BUT...
We had lots of fun playing in them...
and making pictures with them..
and raking them...
and just laying around in them....
We can't wait until next fall!! (and the real bonus is our HOA cleans up all the leaves for us!)
Thank goodness cause I have never, ever seen so many leaves in my life!
It's November and yep, we are still playing football folks! Robby started practice in June or July and we are still going!!! We even had practice on Thanksgiving day! CPA is advancing to the playoffs folks.
I heart this. and for more reasons than playing football. You see, Robby is a freshman which pretty much makes him "bling candy" on the side lines. But it's ok. There is a pecking order (as it should be) that needs to be respected. He understands his role on the team and helps the key players get better. He works out hard in the weight room. He is so much bigger than he was in June when they started practicing. Its really amazing to Philip and I both. He is getting bigger (not bulky), but more like becoming less of a kid and turning into a man right before our eyes. It's funny, but we are all getting so much more out of football than we all signed up for. Robby practices after school EVERY day and is at football from 2:15 or 2:50 until 7pm most days. That is a long practice folks. They teach so much more than football though. You see, they are teaching him to love and honor Jesus on and off the field. To God be the Glory! Soli Deo Gloria! Philip and I loved picking up Robby on Thursdays after practice. Thursdays they held devotion and had someone come in and speak to the team and build them up with a biblical eternal perspective. It was one of Robby's favorite things to talk about when he got in the car with us. Sometimes it was ex- Titan players that showed up to share their testiomony with the boys and sometimes it was a shoe shine guy that grabbed the heart of one of our coaches many years ago. These men were all shaping our sons heart, his head, and his body by teaching him its not all about winning the game on the field (they want to win - dont get me wrong), but that the glory first and foremost goes to our Lord and Savior off the field. Philip and I have been so thankful for our coaching staff. They weren't what we expected of a HS football coach-- alot of what Philip told Robby to expect went right out the window actually. Yes, there was a pecking order - but they built these boys UP everyday-- no cursing- no badmouthing- no pinning our players against each other. They built up a STRONG team and they demonstrated RESPECT and the LOVE for Jesus while doing so. This is now why I LOVE CPA football. For my son that is soo motivated by sports, I know that even though he is gone a lot with this program that they are teaching him how to be a man, and here he clearly has amazing role models leading the charge. Another one of Robby's favorite things was Friday Senior devotions. The Seniors were led to share their testimony with the team-- talk about getting to REALLY know someone- on and off the field and what their home life is really like. There were tears shared and friendships for life built during these moments before game day. Since we made it to the playoffs, they actually ran out of Seniors to share, so the coaches one by one shared their life stories with the boys. I have heard so many of these stories and I can tell you this-- There is no other Coaching staff that can touch them. They built a STRONG team who played well on the field, the built strong relationships in the field house and they were led by STRONG men of Jesus who set the VERY BEST example for our son and his teammates.
After each Victory and Loss, the boys dropped to their knees and prayed for their victory and for the other teams loss. Plain and simple- they gave God the Glory and no we weren't always playing Christian school teams. They prayed with Metro, the country schools and the Christian teams we played. We made it to the semi finals and suffered a hard loss. A HARD LOSS. It was so close.
Robby said that was the longest ride home- lots of tears being shed by grown men and boys. Lots of Seniors were crushed to have come so far and have lost so close to a victory. Our coaches stopped the bus and let the boys eat again, get off the bus and horse around. It made for a very late arrival time back at the school, but once again our coaches were teaching, and shaping and responding to our boys needs in that moment. I think a lot of boys grew up so much in that moment. The transformation Robby described was beautiful and full of Gods grace. It was a great year and I look forward to football next year- and this time going all the way to a CPA VICTORY!
And I never got a pic of Robby in his football jersey (he ran to the field house to fast everytime.) I was so mad!! We were heading to Milan,TN for the semi-finals. We had so much fun with our new CPA friends at the games... We cant wait till next year!
Alright-- we have a few more firsts and then they will be coming to an end. But we have our FIRST Thanksgiving to celebrate as a family of 5! Mamo had a Thanksgiving Dinner at school that daddy went to with him for that! He loves hid daddy coming to lunch! He dressed like a cute little Indian! His mama made this cute vest and Cailtin made his Head-dress.
He was so excited about having a TURKEY for Thansgiving! My sweet sister ended up in the hospital over the holdiay, so we quickly changed gears and my dad and Susan came to our house for Thanksgiving lunch. (Jenn is doing better, but friends PLEASE continue to pray for her constant healing.)
Mamo and my dad made the yummy turkey....
and we had lots of fun eating dinner and playing with some of our cousins that could make it...
Philip invited our neighbors across the street to join us, cause they didnt have any Thanksgiving plans. We all had such a nice time! We are blessed beyond measure. Praying for my sweet sister, Jennifer, who had to eat Thanksgiving dinner at the hospital. Her sweet husband and daughter joined us for Thanksgiving lunch and took her a plate to her room! I know she enjoyed my sweet potato casserole!!!:)
I wished ALL of my brothers and sisters could have been here, but it just didn't work out this year. Maybe next year! :) We were also missing Philip (he had to work)- that is the downside to his crazy/great hours...But its ok- he was home by 7 and we fattened him up with our Round 2 of the Thanksgiving leftovers!
Cailtin had a performance with Concert Choir at the end of the month that was actually the kickoff to the Christmas season. Practice everyday and long days the last week. It was wonderful and she looks so pretty. Why oh why does she have to grow up? We are so proud of her and love her beautiful voice! (Our tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving every year!)
Philip also had a birthday this month and we celebrated with dinner and a movie! He couldn't wait to get us all to see the Muppet movie! Kermie the Frog was his favorite stuffed animal when he was a little boy... aww how cute- his mom still has it! We all had a great time! It was a great day!
Happy Birthday Philip! You are my very best friend!!
No comments:
Post a Comment