Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday, Mom!!  Hope you are enjoying your 87th in Heaven.  Can't believe it has been seven years since we celebrated with you last.  So much has happened since I could last talk to you face to face.  It is still a struggle at times with both you and dad being gone, but I know you are in a better place.


Susan and I are both doing good.  I am still with Hammel Scale, almost 25 years now!  Susan works at the school as a custodian and does concessions for the sports seasons.   We have done some work in the yard already and I think we are both more than ready for all of our flowers to be up and blooming.  I am sure we will add to the gardens as we always try to find a new perennial to plant.


Madison is almost finished with her second year of college.  She is attending Fort Hays and I think she likes it there.  She still plans to be a teacher and eventually a counselor.  She will be great.  She still dates the same boy she has for almost 6 years.  She must like him a little.  She works in the financial aid department at Hays.  She enjoys her work.  She is also starting to get a green thumb!  She has  worked up a flower  bed in front of her house.  We sent some lilies and naked ladies back with her and she worked until after dark to get them in the ground.  I am happy she likes plants, it can be very enjoyable and stress relieving.  She is really growing into a beautiful woman.


Hannah is finishing up her Freshman year of high school!  She has experienced so much this year.  She was involved in volleyball and basketball.  She did a great job.  She ended up Second Team All-League in basketball.  Quite the honor!  She takes great pride in getting her school work done and keeping her grades up to stay eligible to play sports.  She also went to prom last week.  Her date was James Stout.  I am sure you remember him.  You were around some when Susan was babysitting.  She is really growing up, becoming a beautiful young lady.  You would be very proud of both of the girls.


Have a wonderful day.  Give Dad a squeeze and kiss from all of us.  Love you and miss you like crazy! 


Ivan

Ah, summertime!

This summer was jam packed till the end! Madison was working at the pool again and doing some construction work with the dad of the boys I babysit. It was going to be interesting for her!

I was still planning on watching the three little boys that I had last year. On top of that I was playing both summer basketball and volleyball. I had practices three times a week for basketball and one practice a week for volleyball. Volleyball games were on Monday, while basketball games were on Tuesday. Sports basically took up most of my summer! But if any of you know me, I love playing! One week, I had basketball practice from 6:00-7:30 a.m. ( IN THE MORNING!) then I had volleyball camp from 9:00-11:30! Then that night I had three volleyball games. And if none of you realized that is 4 hours of full body exercise without counting the games... no wonder I was tired. Then I had to get up and do it all again the next day but with a basketball game.

Vacation was a blast this year! We went to Red River, New Mexico. Once we got there, we went tubing! It was a blast! While we were there we stayed at a cottage outside of town. I loved it! We also celebrated Dad's birthday there, I hope he liked all of his presents! On one of the days we were there, we took a ski lift up to the top of the mountain and feed chipmunks! Two little boys decided they wanted to join us and loved it! I kept hear, " Look mommy! It's by me!" or " Daddy, did you see me pet it?"  Later that day, dad found a place to take Old Time Photos! I talked Dad and Madison to take some with me but mom refused. The picture turned out pretty good! To sum up vacation in one word - tonsoffun! ...if you say it fast it's one word. Trust me.

And being the person I am, I had plans to read tons and tons of books! Which if I may so myself was accomplished! I bought like 33 books but only read  27 of them, that isn't that bad! Out of those I had bought 26 of them with my money. And my ah-amazing parents bought 7. Most of those books cost $4 or less. Bargain!

We also took Madison's things (bed,dresser,etc.) up to her new apartment in Hays! Spent two days getting everything situated and do a little shopping. Hopeful she has a great year! But in a couple of days, I will be a freshman! Good golly that's scary! And Madison will be going back up to Hays to be a sophomore.

Wishing everyone a wonderful year!
-Hk

High School!

Gee, it's been so long! I'm in high school now... that's a very scary thought. Although it's not very different, it's still a major pain! All the teacher are great, I just miss my old ones and wish they would come up to high school.

Volleyball is still pretty challenging but I think i'm getting the hang of it. Balancing school work with sports is a different stories. I come home at around 7 every night, and by that time i'm so tired that I forget all about it. And in case you're wondering, I don't have homework tonight but I should be studying for two test tomorrow instead of doing this! But winning with my team makes it all worth it! We won are last two games and play three games tomorrow! So wish us good luck!

-Hannah

P.s. I'll try to talk Madison into writing a blog soon!

8th grade basketball!

Well, another JH basketball season has come and gone.  While most of you know the results of the season, here is my take on the year.


Our season started out with the Jetmore Shorthorns.  We started our season last year with Jetmore.  Anyway, to this years game.  The girls started out strong.  Tied after the first quarter.  Ahead 12-7 at half.  19-13 after the third and 26-15 after the fourth.  A good strong start for the year.  Boog had high points for the game with 14, Swish and Bruiser both had 6.  Great game.


Next up the South Gray Rebels.  Wow, it was like running into a buzz saw.  South Gray came out gunning and ran out to a 22-5 halftime lead.  Our girls just could not get untracked and fell 37-7.  Swish, Mack and CB had two points apiece.  The South Gray team is very talented and play extremely well together. 


The next week saw us on the road again, this time to Minneola.  This game started out as a struggle.  The Deuces found themselves down 10-5 after one, 13-12 at half.  Coach K must have had a good halftime speech, cause our girls came out fired up after the break.  Led by Swish with 7 points in the second half and Bruiser with 6 in the second half, the Lady Deuces staged a comeback and won by a final score of 27-23.  High points for the game went to Swish with 10, Boog with 8 and Bruiser with 6.  Mack chipped in 3 for the winning cause.


Our next game was against Ashland at Bucklin.  This game our girls came out firing on all cylinders and led from the get-go.  It was 10-2 after one.  Ashland did get started and pulled within 16-14 at half.  After three it was 24-22, us.  We clamped down defensively and won 33-25.  High points for the game was Boog with 12 and Swish with 10.  Bruiser had 3 and Smalls, Mack, Gotta and CB each chipped 2 points apiece.  A good team effort.


The following week found us at home again, this time against Pawnee Heights.  Last year, we had no problem with the Lady Tigers, winning 49-15.  This year Pawnee Heights came to play.  They led 9-6 after one and 12-10 at half.  Once again, Coach K must have had a good halftime speech.  Our girls came out fired up.  Led 16-12 after three and won 24-14.  The girls clamped down defensively once again and did not allow Pawnee Heights to score until 2 minutes were left in the game.  Boog had high points with 10, followed by Swish with 8 and Bruiser with 6.  Great game, girls.


The next week found us on the road to Spearville.  I am sure most of the parents thought we would have a fight on our hands, I did.  But the Lady Deuces came out, played hard, led the entire game and won 27-11.  Bruiser was high points for the game with 9, Boog had 8, Swish had 6 and Mack with 4.
A good win for Bucklin.  5-1 on the season so far, 3-0 in league.


The last game of the year before Christmas break found us at home against the Bulldogs of Ingalls.  This is easily our biggest rival.  Last year we beat Ingalls for the league basketball title and all of our meetings, basketball and volleyball, are good close games.  That being said, the game was fairly close to begin with.  Ingalls leading 14-12 at half.  After half, our girls couldn't score at all.  Scoring only two points in a half doesn't help win ball games.   24-14, Ingalls wins.   High points for the game was Boog with 11.  Swish chipped in with 3.


The Christmas break proved to be a huge hurdle to overcome.  First game after break was at Fowler.  The Goldbugs led the entire game and won 31-11.  It wasn't a pretty game to watch.  High points for the game was Boog with 9.  Bruiser and Swish each had 1 apiece.  The next week found us at home against South Central.  Another tough game.  South Central jumped out to a 12-3 lead at half.  Ended up winning 30-11.  Swish was high points for the game with 7, including a 3 at the buzzer.  Bruiser had 2, while Smalls and Boog had 1 each.  The last game of the year, had us on the road to Kiowa County.  Once again, the girls found themselves in a dogfight.  Score was 4-4 after one, 10-10 at half.  Score was 17-16, Kiowa County up after three.  Final score was 26-18, with Kiowa County winning.  High points for the game was Bruiser and Swish with 6 each.  Boog had 4 and Smalls had 2.    This loss left our record at 5-5 for the year, 3-2 in league.


Up next, League tournament!!  This year the tournament was held at Fowler.  Our first game was on Monday against Pawnee Heights.   The score was 6-4, Pawnee Heights, after one.  The Lady Deuces led 16-8 at half, 22-10 after three and held on to win 29-13.  During the fourth quarter, Boog landed awkwardly and hurt her left knee.  She ended up not being able to play the rest of the game.  High points for the game was Swish with 13.  Boog had 6, Bruiser had 4, Smalls had 2 and CB had 1.  Next up, the Fowler Goldbugs.    This game was to be played on Thursday, but due to bad weather was pushed back to Saturday.  After being beat by Fowler earlier in the year, the Lady Deuces were ready for a rematch.  Bucklin led after one, 8-6.  Fowler came back to lead at half, 13-12.  The second half prove to be a good one.  Bucklin led 18-15 after three.  Boog fouled out with 5 minutes to play.  It was a tough 5 minutes for her to sit on the bench.  With three to play, Bucklin was up 22-16.  Final score was 25-20.  This set up a rematch with number 1 seed in the tournament, Ingalls.  And a repeat of last years championship game.  Playing probably their best game of the year, Bucklin got out to a 8-2 lead after one, 12-8 at half.  The second half proved to be a ballgame, for both teams.  After three Bucklin held the lead, 19-18.  The fourth quarter ended with a tied score, 26-26.  Going to overtime!  The extra five minutes went the Lady Deuces way with the girls winning 29-28.  High points for the game was Swish with 13, including two 3-pointers.  Boog had 10, Mack with 3 and Bruiser with 2.


Another great year.  Another League Championship.  It doesn't get old winning titles!  Very proud of all of these girls.  It was a great year!!

My Mother in Law

Today we buried my mother in law, Norma Collins.  She died last Thursday.  It was very sudden and unexpected.  I lost both of my parents six years ago in September and December.  That was hard, but it was nothing to compare with what we went through these last few days.  Like I said her death was very sudden. 

I will be the first to admit I didn’t have the best relationship with my MIL.  We didn’t see eye to eye on everything.  But we did have some interesting conversations.  We shared the love of reading.  We have read some of the same books and we both enjoyed discussing  books on more than one occasion.

Another thing we both enjoyed was the great outdoors. I have a love of flowers and gardening.  Norma also loved working in her flower beds.  Until the last few years when the drought played havoc with her gardening, she always had plants in both flower beds and in several containers around her yard.  I enjoyed getting her outside and quizzing her about her flowers.  Last year I got some seeds from her and plan on getting them in the ground this coming spring.

As with anyone who was getting up in age, Norma had her share of problems.   Last fall she had her right knee replaced.  She was scheduled to have the left replaced this spring.  A few weeks ago she had fallen in the backyard and broke the knee cap on her left leg.  This left her with a cast and limited mobility.  Thursday of last week started as a normal day for us.  Around 12:40 Susan called and said she was headed to Medicine Lodge:  Something was wrong with her mom.  I told her to give me 20 minutes and I would be home and go with her.  Ten minutes later I took a phone call from Susan’s sister and received the message that her mom was gone.  Hardest thing I have ever done in my life was to tell my wife her mom was gone. 

Today we buried my mother in law.  It was a beautiful, pre spring day.  We had a grave side service at Sun City beside the graves of Susan’s brother and dad.  There was a large turnout of family and friends.  The preacher had a wonderful message.  We had recorded music by Susan’s niece, Dayna.  She had recorded ‘Beulah Land’.  It was beautiful.

To my wife, her sisters: Carol, Joyce, Anita and Merilea, my sincere heartfelt condolences.  My heart aches along with yours.  I know how much it hurts.  I always say tell stories.  It will keep your mom around.  Tell stories so those 11 grandkids and 11 great grandkids remember.  Love you all.

Ivan

Patriotism

Today we went to the Dodge City VFW for dinner.  They were honoring winners of the essay contest.  My daughter Hannah brought home second place!  Her friend Maddie took first and her friend Amber took third in the Junior High division.  They were to write an essay of no more than 400 words on "What Patriotism Means to Me".  What follows is what she wrote.


Patriotism.  What does it mean to have great patriotism?  Patriotism means the love of your country and the willingness to sacrifice for it.  But yet, what are we supposed to sacrifice?

In school, we learn about all these great historians who were willing to stand for what they believed in.  Let's talk about Rosa Parks for example, on December 1st of 1955; she refused to give her seat to a white passenger.  She probably knew what was going to happen to her when she did it, but she was willing to take the consequences because she wanted other people like here to have the same rights as everyone else.  I believe she showed great patriotism because she sacrificed herself for us to have a better nation.

I don't necessarily believe that you have to be willing to sacrifice something for your country to show great patriotism.  I believe that patriotism means that you are proud to be from the United States, you proudly stand when the National Anthem is played, you enjoy the freedom and rights you have as an American, and are willing to help make the country better.  It means that you are thankful for the people who served for us, and are serving now.

I found this quote that I really feel as if it relates to this and is basically describe exactly what I was thinking.  It is from www.cnn.com and someone said, "Patriotism is not something that can be described in one word, one sentence, or in one paragraph.  It can be described in that one moment.  You just know that moment."  For me, that one moment is on the Fourth of July, when I see the American Flag waving on almost every flag pole and I see the fireworks in the background.  It reminds me why being an American is so special.  And that is What Patriotism Means to Me.


I was very impressed when I read her essay.  Her mom and I and her sister were proud to sit in the audience today as they read her name and she went forward to receive her award.  We had a great meal and she got a couple of cash awards for essay.  I don't know what Hannah will want to do when she graduates from high school.  I know she will go to college.  Who knows, maybe someday a child in the future will have to write an essay and Hannah will be their inspiration.  Whatever she does, I am sure she will be a Patriot.  It runs in her blood.  Proud of you, Boog.  We love you.

Aunt Leona

This last week we closed another chapter in the Nutty Clusters family history.  My Aunt Leona, or Aunt Onie, as we lovingly called her, passed away on Monday, December 9.  When I think of Aunt Onie I think of fishing, camping, farming, telling jokes and having fun with her family.  I remember all of the campouts we had at the Lechner farm.  I remember going to their house in Harper for family get togethers, New Year Eves or just to visit.  I remember visiting with them in South Dakota when they custom cut and we were on vacation.  We always had fun with them.

While I was driving to Harper for the funeral, I was thinking of all of these things.  During the service the pastor read the scripture for his message, Proverbs 31:10-17, 24-28.       10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  I really think this scripture fit Aunt Onie to a T and so did the pastor as his sermon reflected on these verses and how he compared her to them.

This has been a hard year for our family. Losing Uncle Lindy in May, Randall in October and now Aunt Leona.  I have always wondered why God lets a person die so close to Christmas.  But yet there are always people who die on Christmas Day.  Losing my dad almost 5 years ago makes you notice the date and wonder why.  But, who are we to question God’s plan?  Our family has had our share of deaths in December and some of those are close to Christmas Day.  I will bet there was rejoicing in Heaven when Aunt Leona made her appearance.  Reunited with her husband, boys, sisters and parents, I am sure there were stories told.

My love and prayers go out to my Lechner cousins.  I won’t tell you it gets better, but it will.  Remember the good times (and the bad).   Share your memories with your kids so the stories are passed down and remembered.  I love you all, Ivan.