The party never stops around here.

See my big cheesy smile??? Well it is celebrating that most of the fun of having a dry socket has passed. Thank you clove oil and ibuprofen.

Little Mister Mischief

Obviously I should clean up as I go while cooking. I took a break to lay Quinten down only to find my little helper sampling the flour. And she loved it....gross.

8 months and ALWAYS on the go...

Grew an inch in the night and the big toe just popped out!

Best Buds

Dad says, "Hey sweet pea." Dilly responds, "Hey sweet dad."

Adventures in potty training: doesn't this pic just say it all?!?!

She insisted she could "DO IT MYSELF!" At least one cheek got covered. hehe.

Both kids LOVE the lights and tree. We strategically placed the tree out of Quinten's reach.

He pushed this chair through the kitchen and under the table.

I've been told that kids will be more willing to try new food if you let them help prepare the meal. Well this certainly proved true. Ryanna would never even touch lettuce before. She shredded it for our tacos and has gobbled it up ever since! Who woulda thought?

An apple day? Not a problem for this silly girl.

Your dad used to be as smart as a monkey, but then time went by and he became as dumb as an Ape...

I think that last time I updated things here on the website I was giving my resignation speech about quitting my football coaching job. I wrote most of that last post with the hopes that I could just focus on my main job and do my radio show in my sleep. When did I sleep back then? I never really noticed until I got sick. For the past two Octobers, and this last April as well, I have caught a cold. The cold usually starts with the dryness in my throat, a simple cough, runny nose... and before I know it I can't stop hacking and I lose my voice for about 3 weeks. Working in radio doesn't work too well when I don't have a voice. When I made the decision that this was my last year coaching football in the foreseeable future I was sick of being sick. I was ready to have something consistent in my life. Come to find out, radio was not the answer. In a complete 180 I decided that it was in my best interest to have one employer right now, one set of obligations, and more time with my family. I quit radio Nov. 1st.

With the decision to quit radio I also decided that my future is best served if the extra money I make come from school related activities, i.e. football coaching, and any other sport that will have me. ------------ I am a firm believer that God has a plan. Also that God is patient enough for you to learn a lesson or two before fulfilling his plan. AND that I tend to take the longest route possible to finding my place in his plan. When I first moved to Vernal I got up in church and said, to the effect, "Hi, I'm Brian Baldwin, moved here from the Wasatch Front... here to take a full time job in radio while trying to find a job in education... since I just graduated with a teaching certificate..." The very next Sunday I was approached by a man, Joshua Graham, who told me that he had the 'perfect' job for me. He sat me down after Elder's quorum and told me about a job in Special education that he thought I ought to apply for... "Special Ed?" I replied, "I'm a history teacher... Spe... Spe... Special Ed? I feel like I've got it good with my radio full time job and a part time job in the schools looking after the at-risk students (in other words, babysitting)." Josh ended up being my home teacher, I took over his calling as a member of the Young Men's Presidency and taught his son in Deacon's quorum... so I heard about the job often, still denying myself the opportunity of applying for the job. 

 Moving to Vernal was one of those things where my family and I were taking a 'leap of faith,' heading to an area where the economy was booming so much that we could hardly afford to live there. Yet, I so badly felt that I needed to come here. I often wonder if my love and desire for radio was the carrot at the end of the stick that God was using to pull me here for something bigger. 

 Radio is now and after thought, working in Special Ed is real... and I love it. One day, while shutting out the noise of my at-risk students I read an email Joshua sent to the entire school district asking why no one was applying for the job he wanted to leave for a personal business venture. He gave reason after reason why someone should apply. With money low, spending slightly more each month that I was making, I decided to finally apply for the job. 2 years ago this week I started my job as Program Director for the transition program within the Uintah School District. We are called the Can Do Crew and I could not have asked for a better job. Not only am I now in school for a Masters, to become qualified for my position ;), with the school district helping me, but I am a teacher. A teacher of life skills and job skills. I am also like an administrator with more responsibilities and power than I know what to do with. 

 This job supports my family, gives me the perks that I like in a job, and no day is exactly the same. So what brought me to Vernal? Radio Would I have come to Vernal to work in education? Probably not What am I doing now? Working in Education, not in radio.

I saw someone quote the song "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers..." today... If I were to write a song right now it would read something like this, "Some of God's greatest gifts are when he manipulates a situation, tosses me bait, and is patient enough to keep opportunities open until my stubbornness subsides... la la la deee daaa." --------------

-- For those who may not know, I went through a very painful time these last two weeks. On the Friday before Thanksgiving I noticed that my daily afternoon headache was now showing up in the morning. Saturday was worse, Sunday Worser (if thats a word) and on Monday I finally reached my pain threshold. I sought relief, ER and Urgent care were out of the question... no family practice doctor would see a new patient on such short notice... so I went to a chiropractor. 

 With a nap, a Excedrine Migraine dose and an adjustment I felt ok. On Tuesday I was in so much pain, all of a sudden the Urgent care was a good idea. They then sent me to the ER. My Migraine was so mad I was in tears when I pulled up to the ER. The ER did their usual, racking up the bills... CT scans, Lumbar Punctures... etc. It was decided that I had a Sinus Infection. The Lumbar puncture was to make sure that I didn't have meningitis. I felt ok after all that, went home and wanted to rest. 

 Wednesday I felt a different headache. Have you ever had a spinal headache? That wiped me out completely and on Thursday, Thanksgiving, I had to go to the ER for a blood patch. I was still sick to my stomach, but the spinal headache seemed to be going away. Friday, felt okay enough to be out of the house quite a bit with the family. 

 Saturday, the spinal thing was coming back. Sunday, Completely wiped out. Monday of this week, tried to work, threw up after two hours and went home. Tuesday, came home after two hours to take a nap, then made it the rest of the day. Wednesday, Yesterday, finally a good day. Today, better.

 I understand that if you have read this far you are actually interested in what I have to say... Thanks. Between the Spinal Headaches, Sinus Headaches and what I thought were migraines, I thought I was dying. These are two weeks I do not want to repeat. Today I get to be thankful for my improved health. I didn't have a thanksgiving, except for the hospital meal that the doctor was so good to get for me, and so I am making sure that I use the time when I am feeling good to be thankful. 

 For the last two weeks I am thankful for a loving, concerned, cooperative wife who didn't criticize me when I needed to just walk away and hide upstairs in our bed in the middle of the day... who made sure that the kids stayed quite because of 'daddy's head,' and who was always encouraging and straight up with me. 

 My kids gave endless smiles and kisses. Ryanna was so understanding when Daddy couldn't come upstairs for prayer time. I am thankful for members of a ward, that I haven't felt much a part of, who came to my side when summoned. The Elder's Quorum pres, one of his counselors came by to give a blessing... but also stayed and showed they were genuine. It helps that he is PA and could listen to all my complaints. Also in the ward the couple who drove me to the hospital on THANKSGIVING DAY when they were asked to by my wife. They were about to shoot family pictures and dropped everything for the 15 minutes it took to pick me up and drive me a mile to the hospital. They also stayed by when I was on my knees begging the ER secretary to just let me lay down on a bed. They didn't laugh when I laid on the floor right in front of the ER window. They also called to follow up. I am thankful for my Brother in Law who answer questions about medication and etc. whenever I called him, even if he was at work in his clinic. He called to follow up as well. I am thankful for the opportunities I have in this town. I HATE that I am 3 hours from anything, but I have found that the less I try to make the drive 'home,' the less I hate it. 

 In this little town I have been able to do more than I ever thought I would do... professionally and personally. I have grown so much and matured... plenty to go there as well. I am thankful for Joshua being inspired to get me his job. RIP Josh, WE ALL MISS YOU. I am thankful I have a good TEAM to cheer for on Sundays. I'm thankful for Hard Knocks and an 8-3 record and the all so meaningful BENGALS VS CHARGERS game, that will probably determine a first round bye, that I have tickets to Dec. 20th. I am thankful for a Utah Jazz team that has won their last 3. I am thankful for my country, my state (UTAH!!), my city, my religion and my family.