Change

This was the decade of change with 2019 being the crescendo. In the last 10 years I remarried, had a baby, and coached many amazing athletes to victories (both team and personal). We traveled to Hawaii, Mexico, Disneyland, and all along the Oregon Coast. I changed jobs twice and watched my very deserving husband retire from teaching. It was a wonderful journey with great friends and new family. All of the changes and challenges of the year have been humbling and brought us so much closer as a family. As we head into the new decade and prepare to celebrate Jillian’s tenth birthday and our tenth wedding anniversary we will continue to celebrate our dreams and set our sights on more goals. I don’t know yet where the new year will lead us, but I do know I’m grateful for the friends and family that supported us on our journey. Love and Hugs to you all and best wishes on your new year.

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2019 saw all of the changes and accomplishments finally come together. 

January flew by with some major plans in the making and coaching my last competition cheer team. 

In February I coached my last cheer squad and retired from 24 years of coaching cheer. 

March was the transition to Track and Jillian’s bridging for Girl Scouts on the Hoover Dam. 

April was filled with coaching track, transitioning to the new cheer coach, my last girls weekend with Char and Jules, and helping to organize my last Quarter Auction. 

In May I graduated with my Associates Degree, Jillian performed in her dance recital, I Co-Coached my last Track team to Regional and State runner up titles. 

In June I applied for and accepted a job on Oregon’s North Coast, packed up our family, and said goodbye to some of my dearest friends and support system. 

July was spent adjusting to a tiny apartment and Doug starting a new job as Assistant Park Ranger for the State Park. 

In August Jillian started attending day camp and saw the sights of the area including the Astoria Tower, Trolley, County Fair, and Trip to the Zoo. I began working as the Head Secretary/Office Manager at Astoria High. 

September was a time for Jillian to start a new school and make new friends. I had a good 40th birthday. I also said good-bye to one of my dearest friends who lost her battle with Cancer. 

In October we faced some continued challenges and changes with adjusting to the area. 

November we traveled down to Medford to visit mom and came back up the coast visiting Newport and Tillamook. 

December finished up with school and traveled almost 2000 miles to visit Nevada seeing family and friends.

40 and freaking out!

It was a busy week. Volleyball line duty on Tuesday. My birthday Wednesday, football Friday. The passing of one of my dearest friends floored me in the middle of it all, but I am slowly building a support system here and my best friend was there when I needed her. Dinner last night at Mo’s and some crafting today. Needless to say, I came into my forties like a cannonball into the deep end of the pool. Until I can get adjusted to our new life I’ll just take it all one step at a time. Thank you to everyone that reached out this week for the multitude of reasons I needed you. I’m blessed to have such amazing friends and family.

#CancerSucks

My Dearest Julie,
You didn’t lose the fight with cancer, heaven won the fight to take you home. Now you get to stand tall next to Randy and your mom and watch over your best friends and dear family.
I know you know it but, thank you. Thank you for being the friend that always told me how it was and picked me up when I fell from grace. You hugged me and laughed with me and held me accountable for my mistakes. I will always love you for taking me in and loving me when I needed a home. We coached together and saw some great successes. We traveled together and saw some beautiful sights. You were there when Jillian was born and at my tiny 2nd wedding on the river. You were always one of the very first people I called to share my news with and my best coffee date buddy. Most of all we laughed and loved and always picked up right where we left off. You will always be one of my dearest friends. I know you were watching over me today to make sure my birthday was great. Thank you for all you’ve done for me and my family. Until we meet again Jules, I love you. 😘💔 #cancersucks.

Announcement

I suppose it is time to officially announce that Doug and I are moving to the Pacific Northwest! I have accepted a position as the Head Secretary at Astoria High School and will be starting work at the end of July.
We have found a very cute (and very small) apartment in Warrenton and we move in on July 1st. We are excited for our new adventure and saddened at the thought of saying goodbye to our amazing friends and life in Nevada. It has been a blast, but our Someday has arrived.
Love and hugs to you all and thank you for making Nevada my home for 17 years.

Your approval might be needed.

I think all of us have a person (or two) that we NEED approval from. Be it a parent, boss, spouse, friend, coworker, family member, child, etc. For me, I have a huge support group of friends and family that love me and are there for me with a hug or an encouraging word when needed. However, sometimes we work hard or accomplish something and there is a specific person that we desperately need to know noticed and approved. When this goes on for a while with no feedback or acknowledgment we can become overly discouraged and if we do happen to say something to that person, it is often passed off with comments like “of course I’m proud of you, you should know that”, or “you don’t need my approval.”
The point is, if you are proud of someone or notice they did something good please tell them. You never know when you are THAT person for them. It this weird PC world of ours don’t be afraid to give compliments and hugs. It’s human nature to crave those things. You never know when your words will help heal.

Trade Schools For the WIN!

In the 90s we saw a trend of forcing students to take an academic route post-high school and a shifting attitude towards trade schools. we were told that they were not good enough. Over the years we have eliminated the trades classes from our schools causing a shortage of specialists. Now we are suffering because we have no one to teach these classes that will create mechanics, electricians, plumbers, woodworkers etc. There is a shortage of these people in the work-force, driving up the prices to hire someone to fix/repair our homes and cars. So now we offer these things through STEM academies with more strict requirements to get in. The kids that would benefit the MOST from these trade classes are no longer able to take them. Why have we forgotten about the common man, those people who don't want or need higher education? We have educated our society right out of work and then demand that we raise the minimum wage. We punish those who run a small business and the families who just want to live a comfortable life. The rich get richer and the middle-class shrinks and shrinks. Quit shoving higher education down people's throats and bring back the trade schools. Less administration, more options for shop, art, music, home ec, personal finance, critics, and horticulture classes. Let the kids get dirty and learn to work with their hands!

14 Years

14 Years - That’s how long I have been a Railroader.
Fourteen years ago, Charlie Walsh took a chance on me and gave me the head coaching job at Sparks High School. In those 14 years that have come and gone, I have served four principals, two athletic directors and hundreds of cheerleaders. I was given an opportunity to build a program and make it my own. Over the years my teams earned countless trophies at camps and competitions, we earned a few Nevada state titles and even regional title in California, I was chosen as coach of the year, and we had kids cheer in college and at the national level. We participated in rent parties, parades, festivals, marriage proposals, and countless community events. I have seen kids go on to college, military, get married, have babies, and travel the world. The memories are immeasurable and currently leaking out my eyes…

On a personal level, I survived a marriage and divorce, a second marriage, a beautiful daughter, and will earn a degree. I have learned patience and the art of working with parents. I learned the importance of low power mode on my phone when taking bus trips and the value of a blanket and soft-sided med kit (pillow). I came to love the quirkiness of Sparks High School and its facilities. The history of the Brickhouse and why we affectionately refer to it as the brick-oven during basketball games. Most importantly I have joined a family. The people of Sparks High school have become some of my dearest friends. They have supported me in good years and bad and have seen me grow up from that pain in the butt 20-something to the pain in the butt 30-something I am today. The support and friendship that I have are priceless.

Walking away from a program that took over a decade to build is the hardest thing I have ever done. It was time for me to go, but there are so many things I am going to miss being a coach. I love my kids, all 700-ish of them. They have made me a better person, and through the blood sweat and tears, we have all made the Sparks Cheer Program incredible.

As I transition from Head Coach to Athletic Secretary and Spectator, I know the program is in good hands, and I desperately hope that the traditions we have created will carry on and the memories of my athletes are as meaningful to them as they are to me.

“Once a Railroader, Always a Railroader.”