A long ways from Cabool, Missouri

Wow, I would have never thought that I would leave the glorious state of Missouri, and I surely would have never thought that I would end up in California. It is funny what long blonde hair, hazel eyes, and a swee jump shot can do to a guy. Life here is definitely different. Most people think of California as beaches, beach bums, and lots of great tans. There are no beaches where I live (we are close to the mountains though), there are more cowboys in our area than all of the state of Missouri put together (a little bit of an exaggeration but not much), and there are lots of tans (the genetic type,). I teach and coach and love what I do. There are so many more challenges for the kids here than where I taught in Missouri (Willard). Where I teach about 65% of the school is hispanic and 40% are English language learners. It has really opened my eyes and heart. I guess maybe that is why I am still here. I have thought about moving home every day since I have moved out here (not exaggerating at all), but I feel that right now I am needed more here than anywhere else. I feel like I have made a difference and there are just some kids I can't leave behind. My family is wonderful. I have a California wife that loves to travel, hike, fish, camp (all the fun stuff). We are goers (Is goers even a word? I'll ask an English teacher the next time I see one :) By the way, I teach English. As we go, so does our four year old daughter Ainsley. She is a ball of energy that bounces rather than walks. I wouldn't have it any other way. She is full of life and energy, and I adore her and keep telling her to slow down (the growing up part). Ainsley loves Missouri! She loves Papa and Grana's farm, the dogs, the cows, the Gator, and she loves the Missouri Tigers! We have been to two games over the last three years (including this year's Cotton Bowl). She even hates the Jayhawks! I am so proud! I think I could get her to move to Missouri if I could take her 6 year old cousin Kendra with her (like a sister, the fighting and all). We are off to L.A. tomorrow for the state track meet. I have been blessed to have one of the greatest distance runners in U.S. history on our team this year. He set the California cross country record this past fall and is only a few seconds away from the national record in the 3200. I have had nothing to do with his success. I have just been along for the ride. We then head to Disneyland for two days, come home for a few days, go to Hawaii for a week, home for two weeks and then off to Missouri for ten days. Go, go, go, go, go. I many times long for the slower pace of life in Missouri and many times just long to be home. I may live in California, but Missouri is home.