Blackmans on the Web (log)

Tarleton State University football:

Standing the ENTIRE game. Choice of footwear …. flipflops or cowboy boots.

Sam & Sarah

With 5 high schools now in Frisco and each school with their own weekend of festivities, homecoming came early for Centennial High School this year. Even with record-breaking rain, the weekend appeared to turn out to be well worth the trip home for Sam. It was pretty much the same ‘ol gang as last year. That means a great bunch of kids … and then some fun parents to hang around with after the teens take off to the dance! Click on the photo of Sam and Sarah on the right to see more photos.

A Word About Mums: Thank goodness for Texas-born friends! Jennifer took both Sam and I by the hand last year to make sure that Sam’s design plans for a mum were successful. This year, it was Amy and myself wielding the hot glue gun and mini stapler while Scott sent photos of the mum-in-progress to Sam in his dorm room for creative direction.

Confused about the mum tradition? Here some info …
http://www.starling-travel.com/2006/10/11/san-antonio-texas-high-school-homecoming-mums/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homecoming#Mums

Sarah's mum

Detail: Disco Ball!

I earned it!

For us, summer this year started last Saturday, the day of Sam’s high school graduation. The graduation parties of friends started the week before and, in fact, he’s at another friend’s graduation party tonight, but we squeezed all his celebrating into that same day as the Centennial High School graduation ceremony, June 6. That allowed us to take advantage of out of town family to attend both ceremony and party.

To quote Jane Austen: One cannot have too large a party. That’s exactly how we do it around here! We are truly blessed with loving and supportive family and friends. Like with Alex’s graduation last year, the menu and other party plans all came from Sam. Needless to say, with fajitas and slushees on the menu and the volleyball net up in the pool, it was a fun day for everyone.

Click on the picture to the right to see more photos from the day. NOTE: There are not 200+ photos like we normally have because Scott was having as good a time as everyone else, just hanging out and enjoying the day to celebrate Sam!

Sam with Mike Lish CGS Board Chair

As in past years, we enjoyed attending Camp Grady Spruce’s Camp Crockett Reunion in December. This great annual event was made even more special this year when Sam was chosen as the 2008 Youth Volunteer of the Year. It was great to see the time and devotion that Sam has cheerfully committed to various projects recognized.

Alex was honored last May when he was recognized as a 2007-2008 All-State Teens Serving Texas Finalist. His high school principal, Randy Spain, nominated him based on Alex’s commitment and enthusiasm for his Frisco Horse Park volunteer work.

Our boys are very different in many ways but we are gratified and humbled to have such public affirmations of their shared core values. I pray a lot. One of my prayers since before Alex was even born has focused on my desire for my children to be honest and caring. As the boys began school, I added “responsible” to my daily prayers of petition. As they entered their teen years, “gratefulness” seemed to round out my hopes and dreams for my boys.

I know I should probably care more if they make money or other material evidence of success. I really do believe, though, that if they have the strength and will to always be honest, care about others, take personal responsibility for not just themselves but the world as a whole, and finally to regularly take the time to experience the joy of gratitude, they will be more successful in more ways than they can ever imagine.

As young adults, Alex and Sam remind us regularly how independent and self-sufficient they are becoming. They’re still in my prayers; I’m just enjoying the prayers of thanksgiving.

Scott and I are both making an effort to clean up and sort our many, many photos. These are both from May, 2002. My, how time flies!

We are very indebted to Rick and Penny McLeod, CGS ranch managers in the early 2000’s for their very BIG positive influence on both Alex and Sam. Here, left to right, is Sam, Rick and Alex after a big day of cleaning stables, giving hay rides and generally just hanging out with the horses.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it at the time, Meg was right: She sent the boys BLUE SPARKLY hair gel which they got into before I even knew it had arrived in the mail. I was not pleased! Meg’s comment to me was that it’s just hair and gently suggested I could save my bluster for bigger issues. While we have been very blessed to have the many, many positive influences and support systems we have, I’m just glad it’s now Meg’s turn to have tween-age boys!!!

I couldn’t resist taking a few photos of Shadow and Toby showing off their bandanas from Woodlands, the place they stay whenever we go out of town. These are not frou-frou dogs, by any means, so it always cracks us up when they come home with this kind of bling on. I give Sam a lot of credit for letting them stay dressed up until they got home so I could see them!

Another college conference. Fortunately, the hotel and conference center are not only close together but they are both right downtown. A very walker-friendly downtown. It was windy and drizzling this morning but since it was the only possible time for me to get out and about, I put my hood up and headed out. I liked the Liberty Bell exhibit better than I thought it would – a good exhibit that not only tells you about the origins of the Liberty Bell but how it has continued to figure into the fights for equal rights.

I like how historic homes and businesses are all mixed right in with very modern day architecture. It’s very obvious there has been no whole-sale razing of buildings and/or zoning for one particular use.

I was in Denver CO March 2 – 5 to present at a conference. On Tuesday I was able to grab a cup of coffee with Scott’s cousin, Michelle Perry and 2 of her 3 kids, Shellyn and Bryson. Michelle gave me tips on how to add the cool “iread” app on my facebook. We’re counting on the Perry’s to come visit us in Texas!That evening was a definite Blast From The Past! Shellie Schueman and I had not seen each other since the 1970’s when she lived with us for a year in Superior WI. She was our foreign exchange student from Scottsdale, AZ. lol! All my friends have learned, over the years, you will never know who has taken up residence in our house but, trust me, it comes from example of Bill & Lorette’s house throughout my teenage years – Shellie, Pei Ann, Anna Marja, African princes … it was always fun! Dear, sweet Ross (yes, he’s real!) even referred to Shellie and I at dinner as sisters, which actually, is very true!

Denver March 2008

5 Photos