Broncos Rule Pics - FINALLY!

He is excited to be at the game! He loves his Broncos!

The boys were getting high fives all day from groups of Denver fans for their uniforms.

This is me having fun even though:

1.) I am surrounded by Chiefs fans

and

2.) We lost horribly to the horrible Chiefs who are now 2-11 which we beat this week in our rematch, Go Orange!)

Why not be a procrastinator and post a blog about something that happened a month ago?

My 1st BRONCOS Game!!!

VS
Sunday, Sept. 24th, 12:00

Guess who is headed to his first Broncos football game this Sunday!!!!! That's right, Me!!!!!!!

I can't believe it! And better yet is the fact I get to take my family!!!

Wait, Wait, WAIT........It gets better! It is all FREE!!!! WAHOOOOO!!!!!

How, do you ask, could this have happened?

DETAILS:

1.) Chiefs Season Ticket holders and also parents of one of my students handed me five tickets.

2.) Chiefs are stinking this year and they don't want to watch the game. (Kudos to the horrible performances they have put on in the last three games. Their losses; My Gain!!)

3.) I never thought I would have the chance to do this so it is a blessing. I guess blessings come when you least expect it.

4.) The other day in class I stated that I am a huge Bronco fan but have never seen a game.

5.) Apparently, word got out and they heard about it. I had no secret agenda when I said it. I had forgotten they were Chiefs' fans.

6.) Watch the TV Sunday at 12:00 and see if you can catch us sitting on the 10 yard-line 37 rows up, lower level.

7.) Boys are excited and will wear their Broncos helmets and jerseys. I'll be decked out in my orange and blue. I just hope someone doesn't deck me out for cheering too loudly as my Broncos dismantle the Chiefs.

BLESSINGS come in all sorts of sizes and shapes!!!

This would classify as a large shape and size. Pictures will be posted when we return.

Rock Springs and other Things

I am enjoying the school year so far. We just got back from a retreat in Rock Springs and it really was awesome. A Dad was the speaker and he talked about unity among believers. He was excellent and I got to ride up with him and talk about theology, music, movies, hobbies, and life in general. I drove this huge truck with all the luggage. I really think I needed a CDL to drive this thing but Budget rental let me take off with it anyway. It was a 24-footer and I had to take two steps up to get into it.

The whole experience at Rock Springs 4-H camp included things like shooting clay pigeons, shooting a rifle, team building activities, archery, gps map reading, and the rotation that I headed up called SSB. It was Skittle Scatter Battle. It involved chasing kids down and wacking them with pool noodles as they tried to transport a single skittle from home base to a bucket at the end of the playing field. No matter how hard I swung the noodle it never hurt the kids but it made a loud pop every time. It was so so so much fun!!! Although, I am extremely sore now because I chased kids for 5 straight hours one day and 2 the next with breaks every now and again.

What a two-day experience it all was. See Ya!!!

The BLOCK!

I just saw on iTunes after searching through some song names that New Kids On The Block just put out a new album. Wow! Can they do that after so many years away? Isn't that illegal for an early nineties band? Anyway, I was never a huge fan but my sister had some albums and I used to listen to some of the songs. I thought that it was hilarious that they could get everyone back. As far as I know they have all the original members. It's like they brought back all the little Rascals after puberty. I guess they took it "Step By Step" and were really "Hangin' Tough" all these years. By the way, don't expect to find any of these songs in my musical library especially one of their new songs called "Sexify My Love". What in the world does that mean? Ya know what? Even if you know; keep it to yourself.

Back at it Again!

School has started and so has the crazy schedules. Now we have two kids in school and lots of events to attend. This will be a very different schedule but a welcomed one. I am happy to see both our boys growing up physically, emotionally, and spiritually (well as much as you can from a couple of little uns). I guess just showing an interest in church, sunday school stories, bible stories, and remembering that God is important would be a growth at this point in their lives. Gavin did want to ask Jesus in his heart around 5-5 mths ago and we prayed together. Of course he doesn't realize how much all that entails but he might remember it when he gets older.

My prayer is that he, Gabe, and Adri will all continue down the narrow path of life as it says in Matthew 7:13-14.

It is fun to hear Adri say please and she actually also says Star Wars which is hilarious.

Kids are a JOY and although it is hard at times it always, always blesses me when I least expect it.

-Tucker out!

Summer Drawing to an End

OK! The time is coming to head back to adult work life again. I knew it would come but it still hurts! Why is it always hard for me to get back into the swing of things. I know it will start to flow once I get back but it doesn't keep the stress away. I know it should be given over to God because he wants to be the one to bear our burdens.
When I did this after stressing about leading worship team on Sunday it came easily. I think because I kept telling myself to God be the glory and it isn't me up in front that deserves the credit. It is a time of worship to our wonderful Creator!
I should remember this during the rest of my week not just on Sunday. Like David Crowder said it should be a Praise Habit that we get into daily.

Maryland Trip Pics pt. 2

Beach Bunnies


Two reasons I don't want the summer to end - On the trolley


Air and Space Museum - Gabe and a rocket


The White House - I'm glad I don't live there - Look at the size of the lawn you have to mow.


Gavin at the WW II memorial

Maryland Trip Pics pt. 1

Baltimore Sports Fun
Stoney's Restuarant
Air and Space
Korean War Memorial

Tuckers with Mr. Lincoln

Adri in Chesepeake Bay

More Pictures to Come!

Maryland Trip

We have been in Maryland for 6.5 days and will leave today. We got to do so many fun things like; going to the beach at Chesepeake Bay, finding an almost dead horseshoe crab and bringing it back to life, going to a water park, visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, visiting the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, and WW II memorials, seeing the White House, Talking to Obama, visiting Solomon's Island and their shops, visiting the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the ESPN Zone (Sorry, James!), Eating REAL sea food and an incredible crab dip at Stoney's, and flying with the kids hopefully without a hitch on the way back. (just kidding on the Obama one)

PICTURES TO COME!!!

Gavin's Turn

Gabe's hit and run!

Adjusting to Summer Life

I like the fact that I have extra time with my family this summer but it has been an adjustment more so this summer than last summer. I don't know why. Being home with the kids 24/7 and Missy working all night and sleeping the following day can be hectic. I love the kids and it is fun but it also has its not so fun moments. I love that Gavin says "What's up with that?" when he has a question or thinks something is weird. It is fun to watch the boys play and the way they talk to each other unless they are fighting and yelling at each other which usually ends in Gabe crying. Gabe always says "right?" at the end of his sentences. He is struggling to be his own self among the baby and the oldest. I think it will help when he attends pre-school next year. Two in school already, Ahhh!
They are both playing t-ball and starting swim lessons again. Gavin is doing pretty well. He was running to first and took a header right into the base. He was ok and SAFE! Gabe is way to cute as he waddles around the bases. One t-ball rule is you have to hit the ball past an arc on the all-grass field. It extends about 8-10 feet out from home plate. Gabe struggles to hold the bat up and swing and his first game he didn't get it past the arc. They let him run anyway. The next game he got one hit outside the arc. I was so ecstatic that I could've cried. Today's game he got another hit past the arc. I need to get some video on him hitting and put it on this website. The soft-side of me brings a lump to my throat as he "runs" to first with the batting helmet swallowing his head and dropping down over his eyes. My little boy is growing up. Gavin loves playing and regularly tells people he can hit pretty good. He does get it past the arc every time.
When asked about his favorite part of "t-ball, not baseball" he stated "The snacks after the game are my favorite."

The Week from H - E - Double hockey sticks

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you thought you were going to get some time to relax and the little annoyances just keep popping up to give you a headache. Well so far this week has been one of those. Let me list the little things this week that have frustrated me: my watch stopped again after I just put in a new battery(cheap piece of trash), my new cell phone just got a crack in it leaving a fuzzy black line over the time display, our home phones can't last for more than 5 minutes without needing recharged, I went through 10 minutes of automated help that didn't help with the phone company and they apparently thought I wanted a serviceman to come out (I don't know how that happened), my e-mail says there is an error in sending messages and I went through all the verification process ATT told me to do in an e-mail (didn't work) so I called them and they told me to do the same thing (didn't work) but I found out my messages will go through but still show up as an error when I send (How idiotic is that?), Missy has worked two nights in a row and the weather has not allowed our family to go outside, I have been working on getting the games for summer camp all lined out, and t-ball is in full swing pardon the pun. I thought summers where supposed to be a break for teachers. Did I mention I have worship team the next four Sundays. It is a little stressful for me. Camp starts next Tuesday for me and I really don't know what to expect. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Thank you Lord for being a refuge! However, it won't help if I don't call on Your name in prayer.

A post just to post!

I usually post while I am at school during lunch time or during planning time. That is why you might not see very many. Planning times are always booked: meetings, grades, lesson planning/preparation, grades, e-mailing, grades, helping students, grades, Oh.....did I mention grading. I bet I go through more paperwork than a Kinko's copy machine!!!

Don't have much more time so I want to say that if you have ever looked at all the inter workings of a living cell, tiniest unit of life, you would no longer be an evolutionist except because of your stubbornness. A cell is extremely complex and evolutionists would say life formed by accidental happenings. Something just started to grow. I am just glad I am on the winning team. The Lord is really teaching me something as a science teacher. I hope I can convey this learning to my students. I am glad I can present this side of life. I hope someday all public schools will come around and see that evolution is NOT FACT!!!

Books - Check 'em Out!

I don't spend a lot of time in the library but when I do, like the other day, I seem to get lost in the volumes and volumes of endless information: Biographies, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thrillers, Love Stories, Moral Issues under debate. I found a book on Nazi doctors and how they experimented on Jewish patients. I didn't check it out but it reminded me of what happened many years ago. Everyone who claims to be a Nazi skinhead should read this and be reminded the horrible otrocities the happened during the mid 20th century. My wife probably didn't appreciate me spending all this time looking through every shelf while she was in the van. I had found the book I was looking for, White by: Ted Dekker, and was just browsing for much too long.

I hope you are not out of touch with your library. If so go get the free library card and check out your next adventure, inspirational story, self-help diet book extravaganza, etc... Don't just go to check out books for your kids. Find one for yourself and expand your knowledge or know what not to check out next time. Either way you win!

KU Reigns Supreme!!!

I am going to sit back, relax, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Ku's wonderful year in sports so far. First, we win the Orange Bowl (for the first time since the early 20th century) and only lose one game in football. Then we top it off with a National Championship in basketball on the 20th anniversary of their last national championship. These players went out with style. Did you know that not one of the Kansas players was on the All Conference team in the Big 12? What does that tell you about the team they put out there last night? I'll tell you what it means. It tells you that Kansas actually was a TEAM with no individual egos.

Who do you guard at the end of the game, Chalmers, Rush, Robinson, Collins, who....? Anyone could step up at any given time. We got overlooked a lot of the time because we were said to have no "Star" player or a consistent "Go-to guy". NOT ANYMORE! We didn't need to put all our hope into one player like a Davidson or a North Carolina. KU rebounded and played defense better than any team in the tournament. Previously both teams they faced in the final four had never been behind in the tournament, NC and Memphis. This coupled with the fact that they had a never-say-die attitude led to the glorious outcome in the championship game. I will enjoy this for a long time. I was Witness!!!!

Roy Williams still has the love for KU in the stands of the Championship game last night.

Let the Madness Begin!!!

Well, I have to say that I look forward to the NCAA tournament every year. I especially can't wait for the first couple of days with game after game of upsets, buzzer beaters, and nail-biters. Someday I would love to watch a live game. It is win or go home and that makes the motivation for each player that much more intense. I do expect KU to win this year of course but I will say this: Watching the first two or three rounds is the best part of the tournament. This is where the ultimate upsets happen. I get into the *"Olympic-State" of cheering which I'll explain in a second. It creates a Hoosier-like atmosphere. A passion-filled fan am I of whoever is the underdog. I love this game!!! By the way, I see a KU vs Texas final and KU the victor. Erin Andrews, the ESPN analyst who is a female yet has chosen the last two champions, has picked KU to win it all. IT MUST BE A SIGN! HA!

*An Olympic-state of cheering happens when a whole country gets behind an athlete or team and roots them to victory. What an awesome thought to become unified as a country over a sporting event.

It happens to the best of us!

I had a whole blog typed up but it shut down on me so I am not neglecting my poor little old blog. As the governor of California used to say, "I'll be back."

Things You Might Not Know About Me.

Everyone else I know with a blog is doing this so why not me - I'll jump off the cliff because they are:





1.) I am a huge KU and Denver Broncos fan but have never been to a game at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS or a Mile-High football game in Denver.

2.) I watch "John and Kate plus 8" on TLC with my wife. It is entertaining believe it or not.





3.) I cry when little children sing on stage.





4.) I've been in Mozart's childhood home.





5.) When my sister's high school b-ball team played their state playoff game at K-State's arena, I snuck on to the football field and ran around without getting caught.





6.) On the first date with my future wife we had to leave a movie theater because there wasn't enough people to watch it. We went bowling instead.





7.) I love WW II anything, especially the stories of veterans. I have talked to a marine who was on Iwo Jima during the real flag raising.(The story behind it is fascinating.) He talks to my history class every year.






8.) I am not a fan of mornings.





9.) I was a page(senator aid) in the Kansas Senate in Topeka during my eighth grade year.





10.) I could eat Taco Bell every night.







*Bonus 11.) I would like to join a martial arts class.





There ya go! Have fun with it.

NBA stands for - Not as Big As - March Madness

Versus

Why not write about the NBA? Something that has bothered me concerning professional basketball can be split into many parts. I'll try and type clearly. First, I think there are too many teams and the schedule is too long. It is watered down with too many young players with too much money. There is no team. The individual is more important than the team. This is where it chaps my hide. There are few teams that really seem to work together as a unit. I find myself bored with the NBA everytime I see one player go on an isolation play after play after play. It becomes an individual game. What ever happened to whipping the ball around from one teammate to another until an opening is found and a layup/dunk is easily scored or an open jumper is hit because of the movement. God forbid we should play good defense and get a steal that leads to a transition slam. I loved Paul Pierce at KU and he is still a great player; however, since he got to the NBA a switch has been flipped to "I must score as many points as possible". Granted he has been the go-to guy but I would rather see a bunch of team players with not as much talent than one super star who shoots all the time - see Allen Iverson. This brings me back to the fact there are too many teams. Bring back the Lakers and Celtics of the 80s as well as the Bulls of the nineties. Honestly, I would rather see a backboor cut and layup/slam than a one-on-one move by a player solely focused on his own ability to score. Why do you think most of the and-one players never make it to the NBA? They are not team players and would rather not play defense; they focus on individual moves to impress. Plus most of the moves are illegal.

You know why the playoffs are so exciting. The long season that doesn't really matter in some parts is over and players get excited to play defense, hustle to take a charge, find an open teammate, listen to coaches, and they know you can't beat a team in a series if you depend on one superstar to score big every game. Michael Jordan couldn't win in the playoffs until he found roleplaying unified teammates he could trust to play defense, make a good pass, or make an open shot when he drew the entire other team to him while driving to the basket. WHY is this so hard to grasp for owners, GMs, coaches, and players. Phil Jackson knows! He needs to help Kobe who can't do it all on his own. Gasol is a main addition that hopefully can take a hit in PPGs while making the Lakers better. It could mean disaster if he doesn't find a way to play defense though.

All this brings me to the conlusion of saying I think the MOST exciting sport in our country is college basketball ESPECIALLY during MARCH MADNESS. Why do you ask? Put simply - TEAMS playing TEAMS. Anyone can win - it's win or go home every game!!! It brings the best out of every player. It's too bad players want to leave this joyous occasion early. I'll keep cheering for those players who can't make the jump to the NBA and simply play good TEAM basketball - the Valpariasos, the George Masons, the Hamptons, and yes that team which I won't give a name because it causes anger to erupt from the inside of every KU fan.

Now I will step down from the Debate Podium. Thanks!

Bema Seat website

This is the exact video dramatization I watched. James if you are out there this would make a great video for discussion in your youth group. Here is the website: http://www.echoforeternity.com/ You can order DVDs or book him to come and perform at your church. This needs to be seen by all Christians and non-Christians alike. Hope you see this Tonya!

Charlie Schaller is the performer in the pic.

The Bema

What an awesome experience I just had. How often do you look at the book of Revelation. Honestly I have not even come close to it in a while. It is a symbolic book with many weird and fantastic things in it. Something that made it a little more real for me was when I watched the one man drama called "The Bema". It is a Greek word which represented the Olympics and when the athletes came before the judges to be awarded for their efforts. I can't go into too much detail but it is about the judgement seat of Christ. It involves not if you are getting into heaven but when you are there what will Jesus say to you about how you lived your life. It is extremely convicting but also very rewarding. I suggest any youth pastor or head pastor ask this man to perform live or show the video during the service. I have serached some but can't find a good website to purchase the video. It really is very powerful and challenging. What are you doing for the Kingdom? Peace out! As soon as I can find this DVD I will probably buy 4 or 5. It really would be a useful tool for any believer.

Civil War still real!

Currently my sixth-grade class is studying the Civil War. I find myself engulfed in it at times. It is extremely interesting to know what went on near where I live. Most people don't think of Kansas when they think of the Civil War when in fact it was the heart of how Americans were split during that time. Kansas was trying to become a state and the voters were to decide what it would be, slave or free. It wasn't just talk! People were hurt, buildings were destroyed, and some even lost their lives for their beliefs. Laws were hard to enforce and whoever had the majority or sometimes the gun would end up deciding things. Kansas became known as "Bloody Kansas". Some events still get me hot like a preacher, who happened to be against slavery, gunned down in his farm while milking a cow. They didn't care who he was but what he said he believed. Anyways, I could type a novel but I must leave it alone for now. Maybe a revisiting will be warranted later.

Wii are surprised!!!

It was out of reach. There was no way it was going to happen. A distant spot on the horizon was this idea. Of course I'm talking about the Wii video game console that I have wanted since it came out. Forget the fact that it is cheaper than any game system out there. Being a father I knew it would be family friendly. The kicker is that it is a physical workout as well. My lovely wife had the cover of a lifetime. She picked fake arguements with me because I knew she didn't want me to get one. If you know my wife at all you know she thinks video games are EVIL, yet she had four or five people looking for a Wii to buy before Christmas and they are more elusive than the jackolope. Finally, My wife's sister's boss's son had inside sources at Wal-mart and picked one up for me. Wow, am I loved or what. Now I can actually play video games without my butt planted on the couch. Everyone loves to play in our family; my 3 and 5 year old love playing bowling with Mommy and Daddy. I am blessed by those who care for me. This is my Christmas story! My surprise is evident in the photo above.

What's Up?

What happens when you enter a part of your life where you feel complacent? Well, I've felt this way for awhile. I need to do more for the kingdom. Being at a Christian school is great and means I can talk freely about the Lord. Sometimes I feel I am "preaching to the choir". Don't get me totally wrong because sixth graders still have a lot to learn about God's plan and I can help with that. I just feel sometimes as though they really don't turn that spiritual corner until high school or maybe as early as 8th grade. Granted there is always an exception. I can think of a student I had whose body was practically failing but never once complained about it and always, always, always had a smile. She had MS and failing organs but she still loved school. When was the last time I said, "I can't wait to get back to school." It has been awhile. Is this just a rambling that is going nowhere? Maybe! I am new to the blogging so I guess this is just like a journal of what I feel at the moment. It is a bit theraputic and who knows who will read this if anyone. Do I sound crazy? Verbenslapinstein!