Bring on the rain

Oh my, there were a lot of things I wasn't prepared for when I took on the role of public AND homeschool mom, but Friday nights continue to boggle and stretch this mother. Just in case you don't know me that well, here's some info. I like to be dry. One of the few things I didn't like about living in a Central American country was the fact that I was never dry. Walking around in a poncho and wet jeans just never got to be a favorite past time, and so on Friday night after we had non-stop rain ALL day long we sloshed to the football game to see my favorite player of all time slip around on the field. It was not comfortable. Would I do it again? Yep, in a heartbeat. Love is worth sticky ponchos and saggy jeans.

This is Matt and Kristy's house. Of course, they are going to fix it up a little but it's here waiting for them. :) It kind of looks better through the rain.


If you look REALLY hard :) you might be able to figure out that this is the team heading for the field.


Ally and some friends watching the game.


The best part for Will is that each and every Friday somewhere on some football field that we find ourselves at, the concession stand is always selling pickles. :)

Another Friday Night at the Football Field

Now that we have purchased the appropriate teamwear, we consider ourselves prepared for the football game. Thankfully, it was a home game so we didn't have to drive anywhere through the light rain that fell up to the start of the game.


Cole saw a lot more playing time tonight and had some really strong tackles.

Go Tigers!

We went to our first 'official' football game as Tiger fans and I have to say it's probably a good thing I'm just starting out at it. We have had great experiences with baseball, basketball and soccer in the past, so it's not a big surprise that my heart is out there on the field once again with a child. While my heart may have been 'out there', the rest of me sat on those really comfy bleachers they have at all football fields and watched as my son fulfilled a dream he thought would never be. He did get to go in for some plays and the coaches are helping him greatly to learn the game. The game ended with a 64-46 win and we had some really wonderful people to share the game with!

#68

So, Cole's first day of school was today *gulp*, *sniff*, *cough*... The good news is that we survived it. I'm still unsure if it was more difficult for Cole, his dad, or myself. All day long, Dirk and I were clock watchers and even tho he had football practice after school, we seemed to breathe easier from the time we knew he was out of school for the day. (How strange is that? We were relieved that he was on the football field over school!) Anyway, the coach said they would be done with practice between 4:-4:30, so at about 3:40, Dirk said he couldn't stand it any longer and took off to watch the end of Cole's practice. He was smiling when he came in the door and wants to go back tomorrow...(Being the kind of mother that I am, I was willing to let him return to homeschool if it didn't work for him.) So, he is officially #68, a defensive end. And I am officially a public school mom.



These days were a lot easier to handle...


And these days I miss the most...

Go #68, I love you!

On the third day...

Everyone told Cole that the third day would be the hardest...
...they were right.


After a nap and several bottles of gatorade, he was ready to go again, just a little slower than before.

He's Gone

After days of constant prayer, he left this morning. Ugh, the pain a mother goes through to appear that she is completely confident in her child's ability to stand up against the rottenness of the world and face life on a football field. Yes, I know he is 17, but he is and always will be my baby that began his earthly life inside of me. His dad and I were up early after a sleepless night of 'checking on him'. Funny, how every time we looked in on him, he was oblivious to our concerns and was sleeping peacefully. (Just another reminder that God was acting on our prayers.) So this morning, after we prayed with him and told him how proud of him we were, Dirk took him to his first two-a-day football practice. After pulling up to the field, with not much more than a "See ya later, Dad.", he was gone. Released into God's perfectly capable hands and very much out of ours. So, Dirk came back home, sunglasses firmly in place to cover eyes that shed more tears than they had in years, to comfort me, who is holding her breath and praying unceasingly until 12:00 today when he will come home again... at least until tomorrow and all the tomorrow's ahead where he will walk boldly into the life God has called him to as a very special man of God. Is it strange to miss him already?

I sent this letter to a friend this morning and then decided to blog it. I know it may seem quite strange but when you've been a homeschool mom for ten years, regardless of whether we were living in the jungle, the city or the country, we've always been together. I am so thankful that God transcends boundries and football practices.

***UPDATE***
Practice is over and he loved it! Thank You, God!