Positive You!

Small Town-Small School-Benefit

2011-08-30T19:33:00.001-07:00

You know you live in a small town that is close when a teacher calls and says. "Hey I am going to go ahead and pull your sons tooth. Is that ok?" I love it.....it takes a village!

Traditions....

2011-08-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

I have posted about traditions before, but last night we started a new one in Claude. Future Mustangs and Lady Mustangs are allowed to run through the giant mustangs before the game. Our kids loved it. I really believe it is the little things that make programs and schools successful.

I also believe that high expectations produce results. Don't just settle for average.....expect to be a winner!
Thoughts?

How $3 Changed Everything

2009-07-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

Do you look for the good in people? Well I just thought that I did, but something happened today.....and it changed everything. On our way to church this morning a local man came pulling out on the road going...oh about 5 miles per hour. I proclaim...."This guy and everything about him disgusts me. You know he just really bothers me. How disgusting can this guy be."

I am now ashamed that these words came out of my mouth. You see today both Caden and Kaitlyn had to go to the front of the church for their birthday blessing. It was a great proud moment as they looked so big in front of the church. Well after church the man, who I had earlier blasted, came up to Stephanie. He says, "Here are two dollars for the kids. I don't want to give it to them myself because I don't want them to take something from a stranger....and how about the baby, when is his birthday? You know I want to give him a dollar also."

We were blown away. This man has never talked to my children, but the $3 that he gave them today really changed everything. I was reminded that I need to always remember to look for the good in people. The smallest gestures sometimes mean the most.

500

2009-06-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

To some not a big deal, but to me...LIFE CHANGING. I plugged in my Nike+ this week and realized I have done something that I didn't really ever think that I could do. I reached my 500th mile since getting the Nike+. That is 500 miles of pavement and treadmill since June of last year. That is over 1.3 miles per day over the last year. F3 and exercise have changed my life forever. I hope that the healthy lifestyle that Steph and I are living will be reflected through our children as they grow up. So I have 500 miles down...hopefully many more to come.

Oh Boy!

2009-06-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

Not much to say about this one...just check out Caden.....oh boy!

The Sweetest Things!

2009-05-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the sweetest things happen when you least expect them. Kaitlyn is by the the hardest of our children to get to stay in the bed. We are constantly threatening her with "whatever it takes" to keep her in her room after we say prayers. Last night was no different. She kept hollering..."daddy I need you." I would of course tell her to "GET IN THAT BED AND HUSH." After about the third time of that she begins bawling. Steph finally tells me to go see what the heck the deal is. So I head off to the room and on her magnetic drawing board I find this.
I was totally blown away. You see some of the sweetest things in life happen when we all least expect them. Kaitlyn had worked so hard on writing that for me that she was simply devastated when I wouldn't come look. Of course we snuggled up after that and all was well. I even left her a note with the magnetic board at her table spot this morning. I am thankful for my family and children. They are a great gift! I am excited about more of these sweetest things in the future!

1st Fish!

2009-05-24T15:26:00.000-07:00

There are some things that Dad's really take pride in. When one of you children catch their first fish that for sure has to be on the list. We did quite a bit of fishing last summer. Kaitlyn would always end up catching the fish, but poor Caden never got even a nibble. That could be due to the fact he would never leave the pole in the water long enough to even get the bait wet.

Over the last couple of days Caden has been talking about fishing. So today we went to Wal-Mart...found him a brand new Spider Man pole...and bought a can of worms. We loaded up the crew and took off to the city park.

After about 30 minutes Caden finally broke into the winners column and caught his first fish. I must say...being a dad is really fun....can't wait for more things to come!

He had just got the fish landed...

Still a little scared of it....

Not too sure about this.....

..and finally the proud fisherman!

Patty Cake Frustration

2009-05-17T18:08:00.001-07:00

Check out Colt as he gets frustrated with his big brother Caden. If we only knew what Colt was thinking.

Patty Cake Frustration from Toby Tucker on Vimeo.

The Big 30!

2009-05-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday Steph. You are an awesome wife, mom, person, friend, companion, and any other words that I can 't think of....I love ya...happy birthday.

Equity in Schools!

2009-04-10T06:59:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted in a while...but this post is very important. As most of my friends know I have been very involved in the legislative process this session. The main reason is school finance. There is a bill in the House (1555) and Senate(982) that will dramatically increase funding to our school here in Childress. It is critical that these bills pass. Of course there is some opposition, however we still have no commitment from our own Rep or Senator in our district. I created this video yesterday with the help of some awesome teachers, principals, and most of all kids. It really tells our story. Please take the 5 minutes to watch...and then share this video with as many people as you can. Also..CALL our representatives and tell them that you support these bills. The bottom line is OUR KIDS ARE WORTH IT!

An Afternoon Exploring!

2009-03-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Steph invited me to go to Pizza Hut today with our kids, Sharon, Jack, and Sutton Blackburn. The kids were playing really good together and I decided that would give the ladies a break and take the kids to ranch and explore. So off we went. The kids were great.

We probably walked over a mile back in the woods while crossing creeks, climbing hills, drinking capri suns, singing the bear went over the mountain, singing the sun will come out tomorrow, chasing armadillos, and finding bones. Here are a couple of pictures from the day. (the quality is not great cause it was from my cell phone)

The kids on the side of a hill. Notice Jack helping Kaitlyn out of the ditch.

We all had to get a walking stick to help us through the woods.

Just a cute picture.

Day at the Park

2009-03-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

Pictures for my momma!

Sweating The Small Stuff

2009-03-10T16:40:00.001-07:00

Are you kidding me? Why do we all do this to ourselves and put everyone around us through misery? The reason I make this statement is that I am the worst. I get so caught up at times with the little things that I actually miss the big picture. So I am challenging myself today to stop worrying about all the little things that I can't control. What is the point?

We waste our energy and too much of our lives getting upset over what are only annoyances. ''Ask yourself, will this matter in a year?" So dadburnit STOP! Sit back and realize in a hundred years none of us will be here, life is too short, stop wasting your time worrying about the things you can't control! Ask me in a few days how I am doing!

Senate Floor!

2009-03-03T19:41:00.000-08:00

I got to be a part of a tremendous honor today. I, along with several other colleagues from Childress, was recognized on the floor of the Texas Senate today. It was truly a honor to represent the folks from our area. If you click here and then go to March 3rd on the website and then fast forward to 13 minutes 10 seconds, you can see the recognition. (your have to have real player to view)

Our day was a very busy one. We met with 3 Senators and truly made an impact. We were invited back to testify at a later date on school finance. I am proud of what we are doing in Childress, and now it is exciting to see our efforts will hopefully impact students across the State of Texas for years to come.

Preparation!

2009-03-02T15:23:00.000-08:00

I have not blogged in a while...but a friend motivated me today...so here goes!

Tons of teachers across Texas get ready for their students to take the TAKS test this week. Personally I hate this test. I feel that we should not measure our teachers or students on what happens one day on a test. That would be like measuring a sports team on only one game per year. Example...the New York Giants two years ago...they started the season 0-2...ended up Super Bowl Champions. If that team was measured on only one game, or even two....what would their accountability rating have been?

With that rant I say this to teachers everywhere. There is no doubt that you will succeed tomorrow or whenever your students test. The reason for my statement is simply PREPARATION! I used to tell my teams when I was coaching to not be nervous before a ballgame. I would say the only reason to be nervous is if we didn't PREPARE! So to my fellow teachers who have a big task at hand, remember....relax...don't be nervous...you have done your job, now let the kids do theirs. GOOD LUCK...YOU DON'T NEED IT....YOU PREPARED!

Pictures from this weekend

2009-02-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Amanda we have some great pictures from this weekend. Enjoy!

This was one mad hog!

The only way to cook when camping!

This boy has no fear

Caden already has a girlfriend!
The kids were ready to go riding!

Filling the feeder

Target practice

Some really smart dudes.

If you haven't see the video of the hunt go to www.fatboyoutdoors.com and check it out.

For My Momma!

2009-02-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

My mom has been griping that I haven't posted in a while. I have to re-motivate myself to get to blogging again. I did want to take two seconds to post some pictures of the kids for her to enjoy. Love ya mom!

This was lots of fun until Caden fell...see the next pic you will understand!

I don't think I need to see Dr. Green anymore!

Already wrestling

Too cute!
Mohawk boy

Family Day (HUNTING!)

2009-01-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

My type of family day. We all loaded up after Sunday naps and made our way to the country for a quail hunt. It was a perfect day for hunting. We got into one big covey with about 20 birds in it. We managed to take 3 birds. The kids didn't mind how many birds we took...and I didn't either. Just being out together as a family was great. Enjoy the pictures.Kaitlyn was a good bird dog!

The proud hunters!

I love this picture...Caden is like..."what the???"

Colt got his guns up too...just it was with the coozie on his milk!

What a great day!

Old!

2009-01-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

Are you officially old when you go to get a haircut and they spend more time on your ears and eyebrows than they do on your hair? I am just checking....not that it happened to me or anything.

Looking Back @ 2008!

2009-01-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

I know I am a little late...but it is good to reflect. Here is a look back at 2008 and some major events that happened. I just did 5...that was easier.

New Child
Colt Tucker joined the family on July 31st....he had a hard time getting here, but now you wouldn't know it now. He is a good boy and it is hard to imagine our family without him.

New Job
Amazing the reaction. Some folks were thrilled for me, others not so thrilled. I must say it is amazing how people will treat you when they know your salary, and I don't mean in a good way. Some folks were just flat out MEAN spirited. So now I will just work hard and do a good job. I will also never forget the TRUE friends that we supportive 100% of the way.New Me!
When I weighed on the 1st day of the biggest loser contest I weighed in a whopping 209 pounds. I looked in the mirror and realized that something had to change. I started running and now feel the best that I have in years. Below is my rundown from May when I got my Nike Plus. It is awesome to see it written out for me like this. I am proud of the miles that I covered in only 7 months.New House (well sort of)!
Amazing what goes through your mind when you are protecting your family and wondering if you would make it out alive. The storm on father's day was a heck of an event. It was an amazing experience. We are still working on putting some things back together. As bad as it was I am thankful for that day and how it made me realize how precious time is.New Beginnings
Both Steph and I are working towards new beginnings with business. She is trying to expand her gyms and I started Fat Boy Outdoors. I have always wanted to guide hunts. It was just a thrill to be able to do a job that you love.Ok so there are 5 of mine. I am looking forward to seeing if anyone else reflects on 5 events of 2008.

That's What Friends Are For!

2008-12-29T10:13:00.001-08:00

My good buddy KP.....I am going to get him. Last night he told me...."Hey man come over about 10:30 in the morning to check out my new travel trailer." I tell him that I will be there. So today I take out for my morning jog about 10:15 and decide to just run to KP's house. It is about 3 miles. I just figure that he will bring me home. So I take off and have a great run. The total distance to his house from mile was 3.15 miles.

I see his house....no truck. I think to myself that it may be parked on the side...nope not there either. Now the horror sets in. What the heck am I going to do if he is not home...I don't have a phone and I sure as heck don't want to run 3 more miles. I knock and knock and knock on the door....and sure enough, he is NOT HOME! I officially think that I might cry now.

So I take off towards home...singing KP's praises the whole way for not being home when he said he would....of course I could have called...heck that would have been way too easy. I am wearing out cause I normally don't run more than 3 miles. At a little over 5 miles my GOOD BUDDY Ryan pulls up. Not to help, but to harass me. I wave him down and just get in the car and beg him to take me home. He got a big kick out of my situation...I didn't care...I love him for taking me the last half mile home. So thanks KP...I guess I needed a long workout after the holidays.

Caden's Duck!

2008-12-19T19:04:00.001-08:00

Tonight Caden and I went out for an evening duck hunt. He was fantastic...even though there were not many ducks flying. Except for one....and we didn't let him get away. So I blast this duck..but that is really where the story begins.

Here goes in a nutshell. I loaned my waders to the hunters that we have in Groom this weekend. So all I had was an old pair. I haven't worn them in years. Well the duck was way out in the water. I knew I had to go get it or Caden would be devistated. I started out across and instantly knew something was wrong. The waders not only had one hole in them...but more like one hundred. By the time I got to the duck I was in waste deep water...and most of it was pouring through the waders like crazy. I was soaked....and freezing. Caden...he didn't care. He was so fired up about the duck that he forgot about me. I literally went home with no socks on and barefoot. Let me tell ya...not much fun opening and closing the gate in the country barefoot. However it was all worth it. Caden was thrilled..and was such a good hunter tonight. I bet I fed him a dozen brownies. It is amazing how quite that keeps a kid. Here are the pictures.

You think that he was excited?

Santa Is Here!

2008-12-18T20:17:00.000-08:00

Just a picture tonight..but classic. We had the Rotary Christmas party tonight. Mike Pigg (our Sheriff) does a GREAT job of playing Santa...well tonight he busted in the front door and the kids were thrilled. This picture is of Caden when he realized that Santa was right behind him. This picture made up for me wanting to wear him out for being loud and running around during the entire party! The other pictures are of the family and me and Steph.

Mr. Smiley!

2008-12-17T05:42:00.000-08:00

Colt has been given the nickname smiley at our house. He is such a good baby...and loves to smile. Just a shot of him doing what he does best...smiling and making us smile.

Kids and Fat Boy Hunting

2008-12-12T06:07:00.000-08:00

Of course you all know I love Fat Boy Hunting. Kaitlyn and Caden star in their own episode. Check it out. Listen to what Kaitlyn says about the baby hogs...priceless!

50 Bucks!

2008-12-10T21:19:00.000-08:00

50 bucks...Not deer this time. Here is a recent conversation with a 3 year old.(Caden)

Caden:"Daddy I am hungry I want a snack."
Me:"No son...no snack tonight."
Caden:"Please dad...I need a snack."
Me:"Nope....I said no snack!"
Caden:"Come on dad.....I will give you fifty bucks."

Well the boy knows how to work it...he ended up with a snack...pretty classic!

Smell My Booty!

2008-12-04T06:25:00.000-08:00

Yep she said it...as we were all getting pajamas on....Kaitlyn tells me and Caden...."hey smell my booty!" She stuck her rear out...and then as she could see my hand coming to swat it she bailed quickly. She found it quite amusing and strutted around the house hollering it. It was one of those things as a dad where you go...." KAITLYN GRACE TUCKER...DON'T YOU SAY THAT." .....and then try to cover up that you are laughing. It just struck me as quite funny and I am sure she will kill me for telling people that when she grows up! So if your feeling down today and want to smile. Just think about a little girl putting her rear in her dad and brothers face and then bolting to get away.

Just Kill Something!

2008-11-30T20:13:00.000-08:00

Strange post title I know. But you know me...always out hunting. Today was no different. We went to church...and after I loaded up and headed to the ranch in Claude. My little girl is so funny. She has started doing like I did as a child. Running to find out if I got anything as soon as I come in the door. When I tell her no the disappointment on her face is priceless. The excitement was classic a week ago when her Pa got a deer.

Today as I tell her, Caden, and Colt goodbye she tells me with a bit of an attitude...."Daddy, just kill something." Her confidence in me is starting to slow. Well I didn't kill anything with a gun...but sure T-boned a deer coming home with my truck(only minor damage thank goodness).

So there you go Kaitlyn...daddy did as you said!

Jingle Bell Run!

2008-11-28T18:21:00.000-08:00

My wife is awesome. She worked very hard on the Jingle Bell that we had tonight in Childress. Thanks to all of the people who helped out! You guys are great. All of the proceeds went to toys for tots, and we had 38 people run the 5k. It was a good time for all. I would say that the run and the rest of the events at Fair Park were a HUGE SUCCESS.....here are a couple of pictures.

Steph, Amanda, and Sharon looking stylish and working hard!
Even Santa made it to the run!

Thanks again to everyone who ran!

29 Years!

2008-11-23T18:38:00.000-08:00

For 29 years my Dad and I have done something special together.....hunt! This weekend my parents were here and Dad and I hunted the entire time. We did end up with a nice young buck.

Hunting is not the reason for the post though. I just started thinking back of the those 29 years. What GREAT memories. I remember so vividly Dad picking me up from Kindergarten during milk and cookies to take me to Mason, TX deer hunting. That was the first time. We followed through with that tradition for years and now that I am grown I look forward to doing this with my own kids.

Some memories from over the years:
-Sitting on Dad's leg to kill my first deer.
-Walking through the woods....I was so loud....Dad would tell me that we were going to have a contest to see who could be the quietest walker. I catch myself doing that with my kids now.
-Dad refusing to turn the heater on in the truck all the way to the ranch....because he said it would make us cold when we got out. Heck I think it was pure torture...we were frozen by the time we got there.
-Walking in the dark and being scared to death.
-Climbing into a blind one time to find a ring tailed cat in the blind. We came face to face with this creature. I was scared...fell down in the cactus...started crying. I pretty much ruined the hunt...So dad started shooting the bottom of the deer blind trying to kill that dang thing.
-Visiting now as adults and truly enjoying the entire time.

Take some time today and find something that your children love. I am so glad that my Dad took time to include me in something that I dearly love, and love doing it with him to this day.

My 8's

2008-11-18T17:37:00.000-08:00

I hate this stuff....but my wife gave me strict instructions...So here goes!

8 TV Shows I Love To Watch:
1. Cowboy Football
2. Top Chef
3. Boston Legal
4.Real Tree Road Trips
5. Pardon The Interuption
6. Black Gold
7. Real World
8. Fat Boy Outdoors

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Sullivan's
2. Joe Allen's(too bad its not there anymore)
3. Kubuki
4. Cattle Exchange
5. Vinson
6. Cagle's
7. Bennie Hanna
8. Wendys

8 Things That Happened Today:
1. Wrestled with kids
2. Made breakfast for kids
3. Took kids to school
4. Worked on Erate
5. Went to Sonic(twice)
6. Went hunting
7. Worked on Fat Boy Outdoors
8. Chilled on the couch

8 Things I am looking Forward To:
1. My dad coming in to hunt this weekend
2. Being the next outdoor star
3. Becoming a superintendent
4. Coaching again
5. A trip with Steph
6. Sausage Fest
7. Mounting KP's Deer(taxidermy)
8. Getting out of my mid-life crisis

8 Things On My Wishlist:
1. Good church
2. Me a ranch
3. Steph a BMW or a mercedes
4. Running a 21 minute 5K
5. Party Barn in my backyard
6. playground for my kids (at my house)
7. being DEBT FREE
8. Learning taxidermy(I know I am a freak)

We are up and running!

2008-11-16T18:42:00.000-08:00

Well we are officially live with our website. Very basic right now. It is just a blogger site linked to our web address. So go check it out at www.fatboyoutdoors.com

We actually have a full episode with KP taking a deer in Wheeler. No matter what we have a good time doing this. We will update more soon. The turkey trap video will be up probably tomorrow. So humble us...check it out.

Fat Boy Outdoors!

2008-11-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

Ok....due to popular demand we have gone global.(Not to sure how much demand...or heck...how popular) KP and I are now the proud owners of Fat Boy Outdoors and fatboyoutdoors.com The website is not live yet. I am looking for a good web host. We are in the process of producing a new release in our hunting series. This is just a trailer for the new release. I know that my wife thinks I am crazy....but heck maybe we will be big time one of these days......All it takes is the right person seeing it.......probably not!

Fat Boy Outdoors from Toby Tucker on Vimeo.

I Was Turned Down!

2008-11-11T20:43:00.000-08:00

Yep....turned down. I was sad, heart broken, you name the word, I felt it. I was officially turned down by Caden this morning. Here is how the conversation goes.

-Me-"Caden, if you are good at school today we will go hunting."
-Caden-"Nope...not today."
-Me-"What do you mean not today, (this is the part that I started bribing) We can get a coke and some snacks for the deer blind."
-Caden-"Nope dad....not today!

So that is the first time that he has officially turned me down. I have always heard that it would happen. I figured that it would come much later that at the age of 3. Hopefully the next time will be the day.

What A Memory

2008-11-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

I was going through the camera and getting rid of video and stumbled across this video. It is classic. This is the first time that Caden and Kaitlyn got to meet their new brother. A couple of funny points:
-When Kaitlyn continues to ask what color his skin is.
-Trying to explain how the baby came out of mommy's stomach. There are some things that daddy's have a hard time explaining.

I am so glad that I found this video...it is priceless.!

kids excited from Toby Tucker on Vimeo.

Deer Catching

2008-11-07T14:27:00.001-08:00

We moved some deer from the school land this week. Here is the video of the event. Pretty amazing the way that helicopter will fly in such tight locations.

Deer Catch from Toby Tucker on Vimeo.

Deer Camp!

2008-11-05T12:10:00.000-08:00

I always enjoy deer camp. The day before the first day of the season is neat. Everyone is giddy and full of excitement and anticipation of what will happen the next day. I didn't kill the big one this year on opening day, but sitting out with Mother Nature is just....thrilling. I guess it is hard to understand for someone who doesn't hunt. It is not about the kill. It is about enjoying all of the sounds, smells, and colors of the outdoors.

I was lucky enough this year to get in on the Lazy S Ranch in Claude. The group of guys that are on this lease are top notch. We have jewelers, doctors, home builders.....and me. Here are a couple of pictures from this weekend. Notice the picture inside the house. We really are not "roughing" it!Visiting on the deck the night before the hunt.

I think we know how this one turned out!

The only kill of opening morning. Eric White and his brother Al with Eric's 1st buck...an 11 point.

Check out Eric's houses he builds in Amarillo. TOP NOTCH.
Old-World Constuction

I Was There!

2008-11-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

You have been spared. I normally would have posted about the opening weekend of hunting season. However yesterday I got in on something special. I was on my Ranger riding around the ranch and my phone rang. It was my good buddy John Abendschan. John and I coached together at South Grand Prairie, and we have been friends ever since. He is the head coach at Saginaw Boswell. Coaches get free tickets to games and he ended up with two extra so......he hooked a brother up.

He told me that he had the two extra tickets to the Tech/Texas game. John said, "You are one of the only guys that I know that will drop everything and get to Lubbock in a few hours and go to the game." I told him to give me 5 minutes to call Steph to make sure and that I would call him back.

So I called Steph, told her that John had tickets.........She was thrilled and screamed into the phone and told me to meet her at the gate of the ranch and we would get to Lubbock. Thanks to her parents for taking care of the kids!

IT WAS AWESOME. The crowd never sat down and it truly was the game of the century. Steph and I had a blast. Here are some pictures from the event.

John and Sherry Abendschan...THANKS FOR THE TICKETS!
Tech running out before the game.

Get your guns up!

This picture is of nothing..but click it to enlarge then look at all of the cell phones taking pictures.

After three times of running on the field and almost costing us the game they finally got it right!

Haircuts

2008-10-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

It is funny to think of how we get emotional about some silly things. This is true about a simple task that I do for Caden....cutting his hair. I got tired of his hair looking like a mop cause we waited so long to get to the barber...so about a year ago I bought some clippers and started cutting his hair. At first he screamed bloody murder. Now he actually likes it....and I do too. It really is a wonderful time for both of us to bond. I wonder if we will continue to do this as he grows up. I wonder if he will come home from college and ask his old man to give him a trim. The crazy thing is.....I SURE HOPE SO! Here are some pictures of the last haircut which was tonight. The funniest part is that I put his chair in a wheel barrel. I wonder if Steph will let me be the first to cut Colt's hair. I guess it is evident...simple things make me very happy.

Pretty

2008-10-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Everyone teases me about being nuts about hunting. Truth is I don't usually kill anything. This morning I was up at 5 and headed to Wheeler. 35 degrees...not a cloud in the sky...and about 30 minutes after being in the blind this is what I saw. Mother nature is AWESOME!

Untitled from Toby Tucker on Vimeo.

Hunting With The Kids!

2008-10-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

I went hunting with the kids again tonight(with no gun). A couple of weeks ago I went with them and they totally drove me crazy. A friend of mine at school suggested a new plan. She said.....When you go with them...go for them...not for you. Then next time leave them at home and go for you.

Wow...I was going about this thing the wrong way. I thought I was teaching them how to hunt....all that I was teaching them was how to hate hunting and hate going with their dad. I appreciate the advice from my friend...tonight we went hunting FOR THEM. It was great. Here is the video...We even had some excitement when Kaitlyn lost a tooth in the deer blind...Thanks for the advice Faith!

Enjoying a hunt with the kids! from Toby Tucker on Vimeo.

They Better Run!

2008-10-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

Deer season is only a week away. It won't be long till I make all of you suffer looking at me or the kids holding dead animals...so I thought...HEY...why not show some of my potential clients. So here are some pictures off of the deer camera......I know....total blog excitement.

Senate Hearing!

2008-10-20T20:10:00.001-07:00

Today was just flat out exciting. I got to testify in front of the Senate Education Committee in Austin at the Capitol. If you look at the picture I am at the table at the front...in the brown suit jacket. If you want ten minutes of boredom you can click this link and hear the testimony. You will have to fast forward to 2 hours and 18 minutes to get to our part.
Click here to watch
Once you click you will have to select October 20th. Also, you must have real player.

About the experience.....where do I start. There were way more folks in the hearing than I expected. You can't tell from the picture or video..but the room was standing room only. There was two hours of testimony before us...and let me tell ya...the Senators grilled those folks. I actually felt sorry for some of them. I was fairly cautious with my testimony to only focus on the positives.....and that worked out great. I was asked to testify about the innovations that we are doing in Childress. The final comment by Senator Shapiro was this..."Congratulations for being not only a leader in Texas, but a leader in the nation." Wow...what a great compliment...I was very proud of our school today.

34!

2008-10-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it....34 years old...wow...getting old. Caden spilled the beans that Steph had got me a cake. Kaitlyn was so funny yelling at him for spoiling the surprise. Of course being 34 will bring new challenges from 33....most notably chasing another little Tucker around. Here are a couple of new pictures of Colt.

1st Fish

2008-10-05T15:55:00.001-07:00

We traveled to Tyler this weekend to see my parents. Part of the weekend included a trip to the lake by my folks house to do some fishing. After about 30 minutes of no luck....it happened...Kaitlyn's pole began to bend and then the screams started.

Kaitlyn had landed a fish. It was a great moment for a dad. She reeled the fish in all by herself. She was the only one of us to even catch a fish. The best part is when we went to throw the fish back she started bawling......similar to the incident with the hog. I asked her what the heck was wrong? She proclaimed that she wanted to keep her fish so she can take it home and eat it. I think that I have created a monster.

Winning and Losing!

2008-09-30T17:07:00.001-07:00

As most of you know I love quotes. I stumbled across one today that I think is flat out awesome.

"Winning isn't permanent and losing isn't fatal."

I love this quote due to several reasons, and I think that it can be applied to all of us no matter the profession we are in. Every day we all enter battles of some sort. It is important to realize that we will not get our preferred outcome every time. As important as that is to come to grips with it is even more important to not beat ourselves up over the losses. They are NOT fatal.

On the flip side...it is important to cherish our victories...however we must not dwell on a single win and remember the hard work and effort that it took to gain that victory so you can hopefully win again.

So as you approach tomorrow...get after it will all of your gusto....work hard to get a win.

An Obsession!

2008-09-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

Maybe it is not good to have an obsession, but most of us do. Mine is hunting. Crazy, I know...but it is. I went hunting at the age of five with my dad and have hunted ever since. My very best memories of my grandfather, father, uncles, brother, and cousins are at our family deer lease.

Not much has changed over the last 27 years. Only now it is my own family that is with me. This weekend we all went out to the ranch to spend the night. It was the opening weekend of bow season so Kaitlyn, Caden, and I went to the deer blind before dark and settled in. HOLY COW! I didn't know I could tell two kids to hush that much. Really they were good, but I understand that they get bored. Kaitlyn went as far as to tell me that, "Dad...I am really not enjoying this." But, finally some deer came out and all was well. I took my rifle just in case we ran into some hogs...and sure enough right before dark a MONSTER came out. I tell the kids to get quite and plug their ears....then...BOOM! I got him. The kids were thrilled..and proclaimed that the Tucker's are the best hunters.

Hogs are a tough animal and this one ran off into the brush...with it being almost dark I decided to wait till morning to go find him...especially with the kids with me. As we are driving off I look back of the Ranger and Kaitlyn is bawling. I ask her what the deal is and she tells me that she wants to go get HER hog RIGHT NOW. I knew then she is officially a hunter. Although she cried all the way back to the cabin.

As for Caden his moment came earlier in the day. As we were sitting on the back deck of the cabin a nice buck walked by. While we are admiring the buck Caden runs into the house, almost knocking everyone over and gets his play rifle. Then he comes back on the deck and aims the gun right at the deer and begins shooting. It was one of the funniest things that I have ever seen. He was sure serious.

Having Steph and the kids with me while hunting is wonderful. I am so thankful that she ALLOWS me to hunt and lets our kids go along as well. My dad always taught me to respect nature. I hope to teach that to my kids. I don't even have to shoot anything.....I just love being in the outdoors.

This video that I am attaching is last weekend with me just sitting on a deer blind. The deer that I saw that day were HUGE. People hunt a lifetime and don't see deer this big. It was just so beautiful and I want to share it with all of you..enjoy. PS...Stephanie thinks that this video and me posting it on my blog are about the dumbest thing that she has ever heard of.

Tough Times!

2008-09-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog it was about positive motivation. I get away from that every now and then to let folks know the stories that are going on in my life...but today I am back on the positive side. I will be short and sweet.

On Sunday morning while getting ready for church I was watching the Power Hour with Robert Schuller....I normally don't watch shows like this, however the preacher said something that caught my attention.

"TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST......BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO!"

Wow..what a quote. So now ask yourself....if something in your life right now is not going exactly the way that you want...are you tough enough? So there you have it....today go out and no matter the situation.....hang in there and BE TOUGH....you can do it!

200 Miles!

2008-09-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

I am fired up.....today was milestone. I passed the 200 mile mark on my Nike Plus. I wish I had this thing all along. It really is great. In may after I ran the Race For The Cure I bought this neat tool. 73 workouts later I have ran 200 miles.

My wife and F3 really have changed my life. Without the Biggest Loser competition at F3 I would have never been encouraged to start working out again. When I started I weighed 209 pounds. I weighed in this week at 172. I can actually wear my clothes without feeling like I am going to blow up.

My next race is next Saturday in Amarillo. If you haven't participated in a Race For The Cure event you are really missing out. Come join us....it will be a great event.

Come To Momma!

2008-09-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

I know that Come To Momma is not the title you were probably thinking about when you see a dead coyote.....but of course..as usual...I HAVE A STORY! Here goes.

We made the trip to the ranch this weekend. After an afternoon of filling deer feeders and riding four wheelers we went back to the ranch house and cooked steaks and hot dogs. Then Kelvin (my father-in-law) and I went out to sit on a deer blind to see if anything would come in. I took the ole 7mm with me just in case we saw some hogs or varmits.

After deciding that no deer were going to come in I got the coyote call out and set it off...30 seconds later I hadn't even loaded the gun when Kelvin goes.....Toby.....hunt....coyote...hunt..Toby...shoot....coyote. I think he has lost his mind or is speaking in tounges. I look up and right in front of us is the coyote. Needless to say...I busted a cap!

Now....the rest of the story. I knew the kids would be excited...when Steph told them to go to the front of the house.....Caden comes out and yells..."Woo Hoo." Kaitlyn comes around the corner...and busts out, "Alright baby....COME TO MAMMA!" Priceless.

Can You Hula?

2008-09-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

So can you hula? I for one sure can't...but I know a little girl who can. We went to Groom this weekend to the church picnic and they had some hula-hoops there. Well Kaitlyn went and played with them for a minute or two and then all of the sudden....she had it.

When we got back from Groom she begged for a hula-hoop. Seven bucks later we were out of Wal-Mart and headed home with our new pink hula that even lights up. So now I have to show her off....she is by far the best hula-hooper in our family...check out the video....I thought it was pretty cute.

Let The Games Begin!

2008-09-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

So my evening goes like this.....Steph has dinner ready...we eat...do the dishes..we put up some clothes....put together a mobile for Colt...Steph goes to the gym...Toby is left HOME ALONE!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

So we make our way to the back yard...all four of us. Kaitlyn is giving all of us some Bobcat cheers and after about the 30th time of Bobcats are the best Caden decides to go play in the fort.
This is when things get interesting.

The next thing that I know Caden is naked proclaiming that he needs to poo poo. I am begging him to wait as he is squatted in the middle of the fort. I have Colt in one arm...Caden naked in the other(grunting with poop pains), and Kaitlyn doing cheers all the way as we are rushing into the house.

I tell Kaitlyn to sit on the couch so she can hold Colt...all the while still holding Caden(naked..still grunting) in the other. So I get Colt in Kaitlyn's hands and get Caden to the pot. He proclaims that he has lots of poo poo(understatement of the century)...Colt starts screaming...Kailtyn joins in telling me to hurry. I rush back to the back room...Colt is now upside down in Kailtyn's arms. Caden is hollering for me to come wipe his hiney. I grab Colt...Kaitlyn begins cheering again...I am almost going nutts....place Colt on the floor of the bath room(sorry Steph) and begin wiping....Caden says,"Thanks partner!"

I love my wife!

Just Try!

2008-09-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

Just try...sounds easy, yet why does the phrase scare us. Since we were little we have been told to try things we don't like....for me it was vegetables. As adults we are told to try things to get out of our comfort zone or think outside of the box.

So what is the deal with people being resistant to trying new things. The bottom line is this. We fail to try because we are scared to fail. Hey I am right there with ya...I fear failure...we all do. In my new position especially...things can go wrong...a lot of them...real quick...however failure is not an option.

A lot of people seem to have this motto...if at first you don't succeed, stop right there. Setbacks or failures don't have to make you more afraid. They can be the light that motivates you to change the way you think about failure. So good luck...go for it and try.

Time, Time, Time

2008-09-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

Today I was told to slow down....your going too fast...relax....and that made me start thinking. Am I really taking time to smell the roses? Too often in our lives we catch ourselves not making time for the things that are most important to us. Family, self, friends, etc. So my blog today is not a long one. I am going to simply try to slow down...quit running all over the place...and take make some time for things that are truly important. I challenge you to do the same.

When You Have The Opportunity

2008-09-01T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well it is here...HUNTING SEASON! Dove season opened today and I had the opportunity to go out with two of the kids. Caden and Kaitlyn.....of course Colt got dressed up in camo again to send us off. KP and David went with us. We loaded the Ranger and went out about 8 miles east of town.

It is great to see kids light up when you take them to the outdoors. I was always told by my dad how great it was to take your kids hunting. I agree. It is the best. The kids drank their fair share of Capri Sun...ate enough cookies for a cavity...and just had a blast. They thought is was cool when we started blasting away. They even thought it was cooler when we put the dead dove in the back of the Ranger with them. Especially the one that wasn't dead....as it flopped around they really didn't know what to do......UNTIL...KP grabbed it and pulled its head off. Yeah that's right...he popped it right of. Kaitlyn said, "You pulled his head off!" It was classic to see how big their eyes got. They checked it all out and were ready for us to shoot another one.

The point is this. I am so thankful that I get the opportunity to go out with my children and experience things like hunting. If you get the opportunity make sure you spend time with your kids....I take for granted that they will stay little forever. I hope that I can be as good of a parent as my folks were to me. Here are the pictures from before the trip.

This Weekend

2008-08-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

After the ball game Friday we headed out to the new hunting club. Steph was sweet enough to let me join a hunting club south of Claude. This place is simply amazing. It is 2100 acres in the canyons. It didn't ever feel like we were in the Texas Panhandle. We went and drove the Ranger and filled deer feeders. Not many folks would take a one month old...but by golly the Tucker's will. Colt even wore his camo. We had a great time......here are some pictures from the trip.

What Makes You Happy?

2008-08-26T19:16:00.001-07:00

I have been on a happiness theme as of late and today is no different. Today's post is a bit of a challenge then a short story....first the challenge. Sit down beside your children, wife, husband, family, etc, and ask them this simple question.
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

Now for the story: Since Colt was born we worried that Caden, our middle child, would really begin to act out. To our surprise it has been our oldest child Kaitlyn that has been struggling for attention. So I after we said prayers I snuggled in her bed and asked her the question that I challenged each of you to ask. "Kaitlyn, what makes you happy?"

To be honest with you I had no idea of what she would come up with, especially with her acting out as of late. Here is a sampling of the results:

When mommy comes to Mother's Day tea with me
When it is Father's Day and I make hand prints for you
When we go to Grandads house
My baby Colton
When we ride the 4 wheeler

What I loved about her responses is that they were so sweet......but most of all THEY WERE ALL ABOUT FAMILY! Not one of her responses were my toys, my things, etc. They were about our family. Even with her reaching out to gain our attention, she still loved the idea of her family.

I need to learn a lesson from that. I sometimes base my happiness on I or ME. This is just a lesson that I can learn from a 5 year old. So sit down today, tonight, or tomorrow and ask your crew....WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? We all might learn a lesson.

PS.....Stephanie is amazing...I don't know how she stays home with three kids and keeps her sanity...WOW!

Fat Boy Hunting

2008-08-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

Of course many of you know that my buddy KP and I have our own series of hunting shows called Fat Boy Hunting. This weekend we were able to take our good buddies Ryan Mills and John Galligan along for the ride......and what a ride it was.

I am uploading the trailer to our latest edition of Fat Boy Hunting. It is only the 30 second opener. I will let you try to guess just what might happen by watching this short preview. One of these days we are going to be famous.

Enjoy What You Do!

2008-08-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

So do you enjoy what you do? It seems simple enough, but I think that people in general are unsatisfied. Why is this? Why do we hold a job that we don't enjoy doing? What is the answer to happiness in the workplace?

As a leader I think that it is critical to look at this one phrase:

Happy people produce happy results: The most effective workforce is a happy workforce that is well valued, highly prized, treated well and allowed to have fun, be creative, innovate, experiment and develop. People come to work not just for employment, but for enjoyment too.

Many people fail to create a happy environment. All too often, fun, creativity, generous praise, work satisfaction and even basic human decency are often sacrificed as being "nice, but non-profitable". As a result high work-stress, communication breakdowns, miserable morale, idea-droughts, absenteeism, turnover, poor productivity levels and quality collapse.

So ask yourself this question.....Do I really enjoy what I do? Do others around me enjoy their job? Can I be the difference maker in my workplace? Here is a challenge......BE THE DIFFERENCE! Step out on a limb....make an impact!

Thoughts About 13 Thoughts

2008-08-22T13:03:00.001-07:00

I am such a trend setter!

13 Thoughts

2008-08-20T17:21:00.002-07:00

It has been hectic. A newborn, school starting, family visiting, etc. No long blog today...just the thoughts that are in my head.

Colt....quit waking your mom up.....I was sleeping so good (Sorry Steph...had to)
My school van is really cool
I hate wearing a tie
Why am I so hungry?
I want to buy a 4-wheeler
I wish that we had a church home here
Man we have some good friends
Can you believe school is starting already?
It is going to be a beast mowing the yard
Dove season starts in two weeks
The Olympics are good for TV
Football season starts next Friday
Can we pull off going to the TECH game with three kids?

Ok...I know it was different...but that is just a look at what is going on in my head. So...what are you waiting for....Post your 13 thoughts...we might all be surprised at what is going on with each other.

Teacher Motivation!

2008-08-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

Teachers all over the State of Texas reported to full duty today. These folks are true heroes and do a wonderful, yet under appreciated job. I am so proud of the educators that we have here in Childress. Our school is truly one of the best in the entire state. I want to share this short video that I made and presented to our staff on the first day of in-service. It is a video to basically brag on our pride and tradition.

When school gets rolling we will change out a few pictures and then really promote this video through our website and speeches that we will be making in the future. I hope that you enjoy this video.....please share it with folks who might be interested in it.

PS...there are 10 seconds of black screen at the beginning of the video...AND TURN YOUR SPEAKERS UP!

The Great Skunk Killer!

2008-08-15T20:05:00.000-07:00

If they added skunk killing to the Olympic Games.......I would be a gold medalist. Tonight we had some interesting fun. My mom and dad are here for Colt's baptism. Today I mentioned to dad today that the skunks had been coming in at night to eat our cat food. He suggested that we have a steakout tonight and put an end to that.

So we set the bait....fresh cat food. We went and checked and no skunks....the kids were so excited about our steakout that they stayed by the back door to keep watch. We were watching the Olympics and all of the sudden.....boom....the kids came bursting through the door screaming that there was a skunk outside. I mean they were fired up. When we look outside..there is not just one skunk...but two.

So I sprint to the garage...load the shotgun and meet with dad in the middle of the house. That is where the plan was made. Dad would scared the skunks from the back...I would wait at the front of the house with the gun...and Steph would relay messages back and forth.

Here we go...I am outside..scared to death...Steph is at the door, about half mad at me for even planning this project....and Kaitlyn and Caden thrilled that all of this is going on. What was funny is when I went busting out the front door looking like Rambo with my shotgun our neighbors were watching from their front yard and probably wandering what the heck?

I get set up at my post and really...I was nervous. Then I hear Steph scream, "TOBY HERE THEY COME!" Well only one of the skunks came my way...but I am happy to report that skunk met his maker tonight. Caden proclaimed that I was the best shooter ever and Kaitlyn gave me a hug and a high five. So I am now proclaiming myself....THE GREAT SKUNK KILLER!

Your My Hero!

2008-08-13T16:07:00.000-07:00

How awesome are these words. You are my hero. My oldest son Caden proclaimed to the world today that I was his hero. It was such a wonderful moment. After he said that to me I thought, "Man being a hero carries a ton of responsibility." So I thought I better educate myself on exactly what a hero is....so here goes....from Websters:

Hero–noun, plural
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4. Classical Mythology.
a. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.

HOLY COW...I am a hero....how awesome is that...and to make it even more sweet let me tell you what I actually did for Caden to make him think so highly of his dad that he would bestow this honor on me.......I opened his Capri Sun! These are the moments that I must never forget...have a great day!

Finish The Race!

2008-08-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

With the start of a new school year comes the start of so many things. We all take on so much we sometimes forget to finish the race. If you have watched the Olympics you have probably seen the commercial on Derek Redmond. He was a runner on the British track team who tore a hamstring about 100 meters into the 400 meter dash. What is happened next is history. He got up and in all of his pain started hobbling towards the finish line. To make this moment even sweeter his father came on to the track to help his son finish the race.

I am attaching two videos, both important to recognize this event. The first is the Visa commercial...the next is a video of the race put to music that shows the entire event. I admit...I teared up when his father got to him.

I hope that as we all take on new tasks in the near future we remember Derek Redmond....and FINISH THE RACE!

Ready, Set, Go

2008-08-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

Today marks the start of the school year. Even though students have not made their way into the building, teachers are now on campus and that means that things are buzzing. There are lots of things that I like about the start of the school year. Here is a short list:

A fresh start
Seeing people excited about working
Learning new ideas
Seeing faces that I have not seen in a while
Getting back into routine

Being an educator is one of the best jobs in the world. Those of us who get to touch the lives of teachers and students are very lucky. So to all of my friends who are getting back to it like I am, I hope that you have a great year!

Get-a-Way

2008-08-10T17:04:00.001-07:00

We snuck off to Dallas this weekend. It is always great to get out and away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We have left like this with the other kids when they were little and we made no exception for Colt. He rode great and we all had a good time.

We made the normal tour:
Grapevine Mills
Chick Fil A(great playground)
Chuck E Cheese
Swimming Pool
Golden Coral

I feel refreshed and ready for the Technology Camp this week...more on that later!

If I Could Only Change Time!

2008-08-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

I had a busy morning today hauling computers. I had two trustees with me from the County Jail, along with Jailer to get the job done. The men arrived on time in their very uncomfortable jumpsuits. One of the two was a former student, the other was a man that has actually been up to school to talk to our students about drugs and the mistakes that he has made in his life. Of course seeing a former student in this shape was tough, I can only hope he learns from his mistakes and gets his life on track. That is another post all together.

As for the other inmate.....he was a worker...that is all there is to it. He worked circles around the rest of us. Throughout the morning we talked on and off, he told me he hoped to be out of jail in March. So I asked, "What are you going to do with yourself?" I mean this is a guy that could make someone a hand. He says. "I am going to counsel youth, and stay away from my so called friends." Then he stops working...stands up and says....."Mr. Tucker...if I could only change time." I had no response.....what do you say to that? I had no words.

Think about this.....and I have said this before....we only get one shot at many things.

Life
Love
Raising Children
Careers
Making a First Impression
Gaining Respect
Earning Trust

My hope for all of us today is when we have a chance to look back at our life we don't say the words said to me today......IF I COULD ONLY CHANGE TIME!

What Will These Hands Do?

2008-08-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

Some friends stopped in to see Colt on Sunday night, and a wonderful question was asked. As Jason held Colt's hand he said, "What will these hands do?" "Will they open the chest of a man to save his life?" When Jason said that my response was, "There is no telling what his hands will do, he may run for touchdowns, play in the band, etc, just as long as he doesn't break my heart I will be fine."

Think about your own children, or the children that you come into contact with. What will their hands do? What skills are you teaching them to be able to use their hands later in life. What morals will they have? What values will they pass on to their own children? How will they reach out to others? Are you being a good example?

As school gets ready to go back in to session think about the question that Jason posed. Many of us get the chance to make a difference.....so go out and do so!

Prepared?

2008-08-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

From the time that we were Boy Scouts we heard the phrase, Be Prepared! As a teacher we prepare our students to succeed. As a coach we always talk about preparation to beat our opponent. As an administrator is is important to prepare so that staff can be successful.

Ask yourself this question. What new challenge do you face and are you prepared? There is an old saying: "FAILING to prepare is preparing to fail". Here are a couple of tips to prepare to succeed.

-Prioritize
-Have clear goals
-Be realistic
-Don't delay

Four easy steps. So go be a good Boy Scout and Be Prepared!

More of the Colt!

2008-08-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

I can't help but post more pictures. Our family is growing and it is so much fun. Again, thanks to our friends who had a diaper shower for us. We wish that we could have been there, but is was a great surprise to walk in the house and see all of the goodies. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

Trey Colton Tucker

2008-07-31T20:04:00.000-07:00

Trey Colton Tucker arrived on 7-31-08 at 2:15 pm and weighed a whopping 8lbs 5 ounces. Stephanie and "COLT" are both doing fine. A big thank you to all of our friends and family that text messaged, called, or stopped by to visit. You really made our day special. Also thanks to the crew at CRMC. Our care could not have been better.

The Last Day With Just Two!

2008-07-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

It is just amazing. Tomorrow morning we check in to the hospital to have our 3rd and final child. Although we have been talking about this new addition to Kaitlyn and Caden for months now, and they have said prayers for their new brother, and they have seen us begin to prepare for Colt's arrival, they haven't really put it all together......UNTIL NOW!

The kids tonight seem to be as nervous as we are about the process. Tonight after we put the kids in bed Caden gets out crying and just wants to be held. So I hold him on the couch. Not two seconds later Kaitlyn is in my lap too. Really it was a sweet moment as we were all under the covers holding each other. Really that is the last time that I will snuggle with just the two of them. It was a moment that I will truly cherish.

Now with all of the mushy part out of the way....my little girl lightened up the moment. As we were all really getting comfortable and snuggling...she proclaims..."Somebody stinks." Caden says, "Not me." Well I had just returned from my evening run and was sweating buckets......then Kaitlyn says..."Daddy you smell like a skunk....did you get sprayed by a skunk tonight?" The sweet moment was now gone....for a couple of minutes anyways. I put them both back in bed, gave kisses, and then Kailtyn tells me,"Daddy, you give the best hugs." I just melted. Then she tells me she doesn't want to be a mommy. Of course I am worried to ask why..but I do...and the response was too cute. She says,"because I want to stay a little girl..and I don't even know how to drive."

The point is this.....I know my kids get what is going to happen tomorrow. It is amazing. We all have questions. What will life be like with 3? Where will Colt sit at the dinner table? Who will hold his hand when we say the blessing? How will we get all of us up and around? I know the next few months will be exciting. Pray for Steph that she does well tomorrow. Pictures will be posted soon.

Focus

2008-07-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

Are you focused? Are you keeping your eyes on the prize and pressing on? Too many times we come up with a plan and then lose focus. On the other hand we sometimes come up with a plan and obsess. So what is the happy median? Check out the ten laws of focus. I hope that it helps you like it did me!


1.	Your Focus Needs to be Simple and Clear
	Think transparent. What you are aiming for should be obvious. Ambiguity has no place in your success.

2.	Your Focus Needs to be Memorable
	Your mind should be stimulated by the smallest of coincidences, even if you are not thinking about your goals at the time.

3.	Your Focus Needs to be Powerful
	Power comes from clarity. The clearer you are about what you want, the more personal power you develop and the more energized you are to achieve it.

4.	Your Focus Needs an Enemy
	At each moment you are moving either toward or away from your goals. In addition to your desires, the things that move you away such as bad habits, competition, or the threat of mediocrity are the enemies you need in order to keep you motivated to do right or better.

5.	Your Focus Needs Short and Long Term Objectives
	Long-term focus and planning is more about understanding the consequences and impact of short-term focus and decisions than about long term decisions themselves. You need a healthy respect and understanding of the two.

6.	Your Focus Will Not Appeal to Everybody
	Successful is different to each individual. Don't be surprised if you receive resistance to your goals. Better yet, expect it!

7.	Your Focus Will Not Be Instantly Successful
	Life is a process, not an event. Maintain reasonable expectations. Rome wasn't built in a day, and they were using local talent.

8.	Your Focus is Not a Product
	The hand can not touch your focus, only your heart. Concentrate on the benefits received, the feeling enjoyed. That's what matters most!

9.	Your Focus Does Not Come Without a Price
	Success requires many things, sacrifice is one of them. Be prepared do what you have to do to achieve your goals.

10.	Your Focus is Not Forever
	Everything changes. There is a shelf life, even to your goals.

Family Reunion

2008-07-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

We all love family reunions right? I know that they can sometimes be boring, and heck we don't even know half of the folks there, but they are important. This weekend was the Fields Family Reunion in Amarillo.

We went to the Ashmore Inn and then off to River Breaks Ranch. I was shocked. It was a great time. They had a wagon ride, and as we went bouncing through the canyon they pushed cattle behind us. Then the highlight of the night was some horse racing. Kaitlyn and Caden both had a blast, and I have to admit I was feeling that this would all be corny...but it wonderful. Here are some pictures from a great weekend.

This is Steph's Grand Father's old farm truck. Pretty cool!

My little cowgirl!

Caden thought that the wagon ride was pretty cool.

The kids were waiting patiently on the fence for the races.

Why Practice?

2008-07-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods. This guy is simply amazing. Tiger seems to distance his self from his competition time after time. So what puts him above the others? One word...practice. The day after he won the Masters the guy was back out on the practice range. Although he had won......he was not satisfied.

Many of us tend to get satisfied too easily. We forget to practice. This practice can be applicable to all jobs. We must not get complacent and we must continue to get better. So today go get better at what you do.

Check out this video of Tiger. He was filming a Nike commercial a few years ago and was just messing around in between shoots. Well him messing around actually became the commercial.

Side note-I actually got to see Tiger a few years ago. He was playing in Dallas at the Byron Nelson. Steph was with me, and to her pleasure Tiger hit a shot right by where we were standing. We actually had to back up to make room for him to come hit his next shot. I think she would have left me for him that day. It was a good thing she remembered how good looking I am or she would have bolted.

Did We Earn It?

2008-07-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she took all of the desks out of the classroom.

The kids came into first period, they walked in, there were no desks. They obviously looked around and said, "Ms. Cothren, where's our desk?" And she said, "You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn them."

They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades."

"No," she said. "Maybe it's our behavior."

And she told them, "No, it's not even your behavior."

And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing. Third period. By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in Ms. Cothren's class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom.

The last period of the day, Martha Cothren gathered her class. They were at this time sitting on the floor around the sides of the room. And she says, "Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily." She said, "Now I'm going to tell you."

Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans , wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall. And by the time they had finished placing those desks, those kids for the first time I think perhaps in their lives understood how they earned those desks.

Martha said, "You don't have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it's up to you to sit here responsibly to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk, and don't ever forget it."

I forget too often the sacrifices that so many people made for our freedom. As an educator I love what Ms. Cothren did....what an impact that she made on her students...have a great day!

Confident?

2008-07-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

So how confident are you? Do you question yourself daily? From time to time we have all questioned something that we are doing or attempting to do. I remember right before I stood in front of 330 kids at Childress High School as their new Principal I asked myself,"Am I ready for this." One sure thing is that you can't fool kids. They will sniff you out quick. I had to present Toby Tucker and the PRIDE Program to them in a confident way. Thankfully the kids along with the teachers bought in to what we were doing and we had two great years.

So what about you? How is your confidence? Take two minutes to look at this short chart. Be honest with yourself about your answers and see where your confidence level is.

Self-Confident	Low Self-Confidence
Doing what you believe to be right, even if others mock or criticize you for it.	Governing your behavior based on what other people think.
Being willing to take risks and go the extra mile to achieve better things.	Staying in your comfort zone, fearing failure and so avoid taking risks.
Admitting your mistakes and vowing to learn from them.	Working hard to cover up mistakes and praying that you can fix the problem before anyone is the wiser.
Waiting for others to congratulate you on your accomplishments.	Extolling your own virtues as often as possible to as many people as possible.
Accepting compliments graciously. “Thanks, I really worked hard on that prospectus. I’m pleased you recognize my efforts.”	Dismissing compliments offhandedly. “Oh that prospectus was nothing really, anyone could have done it.”

Take care and have a confident day!

New Blog

2008-07-20T20:28:00.001-07:00

Check out the Red River Runners Club blog. http://redriverrunnersclub.blogspot.com
Here you can find out information about club events, race results, upcoming races, training advice, etc. Please spread it around to all of our running friends.

Also, thanks to those of you who made the Full of Bull 5k a HUGE success. Look for more great things from the runners club in the future.

Hunting With The Boys!

2008-07-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Being a lover of the outdoors it is simply a thrill to take my kids along and let them experience mother nature. Some of the best memories I have of my childhood are hunting with my dad and granddad. I hope that my kids will learn to love the outdoors as I have.

As most of my friends know, my buddy KP and I love to make hunting videos on the side. We title them Fat Boy Hunting. They are usually low quality and high comedy....at least to us. We had a chance this week to take our boys, along with a our good friend Kirk Stephens and his two boys, out to the country. We attempted to hunt coyotes. We did not see any coyotes, probably due to the smell of Rice Krispie treats and Capri Sun.

As usual I took the video camera along and some of the footage was just too cute to pass up. So I thought that this would be a great time to add the kids to a hunting video. So I present to you Fat Boy Hunting.
Live Videos provided by Ustream.TV

Celebrate What You Have Done!

2008-07-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

This advice came across my desk today and I wanted to pass it on, and it is very simple.

Celebrate what you have done in your life.

Think about your life so far, and list the ten best things you’ve achieved in an “Achievement Log.” Perhaps you came in first in an event, played a key role in an important team, did something great at work, did something that made a key difference in someone else’s life, or your celebration might relate straight to family.

Put these into a list, which you can look at often. And then spend a few minutes each week enjoying the success you’ve already had!

So after some thought.....here is mine...in no particular order.

Raising a growing family with a wonderful woman (I am lumping everything family here)
Regaining control of my own body
Creating the PRIDE Program
Getting my Masters degree
Playing college football
Becoming an Assistant Superintendent
Marrying way above my head
Making special education students smile
Having a great relationship with my parents and in-laws
Coaching the Wheeler Mustangs, being selected as Coach of the Year, and selected to coach in the Canada-America All-Star Football game twice.

So take five minutes and post your celebration list. I would love to see your responses. We might all learn about each other. Just put it on your own blog or in the comments. Take care!

The Road!

2008-07-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

Maybe a different title for a blog entry, but during our life our journey will take us down many roads. On these roads we will have to make decisions, work with others, deal with struggles, endure hardships, and manage success. Are you currently on the road that you want to be on? If not, when and where did your detour happen? What has caused you not to get back on track? I am attaching a clip today from one of my favorite movies. O' Brother Where Art Thou. In this clip the guys deal will all of the things that I mentioned above. When you watch this you can probably relate several parts of their conversation to things that we deal with daily. Establishing leadership, falling down on the job, debate, and straddling the fence. What I like most about this clip is the old man on the train tracks at the end. What he says is something that all of us must think about. So today...think about your road....if you are off track...find the map that will get you headed the right direction.

Conquering the Canyon!

2008-07-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Check out this picture. Is that beautiful or what? That is the Palo Duro Canyon located just south of Claude. On Saturday I set out to run the entire canyon, 9.33 miles. To really understand how big a deal that is...check out the picture and watch the road wind all the way across this magnificent landscape. (click on it to really see it) This picture was taken from the finish line. We began where you can see the top of the canyon on the horizon.

My friend Jason Horton talked me into this race. When I started really running in March I had never considered anything other than 5k's. Jason assured me that I could make it. So I sent my money in to run this race so I couldn't back out. 9 miles is a long ways.....what the heck were we thinking?

So Jason picks me up about 6:00 am and we head for Claude. We were both jittery like little girls. When we got the canyon it was even worse. I could hardly pin on my race number I was so nervous. When we finally got started I didn't really know what pace to set to go for 9 miles. The furthest I had ever ran to that point was 7. So I was just guessing on a pace that I could keep up over the entire run.

As we dropped off the Canyon I think that we were both blown away. I had driven that road many times...but never really got to look at how amazing the sight was. Jason said it best, "spiritual." Miles 1 through 6 were pretty uneventful. We kept a great pace and really didn't get tired. Of course we were running down hill most of the way...then comes mile 6. We had to run back up this monster.

The best way to explain like this....people were dropping like flies. Most were walking...some flat out stopping...others were getting picked up because they were too tired to finish. I was determined when I started this race that I would not walk. Something inside my head just kept telling me to keep going. And keep going I did.....all the way to the top. I finished in an 1:42.00. The feeling at the top was wonderful. Thanks to all of my friends and family who called to check on me after the race. Your encouragement was awesome. Here are some pictures from the celebration at the top.

Jason and I at the top.
Steph and the kids. It is always so great to see them after a race!
The Tucker's and the Horton's. Pretty good looking families.

So I will end the blog today like this. If you have the ability to do something...whatever it is....go do it. I am so glad that I got my rear off of the couch a few months ago. By getting in the gym and on the road I feel that I have changed my life. Have a great day and keep it positive.

Happy Birthday!

2008-07-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

I just can't believe it.....Kaitlyn turns 5 today and Caden turns 3 tomorrow! They are just growing up too quick. I am so proud of both of these kids. Today I simply want to post some of my favorite pictures of them growing up over the years.

Daddy's Girl

Nice Hair

Not real happy about this snow thing!

The boys being silly
Nice goggles
The sweetest picture ever!
Pa and Caden

Easter SundaySuccessful hunt

I am very thankful for the last 5 years...raising kids is tons of fun.....and now with the addition of Colt.....things could really get exciting.

Pumpkin Funeral

2008-07-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

My mom loves this story and I thought that I would share it. In 2001 I taught functional skills special education in Grand Prairie, TX. Most of my students had some form of mental retardation, but all could function.

When Halloween came around I thought that it would be great for the kids to get to carve pumpkins. Then the thought of knives and special ed students came to my head.....so instead I had the kids color the pumpkins with their design, and I did the carving....25 of them. I never knew carving pumpkins could wear a person out so much.

When all was said and done the PRIDE that the kids showed was amazing. They loved their pumpkins. Now this is where the story takes a twist. It was Friday and instead of taking their pumpkins home we left them in the classroom over the weekend so we could take a picture for the local paper on Monday.

My classroom had skylights and and with my poor judgment we put the pumpkins right under the skylights. That weekend the temperature soared to the 90's and when I arrived to school on Monday morning and went to open my door I could smell a foul odor. When I opened the door I almost passed out. The pumpkins had reduced to smoosh and the classroom was covered with gnats. The kids walked in and were devastated.

So what were we to do....well we had a pumpkin funeral. I played amazing grace over the computer and we all grabbed our pumpkins and started walking down the hall. At this time the kids were wailing and crying as they were going through the school, in a single file line, carrying a smooshed pumpkin(quite the sight). The principal looked at me like I was crazy...but I knew what to do next. As we were at the dumpster each kid got to say something about their pumpkin. It would usually go like this...

Student-(crying)"I love you pumpkin....you were the best pumpkin that I have ever had." One by one they said their peace about their pumpkin and we went back to class.

So what is the point? It is this....we made an impact on these kids by doing something simple. Had they not cared about their pumpkins and the effort that they had put into them, then their reaction to their demise would have been different. We never know when those little things that we do will have a huge impact....DON'T FORGET THE LITTLE THINGS!

Those kids loved those pumpkins....the were the best they ever had. Have a great day and keep it positive.

Burn The Boats!

2008-07-08T19:52:00.000-07:00

Got your attention? I want to blog about fear....the fear of failure and letting that fear get in the way of our own success.

Too many talented people are afraid to let their talents be shown. Fear of failure destroys success! Fear of failure is closely related to fear of criticism and fear of rejection. Successful people overcome their fear of failure. Fear incapacitates unsuccessful people.

The fear of failure also holds talented people below their potential. What potential do you possess that you are not taking advantage of? If you have potential that is being wasted you are sabotaging your success. Here is an interesting story on success...and a bit of a history lesson.

Burn the boats - When ancient Greek armies traveled across the sea to do battle, the first thing they would do after landing was to burn the boats, leaving them stranded. With no way to make it home besides victory, the resolve of the soldiers was strengthened. When success and failure are the only options, you have no choice but to follow through.

My wish for you today is to burn your boat......make success your only option. Take care...and keep it positive.

Fuel For Your Fire

2008-07-07T16:11:00.000-07:00

We have officially reached the dog days of summer. Most of us are out of our normal routines and if you are like me...routine is what I thrive on. This is the time of year that we all need some extra fuel for our fire. So what does it take for you? Ask yourself this question....

Are you happy with what you accomplished in your life today?
If not...what is it going to take to make yourself happy?

We never know how many days we will get, so we must re-fuel! Today lets all go out and build that fire! I am including a short video that was the perfect spark to re-light mine..take care and keep it positive!

Competing Against Myself

2008-07-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

I turned in a personal best Saturday. I ran my fastest 5k yet, 23:10. It is funny that winning in these races doesn't matter.....it is competing against myself! When you sit back and think about our daily lives we do this a lot. We compete against ourselves. I truly believe that self motivation is what leads to personal success.

I didn't get that statement from someone who is a so called expert. I truly believe it, and it is so simple! So are you self motivated? If your not these might be the reasons.

Lack of confidence - If you don’t believe you can succeed, what’s the point in trying?
Lack of focus - If you don’t know what you want, do you really want anything?
Lack of direction - If you don’t know what to do, how can you be motivated to do it?

Confidence, focus, direction.....seems pretty simple. So why do we struggle to self motivate? Out of those three words I believe that direction is the most important. So many people simply don't know what they want in their life. They stumble around from one thing to another...and really are not happy with anything. (jobs, relationships, diets, etc)

My wish for you today is simple. I hope that you find what it takes to be self motivated. My motivation lately is to be healthy. I will take my competition against myself further than ever next Saturday as I run the Palo Duro Canyon 15K....that is 9 miles....and the last two are all up hill! If I put confidence, focus, and direction all together on that day I know that I will be successful. Good luck in the daily competition against yourself!

Shameless Plug

2008-07-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

My buddy Ryan Mills and I will be doing broadcasts throughout the year on childressisd.net. We made our first preview show yesterday and it went pretty well. I am really excited about the potential that our new technology at school allows us to have. We have a couple of plans.

A live wrap-up show online on game night covering the Bobcats and other area towns
Weekly preview shows
Replay Bobcat football games on the Internet the day following games(UIL rules prohibit live football broadcast)
Live basketball games throughout the year
Gain sponsorships...then let that money go directly into specific projects in technology for our school

This is a preview of our first show. To see the whole show you will have to go to www.childressisd.net. Ryan and I might just be the best looking Internet Broadcasters in Childress....the problem is that we are the only ones in Childress.......take care and have a great 4th.

It's Only A Ring?

2008-07-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

Ok....I am guilty....it happened....I lost my wedding ring! While moving some sticks in the yard I was sweeping the grass with my hands...all of the sudden my wedding ring goes sailing through the air. Oh the horror. I was turned backwards and didn't see where it landed. If you have been to our yard you know that we have tons of greenery and finding it would be like finding a needle in a hay stack.

So as I am feeling bare without my ring I start to think.....why is it that ring so important? Here is a quick list of thoughts that went through my head....

It is the physical acknowledgment of my love for Stephanie
It was on my hand when I held my wife's hand as she brought our children into the world
It is a reminder of commitment
That ring has been on my hand for 7 years, and I want to die with that ring on my hand

So at this point I am officially sick......but I have a buddy named KP...and you know he always has a solution. In this case it was in the form of a metal detector. He brought it by and told me that he had no clue how to work it...but good luck..then he left.(thanks a lot pal) A quick trip to Wal Mart for batteries and I was out in the yard. Inch by inch I went until.......
....BEEEEP...I stopped...dug around...and.....I found it under some leaves..........WOW!

It is amazing that the simple little things in our lives can mean so much. I am very thankful that I get to wear that ring to bed tonight with my wife by my side. Something as small as a ring...can leave a huge void in your life. What are your voids????? They may not be as easy to fill as a ring lost in your yard...but it takes effort to fill them.....are you willing to put forth the effort?

Pieces to the Puzzle

2008-07-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

Daily in our lives we are all faced with pieces to the puzzle. I look at the pieces like this. Remember the old days when we were kids when we would get that huge 1000 piece puzzle from an Aunt or Uncle for Christmas? Well that is the way the way that one could look at life.....tons of pieces, and it will take you a lifetime to finish.

In our lives some piece will fit, others will not. We all have to figure out the pieces and place them in the right spots to be successful in what ever we do. If you are not happy with your life now or what direction you are going it might be because you are trying to force a piece into the puzzle where it doesn't fit. Remember that each piece has a purpose......and we only get one chance to finish this puzzle called life!

Happy Family

2008-06-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

Do you have a happy family? I know that seems like an easy question for some of us, and a difficult one for others, but it is a question that we have to ask ourselves....am I happy with my family?

I have to say it...I am so lucky! I have a wife that puts up with me and two great kids that I love a ton. If you extend the family on out both Steph and I have great parents and wonderful and healthy siblings. So we are lucky. But what if you are not happy with your family....what can you do to make it a happy one.....well here are five tips.(not original...although I agree with each of them 100%)

Happy Family Secret No. 1: Enjoy Each Other

Happy Family Secret No. 2: Swap Stories

Happy Family Secret No. 3: Put the Marriage First

Happy Family Secret No. 4: Break Bread Together

Happy Family Secret No. 5: Play Together

It seems very simple....although even happy families forget these simple secrets from time to time. I was very lucky that when I was growing up my parents and family did all of these things. It still carries over when we get together now. So I challenge you to take time today to look and reflect on these five steps.....good luck and keep it positive.

Traditions!

2008-06-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

On most occasions when you hear the word tradition it is associated with sports and success. People and places without tradition are usually not successful. To me traditions are more important at home. These are usually simple things that you don't think about often, but do all of the time, and your kids will end up passing along to their kids.

These traditions can be as simple as saying prayers each night, to saying the blessing before meals, to holiday traditions. Steph and I have some traditions with our kids that we think are important. Here are a few of them.

-Holding hands and saying the blessing before each meal
-Prayers and a book before bed
-When we eat biscuits we have a special chicken that we put them in to keep them warm
-Breakfast at the Dairy Queen after church in Groom
-My dad and I hunting together each year
-Sitting in the same place at church every week
-Caden and Kaitlyn always opening the same side of the gate when we go to the ranch
-Drinking coffee out of my Winnie the Pooh cup(I know...I know...but true)

The word tradition comes from the Latin word traditio which means "to hand down" or "to hand over."

I am attaching a clip from Fiddler On The Roof that talks about tradition. My favorite part is when he says,"I will tell you how this tradition got started..........I don't know." I am sure that most of use don't know how traditions actually got started. I think that even makes them more special. Another thing funny about this clip is that you can relate the characters in the movie to people that we all know.

I challenge each of you to think about what traditions you are handing over to your children or family. A strong tradition is very important.

ps....put a comment and tell others what your traditions are

I Tried To Do My Best Job!

2008-06-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

I love feel good stories...and ones about sports(in my opinion) are even better. Max Ramirez plays baseball for the Texas Rangers. A week ago he was playing minor league ball with no intention of making it to the big leagues this season. That was until the starting catcher (Gerald Laird) came up lame with a pulled muscle in his leg. Max got the call and to his surprise ended up in the starting line up against rival Houston Wednesday night. Not only did he play.....he ended up hitting the game winning home run. The story at this point may seem a little lame...and things like this happen all of the time, but it is what Max said after the game that got my attention.

"I can't believe it," Ramirez said. "It was so exciting. My first home run, my first game behind the plate, a really good game. I felt good behind the plate. I tried to do my best job."

Wow......I tried to do my best job. To me that is an awesome quote. Now take that quote and apply it to your life. Do your best job. We might not have an opportunity as exciting as Max's, but the truth is you never know when you are going to hit a home run. If you don't give a great effort daily, you will strike out for sure. So go out today and give it your all.....BATTER UP!

Random Acts of Kindness

2008-06-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

I know that I was supposed to talk more on motivation today....but this will post will hopefully motivate you to do something nice for another person. Today I was totally blown away by two random acts of kindness. The story goes like this...today I went to get our mail and had a letter from a family friend. The letter goes like this:

"Dear Toby and Stephanie, I have been thinking about you this week-can't imagine the kind of clean up involved after a tornado! Here is a little something in the way of support. It isn't much but it will buy some cleaning supplies or some
temporary window coverings. I guess a bit of cleaning looks good knowing that all of you are safe and sound."

Inside of the envelope was a $25 Wal Mart gift card. I was blown away. Later on in the afternoon my cell phone rings and it is my brother in law. He tells me that his father wants to give us $500 to help out with the clean up effort. I tell him although that is appreciated it is not needed......he then tells me that his dad wants me to give it to someone who does need it. WOW.......Now I am really feeling in awe! $500 to give to a total stranger. Amazing. I have a person in mind who had no insurance and we will go get their windows with the $500 tomorrow.

These two actions made me think....What the heck am I doing to help out? I am now MOTIVATED to do for others more than myself. I challenge anyone who reads this blog to do a kind deed for someone. The power of a simple random act can go a long way!

Are You Motivated?

2008-06-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

Are you motivated in your life? If not...why? I recently had some motivation thrown my way. I love it when someone doubts me...so I am now ready to re-motivate. Let's face it...we have all been less that motivated at one point in our life. It is important to make the decision to change your outlook and move forward. More on motivation tomorrow...but as you ponder what motivates you, enjoy a laugh with a short clip. PS. I showed this clip to the staff at high school one faculty meeting after I had been sort of hard on them. It was good to break the ice and enjoy a good laugh....but this guy would for sure motivate me!

Change

2008-06-23T12:46:00.001-07:00

CHANGE...This is a word that has been said many times when talking about the Tucker's over the last couple of months. There are several things in our life that are changing right now...job, kids, tornado, etc. I have found that most people are absolutely terrified of this word.

So what is it about change that is so scary. I hate this phrase, "Well that is the way we have always done it." To me that statement makes no sense. Many wrongs have taken place over time due to that statement. So why do we as educated people stand for that old mindset? I think for some of us it is fear. The fear of saying something that is going to ruffle feathers, upset, or challenge the system. For others it is respect. I was taught long ago to make sure and respect people. I think that respect sometimes hinders change. We don't really say what we think. Here are some things to think about when dealing with change:

Change is more complicated to sustain then to initiate.
Successful change seldom starts at the top.
Learning is essential to change...those who change learn.
Change efforts almost always accomplish something different from what was intended.

So I challenge each of you to be brave when dealing with change. Ask yourself this question....Am I afraid of change...and if so why?

Why?

2008-06-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

I seem to sometimes focus on things in my life that I can't control. I am sure that most humans tend to do this. We have all asked from time to time why? Wow what a question. In the school business you hear this question a lot. The crazy thing is that it comes from both sides. Why can't we, why did you, etc. On my jog today I thought about the magical word why.

So let's talk about why. Why do we do the things that we do? Why do we choose to not change things in our life, especially when we are the ones in control? No matter what path you choose in life, at times it can be difficult. The best way to get through it (and keep smiling in the process) is to be clear on your "whys". Why did you start doing what you're doing? Why are you still doing what you're doing? And why should you keep doing what you're doing? Be honest with yourself. There's a lot of power in your answers.

Try This:

1. Take a few minutes alone in a quiet room.
2. Honestly answer the 3 "why" questions above (this can be a good exercise even if you think you already know the answers - new ideas show up all the time).
3. Use your answers to get clearer on your purpose.
4. Reconnect with that purpose everyday.
5. Repeat this exercise regularly.

The great thing about this quiz...if you don't feel like you are getting the answers that you want...there is only one person to blame. We are all in control of our life...and folks...we only get one shot at this thing...so make the most of it....WHY NOT????

Foxy!

2008-06-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever just stopped for a minute to think how lucky we are in Childress to have the Fox Clinic and CRMC? We are so fortunate not only to have that facility, but an aggressive administration, board, and doctors who keep us all healthy and on the cutting edge in medical treatment. I must admit....I would have never thought about having a child in Childress before we moved here. With this new baby(Colt) we have had no doubts about the care that we will receive.

I recently had a bit of a scare...won't go into what it was....but I called the clinic, talked to Dr. Green's nurse, and she said, "Get up here now and we will work you in." I would bet a hamburger that in Amarillo that wouldn't happen. Dr. Green came in and luckily nothing was wrong, but it just made me realize how lucky we are here in Childress. CRMC and Fox clinic, along with the people who work there are a positive part of our community. Thank the Lord for what we have here in Childress.

I Am So Chicken!

2008-06-19T06:24:00.000-07:00

About 2:30 last night another storm came into Childress. It only brought rain this time, but I must admit..I was a big ole chicken. Steph and I both popped up when the thunder boomed...I grabbed the laptop to look at the radar to see it was just rain. We had to put some towels and trash cans out where the skylights leaked and then snuggled back into bed. I couldn't believe I was so stinking chicken though.....so for today's post you get facts about chickens. I know I am sort of goofy, but we have to keep this blog interesting....enjoy.

-The chicken can travel up to 9 miles per hour.
-There are more chickens than people in the World.
-The closest living relative of the Tyrannosaurus Rex is the chicken.
-According to a local ordinance, in Gainesville, Georgia it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork.
-Not only does China have the most people, it also has the most horses (10,000,000) and the most chickens – more than 3,000,000,000 of them.(that is billion with a B)
-Chickens have been tested to see how they react to human faces. The ones they prefer are consistent with human sexual preferences. In other words chickens like beautiful people best.

So now you have some useless chicken trivia...take care, and keep it positive!