prepared

Lots of pictures to remember one special night...his first football game as a high school student.  He's been preparing for this game since he could walk.  His first word was ball and he hasn't stopped throwing one since his tiny hands could hold it.  As a little boy, he spent countless hours in his daddy's lap watching the game on television.  And now it's his turn.  His turn to do what he's been mentally and physically preparing for for years.  And as we watched on the edge of our seats, we did not see a little boy run onto the field.  We saw a leader.  An eager young man ready to lead his team on to victory.  And that's just what he did.  With the help of an extremely dedicated coach and some very loyal teammates, the Pirates took the Wildcats 47-14.  Not bad for your first game.

I am one proud gal tonight.  Not because he played well and they won.  I am proud because he put the time, effort, energy and mental strength into getting ready for this game.  Playing a sport isn't something you just put on a uniform and do.  It's something you work at, you practice until your body can't stand up any longer, you study play after play until you know them better than your own name, you push yourself in ways you didn't think were possible.  And it pays off.

The Procter and Gamble commercial that was played many times during the Olympics was my favorite....Behind every great athlete there is a mom.

Hi.  That would be me.

the first day of school

Here I sit at my computer.  I've taken all three kids to school.  Had a nice breakfast alone with my husband. Cleaned the whole house.  The whole quiet house.  It's quiet here.  I didn't realize it could be so quiet.  After having three boys here for 14 years it's finally quiet.  I am not sure how I feel about it.  I like quiet sometimes.  I like being alone sometimes.  But I am not sure I like quiet and alone all the time.

I was just thinking about my life and how I gave up all my dreams and goals for myself so that I could have 14 years of noise.  14 years of wrestling in the house.  14 years of arguing and competition over a nerf basketball hoop.  14 years of lunches at the kitchen table.  14 years of play dates and sleep overs.

And now it's quiet.  I took all three of my kids, the ones I've been raising, the ones I've invested in, the ones I've poured a foundation for and left them in the hands of someone else.  Does she know how much I've put into them?  Does she know how much I've prayed for them?  Does she know how treasured they are?  Does she know how much they are missed today?

Yesterday, Will got mad, real mad at Graham and told him "I am gonna kill you!" And so yesterday I was real real ready for school to start.

But not today.  Today I miss them.  And all their noise.  And all their arguing.  And all their competitiveness.  And all their hugs.  And all their smiles.