Taking a break from blogging for awhile...

OK... I'm admitting defeat for the moment. I simply can't keep up the pace of my schedule. I'm going to suspend blogging for awhile until I have a more managable schedule. And hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.... I'm thinking perhaps to take the month of March off and then see how things look in April...

thanks for reading my blog. This is Coach Sam signing off for now.

The Family Dog: Rylee Chadwell

Rylee joined our family just after Christmas 2006. We adopted her from the Houston Humane Society. She's a chihuahua - terrier mix. She reminds me of a beloved family pet my family had when I was a boy. Her name was "Fancy".

I have many fond memories of 'Fancy'. And she lived to a ripe old age of 22 years old (in people years). I remember mom told me that we adopted Fancy right before I was born. And she lived until I graduated from college. That's a pretty significant span.

I want Elijah and Connor to know the joys of a having a family dog and I think Riley is just right to fill the bill.

Of course, we still have our kitties and love them, but there's just something special about a family dog. I mean, it is pretty much an American tradition, isn't it?

Alexander and Rocky

Here's a photo of two of my neighbors: Alexander and Rocky... Alexander is the taller of the two. He's an exchange student from Germany. His interests include tennis and soccer. Rocky is the Klement's family dog. He has lots of energy and likes to chase anything furry.

Normally my blog photos are of family members, and Coach Sam's Life has been pretty much about 'Family for the last 582 posts'. But I've been thinking about taking a little different tact to my journal for a while and have decided to begin posting a series of photos and commentary of various aspects of my life, especially the community around me...

I think it will be fun to be able to come back to this post five, ten, maybe even twenty years from now and relive this moment and recall people, places, and events that might not necessarily stay in the memory banks as age starts to creep in.... And not only for myself, but for Elijah, Connor, and possibly their children as well. This and my other journals are a legacy to them. -Here I am in my early 40's and I can't really remember much of my early childhood, or even my junior high and high school years. -And sadly there's not much that's been preserved from my childhood years. My parents have both been gone for some time now and there are hardly any photos or mementos of those precious moments in time.

I want my family to know and remember that community was/ is very important to me. I love the little community that we live in. West Columbia is so different and refreshing after years of traveling and living in the city. The people down here in the country are different... -In the best ways possible...!

We've got wonderful friends and neighbors all around us who keep an eye on us and are really tuned in to what's happening around them. We care about them and they care about us. There's a feel that we're all extended family here. This is what home feels like. It's warm and comfortable. You can take your shoes off and be yourself.

It feels good to be 'home'....!

Valentine's Day

Before I met Monica I figured I'd probably marry another tennis pro one day because I felt like only another tennis pro would understand and put up with the crazy teaching hours my profession demands...

Well I married a professional alright, but not a tennis professional. I married a professional artist. However, she does understand and appreciate my schedule.

I definitely do not have a '9 to 5' job and never will...

My sweetheart not only understands and appreciates my profession, she even pitches in and helps out on the court if I need it. -Now that's true love and devotion....! Monica helps me all the time. What ever I need, when ever I need it, I can count on my beloved bride...!

I know many tennis pros whose marriages are unhappy or have crumbled because of the rigors and demands of the profession. I thank God daily that my sweet wife is such a loving, kind, and supportive inspiration to me.

Recently I was honored in my profession with an award for 'Industry Excellence'. I received a nice token personalized with my name on it. Although the award was inscribed to 'Sam Chadwell', I absolutely must give credit here to Monica as well, because she enabled me to excel in my industry, and I would not have achieved the results I have achieved if not for my sweet wife...!

I can't say enough good things about Monica. She's smart, she's beautiful, she's an awesome mom.... Well, she's just plain awesome, period! And I love her very, very much...

She's my perfect valentine...!.