On Sunday, after church, I met my crew at OJ's patio for lunch, then I had my first ball practice of the year. Let's just say, I had some winter rust.
Yesterday, I traveled to Laird and Pike Lake for bus meetings. I also had tea with my good friend, Ed Hudson and his faithful dog Pella.
Today's bus meeting was in Aberdeen. After bus meeting, I enjoyed some Zen moments on my deck and had coffee with my Little Buddy, Dale.
In the afternoon, I had my first 60+ ball game. I went 4-4 at the plate and pitched two shut out innings. At least that's how I remember the game. Others may say there was some winter rust.
Tonight, I went to Golf Town with Dale to spend some of my birthday gift cards on a new pull cart for when I play Silverwood and a practice net for when I play my back yard.
The principal's message that follows was from December '09. Judy had her first cancer surgery earlier in that year.
Principal’s Message
Every year I am charged with the responsibility of writing the family
Christmas letter. I usually go through
the whole year without ever stopping to reflect on the type of year I have
experienced. As a rule, I am an
optimistic person who expects the best, hopes for the best, and thankfully
experiences the best that life offers. I
have lived a charmed life, but this past year’s events have challenged my
optimism. There have been some good
times, but serious illness in my family has meant days and days of hospital
visits, doctor’s appointments, sitting in emergency, and the daily worries that
hang over your head like a dark cloud.
Furthermore, our house has been torn apart as a kitchen renovation
project that was scheduled to finish on Groundhog Day will hopefully be
finished by Christmas Day.
When you are in the midst of trying times, it seems that things will
never change. There doesn’t seem to be a
way out. There is no hope. Although I am not an old man, I am old enough
to know things do change. In fact, there
are gifts that are present even in the midst of trials. I am overwhelmed by the incredible goodness
of people and the boundless opportunities that come out of hard times.
The author, Samuel Johnson, stated, “Hope is necessary to every condition. The miseries of poverty, sickness and
captivity would, without this comfort, be insupportable.” If hope is so necessary, I do feel that
schools need to be a place where hope lives.
I have a hard time believing there is a child who is hopeless or a child
who has no hope. Children need to know
that whatever condition exists for them, there is hope. Moreover, children need to know that
experiencing hope can best be accomplished by offering hope to others.
During this year’s Christmas concert, our Grade Six students will be
sharing stories of hope. They will be
giving good news reports about individuals and organizations that have opened
their hearts to offer hope to people in need in our neighborhood and around the
world. For instance, we have begun a
food hamper to help families in our community who are struggling
financially. Furthermore, all classes
will be involved in service learning projects throughout the year that will
bring hope and peace.
The staff of Prairie View School would like to take this opportunity to
wish you a Merry Christmas and a Hope-Filled New Year. We hope that our Christmas concert will get
you in the Christmas spirit and move you to join in the vision of Peace on
Earth – Good Will Toward Men.
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