Wow, I can't believe how time passes by. Life is incredibly busy but I would not change it one bit! So the last time I entered a blog was about Eldon writing and researching a paper on his Great Grandfather, Donald Wendal Miller. A lot has happened since then, so here is an update.
Eldon graduated from Jackson Middle School and is eager to attend high school. He is growing like a weed, and at this point has a couple more inches to pass me to be the tallest in the immediate family. He stands straight and tall and loving that he has passed his older brother in height. He looks forward to the day he can take him down in a one on one match in wrestling. But remember boys, "Not in the house, you could hurt each other:)"
Hayden is now attending Lincoln high school for his senior year. He is eager to help contribute to the Cardinal Baseball program. He had the highest batting average of .425 for this summer season. Both boys have been busy with full baseball schedules this summer and helping pack and get ready for our big move to our new "office looking house."
Coach Herder is excited to be the head coach of Lincoln Baseball. Ever since I met him he has been involved in coaching baseball. We met over 20 years ago, I was turning 21 and he was 23. He spent his summers volunteering endless hours coaching youth in the Jackson Babe Ruth program. Ever since the age of 16 he has helped coach a team. Now at age 43, he has coached our boys all these years through t-ball and Federal Junior baseball and beyond. He has carried up to 4 teams at various times, and recently volunteered his time with 5th grade boys, which many were from the 5th graders he taught. I hope one day Hayden and Eldon you will see and value what your father and I feel sports give youth. We both feel sports give you perseverance, a great support group of friends, and instilling how to be active and healthy for life.
As for the dream house we are building.......It has taken a little longer than anticipated to have our house built, but it will be worth the long wait. The recent recession has hit a lot of builders and people hard, but we are very pleased at our final outcome, and hope to be in it before school starts.
As for the Wilson Trojan Junior Baseball Federal team, they went to play-offs to defend their state title and did a fine job of it, too. We lost to Lake Oswego by one run and came in 2nd. The Trojans had a great season and we wish all the ball players the very best as they attend various schools and continue their baseball. I want to thank the team for sharing their head coach during such a crucial time while he came to Skokie, Illinois to be a part of my dreams. I had an incredible week at the Mrs. International pageant, though I did not bring the crown home, the experience, the growth, the memories and friends will be forever with me. To my dearest husband Rob Herder, thank you for giving me this great opportunity, I love you.
So, as summer comes to a close, ( we have about 2 and half weeks before school starts up again,) our family is busy with getting our Ranch home ready for market, trying to stay cool during our record breaking days of 106 degrees F, and connecting with family and friends. I am excited for school to start, I have moved into a larger classroom and have lots of space to store the Hawaiian costumes and instruments for the next Lei day program. Stephenson Elementary is a wonderful place to be, our principal is fabulous with her warm and caring ways, and the staff has been so supportive with my year as Mrs. Oregon International 2009.
People sometimes ask me why I entered the pageant, I tell them that it was perfect timing to be a role model to my boys on how to set a goal, plan and work toward it, then go out and do your best and have a good time. So, to my dearest boys, and to my descendants one day, Remember to Take Risks, we learn and we grow from them, Live Life to the Fullest, and Take the Power to Live your Life the way you want it to be.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Why should I start a blogg?
So, this is my first entry, I thought I would document a piece of the day and the life of Sandra Herder. What made this come around? Well a couple of things, first, my youngest son is a 8th grader this year is working on a huge project called" Peopling of the Nation." This project is a wonderful way of incorporating family ties and history, much is learned from gathering information from family members or anything that was published. He decided to learn more about his Great Grandfather, Donald Wendall Miller. My grandfather was a remarkable man, little did I know how inventive and incredible he was when it came to the H-modified or race-cars of the 1950's. He built 42 cars, 10 chassis and bodies and they are still driven as vintage cars today! As I searched the web for any information on my grandfather, it became apparent to me that technology can bring you information and research, even on my grandfather that I was raised with since age 3, who I knew so little about his building of cars. Perhaps this blog will bring in more information and provide contacts of people who knew him well or have one of his cars today.
Another reason I decided to start my blog is to document my memoirs and daily life for future descendants. I have always been one that was very interested in genealogy and preserving memories and dates of the past. My dad Don Elwood Miller is one that can remember dates of everything from weddings to births, you name it. I created a family tree dating back to my great, great grandparents, but so much has changed since I wrote to family members and collected photos and assembled it all together back in 1991.
Today is February 2nd, 2009, life is busy, but good right now. I'm working full time as a Kindergarten teacher, and absolutely loving my class. There is nothing like the innocence and honesty of 5 and 6 year olds. They say things daily that warm my heart and make me chuckle. Rob continues to teach 5th graders and enjoys his group of kids. He will be taking on a team of 5th grade boys to do a few baseball tournaments along with Eldon's 13/14 year old JBO team. Will they have another state championship year? I'll keep you posted...
My husband and I are building a house of our dreams. Rob has always been into the contemporary, simply and clean design. It is probably his artistic flair and graphic arts background. I can go with it as long as I have the say in the kitchen area:) Our house just recently had black framed windows and siding put on, the electrician is busy at work and we picked out the colors for the exterior of the house. My two teenage boys are becoming independent individuals. I think it is incredibly difficult to parent at times when you see talents that you feel your child should pursue and be lit on fire with, but they seem to be taking a different path. But I have to say this school year has been great with my eldest son driving and growing into a responsible young man that is passionate about staying clean and saying no to drugs and alcohol. He even wrote an essay about it and submitted it to Oregon Partnership. He was going for some scholarship money that was offered, he did not win, but it opened up a deep conversation in our family and I was glad that we talked about the trials of high school. His essay was titled "The life of a teenager today." My youngest boy is spending a lot of time with his dad lately, he loves to challenge him in a few games of ping pong every night. He thrives on winning and beating his dad 2 out of three. Right now he is playing basketball with dad and some parents and kids that get together every week for some "hoop time."
Until next time, remember life is too short, let your loved ones know that you care
and life is good! Count your blessings!
Another reason I decided to start my blog is to document my memoirs and daily life for future descendants. I have always been one that was very interested in genealogy and preserving memories and dates of the past. My dad Don Elwood Miller is one that can remember dates of everything from weddings to births, you name it. I created a family tree dating back to my great, great grandparents, but so much has changed since I wrote to family members and collected photos and assembled it all together back in 1991.
Today is February 2nd, 2009, life is busy, but good right now. I'm working full time as a Kindergarten teacher, and absolutely loving my class. There is nothing like the innocence and honesty of 5 and 6 year olds. They say things daily that warm my heart and make me chuckle. Rob continues to teach 5th graders and enjoys his group of kids. He will be taking on a team of 5th grade boys to do a few baseball tournaments along with Eldon's 13/14 year old JBO team. Will they have another state championship year? I'll keep you posted...
My husband and I are building a house of our dreams. Rob has always been into the contemporary, simply and clean design. It is probably his artistic flair and graphic arts background. I can go with it as long as I have the say in the kitchen area:) Our house just recently had black framed windows and siding put on, the electrician is busy at work and we picked out the colors for the exterior of the house. My two teenage boys are becoming independent individuals. I think it is incredibly difficult to parent at times when you see talents that you feel your child should pursue and be lit on fire with, but they seem to be taking a different path. But I have to say this school year has been great with my eldest son driving and growing into a responsible young man that is passionate about staying clean and saying no to drugs and alcohol. He even wrote an essay about it and submitted it to Oregon Partnership. He was going for some scholarship money that was offered, he did not win, but it opened up a deep conversation in our family and I was glad that we talked about the trials of high school. His essay was titled "The life of a teenager today." My youngest boy is spending a lot of time with his dad lately, he loves to challenge him in a few games of ping pong every night. He thrives on winning and beating his dad 2 out of three. Right now he is playing basketball with dad and some parents and kids that get together every week for some "hoop time."
Until next time, remember life is too short, let your loved ones know that you care
and life is good! Count your blessings!
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