We went up to the Prep Bowl this year and although I was worried that it was going to be outside (TCF Stadium), the weather cooperated perfectly and it was a beautiful day, a great game & the best outcome...Back to back Class A State Champs! There was a little action that happened during and especially after that game, but our boys displayed Viking Valor and made us all proud of them and our community, because it could have gotten really ugly.
Now that football is over, we are well underway into basketball and wrestling season. Ian is wrestling again this year because they have a great program for little ones to burn off some energy. We will take him to a few tournaments but we are by no means going all-out for first grade wrestling, simply because we have 2 other kids in activities as well.
Faith is now in her first year of organized basketball, and her coach is none other than...Daddy! He just can't say no, but it only seems fair that since he coached AJ's 4th grade team, that he does so again for Faith. I must say, he's much more laid back now with her team than he was 3 years ago. Faith has a great knack for ball handling and loves to take control and drive right to the basket. I hope she continues to have that confidence as she grows in her game.
AJ is back to basketball after having to sit out last year because of his ACL injury. His class has gotten taller, the game is faster, and competition is a little more, well...competetive. He feels a little behind in his skills, but we encouraged him to keep practicing hard and it will get better. I think part of his frustration is that he compares himself to one of his classmates who is a foot taller and comes from a large family of older superstar basketball athletes to practice with. (That player has now been moved up from 7th grade ball to play with C & B squad - 9th-11th graders. Yes, he's THAT good.) So, now without their "star" player, the boys have to up their games and their attitudes about themselves and just have fun playing games they might not always win, as they have so easily done in the past. Sports are just not about the game, but also learning lots about life and who we are and how to grow in that. I think that's why Jason loves being an athletic director so much. It's a great privilege to be able to teach kids about being adults in the settings they are in.
Laney is excelling in all things artsy. She made her costume for Halloween, loves drawing for art class, and plays piano and clarinet beautifully. She spends much of her time at home while most of us run up to the school for games, but she doesn't mind and loves having the house quiet and to herself once in a while. Noah also likes to hang out at home sometimes, so they have had more time together. She also took a babysitting course this fall, so she is getting more experience at home and hopes to earn some money that doesn't involve picking rocks. Both her and AJ are as tall as Mom now and it takes some getting used to. I've been so used to hugging small people and now it's like hugging myself...seems way to soon for that!
Unfortunately, my camera is on the fritz and I was forced to bring the tablet to Christmas concerts. With the intention of video taping each of the kids' songs, I realized halfway through that there was only enough storage for one picture. So as I watched part of the concert through the back side of a tablet, thinking I was taping it, I really only snapped a picture, and this was it. (If you look closely, you can pick out Ian dressed as "the man in black") I'm thankful for the memory...it was a beautiful program, as well as thankful that I realized what was happening and closed the tablet and watched the rest of it from my chair and not through a screen.
Merry Christmas!! May you know the love of God and His desires for you!
