IN-COURAGE

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Can you see who is "directing" all the kids in the Magic Market?

Dr. Keene taking care of all the new babies

Dr. Keene at the Childrens Hosptial in the Magic House

Fitz's Rootbeer Factory--Of Course we had rootbeer floats!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

(BIG—BIG—EXHALE) I am on the brink of a two week vacation. We are taking the boys to St. Louis for three days. The agenda is jammed packed with a water park, the city museums, Fitz’s Root Beer Factory, the zoo, and much more. The boys are pumped. On a side bar, this has been the best summer. The boys have been in heaven having Coach around. Practices, camps and shootouts seem like nothing when it’s only a four minute ride the gym. Last Sunday, we all jumped in Air force One, took a ride to the gym and brainstormed ideas to enhance the atmosphere. Here we are, all four of us, laying on the gym floor throwing out ideas. Justice said, “We should put in a spot light.” Cameron’s idea was, “Snacks.” Coach thought it would be really cool to paint the bleachers and I was looking at motivational ideas for the locker room. Believe me; we came up with a list. For the first time, in a long time, we are all genuinely excited. You can’t put a price on that. After we play hard with the boys for a few days—and recover—Coach and I will board a plane to the Dominican Republic. Yes, All inclusive-- Adults only--six golden apples--tropical paradise getaway! We went to the Dominican for our honeymoon nine short years ago and thought it would be a great place to venture back to for refection. Not to mention the crystal blue water and the sandy white beach. We both need this vacation more than any other trip we have taken. There is something about getting fired publically that makes days seem like years. Honestly, I am on empty. One a positive note, it only made Team Keene stronger. Sure seems like all these attempts to hurt our family really backfired. Anyhoo—Now, to work on my book selection for the beach and the pool….

Monday, June 25, 2012

NEW COAT, NEW LIFE

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about Joseph. Joseph had eleven brothers. Joseph was very special to his father Jacob and he spent a great deal of time with him. So Jacob had a special robe made for Joseph. It was very beautiful and had every color you could imagine in it. All of Joseph's older brothers saw this and they got very jealous. They got so jealous they couldn't even say a kind word to him. One day Joseph had a dream, and he went to go tell his brothers. He said, "Guess what? Last night I had a strange dream. We were tying up bunches of grain out in the field when suddenly my bunch stood up, while all of yours gathered around and bowed to me." The brothers looked at each other in disgust, but Joseph continued. "Then I had another dream that the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to me." "Who do you think you are?" The brothers said. "Do you think that you are better than all of us? Do you think that we would ever bow down to you?" This made the brothers dislike Joseph even more. The brothers made a plan to kill Joseph. So when Joseph came to them, they took off his beautiful robe and they threw him in an empty well. A little while later a group of people came by that were wanting to sell some things in Egypt. One of the brothers spoke up, "Why don't we sell him to these people, this way we never have to see him again, and we don't have to kill him." The rest of the brothers took Joseph's beautiful robe and dipped it in animal blood and took it back to their father. When the father saw this he cried, "Some animal has killed my son." And he cried for many days, so much that nobody could comfort him. In our darkest hour, God has a plan. He had a plan for the Keene's. Look at Joseph--jealousy, enslaved, backstabbing, evilness, and jail--pretty grim circumstances for a child of God. Just like Joseph, the Keene's continued to pray. The last few months have been very difficult in our very public battle. I have tried to keep my emotions quiet, but I have publically cried more than most people understand. Mourning the loss of

orange and blue has been touch and go daily, sometimes hourly. My 6 year old lost sleep, my two year old went from potty trained to diapers again--it was like a death in our family with a never ending public funeral. As for Coach, he’s been a rock---on the outside. This year has made us all stronger. Justice asks, "Mom, we will always love the IW girls, right?" Yes, Justice. "Mom, the girl’s didn’t fire daddy, right?" No, Justice. "I am going to miss them..." with big tears down his face. As for the four board members and a few other nameless souls, just like Joseph's brothers--they too had personal vendetta’s against a loyal family member. As Joseph continued to lean on God in times of hardship he was rewarded and eventually, as the story goes--BECAME KING! Like Joseph, we Keene's will continue to follow our dreams. I only hope that someday when IW needs something, like Joseph, Coach Keene will show you mercy unlike you did for him. God has JOSEPH-SIZE plans for the Keene's. Tick Tock......Looks like we have a new coat of many colors--ORANGE AND BLACK! P.S. Its better then we had ever imagined!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Thank you for the hundreds of notes, letters, posts, tweets, calls, highlights, interviews and articles of support to our family. So Very touched!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

P.S. Don't Stop Believin...

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Got Heart?

Heart, can't live without out it.

After all the love songs have been played and chocolate candy has been eaten; it’s time to call it a day. Even though my Valentine is experiencing all stages of grief this week he managed to dig down deep and make it unique. Not a lot of details ladies--but diamonds ARE a girl’s best friend, not to mention flowers, a special note, a stolen moment with deep conversations and time with the boys. We have an “inside out” theory as a coaching family. We take care of the people inside our circle. As a couple we do find balance--we have one hobby, and that's our kids. We rarely do date nights. We don't go on boys or girls weekends. We don't go out with other couples. We do things with our kids. Call it crazy. Call it whatever you want, it works for us. And our kids reap the reward of precious time. Our family Valentine’s evening ended with one sick and one with a fever, romantic.

The heart of one five year I know is pretty special. After the loss on Monday night he was broken. In the moment of a soft embrace with big crocodile tears rolling down his face he said, “I just don’t want to cry, but it hurts to lose.” Losing is never easy Justice Keene, but think of all the lessons we learn along the way. In the morning light post-loss on our way to school he proclaims in the back seat of Air Force One, “Mom, we are young. We did our best last night. That’s all that matters. And mom…what time will daddy be home”. (With a BIG GRIN)

Everything counts when it comes to the heart. I asked Cameron, how do you make everything count when you spend time with daddy? He says, "Wrestle, books, ball, and swim in the bath and wet the floor..like a flood, don't tell mommy!" Note to self—This must be why they use four towels for such a small child.

Speaking of heart, Keene’s have experienced three Gronewold girls move up the ranks to Seniorhood. All three have special places in our family’s recollection. The fourth daughter was the earliest adapter to embrace the Keene’s six years ago. My little starburst buddy. Biggest heart of the lineup, Lauren Gronewold. Do you know who the last person to leave the gym Monday night was? Lauren. Who was also the player that took heat from Coach; only pushed to be better? Lauren. Who shared a moment of tears and thank you’s after the game to all the coaches, the book keeper, and their families? Lauren. Big things are in your future. You have developed as a player and a person over the last four years. Your heart is a champion. Now, dream big. Find your place in this world. Take the life lessons and embrace adversity. Chin up. And if you ever need a good chewing, I know Coach will always have the heart to lead you in the right direction.

The heart of the matter in Keeneville is something changed this year. I don’t know if its related to maturity or a found inner peace. I don't want to say it’s a mind-set change -- I'm not sure that's the word – Coach has an incredible faith in God that only he can know his heart. Basketball does not define Keene. God defines him. This year I have witnessed Coach worry so much that it almost engulfs his spirit. It’s hard to watch someone you love go through. Technology, the Internet, message boards, texts-People feel they have an entitlement to rip everything. After the loss on Monday night in the quiet of the passenger seat he tweeted this message.

“To all the supporters this year, thanks for believing. For all the haters and doubters, thanks for pushing to make me a better coach.”

This packages up season nine nicely with a orange and blue bow. As for unwrapping season ten, that box is a mystery.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

CONGRATS to Ashley and Tyler---ENGAGED!! Whooo hooo

Sunday Fun At Home---Daddy's Watching Game Film and the Boys Are Playing In The Rice With Bugs and Insects.

A Regional Title-A Great Week At Work AND My Sister Got ENGAGED--Can it get any better? How About A Sectional Title this week....Stay Tuned!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious…

..WOW, what a game!

It’s never too late to start heading in the right direction. Post season is a beautiful thing. Clear the past. One game at a time. Survive and advance. There is a valuable life lesson somewhere in tournament time. How often do we slow down and celebrate the victories—be in the moment—before preparing the next day of life?

Winning is important to our family, but what brings us real joy is the experience of being fully engaged in whatever we are doing. It's not human nature to be great. It's human nature to survive, to be average and do what you have to do to get by. That is normal. When you have something good happen, it's the special people that can stay focused and keep paying attention to detail, working to get better and not being satisfied with what they have accomplished.

Top 10 Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious moments from behind the bench during the regional championship game—

10-Scouring after work to feed, bath, and pack my two kids, my mother, and mother-in-law in Air Force One (also known as our SUV) BIG EXHALE-I rallied back once I hit the four lane.

9-Cameron screaming “DIRTY--DIRTY” at the top of his lungs when the gentleman at the pass gate made a black mark on his hand to enter in the game. Note to self—tell the sectional gatekeeper we will pass on Cameron’s stamp.

8-When my mother said, “Wow, have we ever had the lead an entire game this year?” And the two superstitious coaches wives—also known as me and my mother-in-law—reprimanded her for saying that out loud.

7-Wrestling Cameron behind the bench. He just wanted to sit by Justice. Every time Justice would move, Cameron would move. It was like being wallered by 30 pounds of determination.

6-Getting hit in the head by a 12 wheeled John Deere tractor with 4:12 left in the 4th quarter because someone wanted a fruit chewy NOW.

5-Justice constantly creeping closer to the score table knowing he had orders from daddy he was not to sit there tonight. He ended up on the bench and in the huddle. Go figure…

4-Getting the “wink” at half time. Our secret code for relax—we got this win.

3-The celebration when the buzzer ignited the crowd for the victory. Love how hard the players have worked for this one. Bitter Sweet.

2-Again, the celebration when the buzzer ignited. Silence the critics and the doubters for that one moment in time. Super Sweet.

1-Full post game celebration, everyone wanted the attention of Coach Keene. He came directly to the bench for an emotional hug that lasted for a solid 30 seconds. We lose together and we win together.

In the wee hours of the victory Coach and I were in full celebration mode talking about our favorite basketball memories. This win tonight ranks right up there in the top three. The players have been great this year. They did everything asked of them. Tonight was their reward. It’s often the adults that can take the breath out of the experience. Moments like this renew the competitive fire within for anyone, including naysayers. Walk with pride and hold your chin high chargers. Slow down and celebrate the victory. Be in the moment, for these moments are special for everyone.