Warning!

College coaches, college administration, prospective employers, mothers, fathers, parents of children, other friends, the parents of the girl/guy you want to date, little kids...somebody, someone, everybody is checking your life online.

No matter how many times we tell students and/or athletes, they don't seem to get it.  Unfortunately, everybody judges and when seeing and/or reading some of the stuff online you are being judged.  I think most kids are rebellious and defiant.  They are screaming for the ability to be free from their parents and school and rules and anything that keeps them from doing what they want to do, but aren't understanding the consequences of their actions.  What I find amusing is that they will do these behaviors, post the pictures online but get upset (and I could probably get in trouble) if I put the pictures up in my classroom or (gasp) used one as the picture for this article.

One thing I have found about young people is that they want to do adult behavior, but rarely want to have adult consequences (who does?).  They are quick to "do what I want to do" on the weekend, but when called out about it or worse yet, called in about it, they are quick to have their parents come in to defend them.  I had an administrator say once to a kid: "you want to be an adult?" student shakes head yes while dad is sitting with him; "adults don't have parent meetings."  It was great.

Where are the parents?  I can tell you this with no reservations....being a parent is the hardest job in the world to me.  I don't know if what I am doing is right or wrong sometimes, but there are certain things I have zero doubts about.  I will not allow my 7 year old daughter cross I-65 by herself.  I will not allow my 3 year old son to walk over to the local school by himself to play basketball.  I will not all them, together, to walk down the street to a friends house.  I will punish them if they do any of these things.

I am not judging anybody here, but I can tell you this my children will not be perfect angels, I know this.  And when they fall there will be many people who will point and say "hypocrite, look at his kids."  But you can best believe that there will be a consequence, they will be policed and they will be dealt with.  It might not be easy and it might not be pretty, but I will do so until they prove to be responsible adults whatever age that may be.

Yes, I Have

It never ceases to amaze me when I find out people read this stuff I write.  I realize that people do read it, but when someone brings it up, it catches me off guard...sometimes.  I have had people agree with me, disagree with me, thank me, tell me it's a waste of time, etc., but I have had a new one lately.  I have had a couple of people tell me that "you seem to be getting more religious lately".  I will agree on one front and that is that I am going to lead less of a double life.  Some of the stuff I have posted is who I am, but have tried to separate the two...the religion and the coach, but I am not doing that as much anymore.

I won't lie, I do have a double secret blog that only two people know about that gets deeper into politics and religion, but I do that to get things off my chest.  I have written in that blog much less lately.  I feel that if I am going to be honest with anyone who reads this and more importantly with myself, I need to include and be more public about all sides of myself.  I am complimented about how this blog is "open" and that I write some things down that makes people feel they are not alone, well, if I am going to be completely "open" then I need to express all sides of myself.

My faith is the most important part of my life along with my family and gets me through what I go through.  We all go through something and you need something that helps....my faith does.  Yes, I have gotten more religious on this blog and I have indeed gotten stronger in my faith over the last 6 months.

Losing last year really drew me nearer to God, but then I gave the Baccalaureate speech to our graduationg class, I went to Iceland (where prayer helped me greatly in missing my family), I came home and taught a lesson on a Wednesday night at church, I started listening to contemporary Christian music where songs like The Motions by Matthew West hit me right in the head and heart, I went to a leadership seminar by Coach Don Meyer and have emailed back and forth a few times, I have started reading the John Maxwell leadership Bible, I have started an Uncommon devotion by Tony Dungy, I have surrounded myself with Scripture, study, and as much of the word as possible....yes, I have changed, yes, I am changing, and yes, I have a long way to go.

Now...7 more days until basketball practice starts in Indiana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7 Ups

Received this in an email this morning from our Business teacher Melva Carter...good stuff.

1. Wake up:  Decide to have a good day.  'This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.' Psalms 118:24.

2. Dress up:  The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.  A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.  'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' 1 Samuel 16:7

3. Hush up:  Say nice things and learn to listen.  God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. 'He who guards his lips guards his soul.'
Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand up: ...for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.  'Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good...' Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look up: ...to the Lord. 'I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me'. Philippians 4:13

6. Reach up: ...for something higher. 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. 'In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.' Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift up: ...your prayers.  'Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything.'
Philippians 4:6

Benefit for Colby Russ (His Mother is Amy (Bagshaw) Russ)

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Moose Lodge

1040 South Indiana Avenue

Sellersburg, IN 47172

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Bazaar featuring lots of booths!

(Excellent time to start Christmas shopping)
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Music provided by "Under Construction"

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Music provided by "Bad Omen"

9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Music provided by "Changing Lanes"

Silent Auction throughout day and evening!

Admission is $15.00 for adults and $7.00 for children (12 and under),

which includes food, entertainment, music…and much, much more!!!

If you have questions or would like to donate a raffle item/basket

please contact Pam at 812-989-2957

If you will not be able to attend and would like to make a donation, please make payable to Amy Russ, c/o Moose Lodge, 1040 South Indiana Avenue, Sellersburg, IN 47172
Colby was diagnosed with SMA Type I at 4 months of age, although he had a life expectancy of age 2, Colby just celebrated his 9th birthday July 22, 2011. He is in a wheelchair and requires a specially equipped van that holds all of his medical supplies and breathing machines. Colby uses various braces and supports to help prevent contractures and assist in positioning. He is nonverbal, but is currently learning to use a communication system with eye gaze technology. He is followed by a pulmonologist, neurologist, cardiologist, orthopedist, dietician and physical therapist.

Colby’s mother, Amy, is a single mom who works 2 part time jobs in order to accommodate Colby's schedule. She primarily cares for him on her own. Colby was recently hospitalized for 39 days at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Amy stayed with Colby during his hospitalization and was unable to work during that time. Furthermore, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in July 2011, and consequently has had 2 outpatient surgeries. This diagnosis has brought more time off from work for her, along with extensive medical bills.
Thank you in advance for your support!

Things Are Going Well, So....

One kid who didn't come out and was pretty key in the overall program, decided to play.  Some of our other issues are working themselves out.  The guys are working hard in conditioning and at open gym.  It is good to be the coach right now, so why do I feel like I am waiting for the hammer to fall?

When I started coaching, I wanted each year to be the year we dealt with zero issues.  Now with experience, I realize that each year has its own problems, some of them you can control, some you can't.

I am just going to enjoy the time right now with zero drama, but not too comfortably because something will happen, it is just a matter of time and it could be big or small, but it's going to happen.

Faith, Family, School, Team, Self

(Four generations of Hunter men, along with my son, I have pictures of five generations)

I have listened to many coaches and have had coaches who tried to put things into perspective for us as players and coaches.  I really wonder if anybody "gets" it until they "get" it.  Probably not, that is why people say "you just don't get it", I guess.

(Our church family at our annual Fall Picnic)

Faith - To me, and this has actually changed in the last six months, it is everything.  Faith used to be something that I had along with everything else.  It was there when I needed it, but now I feel every single step should be about faith.  Some people have said to me recently, "I read your blog, you have gotten pretty religious lately" to which I say, I just am not holding it back anymore, I am not pretending to be something different than what I am.  You say I am religious?  I say, not enough.  To me everything else flows from this, yet I feel I am just a regular guy and not a radical, but I guess that is for others to decide for themselves.

(The four of us along with Kristi's sister "Aunt Megan")

Family - My wife and my kids.  I love them and will not prioritize my job over spending time with them.  One of my self imposed rules is that I bring nothing about my coaching job home.  It makes for longer days sometimes, but when I hit that door my kiddos and wife have my full attention (my wife teaches elementary school so you can probably guess she does bring work home....every night).  I hug and kiss all three of them a lot because I do not want them to doubt ever how I feel about them. 

(The Henryville Golden Band)

School - For the players, but even for me our school should come before our team.  One thing I have tried to do is push the idea of Henryville High School and all of its components should be supportive of each other.  It often feels like each group is too competitive with other groups within the same school.  I wish every single thing we did at HHS won the state championship, I really do.  I want all of our players to understand that our school gives them great opportunities and they should be supportive of their classmates in their endeavors especially if they want them to come to our games.

(2009 15-8 S.A.C Champions)

Team - If the team doesn't do well, who cares if you can do things individually.  People remember players of championship teams better than they do good players off losing teams.  Play hard (for the team), Play Smart (for the team and together) and Have Fun! (for the team enjoying the individual accolades of others wanting them to succeed).  Every team that wins gets along it is the teams that aren't successful where you see if they will stay together or divide.

(Yep, me...circa 1988)

Self - Yes, we should be lowest on the list of priorities.  How much are you giving of yourself for the betterment of others? for the team? for the school? for your family? for your faith?  You should be selfish in improving your skills for the betterment of you and ultimately the team which brings joy to the school, your family and playing for your faith.  What is interesting is that as a player you should use your individual skills to help the team and understand that you are no more important than any other player, however, your individual skills can hurt the team.  Those decisions to break team and school rules will hurt the team which is a huge act of selfishness and often immaturity.

We have discussed in FCA that often the immediate, emotional reaction to any given situation is the easiest choice, but probably the wrong choice that will not make things better often making the situation worse.  I believe that in those situations where you react immediately and emotionally you have put the least of the list at the top of the list and that is something to reflect upon and prepare when those situations arise.