my two 85's

Colton's Friday night game

A little over a week ago, the day before Brock's first ever middle school football game, he and his teammates left practice a little early to pick up game day jerseys for the first time. He came home with #85.

My initial thought was that the coaches had issued him that number, thinking it would be cute for him to have the same number as Colton. I was wrong. Brock ASKED for #85.

Melt my heart.

Brock's Saturday morning game

What a blessing it is for these two to be able to experience this year of school together. Brock's first year to play school ball - and Colton's last.

I pray they will both soak in and cherish each and every moment.

And what a fun year for mom and dad to watch from the sidelines... go Eagles!

game two... liberty tech

Our first home game of the season was last night against Liberty Tech. We won again and Colton finally made it onto the field! Our starting quarterback position is now being shared by a sophomore and junior, and the team is moving forward. Dawson had surgery this week, and yet still made it to the game - showing his devotion to team and amazing inner strength.  And did I mention, Colton made it onto the field?

It was a good night.

2-0 baby.

a heartbreaking loss

Moms with their senior boys!

Last night, we played Memphis University School for our first football game of the 2014 season. We won big... but unfortunately, we also lost big. Our starting quarterback took a side hit toward the end of a beautiful run, resulting in a broken ankle. And just like that, our team leader - the best athlete on the field this year - the one who already had offers to play ball from some great colleges and had even more prestigious colleges considering making offers  - is out for the season.  Just like that.

Sophomore Year

Dawson is more than our team's quarterback, he's also one of Colton's close friends, which makes the heartbreak even more real. And he's just one of those really great kids. You know - the kind you want your son to hang out with. The kind who makes good grades, stays out of trouble, works hard, smiles a lot, and stands for something great and honorable.

So now, the question lingers out there... Why? It was the same question Colton pondered for two months over the summer. Why? After years and years of work and focus - just when you are about to see your dream fulfilled - WHY is it taken away? Just. Like. That.

Junior Year Prom

Cecily's Dance Fans 2014

I don't know why. All I can do in times like this is trust. Not in myself - or in others - but in God. In times like this, sometimes all you can do is bow your head, close your eyes, and whisper "I trust you, Lord. I don't understand but I do trust you." And so today, I will pray that Dawson, as well as his family, teammates and loved ones, will trust. And hope. And believe.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

football and mono

He lost 20 pounds during his two months of mono. He slept through all of the "two a days," and missed the remaining summer practices and workouts. He didn't get to play in the preseason scrimmages. But as of last week, Colton is finally cleared of mono and the race is on to gain back the weight, strength and conditioning he lost.

Colton's "ready for football season" Instagram post today.
Alex and Brandon painted "85" on their backs
for every home game last year.  

He's running extra routes and even extra "suicides". (He so does not get that from me.) He's "lifting" regularly, and catching  better than ever before. And he's eating and drinking tons of calories and protein - like a mad man. I've never seen him more focused or motivated. In just 10 days, he has gained back 11 pounds. Seriously.  He feels good and he looks good.  He's not fully back - but he's definitely getting there.

Earlier this summer, Colton was on track - and excited - to be one of the starting receivers in his senior football season. Mono took that away from him. But watching him these last two weeks, I know he won't let this setback define him.

Tomorrow, that senior football season begins. Colton's. Senior. Season. He LOVES football. And he LOVES his team.  And he's ready.  He's ready to pray over the game and the team before anyone else even enters the stadium.  He's ready to put on his uniform and get his game face on.  He's ready to stand on the sidelines and cheer and yell till his voice goes hoarse.

And he's so ready to get on the field - soon, my son.  You've got this - your time is near.

senior survivor

I am backtracking a little today. The Senior Survivor Games actually took place on Sunday, August 3rd, which was BEFORE school started. Which means they took place BEFORE my blog started.  But Senior Survivor was the 1st official activity of the senior year so therefore, we backtrack.

On a hot, sunny Sunday afternoon, this group of students and friends gathered for the very first time as a senior class... and competed against each other to see which group would take the "Survivor 2014" title.  They competed in:  the tug of war, basket carry, slip n slide, cricket spit (yes, you read that right), gross food eating, dodge ball and egg toss.  Normally, Colton would have been ALL OVER these games...  Competitions. School spirit pride. Friends.  These games had "Colton" written all over them.

Dodge Ball

But Colton had mono.  He was on the tail end of it - but nonetheless, it still lingered. So much so, that he didn't want to go to the games because he was tired - I made him go because I knew he would regret not being there.  During the games, he smiled, visited and hugged friends he hadn't seen all summer. But he was unusually quiet and somewhat unattached.  He wasn't able to participate in all of the games due to the risk of rupturing his enlarged spleen.

Egg Toss with Jordan

The two "cripples" anchor their team.

BUT - did I mention he smiled, he laughed, he visited.  He ate canned beets (gross!). He did the cricket spit (double gross!).  I can't say he contributed much in dodge ball or the tug-of-war (too weak and too preoccupied with protecting his spleen) - but at least he did it.  And then came his finest moment - the last event of the day - the egg toss. The two team "cripples" paired up for this event... Jordan had a broken foot and contributed about as much to his team's efforts as Colton did. But cripples have no problem keeping up with an egg. Slowly, teammates and opponents alike sat down as their eggs cracked or busted.  Slowly, the numbers dwindled. And finally, there were just 10 standing - all of whom had been in Physics during their junior year. All of whom learned how to throw and catch eggs during that physics course.  (Yes, they DID learn something!) And so the distance kept growing, and the eggs kept flying, and the numbers kept getting smaller. Colton and Jordan made it to the final four - and ended that game in second place, leading their team to a shocking OVERALL 2nd place finish.

We didn't have activities like this when I was in high school - but then again, I graduated in a class of 750.  I suppose games like these would have been pretty difficult to pull off with those kind of numbers.  My high school experience was great, but I am so thankful that Colton's is so different.  I love that he goes to a small school that does "Senior Survivor" - and the kids get excited to spit crickets and toss eggs.  I love that the teachers come to watch. And the parents. And the kids don't mind. Most of all, I love watching them talk, and hug and laugh.


Enjoy this senior year, my son - this is only the beginning!

a season of lasts

This morning I received an email from a cousin who is reading this blog.  In the email, she said that she didn't think she could keep reading my posts if they were going to make her cry every time she read them.  The posts just remind her, she said, of how fast her own young son is growing up.

The problem is, I don't know HOW to write - without writing with emotion. Because to be completely honest, I am an emotional mess most of the time now.  It seems that everything is a "last"... his last first day of school, last yearbook picture, last year in the church youth group, last football season...

The first day of 1st Grade and
the night after my nightmare .

The night before Colton started 1st grade, I had a nightmare. I dreamt he was getting married and I was at the wedding - but he was only 6 years old.  It was a crazy dream.  And very revealing.  I was completely torn up that my baby was leaving the security of kindergarten and beginning "real school".  He was growing up much faster than I wanted. I remember I cried when I dropped him at his first day of 1st grade.  It was the only time I cried on Colton's first day of school - until this year. 

I am officially in the season of "lasts".  I don't like it but like it or not, it's here. And so, I apologize up front. My writing may bring tears from time to time - I'm sorry, I just can't help it. (Did I mention that I'm in a season of "lasts?!") But despite the emotional roller coaster on which his mother rides, rest assured that Colton will also bring us laughter and joy throughout this season. The boy can't help it. And for that, I am SO thankful.

technology is good?

I love technology. And I hate technology.  It allows me instant access to any information I desire, which is also the reason I detest it... it allows my CHILDREN instant access to any information they desire.  It is utterly addicting. I admit, even I get addicted from time to time. This past weekend, however, it struck me that technology - and social networking - can be GOOD.

Colton spent last night with friends.  Not his "go to" guys, whose group text conversation literally never ends.  Not his group of friends with whom he's grown up with at church.  No, the friends he hung out with on Saturday were friends from middle school - friends he hasn't been in school with since 8th grade.  He has never even lived in the same neighborhood as these boys.  But technology has kept them connected.  Texting, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat.

This 17-year old son of mine has friends from everywhere.  Friends from elementary and middle schools who now live all over the greater Nashville area; friends he has met at track meets, football and basketball games, dances, parties, etc; friends he met while attending Boys' State this past summer, who live in cities around the state of Tennessee; friends from all over the country he has met through a spiritual leadership camp he attends in Texas every summer; and even friends from all over the world he met on solo airplane trips, family vacations, school trips and visits overseas.  Colton is definitely outgoing and has no problem talking to a stranger. In fact, he loves going out of his way to get to know someone new.  For this reason, he always requests to "go potluck" on a roommate at camp each summer - just so he can get to know someone new.  I love that about him.  And then the really cool part? He keeps in touch with most of them - through technology.

They text. They tweet. They instagram. They stay in touch.  So when Colton visits Texas or Louisiana or New York or Honduras or Israel, he almost always knows someone from the area - and will let them know he's there.  And if we are in the city his friend lives in, he contacts them to see if they can get together.

Still friends with most of these boys.
Picture taken Spring 2011.

They played school ball together in '09
and '10, and still go to each other's
games whenever possible.

Saturday night, six friends who haven't all been in school together since May 2011, got together for dinner, sports watching and just hanging out.  Technology makes our world a smaller place.  And I think I like that.

day two

I have had children in school for 18 years and this is the first time I have ever taken a "Day Two" picture.  No, I don't plan to make my children pose for a picture before school every morning of this school year... although that's not such a bad idea! Hmmm.

Colton and friends tailgating before the first day of school.

This school year marks the first time ever - and likely the ONLY time ever - that all four of my children will be together on the same school campus at the same time. Colton and Brock have never been in school together. And you know the really cool part?  They are BOTH excited about it.  Of course the 11 year old is pumped -- but even the 17 year old is excited.  And the REALLY COOL part  is that all FOUR of them are excited to be in school together.  They may not be the best of friends all the time but it's times like this that I at least know they love each other.

Back to the picture.  Yesterday, Colton left the house at 5:55 AM to tailgate with his friends before school.  Besides Brock, who was too excited to go back to sleep after Colton's alarm woke him up (at 5:15 am), everyone else was still asleep when Colton left the house.  So, I couldn't get a picture of the four of them together. I mean, really. Come on.  I HAVE to have a "first day" picture of all four of them together - this has never happened before!  And they didn't complain.  Seriously. They. Didn't. Complain. Must be because they love each other so much. Or maybe its because they know the complaining does no good when it comes to mom taking pictures of them.  Have I mentioned they're pretty smart kids?

and so it begins...

Today marks the beginning of my second senior year. The first being my very own high school senior year - 1987/88.  Yes, we were definitely "Great in '88!"  Back then, I couldn't even imagine being where I am today... watching my oldest begin his High School Senior Year.  Serious gasp.

There's more. My baby started middle school today.  The years of class parties, field days, box top collecting, butterfly releases, and recess are now gone. Gone. Be still my heart.

How does this happen?  How are they babies one day and high school seniors the next?  Does life REALLY have to fly by at the speed of light?  Those who have gone before me know what I mean when I say it's bittersweet.  He's ready - both of them are ready.  All of them, actually.  That would make FOUR who are ready - to be a senior, a sophomore, an eighth grader and [sigh] a sixth grader. Oh, they're definitely ready - I'm not so sure I am, though.


And so it begins... my second senior year.  This time I'll watch from the sidelines as my amazing son takes the spotlight.  I cannot wait to see it all unfold because I know... I know how utterly awesome it will be.  How he will love every minute.  How he will cherish each outing with friends. How he will finally take the field as a senior and carry that ball with his head held high like he is floating on air.  How he will cry when that last game ends. How he will dance the night away at the Homecoming Dance and Prom.  How he will love... and laugh... and talk... and listen.

This journal is for me - to remember every great and wonderful moment.  This journal is for him - to remember how very much I love him.

And so... it begins.