Going to Big D

Rockwall jumped out to a 20-9 lead at halftime over the North Garland Raiders and then extended their lead to 27-17 in the fourth quarter, but...the Raiders scored two touchdowns to take the lead with 2:00 left. Rockwall responded by driving 70 yards for a go ahead touchdown with 21 seconds on the clock. Final: Yellowjackets 34, Raiders 31. This exciting game assurred Rockwall a playoff spot, which will be played on Saturday, November 18 at.................Texas Stadium!

Rockwall still stands alone atop of District 10-5A with a record of 5-0, 6-2 overall. Rockwall needs only one more win to earn a district title. The Jackets likely opponent in the playoffs will be the loser of the Allen-Plano East game, which will be played in two weeks. Either team will be a very tough first round draw. Rockwall played in same district as those teams a couple of years ago. Both schools are very large with many talented players. Rockwall will need to continue to overachieve to beat either one.














Here are some girls hard at work at the game.
Myranda on the left (student trainer) and
Leah on the right (yell leader).

They did it again!

Rockwall 40 S. Garland 15
Now the score itself is pretty impressive. Looks like we ran all over them, but you don't even know the half of it (no pun intended). I had to cover a home volleyball game so I missed the whole first half. When I drove up and looked at the score I was totally shocked. I knew S. Garland was improving and surprising people, but I didn't expect Rockwall 0 S. Garland 15 at half-time. Obviously, you can see what happened next. The second half kick-off was returned to the 5 yard line and then ultimately thrown in for a touchdown to our tight end. This was followed bya S. Garland 3 and out, and another hard fought Rockwall touchdown. It only took 6 minutes for Rockwall to take the lead. 40 points in the second half to put away the Colonels. It was a very exciting game. Kevin can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that win put usi n teh playoffs for sure. Rockwall has never been to the playoffs since entering class 5A. Side note: Every high school in Texas is put in a class based on population of the school. 5A is the largest, you must hav 2000 students, some go as high as 5000.
Rockwall 5-2 (4-0 district) GO JACKETS!

Rockwall vs. S. Garland

Here is a great article about the Yellowjackets!

Big News!

Well, it’s been quite a journey so far, but this is only the beginning. For me it started years ago, but let me tell you what it is before I tell you how we got here. Kevin and I have begun the process to adopt a little girl from China. To some of you this is a HUGE surprise, to others you wonder what took us so long, and others of you have already heard the news!

Early in 2005 I started feeling like God was calling us to adopt internationally. Kevin and I had talked about it briefly before this, but never really with the intention of moving forward. I was convinced that international adoption was in our future, I just didn’t know when. That’s when the prayers started. One prayer was for Kevin and I to feel the same way. I felt like we should move forward, if God was calling us to do something we needed to have faith that He would carry us through it. Kevin was not there with me, he felt like it was in our future but wanted to be a provider for our family, at that time God hadn’t led him to a job that could do that. Our second prayer was that God’s plan would be clear; although it felt very clear to me Kevin wasn’t so sure. We just prayed. Of course I had to do ALL the research possible. I got free info, looked online, spoke to people who had adopted from other countries, went to a seminar; you name it, I did it. I then told Kevin that when he was ready he just had to say ok. Then I waited. I wish I could say I waited patiently.

Thank goodness for Kevin’s discernment because I did not know that God would be calling me back to Rockwall High School where my long hours are not child friendly. Then God did what only He can do, he provided Kevin with a job that he loved, and a pay raise! AMEN. So, in my impatience I started the questions again “Does this mean we can adopt? Are you ready now?” Kevin in his quiet, calm way would always make it clear that he wasn’t ready. Then I started working at RHS. Knowing that God had called me back it felt like He was telling me to have a career and not a child, due to the hours I am required to work. In His timing, He was about to make everything work out perfectly.

I am a planner (as if you didn’t know that) and my sweet husband is not. I wanted to be able to say “In June of 2007 we can start the process.” He could never do that, it’s just not his style. So I tried to hold my tongue and not press the issue. We still both agreed that this was in our future; I just wanted to know when. Then in August we were at a baseball game with our friends and their son (having tons of fun) and I looked at Kevin and said “Aren’t you ready for one of those?” He said with a grin “Maybe.” Now, some of you may be thinking “Allison, he said maybe…so what.” Those of you who know Kevin know that getting him to answer a definitive yes is not always easy…so I knew I had to run with this. The next day I was a little nervous but I said “So, should we go to the orientation meeting?” He said “Sure.” Now that was an answer! Once we did go to the meeting there was no doubt that this was something we both wanted to do.

So, here we are. We started the process with Hope International in September. From the time you start to the day you adopt your child is 18-24 months. Currently, we are going through the home study process; a social worker comes into our home and decides if we are fit to be parents. We know that our daughter will be from 10-13 months old when we adopt her. We will be matched with her about 6-8 weeks before the adoption. At that time we will be sent a photo (which we will share as quickly as possible) and her medical history. After a doctor, who is familiar with international adoptions, looks over her report we will have the opportunity to accept or reject the referral. If we accept we will travel to China to get her, and we will be there for 2 weeks before we bring her home.

We are pretty excited and nervous, just like all first time parents. Although our method maybe different than some, the outcome is still the same. While we are going through this process we have a few specific prayer requests and ask you to lift us up as often as possible.
1. That the orphanage will provide excellent care until we are able to adopt her.
2. That we are patient with each other and with the mounds of paperwork.
3. That we are prepared to be parents.

Rockwall WINS!

So, not to many highlights from Friday's game. Just some good football. The final score was Rockwall 30 Rowlett 27. Some of you are are thinking "How can a 3 point game be boring?" Well, we pretty much handled the 2nd half. They scored an easy touchdown with 45 seconds left. Way to go Jackets! We are now first in district by ourselves! We typically have picture of the socreboard for you, but as soon as the time ran out the scoreboard was turned off...I guess they were embarrassed! (hehehe)

There I am. This was before the game right as the guys were about to run out. There are the Stingerettes again!

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

On Sunday Kevin and I spent a few hours at the State Fair. We love going to the fair, mostly to eat, but it's just a fun place to be. You HAVE to eat a Fletcher's corny dog when you go. It's got to be the best corn dog in the country. If you are a true Texan you put only mustard on it, but since I am not I put ketchup and mustard. I've been called a yankee because of it!
Kevin loves the car show. He really wants a new truck, so he wanted ya'll to vote for the one he looks the best in.

Here is the Dodge Ram

Here's the Ford F150

Or you might prefer the Shelby GR1

Rockwall Rowlett showdown

Here is the preview from the Dallas Morning News website

No. 14 Rockwall (3-2, 2-0 District 10-5A): After losing two straight, Rockwall has won two in a row, both district games. Its 40-27 win against Garland Lakeview featured 148 yards rushing and three TDs from tiny RB Marcus Mathis. Rockwall's players are small but quick.
Rowlett (1-4, 1-1): QB Miles Hamblin threw for 143 yards and three TDs in Rowlett's 28-21 loss to North Garland. WR Reed Graham caught two of Hamblin's TD passes and finished with 72 receiving yards.

This is actually a pretty exciting game. If you look at a Texas map and find Lake Ray Hubbard Rockwall is one the east side and Rowlett is one the west side. If Rockwall has a rival it is Rowlett. This is the first year we have been in the same district so it will be exciting. Again, we should win, but if we slack off they will surprise us. One thing I know for sure, there will be a huge crowd!!! Mostly in orange!

GO JACKETS!!

Rockwall 3-2 (2-0 district)

I apologize for the delay in the score or Friday's game. We had some computer issues, but we are up and running again.

Final score

It should have been 40-13, but there were some clock issues and all of the 80 varsity team members got to be on the field.

Here are a few pictures of homecoming. This is the beginning of the announcing of the sweethearts and escorts. For those of you who do not know what that means, let me try to explain. Each club on campus gets to nominate a sweetheart and an escort for their group. It's kind of like their own homecoming king and queen. Some examples of clubs are the Wakeboarding Club, the Sailing Club, the Chess Club...and on and on. I teach a class called Peer Assisted Leadership, known as PAL, and we even had to have a sweetheart and escort. So, there are about 40 (I'm not kidding) couples, and they all get introduced and stand on the field. We also crown a king and queen from a separate homecoming court.

Here is part of the half-time show. These are the Stingerettes. When I got to Texas and saw these girls I had no idea who they were. They are the drill team, and they are about 100 in number. They dance and kick their legs real high. They wear very poofy, shiny skirts and boots! We are blessed with a performance each half-time...and we also get to see the other school's drill team perform each week!

Kevin did not take a picture of a mum, and they are hard to understand unless you see one. I will do my best to get a picture of one from one of my students and let ya'll see them. They cannot be appreciated unless seen in person. I can attempt to describe them. It is something purchased by a parent or the girls date to homecoming. It is a large flower (a fake chrysanthemum) with LONG ribbons hanging off the bottom. The ribbons may have words on them like their name or the school mascot. Many times there are small cowbells hanging down, sometimes small lights, often feathers. The seniors wear all white and silver and the underclassmen have orange and white. Sometimes the flower part is about 12 inches in diameter. I told you, you have to see it to understand!

FINALLY I have to give a shout out for the Oakland A's who swept the Twins to make it out of the first round of playoffs! We will proudly be wearing our green and gold on Tuesday when they take on the Detroit Tigers!

Game Day Preview

Tonight the Yellowjackets take on the Lakeview-Centennial Patriots. Not typically a team that needs to be feared, but one of those that may sneak up on you if you let up. They should come out on top, but they will still need to play well. Not a whole lot of stats to report, but it is Rockwall's Homecoming. I will make sure Kevin takes lots of pictures so you can get a glimpse of all the hype that comes along with Homecoming. It is ridiculous!!!

GO JACKETS!

Question for today: Can anyone tell me what a Mum is?

Moving Day

Did I catch some of you by surprise? No, we aren't moving, but we have some friends moving in. Aaron, Priscilla and Ethan now live in our house with us. They are building a house and it is not ready yet, so here they are. They may be here until February, we're not quite sure. Anyway, we have a FULL house! And a full house is a happy house!