Weather--Slow Down--Be Content

I couldn't help this week but be jealous of all of my family and friends enjoying days off with their families. I know being stuck can stink, but I would be pretty excited to spend 2 or 3 days forced to hang out and slow down. Can't go anywhere, Can't add new papers to grade.... just slow down! No such luck down here in Austin, although we did get one delay day. I also know I will be glad in February and April when we don't have to make up the days, but still right now I wouldn't have minded the break at all!!!!

This year has been a whirlwind as new jobs and new cities can be. I have a new job, with all but a couple of players with almost no varsity experience. While I am not sure I have ever lost this many games before Christmas before, I can also say I have never seen a team improve this much in such a short period of time. They are good kids, good athletes and becoming better basketball player every day. I have a really supportive boss and my classes are filled with pretty good kids!

The best part is life has slowed down. I get to see Peyton every day.... no more asking if mommy has to go on the airplane. And have got to spend some time with really good friends! Peyton has a great preschool and we couldn't ask for a better district to raise her in.

I would be lying if I said I didn't miss the intensity of college basketball. I do and I miss coaching that super elite player that I did in the Big 12. However the trade offs are worth it. I feel like we are in a good place and that we have found a great niche for our family!

GO CHAPS!

"Huh Huh Pensle"

When do people choose to get a laugh or be cute over show what they know? 

Well for Peyton the answer is 2. For a while she has struggled to say Hensle… she would say her name was Peyton Pensle. We would tell her to say “Huh huh Hensle” and she would reply “Huh huh Pensle” and we would all laugh because it was way to cute. Well on the way home today she had some Tupperware from her lunch with “Peyton H.” written on it. She said “mom why does this say Peyton H. my last name is Hensle”  (and on an unrelated note, yes she has started to refer to me as Mom and not Mommy. This is another post for another day). I explained that Hensle started with an H. Then I told her how proud I was of her that she could say Hensle correctly. She then spent the next ten minutes saying “Huh huh Pensle” and telling me to laugh cause she was so cute. I tried, with no success, to explain to her that is was cute when she was smart, and that she is always cute. Her reply every time was “Huh huh Pensle”.

I am not sure how you break this. I guess I will need to react less to how cute she is and more to how smart she is. I certainly don’t want her to dumb down for a laugh… I mean she is only two!!!

Then I started thinking back to the last month or so. Her new thing is to tell me what she is going to do and how I am supposed to react. Like what she is going to say and when to laugh, or when I get her dressed in the morning exactly when and how I should tell her how pretty she is. This also got me thinking about how at only two she knows exactly what reactions she is looking for from other people. If we don’t react that way she is disappointed.

More then anything I am just amazed at how quickly people can learn how to change their behavior to get the reactions they want from others and how disappointed she already gets based on specific timely reactions from us. I know this never completely goes away. Hopefully she can learn to care less what others think…. But how do you start teaching that to an almost three year old????

End of Summer

As the plane is taking us back to Austin I am sitting here reflecting on a great summer. I will miss all the extra time with Peyton that we had. All the silly games, and cuddling watching her favorite Disney Junior shows. I will miss sleeping in and being lazy all morning. I will miss the fun trips we took that started with a trip to Destin and ended with a NY/NJ Reunion.

Being at the reunion and seeing both of our families just reminded me how precious time is. How no matter how hard you try you can't slow it down. How connected you are to family even when you don't see them as much as you want to. That it really is the people in our lives that make life special, and its experiencing things with them that make the lasting memories.

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you as you are to them."-Desmond Tutu

I am excited for the new challenges that a new job and new city will bring. I am also excited for how much more time I will have with Peyton and Jared. While inservice means the ending of lazy summer days it promises cooler fall weather, football, Peyton's birthday and Halloween.  It means our house is being built and we get to spend a lot of time with great friends.

Summer 2013 you have been good to us! We will miss you but the future looks bright!

Spicy Sausage Pasta

I got this recipe from Pinterest, which lately has been my place to go for recipes, decorating ideas, party ideas... you name it and I love it! Jared really wanted pasta but we had homemade pizza last night so I didn't really want italian again so this recipe was our compromise.

First if you don't like smoked sausage you won't like this recipe...however we love it and we love pasta so together this is awesome! While it has spicy in the recipe it really isn't very spicy at all and I am a big wimp, so you should not be afraid it is too spicy to eat.

This recipe should have been much easier. You need an oven safe skillet that has a lid and this will be a one pot meal! We are staying at friends while our house is being built and I just wasn't aware of what had lids and if the skillet was oven safe so I and to transfer it twice.

First I sliced up the sausage (I didn't have to slice the onions because I bought them pre-diced). I cooked the sausage longer then the recipe suggested because we like it that way. 

 (You will notice this is skillet number one)

Once I got the chicken broth, cream, rotel and pasta added I realized there was no lid for this skillet, so then I ladled it into another skillet that had a lid. It called for it to be cooked for 15 mins. For me it took about 25 for the pasta to cook. 

(and this is skillet number two)

Then like I said I was unsure if the skillet could go in the oven so I broke back out the ladle and into the casserole dish it went. I then followed the rest of the recipe directions. I only left it in the broiler for about 4 mins. 

It was really good!! This would be a great week night meal if you could do it all in one skillet!

Here is the recipe:

Spicy Sausage Pasta

1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb smoked sausage
1.5 cups diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (10 oz) can Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chiles, Mild
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 oz penne pasta
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, each
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions

1. Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet over medium high heat until just smoking. Add sausage and onions and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

2. Add broth, tomatoes, cream, pasta, salt and pepper and stir. Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes.

3. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with scallions. Broil until cheese is melted, spotty brown, and bubbly.

Makes 4 servings. Nutritional Information for this recipe can be found at CalorieCount.com.

What I Learned This July

 What a crazy busy month! But what a great ending for our players and one of my favorite people “Coach Al”! I am so happy for our kids and the organization. This is definitely a month to remember. I learned a lot of things this month but I will condense into the five biggest for me.

1.     1. I am so happy with our family choice. I had a blast being back on the sideline coaching these Cy Fair kids. With so much talent on the floor I really got a chance (with the help of the other coaches) to strategize and really learn as we went. I forgot how much fun grassroots basketball really is!

2.     2. There is no way to make everyone happy. In general no matter what you do someone won’t like it. And in most situations even the “right” thing won’t make everyone happy. Making people happy can’t be your number one goal in life…. If it is you will almost always fail. Another one of those lessons basketball teaches us.

3.     3. Players make coaches look smart. I have always known this, but this month proved it. My theory has always been that coaches can’t win games they can only set players up to be successful, but coaches can lose games. (I have sure done that once or twice) With all the talent that we had this month it sure made this easier. These kids made us look good and took advantage of every situation.

4.      4. It’s about people. With players it is not just about talent it’s also about the quality of the people. What a great group of selfless kids. I am not pretending there were no challenges and everything was sunshine and roses, but I am thankful for these kids and how they accepted a variety of roles throughout the summer to help us reach the level we did.  I am so thankful for DeMya (yes I spelled it right if she happens to read this ;)) and Earl. We were also led from the top by a person who stayed calm no matter what the storm and infused calmness into the rest of us. While it has taken time for him to get this top prize, it has only taken that long because he has gone about it the right way. He has stayed the course and put people first and that made Tuesday even more special. In the end this great group will always have a special place in my heart. It would not have been so special if it hadn’t happened with special people!

To go along with this theme thank you to everyone who reached out to congratulate us. None of the phone calls and texts meant more then those from former players!

5.     5. Last but not least it is about the team “Buy In”. Being bought in for the betterment of the team is what pushes you over the top. We had this summer; buy my calculations, potentially 6 All-Americans spread out through 4 classes. That’s a lot of talent and a lot of potential go to players. This group was willing to go with the hot hand, and to play together. Players scored less then they “could have” to take the smart shot, or focused on “blue collar” plays to help push us over the top in some tough, tight games. In the end that’s why we won. Sure we had talent, but the willingness to work together and focus on the little things and the team goal allowed us to get there.  That wasn’t just the players, we had four people on the bench all-capable of coaching this team and we were able to work together without egos and with open, honest communication which allowed us to work together to lead our players. As a coach there are certain years and teams that just click and get it, and this group did. I am thankful that this type of attitude and work ethic was rewarded.

Now it is time to turn the page. The kids go back to school soon, and the coaches return to work. Our 2014 players played their last club game and are all on to bigger and better things including free educations! We are all getting back to the “real world” but we have some memories that we will carry with us! Together we will always be National Champions! 

The Power of Fear

Lessons in Fear From a 5 and 2 Year Old

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" 2 Timothy 1:7

Lesson One: Coloring on the wall

I have watched Mallory and Peyton together more times then I can count, and for the most part they are really good. Mallory plays with and teaches Peyton stuff that she wouldn’t listen to me about. I give Mallory a lot of credit for how verbal Peyton is… trying to keep up is strong motivation. They play for hours and Mallory is usually so responsible and really looks out for Peyton. Welp a few weeks ago we were spending another fun summer day together and I ran to the restroom. I come back and there Peyton is sitting on the couch with a crayon in hand coloring on the wall. Mallory runs to me and says “Peyton colored on the wall…. Look how good her number 4 is” Without thinking I blindly accept this at face value and sweep up Peyton for time out. We discuss not coloring on the wall and she cries etc… It is only upon further investigations that I realize that there is NO WAY the two year old drew that number four. Mallory held firm that she didn’t draw anything despite the best efforts of her parents and myself. Finally after about 45 minutes she told the truth. Why did she lie? Obviously not because she is a bad kid. She is as sweet as they come. I believe she did it out of fear. She was afraid how we would all react. Afraid what we would think of her.

Then I got to thinking that we do the same thing as adults. We do things we regret and then out of fear don’t own up. I am fairly certain that they starting coloring and then Mallory realized it was wrong and reacted quickly to protect herself. She really felt better AFTER she told the truth. One of the hardest things is to admit when we are wrong, but letting that out and apologizing is hard but liberating.

"It is highest form of self-respect to admit our errors and mistakes and make amends for them. To make a mistake is only an error in judgment, but to adhere to it when it is discovered shows infirmity of character" -Dale Turner

Lesson Two: Potty Training

What has taken Peyton so long to potty train? Fear. Never really thought about being afraid of the toilet but here we are. She is afraid of any potty that doesn’t have her seat on it, and afraid to poop in the potty. Apparently this is all normal. Kids are afraid to let go of a part of themselves? Never would have thought of it that way. Maybe I did when I was 2 ½ who knows, but it is a common thing.

That also got me thinking. How many times in my life do I do something or not do something because I am afraid of what will happen. I mean I have weird fears, like my fear of birds for example, but that is not what I mean. How many times do we turn down opportunities to grow and try new things because they are scary? How many times do we not do something because we are afraid about what other people will thing? I think many of us do. I know I have many times in my life. I have been trying to be more self aware about these things and how I make decisions. Don’t not do something because you are afraid. Try! Be Brave! Try things that bring joy to your life even if other people think it is stupid. You only get one chance don’t waste it being afraid. This is isn't the same thing as being reckless. I am not saying you shouldn't be smart about what you do and how it effects others. But stop worrying about what other people think. Stop worrying about how everyone else we react. Live your life. I am trying very hard to do this in my own life, and maybe even more importantly I want to raise my child to try. It is ok to fail, but don't spend life on the sidelines!

“Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

Having Your Cake and Eating it too

Life is always about choices, and I know that where I am today has a lot to do with the choices I have made; both good and bad. Boy has this been magnified for me in the last 6 weeks. I have become more aware, especially since having Peyton, that in life it is rare that you can "have your cake and eat it too." So in the end you have to decide what is it that really matters, and how can you make all those things work together the best way you can.

Can you be a great mom and have your career? Seems like a question women have asked and answered in different ways for decades. The question becomes how to balance the desire to pursue your career you may have dreamed about since you were a child, and the desire to take care of the little people who pull your heart in a way you could have never understood when you were a child dreaming of your future.

My answer to the question is yes you can do both. I have friends and people I look up to who do it every day. My own mother did it, and the three of us turned out pretty well if I do say so myself. However, in anything you will still have to work out the balance for you and for your family. This has been the question that I have been wrestling with and have laid awake at night thinking and praying about.

Let me preface this by saying that last year was an awesome, and for me likely a once in a lifetime, opportunity to pursue my career at the highest level. Coaching in the Big 12 and even in an NCAA Tournament game is what I dreamed about as a kid. I have watched many of the coaches I helped coach with and against in the last year and dreamt of being in their shoes. I do not regret for one second the experience of last year, or the friends we made in our time in West Texas. I learned a lot about myself, my coaching and we grew together as a family. However, for our family and for me, it came at to high of a price. With Jared and I both traveling weekly for work it took a toll on our little girl and our family, and it took it's toll on me as a mom. In May things surrounding my career made it decision time for our family. Over about a one month process of prayer and discussion we made a family decision: I would go back to coaching high school and select basketball and have more time to be with Jared and Peyton. I am lucky to have a supportive husband who would have made anything work that I wanted for my career. We are lucky enough to have friends and family who are supportive in a multitude of ways that will make this transition possible.

If I had a dollar for every person who told me I was crazy we would be a very wealthy family. I understand from the outside how it looks this way. I reached my dream, and in truth it was what I have/had worked for. But life changed in October of 2010, and it changed me in ways I couldn't understand. I have no doubt Peyton would have been fine. There are countless examples of GREAT moms who are college coaches and their kids are awesome! But for me it didn't work. In the end it is about what works for you as a mom and the person you are.

Being a high school coach is my version of having my cake and eating it to. I get to be a coach (the career I love) in a school I think will be an awesome fit, and get to be with my little girl every night. I get to help coach some of the best kids in the country with Cy Fair (and be back with my man main Al) and get a couple weeks on the road every year to do this. I will not live too far from family and will be close to some of our best friends.

As I type Peyton is having a two year old moment because we are out of cinnamon cupcakes, cinnamon rolls to most of you, and I am aware that even these crazy moments I don't want to miss.

So many of our family and friends have been so supportive, and we couldn't be more thankful. We are excited to embark on this phase of our life!