Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a great time of year! Thanksgiving, for me, can be sometimes overlooked. My decorations for Christmas go up earlier and earlier each year. I am already listening to the 24/7 Christmas music station on my radio. I am really not sure why that is, but I want to take the time and say publicly to the world. . ."I am so thankful!"

I am thankful that even after all the ups and downs of the season, we are still playing. I am thankful that after all the morning sickness, I have passed the first trimester mark and have a little belly to rub:) I am thankful that, although I can't go to my dad's birthday party because we will be playing this weekend, he is turning 61 and is still the best dad in the world! And I am thankful that God spends every day with me, loving me, not in spite of who I am, but because of who I am! Lastly, I am thankful for you! Even though I may not know your name or where you live, I am thankful that you let me come into your lives and let me share what God has done in mine.
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this , that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The Bell

Hello Friends,

I heard this story and wanted to share it with you today.
The story is told in England that at the time of Oliver Cromwell a young soldier was tried in military court and sentenced to death. He was to be shot at the "ringing of the curfew bell." His fiance climbed up into the bell tower several hours before curfew time and tied herself to the bell's huge clapper. At curfew time, when only muted sounds came out of the bell tower, Cromwell demanded to know why the bell was not ringing. His soldiers went to investigate and found the young woman cut and bleeding from being knocked back and forth against the great bell.

They brought her down and the story goes, Cromwell was so impressed with her willingness to suffer in this way on behalf of someone she loved that he dismissed the soldier saying, "Curfew shall not ring tonight."

What a great story! A story of love and sacrifice which we all know as coaches wives. Someone once said the definition of sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love even more. Know your sacrifice for you family does not go unnoticed. You are loved and appreciated by your Heavenly father! Oh and I love you too:)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Bake Shop Talk

Hello Friends,

So I was in this little bake shop yesterday (baby needed some no-bake cookies:)). I was waiting on my order when I couldn't help over hear a conversation that was taking place at the table in front of me. Seated at this table were 4 ladies in their late sixties, early seventies. What I expected to hear was talk that included, "So I saw the grandkids this weekend," or "I loved that quilt you made for the church benefit dinner" or "Did you hear Marge's husband passed away yesterday." You know, the stereotypical conversation of older ladies. Not today! These ladies were talking football-college football! And I loved it. I sat there listening to them talk about Oklahoma State's defense during the Texas Tech game and the match up between OU and Texas Tech coming up in a few weeks. They even threw in there votes for this year's Heisman race.

They called my name to pick up my order and I did not want to get up-heck, I wanted a little piece of the seventy year old action, but the baby won this battle. As I got back in my car and was satisfying my (I mean the baby) craving, I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. I was reminded of what a great game football is and how awesome sports can be, in general. I know we get so bogged down with the ups and downs of sports as coaching families, but I want to remind ourselves of what great games they really are. Our husbands got into this profession for the love of the game. We need to remind them and ourselves of that.

Sports is the one thing that transcends all age boundaries . It is the one thing that you can talk to your grandpa (or grandma) about and it not be awkward. It is the one thing that can bring a family together after Thanksgiving dinner. And it is the one thing that is talked about from TV to Radio to the coffee shop to the bake shop.
SPORTS!! Got to LOVE it!!!!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Great Weekend

Hello Friends,

I just wanted to let you all know what a great weekend we had, and it had nothing to do with football:) Crazy, I know. It was great because at 5:00 on Saturday night I witnessed one of the greatest things of my life-my husband getting baptized. Just so you know, because our church is so big we have services on Saturday and Sunday. Family and Friends were there all to support his decision to "take the plunge." I was sitting there feeling like I was getting ready to watch my husband coach in the state championship or something. I was excited, anxious, a little nervous-all at the same time. To set the scene-our church has a big pool they put up in front of the church for baptisms. While the worship music is playing they bring the individuals who have made this decision to get baptized all out at the same time. There he was-the 4th person in line. They bring each one in the pool one at a time, they ask them questions, and then here it comes. . .a pastor puts them under water and then they shoot up a brand new person. For my husband, this brand new person just happened to shoot up back in college, but he never got baptized. This act was an act of obedience for him. I have watched while God called him into coaching and use it as a ministry and he obeyed, I watched God call him to share his faith in front of hundreds of people and he obeyed, and I have watched God call him to get in the Word and he obeyed and i watched God call him to fight the pride and get baptized and he obeyed. With this one act-he encouraged me and inspired me to listen to God and obey! It is a great honor to follow his spiritual leadership for our family.

As I told you in a previous post this hasn't always been the case so when I was watching, I couldn't help but get overwhelmed with emotion. I have been a part of this man's life from when we were in grade school all the way to his baptism at the age of 31 and I can tell you I wouldn't have missed any of it for the world. The good, the bad, the ugly, the great all led to this moment where I got to see God work in him, creating with in him a man after God's own heart. The answer to many prayers, years of prayers happened on Saturday, November 1 at 5:00. Let this be a testimony that God is Faithful!!! Not in our time, but in His! I can't wait to see where God will take him next.

Baby Update: We had a checkup and everything looks great so far!! 10 weeks woo hoo!