In the Midst of Miracles: Back to the grind

Dane, #54 on the left, with three of his teammates. Going out for the coin toss before our first game of the 2010 season.

My sisters tell me that they can gauge my "busy-ness" by how much I am blogging. So I guess they have figured out that I've been BUSY! Just usual Back-to-School stuff for the most part.....but what a mad scramble it is! I intend to post some things soon about Jennica and how her first few weeks of first grade have gone, but this post is dedicated to my boys. They are happily buried up to their eyeballs in football. We've had two games so far...and the scoreboard has not reflected much success in our direction. However, this group of young men has a large number of team members with extremely disrupted home lives. They have rallied around their own in situations of severe verbal abuse from an inebriated parent and drug-use allegations--all before the season has really even begun. And note in the pictures that I'm posting ...See the small black sticker with the white #31 on the rear-left side of their helmets? That #31 honors a teammate that they lost to suicide in January. So.......these "Boys of Fall" are an extraordinary bunch.

Dane, running the "starting line-up"

As for my own boys and their roles? My oldest son, Dane, is a junior this year. He finished wrestling season in February at 152 pounds, and then made a commitment (to himself) to "build" for football. All through track season and summer, he lifted weights a minimum of five days per week. He weighed in for football season at 205 pounds. No kidding!! He honestly looks like he weighs maybe 180-190, but 205??? WOW! He desperately wanted to play center, and worked hard to get his "snaps" consistent. So.....I'm very proud of him for earning the spot of center on offense, and middle linebacker (AKA "Mike") on the defense. In the first two games of the season, he has been out of the game a total sum of about four plays. Go #54!!

My younger son, Grant, is a freshman this year. He also has gained weight since February, and the 25 pounds he put on sits him at about 160. Not bad for a freshman that used to be a "little guy." He won't get a huge amount of varsity playing time this year, but he's played a bit in both of the first two games, and has managed to get a tackle in each game. He's a very versatile player, and you never quite know what position he's going to show up in. Go #52!!!

And then there is Mike. My husband is an Assistant Coach for the team. He throws his heart and soul into the job, and has a great relationship with some of the boys that don't have a solid male role model in their lives. I'm very proud of what he does for the team!