty, and fabulous.

We love you.

(Stop with the social grooming.)

Send Me On My Way

For those of you who read my last post these past two weeks have been busy for a million reasons. There were 3,000 people in attendance at Mario's funeral. I praised Jesus for 4 hours! If this Mormon thing does not work out I have been assured that I am saved. It was beautiful though and it has brought the community together.

Mario's mother broke out into song. She was amazing!

Varsity players carrying the casket. The players are beginning group therapy soon which was offered as a free service by an outside clinic. So grateful for that. One player received a $10,000 scholarship in Mario's name and other scholarships have resulted from his death. Some good out of the bad. You can just see Travis in the back right hand corner.

The school probably thought it was a good idea to give us a break after that so they sent the Reed's to the senior picnic. Here's Travis and Mr. Rice getting ready to climb the rock wall. He's so hot in that equipment! YOW!

Ok there's me. Ps- it really hurts if you don't have shoes on.

What do white kids do at the Senior picnic? Play ultimate frisbee. Just so happens Mr. Reed is a beast at frisbee. I think it's cause he's tall or it could be that he knocked over high school students to win. Could be both.

Then on Sunday as many of you already know Travis was sustained as the new Bishop of the Ludlow Ward replacing my father. Yeah they made that guy Bishop. So that makes me Mother of the Ward. Yes, he is 28. And no, we NEVER even thought that was a possibility. It was great to hear the audible gasps and several "OH MY GOSH's!" Good news is we had 12 co-workers who came to support him. More investigators than I ever got to church on my mission. One wants to sit down with the missionaries and us and another one has already committed to come to church again and asked for a Book of Mormon.

Travis' Mom, sister Holly, and niece Bailey were able to make it from California. It was a fun visit. Bailey and Brocky had a great time trying to find a bunny that was in the yard during a family cook out. They're totally dating.

We went to New York City for Memorial Day and played on the subway. Good Times.

This is Travis' Mom haggling over a purse. When she actually got the price she wanted she walked away. It was a piece of crap anyways.

Next we spent some quality time with thousands of our closest friends in Central Park. I have never seen so many people there at one time.

We decided to skip the Empire State Building and be different and go up 30 Rock. This is the end result. You would think we had to walk up.

We ended the night with by walking around Times Square. Always interesting when it's late. But it was good trip. We did Boston the next day, but I'll save that for another post.

Hope everyone had a good Memorial Day and is getting ready for summer!

The World We Live In

First off I completely apologize for not updating the blog for the past month. A birthday and anniversary pasted and finals were taken, but I just didn't find the time or anything interesting to write about. But tonight I feel the need to rant and then possibly back up and give thanks. I think I've said this before, but Travis & I teach at an inner city high school. Most days you wouldn't know you were at an inner city high school. I'm sure we deal with things all the time that we don't even identify with that label, but that others would see at "ghetto." And then again there are times when it creeps up on you and becomes very real and overwhelming. You feel helpless and unable to facilitate change. You lose that sense that what you're doing is honestly making a difference and that it is worth everything you go through.

This past weekend the captain of the varsity basketball team at our school, was murdered. Travis, being a coach for the team, is crushed. It was a case of wrong time, wrong place, and of course had to do with gang violence. So many questions come out of this. But I guess my biggest question is what do we have to offer these kids that is more enticing than the streets? Most are unable to afford college with how ridiculous tuition costs are right now. And then we as a society tell them that they can't do anything without a degree. As a nation we have outsourced so many good jobs and have reduced the value of a plumber or trades to something that only immigrants or idiots would choose to do. What do we leave them with?

The streets offer quick answers and even faster cash. It offers a sense of community and protection. And most of all it gives them purpose and value within their sphere of influence. How do we combat this? I know some of the answer to this, but it just seems easier to head out to a suburban school where kids die from drunk driving or suicide, where it seems they have a choice in their tragedy, rather than senseless violence.

But in all things give thanks. Right now, what we specifically have to offer, is our belief in the plan of salvation. I'm grateful for Temple work and a Savior who manifests the godliness of all people through sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father. I guess that is where the hope comes from that we continue to share and deplete with these kids, and then we go to church or the Temple and have experiences that renew that hope and faith.

Sorry for the soapbox. If you would like to see the story about Mario you can go to this website. http://www.wwlp.com/Global/story.asp?S=8339816. If not, thank you for listening. I don't want to be a Debbie downer, but just wanted to provoke thought on what we can all do individually to make the things or people under our stewardship just a little better.

Teenage Wasteland

This week Travis had his season opener as a baseball coach. He had 3 semi tough games right off the bat. The boys improved over the week and had some really great moments, but are struggling to keep their errors down and get their hitting up. Coach enjoys sitting on an open bucket during the games. It doesn't appear comfortable, but it's his thing. I'm proud of him.

Travis talking up the line up with one of his assistant coaches, Mr. Jones. Although not a prerequisite to go onto the field during a game at the freshmen level, Mr. Jones enjoys the baseball pants and is a firm believer in wearing them at games.

We roll deep to support Coach. This is Brocky, Anders, and Nick watching an infield error. Even Brocky gets it.

Like Father like son. Brocky kept taking Anders hat to wear throughout the game.

Post game pep talk. He is such a good coach.

This is a scene we tend to recreate every 2 weeks. Travis and I have a Saturday morning class twice a month that has insane amounts of expository reading. And of course we enjoy torturing ourselves and waiting until the last minute to start. We usually preemptively reward ourselves with take out to get us through the night. A student from our school was working at Taco Bell last night. We ordered 5 things, got 11. There are some unspoken benefits to being teachers.

Hu Ke Lau!

Our friends the Ripley's own the Polynesian dance production company that performs that the local Hu Ke Lau so they invited us for dinner and a show. I thought this was kind of a cool picture of the Tahitian dancers.

Moki is so talented and beautiful it's ridiculous. She can do things with her hips at age 40 that I have never been able to do. Must be nice.

Travis and Anders had their first catch of the season.

It was a broodstock salmon. Travis actually caught it so it was a "big deal" because Anders has caught the first one of the season for the past 3 seasons. They grilled it up nice during Conference weekend and I didn't touch it. It grosses me out, but I'm glad it makes him happy.

Welcome Back

My favorite employees of Dunder Mifflin will be back this Thursday. Is anyone else obsessed with this show? Who is your favorite Office employee? I personally am a big Jim fan. I have to get all of my homework done before Thursday now so I can watch uninterrupted. Happy Viewing.