Once a Coyote, Always a Coyote

I had fully intended to put pictures on my blog from Christmas… and perhaps I still will do so; however, while I was doing some research online I found an article that made my day… I just had to share!

It appears that in August of this year the Wichita Falls High School Coyotes were named the “All Time Greatest” football team in the history of the state of Texas by Texas Monthly Magazine. (I smiled too!)

Apparently the statistics were based on all records taken since High School football began. Who wouldn’t wonder that Old High, my alma mater, would have been somewhere near the very top of the list if for no other reason that the school is well over 100 years old. The great ‘red-and-black from coyote land’ is a North Texas legend.

(And for those of you who are wondering- yes this list of great schools was based on FOOTBALL! After all, this is Texas, home to the Bible belt, southern rock, big hairdos, and pig skins- all of our school success is measured in football. You yourself know that every time you hear your alma mater has won a game a small sense of pride beats somewhere inside.)

Old High has won six state titles and four of them were in a row. The Coyotes have been runners up four times for the state championship and have had a total of 45 district championships. FOURTY FIVE! This list of accomplishments put Old High almost 100 points ahead of the second runner-up, Plano High School.

There will be many people who will look at the last few years and say that “The High School” has lost its glory. Maybe it doesn’t shine as bright as it used to, but when you look across the pages of history- only one school towers above the rest; she is clothed in red and black.

For those of you who want to know, here is the list of the top 20 schools as ranked by Texas Monthly.

Ranked Number 3 is LaMarque; 4 Amarillo; 5 Abilene; 6 Odessa Permian; 7 Brownwood; 8 Celina; 9 Converse Judson; 10 Cuero; 11 Southlake Carroll; 12 Stamford; 13 Garland; 14 Katy; 15 Sealy; 16 Sonora; 17 Waco; 18 Austin Reagan; 19 Stephenville; 20 Midland Lee.

One of the small little joys that I have is that ‘other’ schools were not mentioned at all. I would mention who those ‘other’ schools are, but to do so would be mentioning them myself, and I kind of like the fact that they are not mentioned at all!

All of this reminds me of our senior class yell, “Fame and Fortune will be our legend, Senior class of ’97!”

Hail to Our Colors
Hail to Our School
We’ll Back You Forever
That is Our Rule, Together
Onward to Victory
Onward to Fame
In Winning or Losing
We’ll Honor Your Name!

Say it Loud
Say it Clear
We’re THE HIGH SCHOOL
And We’re Proud!

December

A Dialogue First

Well, here it is. The very FIRST Dialogue slide show! Who would have thought that you would be viewing a slideshow here on The Dialogue?

I am entitling this show, ‘December’. I took Sis. Elms comment to heart about a new camera and bought myself a Christmas present. Here are the pictures of my December moments.

The first event I had my camera at was our annual Lifesavers Christmas Outing. This year we decorated cookies and took them to the elderly in our church after we caroled at their door. You will not be able to view any of these photos as I accidentally deleted them (Hadn’t read the handbook yet!).

Since there are no pictures from Lifesavers, we start with our church Christmas Fellowship. This year we had it at the church. It was possibly one of the most fun times we have had. The Fellowship Hall was all decorated and everything was very nice, relaxed, and enjoyable. Thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Next, you will see pictures of the Angel Tree wrapping. This year we gave gifts to 29 children. That means that we had 58 cards on our tree. We wrapped well over 200 gifts in four hours. Sis. Kassie did an excellent job organizing the event again this year. I don’t think we had ever given to that many children before. This past Sunday night she got up and told the church just some of the stories of some of the families we gave to. I think this particular ministry has become a highlight for many at Life Tabernacle.

Finally there are pictures of our Christmas Party. Lynn and Kim Dutton and I, Jason and Misty Mercer and Priscilla, Eddie and Ashley Jordan and Kassie, hosted a Progressive Christmas Party for the mid twenty/thirty crowd (Kinda’ weird to be in that group).

We all met a Jason and Misty’s for appetizers. They had everything from stuffed mushrooms, fried feta pastries, and the best eggnog I have ever had. Next, we headed to my house where Kim and I had made the evening’s entrée. We had two choices: Four Cheese Manicotti in Marinara, or Shrimp Stuffed Shells in Crab Newburg. We also offered Garden Salad or Minestrone Soup with Crusted Bread.

Finally we ended the evening at Eddie and Ashley’s where Ashley had made a wonderful Peppermint Cake and several caramel dipped marshmallows confected with coconut, almonds, and many other goodies. Kassie had also made her famous butter milk pies. We stuffed ourselves with deserts and had cider and sparkling grape juice.

There are also some other odds and ends thrown into the mix. I hope you enjoy!

The Other Endorsement

Usually I am only concerned with one opinion- mine. Our faithful readers know that as of recently we have hired a new member to work with us here at The Dialogue. After my most recent post- concerning the Official Endorsement of The Dialogue for President of the United States, I was informed by our staff (the only other member) that not everyone shares the same political stance as I.

After taking a few days to think it over, I have decided to allow the ‘other’ staff member to share her view on her own personal Endorsement for President of the United States. All readers need to be aware that the following is NOT an endorsement by The Dialogue. With that said, I give you Miss. Coleman.

*******From the Desk of Aprelle Coleman*******

Greetings!

What a political race we have had so far this term! I agree with Joseph that those running seem to have been running since November four years ago; however, that is where our agreement stops.

I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I will be casting my vote for Hillary this year. For more than 200 years men have been in control of our country. Look where it has gotten us? It is time for a woman- and I underscore the woman. Mrs. Clinton is an already proven leader from her last time term office, and let's face it; the Whitehouse needs the China back.

Speaking of China…

What America has always needed is a small ‘trimming’ of her grossly gluttonous liberties. Mrs. Clinton is an avid supporter of the world community and with so many ideas we ‘couldn’t afford them all’, Mrs. Clinton will usher America into a new age of socialistic security like never before.
On November 5, 2008 your vote needs to be for Clinton!

Hugs & Kisses,

Aprelle*

Now Is The Time

I, like every other American, hate the idea that the current Presidential race started the day our last elected President took office. It is hard to believe that this four year primary is approaching an end; nevertheless, it is.

So many people seem to be so tired of the continuous politics. It seems like every election lately is ‘the most important election of our time.’ Why is that?

My personal philosophy is because our world is sliding so quickly into decay. For all of her problems, America is still- by far (and that is not saying much these days)- the most Christian nation on earth. It is a constant struggle to keep her that way.

There are forces at work within our Nation that would seek to see her raped on the altar of humanism and socialism. It is our duty as Americans to fight with the only real voice we have, our vote, to see that this evil agenda is not accomplished.

So, no matter how tired you are of the politics- no matter how much you wish it would all go away. Now is the time to start paying attention. Now is the time to start tuning in. Why? Because the most important thing that happens in this year’s election will not start with the general election but will begin over the next few weeks in individual states at party primaries. Why? –Because that is where your voice matters most.

Out of the candidates available to vote for, only one candidate deserves your vote. This is not an opinion as much as it is a matter of morality. Never before has the Christian vote been this clear. Never before has one candidate so closely aligned themselves with, and I use a personal reference, my own personal Christian convictions and faith.

Before you turn away, before you say; “He’s too Christian”, “The general public will never vote for someone that religious”, “He will never get elected”, find yourself a mirror and honestly say that another candidate is more qualified for the job of leading a Christian Nation.

I have heard many people comment on how Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister and current Senator, is too religious to be President of the United States. After all, he publicly states that he believes in God, the Genesis account of creation, and that God should remain at the center of American government. How crazy is that?

Well, for starters, not as crazy as me. I believe in the Genesis account as well (as do most Americans when polled). I also believe in God (as do upwards of 90% of Americans). But I get even crazier! I also believe that the spirit of God can fill you up and cause you to speak in a language that you have never learned or spoken before in your life!

In fact, this past Sunday I taught a Sunday school lesson on how the Bible- that old historic book with accounts of the prophet Jesus (who I happen to believe was God manifest in the flesh)- is a sword for us to combat Satan (the guy who I believe the be the enemy of all mankind who is out to destroy the world). Call me crazy.

The fact is if Mike Huckabee is too Christian for me then something doesn’t add up. Out of all of the candidates running for President he is consistently the only one who exemplifies the Christian qualities that should always be part of any President.

Will he win? Who knows? But I plan on voting in my Primary to make sure he at least has a chance… and I believe you ought to do the same. Why? –Because I know how much I love my country, I know how much I value her Christianity, I know how much I value her freedom, and I do not want to leave the decision of nominating a candidate to run for President with people who might not care like I do.

If Huckabee does not win the Republican primary, then I will have voted my conscience. I will have cast my vote for the one person who I truly believe would do the very best job as President of the United States, and not just the one who is “likely to win.” (after all, whoever the Republicans vote for will be running against a psycho female or a Muslim… how hard will the win really be?)

So, if you have misplaced your backbone, and are thinking of taking the liberal way out to support someone based upon his/her perceived electability, I am giving you a way to sleep at night again. On March 4, 2008 all Texans will have the opportunity to vote for the individual who is most deserving of the Republican Party’s nomination for President of the United States. On that day there will only be one choice. Be brave enough to let your conscience be your guide… get STUCK on HUCK!

Dialogue Record Entry #8

The Dialogue

Officially Endorses Mike Huckabee

for President of the United States Of America.

This decision is made with the following in mind:

• "My faith is my life - it defines me. My faith doesn't influence my decisions, it drives them."


• "My convictions regarding the sanctity of life have always been clear and consistent, without equivocation or wavering. I believe that Roe v. Wade should be over-turned."


• "I believe that every child should have the opportunity for a quality education that teaches the fundamental skills needed to compete in a global economy."


• "We don't need universal health care mandated by federal edict or funded through ever-higher taxes. We do need to get serious about preventive health care instead of chasing more and more dollars to treat chronic disease, which currently gobbles up 80% of our health care costs, and yet is often avoidable."


• "I'd like you to join me at the best "Going Out of Business" sale I can imagine - one held by the Internal Revenue Service. Am I running for president to shut down the federal government? Not exactly. But I am running to completely eliminate all federal income and payroll taxes."


• "I support and have always supported passage of a federal constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. As President, I will fight for passage of this amendment."


• "My number one priority is to secure America's border. I opposed the amnesty bill that was defeated by the Senate in June."


• "Iraq is a battle in our generational, ideological war on terror. General Petraeus and our troops are giving their all to provide a window of opportunity for the Iraq government to succeed, while the Democrats are running for the exit doors."


• "Radical Islamic fascists have declared war on our country and our way of life. They have sworn to annihilate each of us who believe in a free society, all in the name of a perversion of religion and an impersonal god. We go to great extremes to save lives, they go to great extremes to take them. This war is not a conventional war, and these terrorists are not a conventional enemy. I will fight the war on terror with the intensity and single-mindedness that it deserves."


• "I salute and support Israel as our staunch ally in the War on Terror and our greatest friend in that region."


• "No candidate has a stronger, more consistent record on Second Amendment rights than I do."

Please be encouraged to visit Mike Huckabee's Official Site.

Ouellette Stockings

Here is a picture... my camera phone is not too good with close ups... so this will have to do for all of you who wanted to see a picture of my mantle with the new stockings. (What can I say- Jason got the new digital camera)

To Be Expected

It was being talked about it on the web for days but we here at The Dialogue did not want to appear overly confident in our Poll Analysis Specialist, Miss Coleman. Her nomination was an absolute and her winning of a recent Farley Award was expected.

===================================================

We want to take this moment to express our sincere appreciation to Miss Coleman whose hard work and dedication to the cause have inspired many and helped to propel the Dialogue to new heights in Blogging. Thank you Miss Coleman for all of your work.

Monogrammed Stockings

My stockings arrived today! All of them neatly wrapped in plastic and monogrammed with everyone’s name. I was elated- thus the new blog!

To me there is nothing as special as Christmas traditions. If you do not have any- you’re children- and you- need some. Our family has many.

Opening one gift on Christmas Eve; Reading the Christmas story from Luke & having prayer before opening our gifts on Christmas morning; Having a birthday cake for Jesus (chocolate is His favorite by the way); Getting new ornaments for the tree each year; Hanging the Jerusalem Bell on the top of the tree; Who puts the Angel on the tree; have all been a part of an Ouellette Christmas. These traditions are more precious and important to me now than they have ever been.

You might think that these memories and traditions that my parents kept alive with their children might cause my brother and I so much pain now that they are gone, and in some small way, they do. As much as I will miss my parents this year at Christmas, I am still looking forward to it.

Jason and I have talked about not being afraid to do things new- to make some traditions of our own. I don’t really know why, I think I might, but we are pushed by some deep inner desire to keep our family and its traditions- new and old- alive. Not that everything will be the same this year- it can’t be.

For one, our family Christmas tree had to be trashed. Somehow part of the tree was picked up in a trip to the dump during the moving and cleaning of my parent’s home. (Thank God it was just a tree!) So, the tree in my den is a tiny, scrawny thing that will in no way be able to hold the well over 100 ornaments that represent important memories for each member of our family each year. Oh well, we will make do (I just pray it holds the angel).

The Christmas Story will be read by one of us, and I will be the one needing patience while helping David and Brandon bake a birthday cake for Jesus (pray for me). It will be different for sure- but that is where those stockings come in.

My family was never very big on stockings. Some years we had them, some years we didn’t. I decided this year we would add it to our tradition list.

The boys will all have green and the girls (Julie for now) will have red- and… they are MONOGRAMED! This may all seem so very insignificant to you but it is a big deal to me.

Maybe because it helps me know that we are still a family- that we will live on and that we are doing things with our future in mind. However small I sometimes feel we are- we yet stand. That is a great deal to me.

Everyone wants to know what we will do this year for Christmas. I don’t know what all we will do- but I know that we will do. We will do things. They may be old things and they may be our own new things- but we will do them and we will do them as a family. I am looking forward to doing things with my family Christmas Day.

Thank you Mom and Dad for putting in me something that causes me to look forward to doing things with our family.