Humbled

This Christmas was much like the most recent years, San Antonio with Andi's family and Abilene with my Mom, Dad and Granddad.

This year marks the third year without my Mother-In-Law, first year without my Granny, 9th year without my Grandma, the 10th Christmas without my lil' sister around, and the 6th Christmas without my lil' brother around.

Andi and I have been honored to host my parents and Granddad two of the last three years in our home in Abilene. It makes sense. We have a big 3 bedroom home with lots of room (and now Direct TV), so everyone has a comfortable place to be. Our home is always open to family, friends, strangers and anyone who needs a place to stay.

So why am I humbled? You see, my dad is dying a slow degenerative death from multiple sclerosis. He was diagnosed almost 20 years ago, and within the last 10 years he has completely lost the function of his legs, and now he is starting to loose the function of his hands. I can honestly sit here in my hotel room tonight and say that I cannot remember what my dad was like before the MS. Most of those years I was dealing with my own health problems and the bone disease. I blamed him for my own disease and made sure that I wasn't around much. I didn't see him active very much, I don't really remember him running. He never wore shorts, or tennis shoes. He always wore boots and jeans, or boots and slacks. But I can't remember him being an active man.

I was never very close with my dad. In fact, I have never had a serious conversation with my dad. He too had the bone disease as a child/adolescent and it effected his hearing early, forcing the use of a hearing aid by his early 20's. Conversations seemed hard to have with him as a little kid.

When I read "Wild at Heart" (several times) it wasn't hard for me to identify my "wound" that is left in the hearts of boys by their father. I wouldn't confront the wound or forgive him for it, until six years ago. I forgave him in my heart, never confronted him (as I knew he wouldn't understand) and I never looked back.

I don't know much about my dad. I know he moved a lot as a child, he went to school in Floydada, Hereford, and graduated from Dumas HS. He was in choir and woodshop. He went to West Texas State (now WTAMU) and was majoring in computers or something of the like. Met my mom, and married a year later. He dropped out of college and started working. He had two jobs during my life, grain elevator operator and engineer tech for TxDOT. Most of the stuff is superficial, nothing profound or deep. And sadly, I know even less of his father my Gramps (he died when I was 5).

So why am I humbled? When I am in the presence of my dad, I get to take care of him. It is even more difficult to verbally communicate with him. He is now 62, continues to deteriorate, and has an incredible attitude (for the most part). I got to cut his hair, trim his neck, and give him an old fashioned barber shop shave. I got to put his clothes on, transport him from the bed to his chair. I got to help him open his presents. And the most humbling moment was when I had the honor to clean him up and change his brief.

Why is this humbling? God chose me to take care of my dad over the past several days. He chose me to to cut his hair, deal with the stresses of his disease, deal with the stress of family. He chose me to be the one to learn and grow through this experience. I cannot count the number of times I have done all of these things before, but this time was the most profound.

Why you ask? Well, Andi and I are trying to get pregnant. I want my dad to see his grandchild, to hold his grandchild, to cuddle with his grandchild. I want my son or daughter to know him like I never knew him. I kept thinking, what an honor it is to care for you. What an honor it is to have a hand in meeting your needs. But mostly, I kept thinking how I wish I could be a little kid again to know my dad.

I know that my Dad is proud of me, he loves me, and he enjoys my company. But I still don't really know my Dad. I am running out of time with him, I know it. How can I ever really know him at this stage in my life? I can't shove 35 years of growth at once, so I think what I will do is send him a digital recorder, a list of questions, and pre-paid shipping box so that he can send me a oral history of his life. His hopes, dreams, disappointments, and anything else that comes to his mind.

Humility is defined as a modest or low view of one's own importance. I needed to be humbled this past week. I needed to be reminded that God is far more important than anything else, and the He has chosen me.

I am humbled. I love you Dad

30 Things

1. Love road-tripping with my wife

2. Rollie is getting big and he loves us so much

3. Andi and I both are praying for God to bless us with a baby

4. College Station Texas is one of my favorite places on Earth

5. Good times seeing old friends before the game

6. Got to see the longest play from scrimmage in Aggie FB history - 97 yrds Christian Michael for an Aggie TD

7. Had a great visit with the program director for my EdD program and the Department Chair.

8. Got to see the Aggie FB athletic training room - it's bigger than mine

9. Had the same modalities though

10. The grass is not always greener

11. We all have the same problems and and same issues, just different scales

12. Aggie Basketball played Samford on Friday

13. Game lasted 1 hour 47 min

14. Aggies won that too!

15. I love to Saw'Em Off

16. Ate too much this weekend

17. Andi and I met the HSU MBB team in Waco

18. We played Baylor today

19. Big sporting weekend, Aggie Basketball Friday, Aggie Football Saturday, Cowboy Basketball Sunday

20. As a team we had 30 pts in 3's

21. Two freshmen lead the team in scoring

22. We might be okay down the stretch

23. It was great playing a Big 12 team

24. Two days of work this week

25. One day of practice for me and one game for me

26. M/WSC both lost in the sweet sixteen yesterday

27. Andi and I will get to see the Aggies BTHO t.u. on Thrusday

28. The Bonzai commercial is cheesy

29. It is late

30. Headed to bed - will watch Boston Legal reruns as I fall asleep

30 Things

1. Football season is over

2. 89+ days straight of Football

3. 6-4 record

4. Finished the season on a 5 game winning streak

5. Many 1st happened this year for Cowboy Football

6. 208+ injuries (major and minor)

7. 11 starters didn't finish the season due to injuries

8. Mississippi College will win the conference and represent the ASC in the NCAA DIII playoffs

9. McMurry lost for the 22nd time in a row at the hands of the Cowboys

10. We are HSU and they are McMurry...need I say more?

11. NW Missouri State wins the MIAA Conference Championship... Bearcats get NCAA DII Playoff 1st Round bye

12. Play winner of the ACU/Midwestern game.

13. Hope its ACU

14. NW has advanced to the National Championship the last 4 straight years

15. Lost 4 in a row

16. Maybe this is the year

17. We won 2 National Championships when I was there

18. Maybe I was a good luck charm for them? :)

19. Once A Bearcat...ALWAYS A BEARCAT!

20. Aggies let one slip away agains CU

21. Frustrated

22. OU this week

23. Would be a GREAT WIN if we could pull it off

24. A&M would be Bowl Eligible then!

25. Baylor vs. A&M 21st @ CS - Andi & I will be there!

26. Baylore vs. HSU in basketball on the 22nd - Andi & I will be there!

27. Thanksgiving with Andi's Dad & Stepmom

28. Maybe going to student Bonfire this year

29. Looking forward to Thanksgiving

30. TAMU vs. t.u. - Andi & I will be there!

35 Things - Ode to Birth

35 Significant events of my life that have shaped me. There was so many to think about, and it was difficult to narrow down what I think are the most interesting and memorable. Enjoy! If you dare, comment about a memorable moment we shared that I forgot about!

35. November 6, 1974 – Born Darrell Jon Gililland Jr. to Darrell & Becky Gililland at General Hospital in Pampa, Texas.

34. July 6, 1979 – Cassandra Gililland is born, my little sister

33. August, 1979 – My Gramps passes away

32. July 6, 1982 – Charles “Chuck” Gililland is born, my little brother

31. March 1985 – Diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (aka brittle bone disease)

30. December 1988 – White Deer Wins the Class 1A State Football
Championship over Flatonia in Sweetwater, Tx. 14-13

29. August 1989 – Freshman in High School

28. July, 13 1990 – First of two reconstructive femur surgeries

27. November 6, 1990 – DRIVERS LICENSE!!!

26. July 14, 1991 – Second reconstructive femur surgery

25. May 1992 – First time to walk without medical assistive devices since 1986

24. November 5, 1992 – Eagle Scout Awarded

23. May 1993 – Graduated High School

22. February 25, 1995 – Accepted Christ as my personal Lord and
Savior

21. Summer 1995,1996 – Huddle Leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes summer camps.

20. May 1998 – Graduated from Hardin-Simmons University

19. August 1998 – First year Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer, Northwest Missouri State University

18. December 1999 – NCAA Division II National Football Champions – BACK-2-BACK Northwest Missouri State University – 15 mins of fame on ESPN

17. April 2000 – Graduated Northwest Missouri State University, “Once a Bearcat – Always a Bearcat”

16. August 2000 – Hired as Head Athletic Trainer/Clinical Director of Sports Medicine, Missouri Baptist College, St. Louis, Missouri

15. November 2000 – My Grandmother passes away at age 71

14. July 2002 – Returned to Hardin-Simmons University as Assistant Athletic Trainer

13. May 2004 – My brother marries Melissa Rice of The Woodlands the day after they graduate from Hardin-Simmons University. I was honored to be the Best Man.

12. July 2004 – International trip to Holland and Germany with Hardin-Simmons University Women’s Soccer Team.

11. March 19, 2005 – Met Andrea Daniel of San Antonio Texas

10. April 2005 – Started dating Andrea Daniel of San Antonio – started many trips down HWY 83/84

9. July 2005 – Proclaimed my love to Andrea

8. November, 24 2005 – Asked Andrea Daniel to marry me under the Century Tree on the campus of Texas A&M University

7. June 17, 2006 – Married Andrea Daniel in San Antonio Texas, My brother was my Best Man. We Honeymooned in Lake Tahoe. In the same month I was named Head Athletic Trainer at Hardin-Simmons University

6. November 6, 2007 – Andrea’s mother passes away from kidney failure she was 59

5. April 2008, Baptized one of my former College Men’s Life Group members who accepted Christ during his college years.

4. December 2008 – Accepted to Texas A&M University: begin work on Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Fightn’ Texas Aggie Class of 2012 – WHOOP!!! Pursuing a life long dream of graduating from Texas A&M.

3. March 2009, My Granny passes away at age 90

2. April 2009, Brought home G. Rollie White Gililland our Golden Retriever.

1. November 6, 2009 – Reach 35 years old, no longer classified as a “Young Professional” by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, I feel like I am still 20, I look like I’m 25 (at least that’s what the athletes say), I have a beautiful amazing godly wife, a warm home, a rascally lovable Golden Retriever, my health, my family, friends, and my Jesus. What a Great Day! Here’s to many many many more to come!!!! WHOOP!!!!

30 Things

1. Feels like fall
2. Andi is in Dallas again for class
3. School is tough on me right now
4. Phone battery is giving me fits
5. Thank goodness for Facebook
6. That's My King - Do you know him?
7. SM Lockridge
8. Watched youtube video of That's My King with three of our football players.
9. One was almost in tears
10. One was speechless
11. I think they want to make a t-shirt
12. Should not have worn dry-fit for game
13. Chilly enough that I could cut glass (if you know what I mean)
14. Wind is gusting
15. Mary-Hardin Baylor today
16. arky tonight
17. BTHO saders
18. BTHO arky
19. 1-3 sucks
20. Injuries suck
21. Breast Cancer Awareness Month
22. Wore pink on Thursday
23. Will wear pink again, many times this month
24. Know to many ladies who have suffered from breast cancer
25. Looking to the future
26. Praying for babies
27. Andi wants to be a mom
28. I really want to be a dad
29. God is sovereign in all things
30. I love my life

30 Things - Friday Edition

1. Love Fridays
2. Singing that George Jones Song "Finally Friday"
3. George Jones nickname - The Possum
4. My bestest friends dad loves him some George Jones
5. Jack Johnson on Pandora
6. Cool and Drizzly out today
7. Hope fall is here to stay!
8. Favorite time of year... November 1 - January 2
9. I miss my Aunt's and Uncle's
10. Friday Night Football (FNF)
11. Not that excited about FNF anymore
12. Andi has a seminar/class in DFW this weekend.
13. She'll be back for the game
14. Aggies play the Aggies this weekend
15. TAMU vs. Utah State
16. My Uncle Lonnie has a Degree from Utah State
17. I will have degree from TAMU
18. My wife has a degree from TAMU
19. Have I mentioned I love TAMU?
20. HSU is poised to make a turnaround
21. I love my job, most days
22. Pandora Radio = Musical Bliss
23. G. Rollie is a rascal
24. Have to be a better parent to him
25. One treatment this morning... a hamstring
26. Where did the name "hamstring" come from?
27. HSU plays Louisiana College tomorrow
28. t.u. or the classless clowns of tech? t.u. by a landslide
29. I personally know two of the potential Heisman Trophy Candidates...
30. That's cool

30 Things - And Then Some

30 Things – Traveling with a Football Team
1. Party size 78
2. 2 buses
3. 3 hours to Dallas
4. 3 hours at DFW
5. 3.5 hours in the air
6. 6 members of the Sports Medicine Staff
7. 6 Coaches
8. 5 Graduate Assistance
9. 61 student-athletes
10. 2 of my 6 checked bags were 61.5 pounds
11. Check-in is crazy
12. Dickies BBQ Turkey sandwich FANTASTIC
13. Missing my wife – 10 out 10
14. Why can’t she come with me on these long trips?
15. Coach Wartes is glad I’m sitting behind him, more reclining room
16. I don’t ever feel cramped on an air plane – advantage of being short
17. One student-athlete forgot his ID – not good
18. He passed the test – boarded
19. 3 min massages in the massage chair for $1. I didn’t partake
20. Tried to read Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research
21. Not quite the page-turner I hoped it would be
22. Dr. Munton is reading next to me, Josh Hamilton’s Biography
23. Dr. Munton is the biggest baseball memorabilia maniac that I know
24. His office could charge admission just to see all the memorabilia
25. Wade is trying to control his gastro-intestinal issues since we are in a closed in space.
26. He’s sitting next to Dr. Munton
27. Dr. Munton asked him “is it true you have bad gas?”
28. To which we all exclaimed yes!
29. We love Wade!! He’s the best!
30. More to come I am sure!


30 More Things When Traveling with a Football Team
1. Keeling Standard Time (19 mins ahead of Greenwich Mean Time)
2. KST – GOLD STANDARD
3. Don’t be late
4. Our itinerary actually has a KST column and a PST column (Pacific Standard Time)
5. Freshmen haven’t figured out KST yet
6. The mountains are awesome out my window
7. I told Wade I had to have the window seat because I get air sick
8. I’ve never been air sick
9. Car sick yes
10. Coach Shields will talk to anyone that looks at him, even if that person is a mannequin
11. Dr. Munton is amazed with Coach Shields Stories
12. It is pretty cool to hear Coach Keeling and Shields talk about the old coaching icons when they knew them
13. I wish I could go hiking down in those mountains!
14. Airplanes are traveling health hazards
15. Kelly’s Dad is a pilot for AA, he showed me their cool pilots website
16. I wish I could be a pilot
17. Clouds are cool
18. Only one guy on the team has never flown this year
19. Last year Rock was hilarious during flight… he was holding on for dear life!
20. I’ve got to sit 1st class twice
21. Wish it was 3 times today… those chairs are really comfy!
22. Walk on long flights to avoid DVT
23. I love to sit next to the window, except when I have to go to the bathroom… Please excuse me Dr. Munton and Wade…. I have to go…
24. Much better… gotta love John Wayne paper
25. I have to take my shoes off in flight… I swell like a sea cow…
26. Not sure what we are flying over now… but wow… it’s awesome
27. It’s funny seeing everyone on the plane doing the jello-neck-head-bob thing trying to sleep
28. One of the guys was playing Monopoly on his iPhone… that’s the coolest
29. Wade just showed me the Sky-Mall sale for a doggie door bell – He thinks G. Rollie could use it to let us know what’s up
30. Turbulence… gotta love it


Another 30 Things and more…
1. Reckless Kelly is on the iPod
2. A private jet just flew buy us and I could see in the window… that’s was crazy
3. “Hey we’re doing alright!”
4. I wish on these trips we could do some sight-seeing
5. This fly-in, eat, practice, eat, sleep, eat, play, eat, sleep, eat fly-out is not fun
6. Except maybe for the playing and eating
7. We are eating at Izzies again!!! WHOOP!!! Great pizza/pasta last time
8. Want to win this one bad, the last time we made the trip, they beat us
9. This will be my 3rd trip to Oregon
10. Have cousins that used to live in Salem
11. I’ve seen the beach and rock formations from the Goonies!
12. SO far we have just high level clouds… really want to see Mount Hood, St. Helens, and Rainer today.
13. As an 8th grader I was completely caught up in Mount St. Helens
14. It is a pretty amazing site to see
15. At one point I wanted to be a geologist
16. Now I want to be a curriculum director
17. “Let’s put on the Wiggles and pop a couple of Ritalin”
18. Oh the timberline… good to see
19. Dr. Munton moved away for a year and half, back to St. Louis… he came back and has long hair now…
20. Wade is reading the China Study… don’t know WHAT that is…
21. Apple ® is an amazing company… that Steve Jobs and his compatriots are brilliant
22. Yes, I’m and Apple man
23. I was sweet and left the MacBook Pro at home with Andi
24. I’m in Mac withdrawal
25. Keep thinking my track pad on the dell is like mine on the MAC… IT’S NOT!!
26. I think we are over Colorado or Utah now…
27. Want to travel the world
28. We’ve been flying now for 1.5 hours… “We there yet?”
29. Not as bad as flying to Amsterdam… that was 12 hours… don’t know if I could do more… Maybe fly to Europe then just take the train everywhere
30. Who would have thought over 100 years ago we would be flying in very large, heavy, aircraft??
31. If you look out your window on the left side of the plane you will see the Great-Salt Lake, we have about an hour and half left.
32. Wade got excited to see the lake… I’ve seen it… and I’m on the right side of the plane
33. I always tend to gravitate to the right side of cars, buses, trains, and planes
34. Is it because I’m right handed?
35. Yea, looks barren down there… big lake, mountains
36. Is it my imagination or is the Salt Lake drying up?
37. Can you eat that salt?
38. “Crazy Eddies Last Hoorah – 1, 2, 3, 4… We’ll it sure didn’t take too long…”
39. Love this song…
40. Who are the people in 1st Class?
41. Some look real ordinary… others look like they wouldn’t speak to you
42. “I’m never getting over Jollie….”
43. Wish there was a treble clef key on my key board so that my readers would know I singing…instead I’m using quotes…
44. The angry enchilada – love that nickname
45. Where did nicknames come from?
46. When you think about it… musicians of any kind are brilliant… musically speaking
47. Who was the guy who developed the Phillips head screw driver?
48. Why did he call it Phillips head screw driver… was it a guy named Phillips?
49. Did he also develop the screw to go with? Or was the guy Phillips?
50. We had a Coach Phillips at HSU – his blood pressure always was off the chart during football games
51. He was the defensive coordinator , go figure
52. I once saw him pick up a 260lb guy because he was trying to get his point across… he picked him up from the arm-pits… impressive
53. Wade does this funny thing with his upper lip all the time… it’s funny… he doesn’t even know he does it
54. Utah isn’t very pretty from the air
55. There is a guy wearing a Fedora hat, he is young (college age) and it doesn’t really fit him… he looks like he trying to be the guy off of High School Musical
56. That’s sad to me
57. “You say you want a revolution…”
58. Nah…let’s listen to…
59. ROBERT EARL KEEN, ROBERT EARL KEEN, ROBERT EARL KEEN
60. He’s an Aggie…WHOOP!
61. Speaking of Aggies..
62. Casey Donahew is an Aggie
63. So is Roger Creager
64. And Lyle Lovett
65. I love TEXAS A&M!!! WHOOP!
66. So grateful to finally be an Aggie and achieving one of my dreams
67. I love A&M so much, I named my dog after G. Rollie White Coliseum
68. Our next Golden will be E. Rudder
69. We’ll have Rollie and Rudder
70. I think those are cool names… I don’t mean any disrespect, just have high admiration for those two men
71. “Feels so good…feeling good again…”
72. I miss Korie and Kirk (soon to be K&K Vakey)
73. “We were standing on a mountain top….”
74. REK is great… Andi and I saw him this summer at Flores Country Store in San Antonio… it was great!
75. Oh yea Max Stallings is also an Aggie
76. He opened for REK at Flores
77. Good stuff from him
78. I wonder if my eyes are working properly… it looks like snow on the top of a mountain out to the right…
79. Gotta be my eyes
80. Cool patchwork of fields below… crop circles (crops planted in a circle – not the alien thing)
81. Dr. Munton is really into this book
82. Wade… is day dreaming again
83. He does this a lot
84. Especially in the office LOL!
85. I love Marty Robbins… he was good!
86. My ears won’t clear… AGH!!!
87. I feel like I’m in a tunnel
88. I hope Jeff Smith reads this…
89. He says he likes reading my 30 things…
90. Well here is 90… how do you like them apples! I’m gonna get an ice cold coca-cola now… drink cart #2, will be landing soon…  WHOOP!

30 Things - In Memorandum

30 Things – In Memorandum
“All gave some, Some gave ALL”

1. 09-11-01: at golf course in St. Louis – home to weep and pray
2. 09-11-09: in a plane flying over New Mexico headed to Portland Oregon – reflecting, praying
3. Lost a good friend this week – A True AMERICAN HERO
4. He was in his 2nd tour in Afghanistan
5. I am thankful for his salvation and his sacrifice
6. I am praying for his wife, son, and unborn daughter
7. You should too
8. And for his parents, they have lost two of their three children.
9. Grace
10. Understanding
11. Sovereignty
12. Peace
13. Understanding
14. Mercy
15. These are my prayer requests
16. Christ is most Glorified through this tragedy
17. Christian
18. Sacrifice
19. Honorable
20. Humble
21. Texan
22. American
23. Husband
24. Father
25. Son
26. Brother
27. Friend
28. Loved
29. Redeemed
30. This was 2nd Lt. Darryn Andrews

30 Things

1.) Forgot to set alarms

2.) Got to work 15 mins after my students

3.) Very COLD in the ATR

4.) Storms north of here... please come on LIGHTNING!

5.) Exhausted

6.) Missed a spot on my upper lip shaving last night

7.) I have really gotten old

8.) These freshmen where born in 1991!!! AGH!

9.) My students ROCK!

10.) Today is highlighter yellow shirt day

11.) I missed the shirt memo

12.) I'm wearing red today

13.) I always wait to put my socks at the office

14.) We are all wearing pull-overs this morning

15.) Did I mention the ATR is COLD?!

16.) We use over 4000# of ice yesterday afternoon!

17.) I can't wait for our new COWS to get here... the 15 year old models are dying a slow death

18.) I love Chili's chips, salsa, and ranch combo

19.) I wish I was a lil' bit talla

20.) I'm holding on... barely breathing.... (new song I like)

21.) I miss Texas Country Tuesday in the Lockerroom

22.) I miss Western Wednesday in the Lockerroom

23.) I haven't eaten breakfast yet this morning

24.) It's amazing what all you hear come out of an athletes mouth

25.) Women Soccer Night Fundraiser at Chili's was fun

26.) I was told by a 5 year old..."It looks like you have gotten taller, good for you!"

27.) I love it when I see freshmen in college where their old high school stuff

28.) Stim is not the cure for everything

29.) I say a t.u. shirt yesterday that simply said "O-WHO" i was sad for my sooner friends

30.) The BEARCATS are coming to town next week!

30 Things

1.) 5:45 at the office

2.) 6:00 no one showed up for treatment

3.) 6:35 1st patient showed up

4.) 7:30 Called and wished Andi a great day

5.) 8:00 got in my truck and headed south

6.) 8:15 arrived Abilene Sports Medicine & Orthopedics

8.) 8:17 dropped off stuff for one of team docs

9.) 8:25 consulted with another athletic trainer on the best mouthguards

10.) 8:45 left ASMO

11.) 9:02 arrived at Fast Signs

12.) 9:05-9:25 ordered Fast Signs

13.) 9:26 learned Fast Signs is not so fast... will get my signs on Wednesday.

14.) 9:37 arrived at Athletic Supply

15.) 9:45 left Athletic Supply

16.) 9:49 arrived South Side Baptist Church

17.) 9:53 said HOWDY to Kurt and Tim

18.) 9:55 left SSBC

19.) 10:15 arrived HSU

20.) 10:17 check-mail

21.) 10:20 chatted with Grubby

22.) 10:35 arrived back in office

23.) 10:36 visited with my GA

24.) 10:45 day changed for the rest of the day

25.) 11:30 ate lunch with Andi

26.) 12:30 opened the training room for treatment

27.) 1:15 went to a meeting

28.) 1:30 worked in the database

29.) 2:30 met a new student athlete

30.) that's all I can do... I am tired!

30 Things

1.) I love my Church

2.) Great to see all the college students back at church - it will be nice to see everyone next week

3.) Cross-Country check-in was quick

4.) I miss the old Saturday Night Live

5.) A walk with Andi and Rollie tonight was relaxing

6.) In 37 weeks Andi and I are in a wedding in Houston

7.) Showers are so refreshing

8.) The Time Traveler's Wife... getting mixed reviews, but we liked it

9.) GI Joe will be seen this week!

10.) My NW Missouri State Bearcats are ranked #1 and we will get to see them play ACU in two weeks.

11.) I wish teachers made the money they deserve to make, it's a travesty that they don't make what they are worth.

12.) Looking forward to seeing what is new this year with the University Ministry

13.) My favorite TV show is Nightline now a days

14.) Is Abilene lost?!?! I mean people around here seem so resistant to change

15.) It was 101 today

16.) Had to speak truth and reality to a football player today. He had to take early retirement

17.) The Texas AGGIES scrimmaged today. My boy Tannehill needs to step it up or he will be #2 QB

18.) We need rain

19.) My students make me happy, sad, mad, and glad

20.) My GA's frustrate and amaze me

21.) My Assistants get frustrated at me and vise versa, but we work so well together

22.) Andi and I want to go on a cruise over the Christmas break

23.) Looking forward to starting back to work on my EdD in a couple of weeks

24.) My feet remind me of Fred Flintstone

25.) Whatever happened to Looney Tunes? Can you watch these GREAT cartoons anywhere?

26.) Hullabaloo Caneck, Caneck

27.) Can I get a WHOOP!?!

28.) Looking forward to loosing some weight

29.) I can't wait to be a dad, anyone reading this... please pray we get pregnant in the near future

30.) Looking forward to our fist football game.

30 things

30 things I learned this week.

1.) Athlete check-in will always have speed bumps

2.) No matter how many times you set up the field, students will forget something.

3.) Early mornings and I don't get along

4.) Our puppy doesn't like us right now... no quality time with him

5.) 189 football players is a ton of testosterone

6.) Coach Keeling loves old Roger Miller songs

7.) Coach Neiman doesn't use his diaphragm when he is yelling... 4 days in and he has lost his voice

8.) Coach Burleson has the ability to develop great offensive linemen

9.) Wade speaks four languages

10.) Wade is hard to understand just speaking one

11.) Adrian looks like the little mushroom guy from Mario Bros (yes we talked about this)

12.) Cole always has a camera at his disposal (mobile uploads are his friends)

13.) The Jonas Brothers are just another band that will fizzle in a year or two

14.) The cafe food has declined in just a years time

15.) One of our football players played his freshman year at a D-I School that a good friend of mine was the head AT, small world

16.) We have an old man (who I nicknamed "pops") is playing slotback

17.) Pop-up tents and wind equal, mangled mess

18.) Mike Carroll has good Facebook postings

19.) Student-athletes have difficulty reading and following directions

20.) I am capable of being an educational researcher

21.) George Strait new album "Twang" has a song called "Hot Grease and Zydeco"

22.) I am not as young as I used to be

23.) No matter how much you plan, you always need a back-up

24.) Read emails thoroughly

25.) Lowes has a ton of great stuff, but sometimes they don't always have the right stuff

26.) freshmen crack me up

27.) My students love the safety highlighter yellow t-shirts

28.) I am so not as young as I used too be

29.) we are a behind getting stuff done

30.) I need sleep

30 Things

This was a relaxing exercise last night... will continue this... let's see how long it lasts!

1.) Mike Carroll's facebook account is great to follow...

2.) Mike Carroll is the Head Athletic Trainer at Stephenville High School

3.) Fake Birthdays are fun, especially when you get to dance on a chair in the middle of a crowded restaurant.

4.) My wife is the greatest woman to ever live (side note - should have been #1)

5.) If I had track change ability in this text tool... I would track change #4 to #1

6.) My Ed.D. CoHort appreciates #5

7.) I made a 94 on my action research design... I may implement it... try to get it accepted for a conference in the spring

8.) I like being a student again

9.) I feel smarter

10.) Don't look smarter, just more fat

11.) The breeze was great today in Abilene

12.) Chili's chips and salsa with ranch is AWESOME!

13.) I got my "baby back, baby back, baby back ribs...."

14.) I know so many people that enjoy running marathons, I really wish that I was physically able to do that

15.) When I was a kid (before the bone disease set in) I loved to run (insert Forest Gump line here)

16.) Working along side my college mentor is fun, challenging, and interesting daily

17.) My staff is great

18.) I am enjoying this time sitting here typing

19.) I miss Andi's mom, she was a sweet funny lady

20.) Rollie is a great dog!

21.) Dateline seems to be on all the time

22.) Sams Club was slow today.

23.) Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready.... (you Cowboy's out there know what I'm talking about)

24.) Wade makes me laugh

25.) I miss Rohde

26.) Adrian says some pretty crazy things without even knowing it...

27.) I need a sprinkler system in my yard

28.) Glad I have a water well

29.) Wish I was a lil bit taller... wish I was a baller

30.) Wonder what interesting stuff is gonna come across Carroll's facebook tomorrow.

New Start - 30 things...

Here we go.. a new posting:

1.) Summer II is over... at the end of the week I will have completed 10 hours towards my doctorate. December 2012 is just around the corner.

2.) Andi and I are TAMU Century Club members: Our plaque reads Andrea Gililland '02, DJ Gililland '12 - shocked us both! But I guess that makes it official huh?!

3.) Summer was a blur, only 2 weekends in Abilene all summer.

4.) Sold the Lake House after 2 years on the market

5.) Paid Andi's car off before we sold the lake house (and paid off a big student loan at same time)

6.) I got a TAMU Grad School Scholarship! WHOOP!

7.) Almost applied for a new job

8.) Spent 2 weekends in College Station this summer... it was fun

9.) Spent a week on vacation - 3 days in White Deer, 4 days in Ozark, AR

10.) My sisters facebook school throwback picture creeps me out.

11.) G. Rollie (our 6 month old golden retriever) is getting big, but he is sure sweet and fun

12.) HSU Cowboy's #5 in the nation

13.) TAMU Aggies picked 12th out 12... looking to prove all the skeptics wrong!

14.) Andi taught 2 weeks of gifted education camp

15.) I am one of 2 guys in my TAMU Cohort

16.) I have gained a ton of weight (not really 2000 lbs, but a lot)

17.) I am a committee of one

18.) I am the regional representative for the College University Committee for the Texas State Athletic Trainers Association.

19.) Gilliland, Texas (not spelled like mine) is approximately 100 miles north of Abilene, Andi, Rollie and I will go there soon.

20.) I am tired, but don't want to go to sleep.

21.) Have you ever been annoyed by the Progressive "discount" girl on the commercial? She annoys me.

22.) All our students are back for the fall seasons - dinner was good, but kicked'em all out at 8:00

23.) Am I old?

25.) New uniforms for the Cowboys this year

26.) Didn't get new staff polo's this year

27.) I am taking 6 hours in the fall, class start 8-28.

28.) Christmas Break is 122 days away and counting!

29.) Where did they come up with the name Widget?

30.) Sunday night TV on ABC is my time for relaxation before sleep.

OEC - DAY 3

Camp yesterday was a blast!  Weather was gorgeous and I decided to get into the pool for some action shots of the canoeists.  I stayed in the water a little too long and well as you would expect, I got burned pretty good on the shoulders, back, neck, and chest.  Today, is not as fun as yesterday due to my mistake!  

I started working on the camp video today, heading into unchartered water for my experience level. This will be fun!  

My grades came in from A&M and I have 3.75!!!  Got the "B" I was hoping for!!!  Wish it could have been the 4.0, but now the pressure is off right?!

More to come later!!!  

OEC - Week 1 - Day 2

Got to bed a little late last night, around 1:30.  I got this new MacBook Pro back in January and up until yesterday, I had not updated any of my iTunes.  So I spent the evening learning all the cool in's & out's of my MacBook.  Well I am a audio/video wanna be junkie, so I was just playing around till about 1:30 AM.  

6:30 came real early.  One of my many hats is the official wake up call for the camp.  One of the female GA's takes care of the ladies and I take care of the men.  So it is hard to wake them up when you are barely awake yourself.  

I spent most of the day learning how to use various programs and taking pictures (another hat I wear).  No one got hurt today so the medical hat I wear didn't get put on today.  The best part of the day is our built in nap time.  Loved it!!

Tonight we are about to judge the first round of team competition, Team Names, Team Cheers, and Team Song.  Looking forward to seeing what is produced tonight.  I am sure there will be some creative songs!  

Outdoor Education Camp 2009

Today marks the first day back to OE Camp at the Texas 4H Center at Lake Brownwood Texas.  This year is different, new faces, new things and the lake is closed to all watercraft after a severe storm ripped through here a couple of weeks ago.  It is our hope to get out on the lake by Thursday or Friday.  More to come tomorrow...

Been A While

It has been a while since my last post. A lot has happened over the last month or so. School is more challenging than I had hoped. I am enjoying all the new knowledge, it is just a different ball of wax I am dealing with.

In December of 2008 my Granny was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She celebrated her 90th birthday this past August. Andi and I visited her over New Years and had a very nice visit with her. I knew at that time, it would be the last time I would hear, "I Love You...Be Good." These words were always the last words my Granny would tell her grandkids after a visit. On March 4th, 2009 Granny went to be with Jesus. I will miss my Granny dearly, but I know I will see her again someday! I Love You Granny!

Mary Gililland, Age: 90 Died: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 in Claude, TX

Services were held Saturday, March 7, 2009.

Rev. Charles L. “Chuck” Gililland and Rev. Don Prather officiated.

Mary Elizabeth Prather was born August 8, 1918 in Hollis, OK to Price and Lela Mae (McClure) Prather. The family moved to Lazbuddie, TX in the early 1930’s and Mary graduated from Lazbuddie High School in 1936. On November 26, 1936, she married Otto V. Gililland in Clovis, NM. Mary and Otto lived in Dimmit, TX, Eldorado, OK, Hereford, TX, Floydada, TX, Dumas, TX and Dalhart, TX during their marriage. Mary retired from C.R. Anthony, Co. after 25+ years. Mary was an avid reader and enjoyed playing 42 with friends at 55 Plus Club in Dalhart until she moved to Amarillo in 2006. Her pride and joy were her 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Dalhart, TX and after her move to Amarillo became a member of Saint Stephen United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1979, a baby son in 1942, her parents, four brothers, and one sister.

Survivors include a daughter Necia Trapp and husband Van of Amarillo, TX a son Darrell J. Gililland and wife Becky of White Deer, TX ~ 5 grandchildren: Jennifer Sawyer and husband Larry of Amherst, TX, Scott Trapp and wife Catherine of San Antonio, TX, Darrell J. Gililland, Jr. and wife Andrea of Abilene, TX, Cassandra Gililland of Proctorville, OH, Charles L. “Chuck” Gililland and wife Melissa of Ozark, AR.: 6 great grandchildren: Kateland Sawyer of San Angelo, TX, Jarrod and Ashton Sawyer of Amherst, TX, John and Jordan Trapp of San Antonio, TX Abby Gililland of Ozark, AR: Two Sisters-in-law Helen Cowart of DeKalb, TX and Jean Prather of Burleson, TX and several nieces and nephews.

Valentines

This year for Valentines I surprised Andi with a trip to Buffalo Gap, Texas, USA. We stayed at a good friends ranch. It was rustic and we finally got the wood burning stove going to warm the whole house on Saturday. It was so relaxing and peaceful. I remember thinking, is this really only 20 mins from Abilene?

This ranch is extremely unique. He bought it off of a guy who had lived there for years and years. The previous owner must have been a little on the eccentric side. He had done so much work to the area, well groomed hiking trails, humorous trail markers, a make believe "boot hill", sand volleyball court, "lovers leap" that over looked the creek bed with a manikin buried head first in the creek bed with legs and boots up... Seriously, everywhere we went we found something new and odd.

Friday night I cooked fajitas and we watched Fireproof. Saturday we slept in and it was FREEZING!! So I put on my stocking cap, sweats, and jacket to cook breakfast... started wood burning stove! We went into Buffalo Gap for antiquing, then back to the ranch for a nap. It was great sleeping by the fire. Awaking from our nap, we went for a little hike around the area. We had such a good time. Saturday night for dinner I cooked out ribeye's and we had a awesome baked potato!!

Spending this weekend with Andi was awesome. We needed a time to relax and get away from school, work, and life. Didn't have a computer, phone wouldn't work, and it was just the stars at night! What a great way to spend the weekend!

Where have I been?!

Well it has been a couple of weeks since my last post. Life is back into full swing of things. Andi is hard at work completing her masters degree (December 2009!!!), and I am in week three of my doctorate (December 2012).

While continuing our normal daily jobs (teacher/athletic trainer) we also make time at church. Needless to say we are a couple of busy peeps. One thing that we make a priority of is spending time with each other.

Please keep us in your prayers as we continue the wild and crazy adventure of our life together!

Back to the Grind Stone

Well it was back to the "real world" and the old grind stone this week. A new year and a new spring semester.

Andi and I spent last weekend in a "tour of Texas" if you will. Started off headed to Little Elm, Tx (north of DFW) to see two of my best friends, and he newest addition to your little clan friends/family. Rusty and his wife Tonja had a little baby girl three weeks ago and it was so good to see the newest member. She is precious. Steve (Rusty's brother) was in from South Carolina, it was the first time since our wedding that we had seen him. We all were together and it was great!

Andi and I then stayed the night with one of her best friends and her husband, then it was off to College Station! WHOOOP! I got my student ID and completed some other odds and ends, not to mention picked up my Fightn' Texas Aggie Class of 2012 T-Shirt! WHOOOP!

From College Station we went to Katy, where I had a workshop. It was great visiting old friends and meeting new peopled. Andi and I even braved the chilly January wind and cold to enjoy the outdoor hot tub. It was very relaxing! That evening we went to a one man play with another close friend and her "friend". Slept in on Sunday and off to Church where I got to meet some of Andi's old friends from A&M and Breakaway.

This week went by fast. I had an orientation web conference with my Cohort and professors yesterday. Must say that I am excited and bit overwhelmed at this point. Definitely looking forward to seeing how this all works out.

Will write something more profound and thought provoking next week!

New Year 2009

I know, I know... it has been since June 2008 since I last even thought about blogging. It is amazing how you start out to be dedicated to the millions of readers out there, and find out, that you just can't handle the pressure. Well I have decided to at least try and blog once a week or at the very least bi-monthly.

So what has taken place in the last seven months?!

June - To start off, Andi and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary with a trip to St. Louis and a surprise train trip to Chicago! We arrived in St. Louis four days early and I had told Andi that we were going to take in all the sites. For my loyal readers that may not know, I lived in St. Louis for two years. Our plane arrived five hours before our SURPRISE train ride. We rented our car for the week and I took Andi out to west county where I used to live and work. We had lunch at the St. Louis Bread Co. and it was AMAZING!! We would eat there a few other times as well. I showed her the sights of Missouri Baptist University, my first place of employment and it was so nice to see many of the things I had began and implemented eight years ago were still being utilized. It made me feel like I had actually left my mark. We then drove by my old apartment in Chesterfield, followed by a drive by of the house I lived in for a few months located in "the Hill" district - the Italian area of St. Louis. By this time, we had been up since 5:00 AM. Andi was getting tired and I told her we were on our way to the hotel for an afternoon nap. Well I exited and took the amtrak exit. Having never been to St. Louis, Andi had no clue. Little did I know the train station was under remodeling and we were being redirected to a make shift station under the freeway and on dirt roads. Andi was confused at this point and even said, "do you know where you are going?". We pulled up and I said, "yes... we are taking the train to Chicago for the weekend!" She was so excited. "Does Simone know?" "Yes". So my anniversary present to Andi was a weekend trip to our favorite city Chicago, where one of her best friends lives. It was great times and we really enjoy seeing the Halpins in Chicago. What a great city. The train ride, well it was good, but not what we had expected. It was supposed to have been a five hour ride that turned into eight, and then the return trip was on a chartered bus due to track work. Needless to say, we may not be taking a train for quite a while.

St. Louis was memorable. We celebrated our second anniversary with dinner at the top of the Milenium Hotel - it was a 360 degree restraunt that allowed us to take in the beautiful skyline and Gateway Arch. After dinner I summoned horse drawn carriage and we made our way back to our hotel through the city streets. It was so wonderful having Andi with me in St. Louis.

July had us back and forth to San Antonio to work on the lake house some more. Andi continued work on her masters degree and we made our annual pilgrimage to White Deer for the annual Rodeo and Kick-Back day. I designed a new t-shirt to sell this year, but didn't sell out like the year before. In fact - WE STILL HAVE SHIRTS FOR SALE!!

August was hot and rainy. We started back in with football and we practiced everywhere in Abilene except at HSU due to the rain. August seemed like a blur.

September was all football.

October was all football...wait...mix in some basketball now and then. Did something I never thought I would do!

November was football...now basketball... oh and my birthday! My birthday will always be bittersweet. It will mark the anniversary of Andi's mom's passing. Andi is such a loving wife and planned a great party for me this year. We went to Double Dave's Pizza with our closet A-Town friends and we had a blast. Had a horrible experience doing something I never thought I would do. Thanksgiving was great with my Mom, Dad, and Granddad all coming to A-Town for the week. We even took in the NW Missouri State Quarter-Final Game against ACU. The BEARCATS WON!!!

December was basketball. The Bearcats lost a FOURTH straight National Championship in the last few minutes of the game. And I did something I had never done before...I GOT ACCEPTED TO TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY!!!! WHOOP! That's right, I am an official Fightn' Texas Aggie!

This past summer I visited with a good friend of mine at HSU who is also an Aggie. He told me to keep my eyes posted on the TAMU website as they were about to start a new degree program. In July he sends me a copy of an informational e-mail he received from the Department Chair of Teaching, Learning, and Culture, in the e-mail it was revealed that A&M would be starting a 100% online Executive Ed.D. program in Curriculum and Instruction. I replied to the academic advisor and asked to be placed on the prospective student list. I have wanted to obtain a degree from Texas A&M every since I was in the third grade. As a Senior in High School, when I wasn't given the opportunity to be an athletic training student at A&M, I didn't pursue admission. Graduate school didn't offer any athletic training opportunities either. So know here I am pursuing a professional goal of obtaining a terminal degree and it is at Texas A&M!!! I am really excited about this degree and the opportunities it will provide me. I believe this will give me the knowledge and expertise to become a better university level instructor as well as the opportunities to research and develop curriculum and instructional strategies as they apply to athletic training education.

Needless to say, Andi and I are very excited about this opportunity! It will be very difficult and I know challenging but I am very excited to get started. It will take four years and our cohort will meet once a year in July on campus in College Station. All of this culminating with graduation in December 2012.

Now 2009.... Like I said, I am going to try and blog once a week, or at least bi-monthly. Will keep you up on all the ins and outs of our crazy wonderful life as we togehter "Merely Meander" through life, serving our God and living for His will in our lives. Happy New Year - and Gig'Em!