The Football

Football is coming to a close with the upcoming Superbowl game just days away.  I have had a long time to really think about this game and the beginnings of it.  The fundamentals of the game.  It really starts with kids.

All my life I have been around football.  Not that anyone played in my family growing up but we have always had a love for it.  In our house, we loved college football and the football fever was strong for the Alabama Crimson Tide. I enjoyed my high school football and it did not hurt that we were awesome during my years of school there. It is a great feeling when you have something to do with friends and a hundred fans all cheering for the same cause under Friday Night Lights.  Over the last year, I have seen football in a different light.

My son decided to take up tackle football in the 8^th grade.  He made the decision as a new 8^th grader at his school and after school had started.  I remember saying to him, “Boy, you are going to get your block knocked off!”  So he played and learned the ropes.  He was new to the team and new to tackle so he did not go in every play, but he seemed to enjoy this!  The boys were great and welcomed him on the team.  This 8^th grade team flourished and won almost every single game.

Fast forward to this past summer. My son, Honey Badger (what I like to call him as he has a very strong will…is there a stronger word than ‘strong’?), decided he was up for high school ball.  He went all July to work out, practice, and sweat in this Memphis heat for football.  There were scrimmages and two-a-days.  There was record-setting heat.  The practices were moved to early mornings and late nights.  It was a long, hot July.

Let me stop and tell you it ain’t no picnic for the Mommas.  Some mornings he had to BE there by 5:40 am.  It is still dark at 5:40 am. Forget two-a-days, I had six-a-days.  Back and forth I drove and picked up.  There were some nights they were done after 8:00, and then I had to feed this man-child because he was like a ravaged beast.  I think he ate five meals a day in July.  I had to keep up with that.  Then I will address the smells.  Stinky stench of uniforms and practice clothes could have originated in the elephant house at the zoo.  Something died in those clothes during practice.  It was so bad I wanted to bury them—daily.  But I did not.  I washed them every night in preparation for the next day.  It ain’t no picnic for the Mommas but I would do it 50 times over again.

There is something interesting that happens when you join a team at school.  This may be a marching band, a chess team, a school choir, or a sports team.  Whatever the group or team, the student is now a part of something larger than himself.  The student is a member and included in the camaraderie.  The student is accountable.  I see some sort of new pride in having things ready for practice.  What? Your bag is together?  I see someone prepare to leave for practice and enter the room saying, “Come on Mom, I’m ready to go.”  Who is this child?

Coach talking to my son after a play.

The Coach has more knowledge on food (taking care of your body), sleep and exercise than any parent can dream of attaining.  I think the Coach has some sort of magic coach’s whistle because I know we talked about junk food and exercise a few hundred times in this house.  My husband played all sorts of sports so we have had numerous helpful discussions on these subjects.  MY child goes to a summer practice and the Coach lectures the boys on food and exercise, then uses that ‘magic coach’s whistle’ and these boys believe it.  Maybe there is a rock tablet that has football rules inscribed on it called, “Coach Says”.  I think I need some “Coach Says” in this house.  The bedroom of Honey Badger has little positive things going for it.  Hey, Coach says to get the dog poop out of the yard and wash my car.

It’s been so insightful to ‘live’ on this side of the bench—as a parent.  You begin to know who all of the players are and you meet a lot of the other parents.  You ask a ton of questions to these other parents.  You feel a sense of loyalty to not only cheer for your kid but now these other kids by name.  You are emotional about other players, too!  One of the most touching sights is found after a game.  These big boys, sweaty and stacked up in full pads search to find their parents.  I have watched them reach to hug a mom or dad.  That is a beautiful sight and I am so glad I get to peek into their lives.

Senior players praying for a hurt brother after a game.

Football season is long over and I can fully look back at these last few months in the game of football.  Our team did not have a winning record.  But these boys never gave up.  The coaches were unbelievably strong and led by their faith in The Lord and their coaching wisdom.  They were building something and it did not always end with a win on the scoreboard.  They were building these boys into young men.  These players learned about perseverance, getting back up, integrity, and brotherhood.  They learned they must keep their focus on the straight path and they are already victorious.

This experience with football has given me a different view of team sports, but a higher respect for football.  These boys started preparing in June. For those months, my child experienced so much that I just can’t put a price tag on it.  It has amazed me even though my child was not on the field in many games.  The love of the game goes deep.  The love of the game grows much deeper than the grass it is played on.

My Boy.

It is not just the block or tackle or catch on solid ground.  Football is the relationship a player has with his team.  It is the strength it takes to encourage a brother.  It is the endurance of many to work and fight through the rough spots.  It is the grit and vigor to protect this common bond.  All of this comes together and forms the game into something amazing.

Yes, the love of the game goes much deeper.

I am not sure how long my son will play football.  I hope he will continue through high school.  I hope that love continues to grow.

With Joy,

Tracey

“The Lord is my strength and my shield. In Him my heart trusts.” – Psalm 28:7

Wait A Minute

It seems like time is such an adversary these days.  Not enough of it.  It evades me. It runs away.  It slips through my fingers.  I try to grasp time and hang on to it.  I soak it in and revile in it.  Time does not care, though.  It keeps moving.  Time has its own agenda, despite what I want.  I want it to stop.  Time does not hear me.  It never does.

These days are just packed.  Packed with activities and people.  These days bloom with mini memories and large adventures. These days have moments.  The moments are now what I want to press into a large book and then pull put to frame and hang in a hall of recollections.  I want to just dwell there.  Smile and exhale and hug on my precious loved ones.

In these packed days, I find a little girl.  She is not so little anymore, but she is my youngest.  My little one finished elementary school in May. 

She is still mostly sweet and wants me around for the most part.  We had a standing lunch date every Friday.  I would go to the school and eat lunch with her and it cannot be missed, or it must be made up.  Forget making up ‘Snow Days’, worry over ‘Missed Lunch Days’!  This was a high priority that ranks up there with food and sleep.

This little girl has grown and makes me wonder, “Why does time have to keep moving?”  Why can’t I just stop her from getting older even for just a short time?  Halle is my little girl and I treasure all of the things about her.  She wakes up and is ready to do her business of the day.  She talks first thing in the morning and makes her own lunch.  Clearly, this trait is not from me.  She likes to organize social events and loves art.  Halle has a heart for animals and loves her dog and cat-almost to a fault.  The dog can take it but the cat needs a hiatus sometimes from all that love.  Halle loves going to the barn and loves to ride horses.  Her heart spills over with love for creatures!

If you don’t know Halle well, she has a few little gems I love.  Along with her desire to decorate for any holiday and her organizing, she has no desire for being scared.  Don’t scare her.  Just don’t do it.  If you hide and then jump out, you better move away quickly.  She will slap you into next week, once she recovers.  All that aside, Halle will share will share any food with you. I think this is a delightful trait for the youngest of three.

One of the last days at the bus stop in 5th grade with Delaney and the dogs-Chopper and Indy

This is not only a time for growth and my youngest moving on to her next stage, but it is a bittersweet time when we close the chapter of Elementary School for our family.  Those last few days of 5^th grade were treasured. In my mind, I will forever etch the vision of my baby getting on that school bus and blowing kisses to me out the window. I will cling to those tight hugs she gave me when she left for the school day.  I will relish all of those memories of school lunch that held a special spot on my calendar each Friday.

I am so excited to see what God has planned for Halle in her next chapter.  He has thoughts of good for her (Jer. 29:11)! She can claim that promise. As the next stage unfolds, I can love the days.  These are great days and sweet days.  How I want them to just stop.  Stop moving for just a minute.  Wait a minute.

So to my special youngest child, my sweet-note-writer, and my hug-giver, I pray your next stage will be wonderful.  Go forth into Middle School.  I love you, Halle, and I always will!

With Love and Joy,

Tracey

“Like a devoted gardener, I will pour sweet water on parched land, streams on hard-packed ground; I will pour My spirit on your children and grandchildren—and let My blessing flow to your descendants.”  -Isaiah 44:3

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and

Our family adventure this summer and my girls

not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” –Jeremiah 29:11

Put Your Heels Down and Get Mad

My daughters enjoy riding horses. Actually they enjoy all-things horse.  What I know is that this love comes honestly.  I have the love.  What I forgot is all of the life lessons that can be learned from riding and well, horses.

I know there are volumes of books written on the subject.  I can only pull from my experiences today.  My middle child is an undercover worker bee.  She has a little bit of grit to work toward a goal.  Fairly laid back, so one would not always notice her grit, but it is there.  Sometimes you have to dig deep for that grit. 

Sometimes you have to trust others, who are wiser than you.  Sometimes you also have to trust you can do this.  Horses can really push some of these things out of the very bottom of yourself and the tips of your toes.

On a beautiful day recently we went to the barn for a riding lesson.  My girls ride at a barn where there are always lessons and usually the swapping of assigned steeds for the lesson.  Erin is their instructor and owner of the barn. She is an accomplished teacher, rider and has a degree from a wonderful riding college.  Most importantly, she has years of experience.  Horse experience.

Let me stop right here and let you know that I am no horse expert.  I did not go to a riding college.  I did grow up riding and owned a pony for a little while.  I also immersed myself into all things horse for a portion of my young life.  So, I may be a little rusty on the horse front, but I have a fair amount of intuition left in me.  When the girls started riding at this barn a few years ago, I felt it was a good fit.  Erin knows what she is doing, she knows her horses and she seems to quickly know the young riders.  There was my intuition nudging me.  A good fit and some wisdom to boot (pun totally intended)!

Conversations before a horse show

So on a glorious day in early February, we arrived at the barn for a lesson.  The barn office is the hub where riders are greeted and the riders are assigned a horse for the lesson.  The girls both raced into the barn to get started for the lesson.  On this day, I sat in the truck to watch the lesson and get a few things done.

Deep in thought, I was startled when the back door opened and shut quickly.  It was my middle child.  I turned to look at her and saw she was digging around for her water bottle.  So I turned back around as I said, “Oh you forgot your water?”

“Yup.”

I then heard her breathing change and I turned to find her starting to get upset.  I asked, “What is wrong?”  Middle Child explained that she was assigned to ride a particular horse that day for the lesson.  This was upsetting to her because this horse is sometimes…snarky.  She started going on about all the reasons she did not want to ride this horse.  Sometimes he bucks.  Sometimes he does not like other horses, oh and look there are others riding in the paddock now!  I am not sure Middle Child breathed as these fears rolled off her tongue.  I knew why she had some fear, this horse was indeed snarky.

So I finally got a word in between all of the heavy breathing.  I told Middle Child that Erin knew what she was doing.  She had her reasons for assigning that horse.  Erin also knew Middle Child as a rider.  She would not put Middle Child on this horse if there was not confidence it could be done.  I also said it might be tough but it would make her a better rider. 

“But what if he bucks?” she asked.

I replied, “Then just put your heels down and get mad.  Don’t let that horse win.  You win.  You have the last say.”  I went on to tell her if she can ride this horse, she could ride any horse there.

Middle Child pulled herself together and seemed to listen. 

She got out of the truck and headed into the barn.  A few minutes later, she emerged leading that snarky horse.  He followed her lead and they made their way to the paddock where others were starting to ride.  Erin was waiting and the lesson soon began.

I chose to stay in the car this time.  I could see the lesson and sometimes Mom needs to give some distance.  The lesson went smoothly from what I could see.  Afterwards, I spoke with Erin and she complimented Middle Child and her performance in the lesson.

When Middle Child finished all of the grooming in the barn, she emerged once again leading her horse out to pasture.  She was relaxed and confident.  The girls were in the truck a few minutes later and ready to leave.

“How did it go?” I asked.  Youngest Child talked about her great lesson and enjoyed her horse selection that day.  Middle Child was very excited about her lesson and even surprised herself.

Then she said this, “Hey Mom, now I think I can handle riding any horse here!”

Don’t you just love it when it is almost like they claim the epiphany you shared with them earlier?  It’s stated as if they just thought of it on their own.  Spoken like they just found the answer to a crazy word problem—and it was correct.  That, my friends, is what I like to think of as the ‘bonus’ in the parenting world.  You tell them something and then they see you just might be right.  (Someone please tell my kids I do know a few things…we will just go with ‘a few’)

This all made me think of choices that were in front of me lately.  If I do the groundwork and prepare and then pray about it, why do I seem to have heavy breathing?  Why do I let doubt creep in and tell me I am not able?

It comes down to trust.  I should trust in the Lord in all my circumstances.  Ask for direction and then… wait for it, LISTEN. 

Listen to wise advice.  Just like the Instructor knew my middle child and the horse, God knows what we can’t see at times.

When facing doubt, sometimes you just need to put your heels down and get mad.

Ride on with Joy,

Tracey

“If you listen to advice and are willing to learn, on day you will be wise.” –Proverbs 19:20 (GNT)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Never rely on what you think you know.  Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.” –Proverbs 3:5-6 (GNT)

My girls during a horse show at the barn.

©2015-TraceySimpson