Planets

It has been an amazing few months for viewing the night skies.  One particular bright star kept getting my attention, so I got my telescope out and discovered that it was Jupiter.  We could even see the two dark stripes that go around the planet.  Three moons were visible at all times, only in different positions, while the fourth moon could only be seen at the right times.  I was so drawn to Jupiter and loved how it dominated the night sky for so many weeks......until Venus came back around.  Suddenly Jupiter was dull in comparison.  During the next few weeks we got to watch as the two planets moved closer and closer together until they were nearly side by side.  It was an amazing site to observe.  At the same time Mars was glowing redder than I have ever seen it.  Even though we did not see Saturn this time, it could be seen in the early evening sky.  Five of the nine planets, including Earth, all visible at the same time.  It really made our solar system seem small in the vast universe!!

We also witnessed some amazing views of our moon this winter!

It gives me so much pleasure to see my dad with my sons....his grandsons.  My boys have been blessed with a very strong role model in my dad, as well as their own dad and other grandfather. 

Tailgating...a Family Tradition

I did not grow up in a family that spent a lot of time playing or even watching sports.  My dad did watch them, but our lives didn't revolve around it.  There are times when I wish that my parents would have at least given me the choice, but I never even questioned why they didn't.   Vicki and I played basketball some when we were very young but eventually turned to cheering, where we stayed the rest of our school years. 
Jeff, on the other hand, grew up in a family that would find it hard to even imagine a life without sports.  Jeff and his brothers all played baseball and other sports, and their mom coached basketball.  She had also played basketball in high school and college.  So, while I may never love sports as they do, I have had to learn to be a part of what is going on.  We have given all of our children opportunities to experience different sports, but we have never made them play anything that they did not want to.  It makes me so angry to see a child playing a sport when it is obvious that he is only there because his parents want him to be.  One thing, however, that all us do together is tailgating at our local college.  Most all of us have graduated from there, and my father-in-law is still Chief -of- Police there on campus.  He also travels with the football and baseball teams and loves for us all to be there to support them. 
I don't know which direction our kids will take when it comes to their view on sports, but it seems as if they are somewhere in between Jeff and my backgrounds.  As long as I know that we have offered them the opportunities and let them decide what they want to do, I am happy with whatever sports they do or do not choose.  One thing is for certain, though.....every college home game here we can all be found in the same spot on campus, eating and hanging out, waiting for the game to start. It is one of the times when my father-in-law looks the happiest, and that makes me happy.  His excitement is contagious, and people are drawn to him, as well as my mother-in-law's amazing spread of food and treats.  Ginger even gets in on the fun and loves all of the attention she gets. 
Like all the traditions that are so important in our family, tailgating will always come back around each year.  Maybe, if it is the path they choose, our kids, nieces, and nephews will be tailgating there as students one day....sooner than what seems possible!!!