Best Youth Sports Program

I would like to give props to probably the best youth sports organization we have ever been involved with and trust me, we have been involved with many. Frenship Youth Football is only in their second year but this group of board members along with Frenship High football coach, Brad Davis, have put together a top-notch organization.

This league is patterned after the Southlake Carroll youth football program. There are 4 different age groups. All teams are Frenship Tigers they just have a color assigned to them, example: we are the Tiger Black team. All players must live within the Frenship school district lines. A simplified version of the high school playbook is used so that these kiddos can learn the terminology that they will hear once they hit 7th grade. This will do nothing but strenghten the already strong Frenship football program.

The leadership of the board is outstanding. Unlike other leagues in Lubbock, the board is approachable and they don't rule the league like Nazi's. The atmosphere is very positive and you see the kids flourish under this type of structure. This is a big thanks to this league for making Zach's last year of youth football a great, positive experience.

Our team finished the regular season in 1st place with a record of 5-1. Our playoff game is this Sunday and if we win we will play in the Tiger Bowl next Sunday. I believe we can take it all.(Promise to get some pics up next week)

ESPN's College GameDay in town

The biggest thing to hit Lubbock in a long time will occur this coming Saturday. ESPN's College GameDay will be on the Texas Tech campus. College GameDay usually is on set for the biggest game of the week. This week the biggest game in the country is here in Lubbock. It is between 2 undeafeated teams. The #1 rank Texas Longhorns and depending on which poll you look at the #5,#6 or #7 Texas Tech Red Raiders.

I really like both of these teams and they are both loaded with alot of talent. Texas is led by quarterback and Heisman hopeful, Colt McCoy. I really like this kid. He has tons of talent, good leadership and is a strong christian young man. It doesn't hurt that his from Texas (Jim Ned High School outside of Abilene). We got the privilege of getting to see his last high school football game when Jim Ned was defeated by Canadian here in Lubbock. He is a quality young man.

Texas Tech's high powered offense is led by another Heisman hopeful, Graham Harrell, another Texas schoolboy out of Ennis. Tech has a slew of receivers led by Michael Crabtree and Shallowater's own, Eric Morris.

What I think this game will come down to is who has the better defense. There is no doubt that both offenses can score, however both defenses have had their troubles this year. I think this will be the classic everyone is hoping for.

As far as College GameDay, Zach really, really wants to go down and check it out. However, I am afraid that it is going to be so packed and crazy that is will be much safer to watch it from the comfort of our living room. We will see how it goes. Although it would be great to see Chris, Lee and Kirk in person.

Who is my pick you ask? I think the Big 12 South will be a winner either way. With a Tech win, it could do great things for the program as well as shine some positive light on Lubbock and West Texas. I think this will be a close one but I think Tech has less at stake because no one expects them to pull it out. My pick---Tech 42- Texas-38.

Good Weekend

Hope you all had a good weekend. I had a nice time with my family. Zach had football and scored a touchdown, made the weekly trip to Wal-Mart, watched the Red Raiders and the Longhorns take care of business on the football field and Hayden, Shawn and I put together a Halloween Haunted House. Hayden had been driving me crazy for weeks to get one. It was fun to put together and Hayden was very proud of his creation. Here are a few pics of Hayden's creation. Have a good day all!

The Voice of God

For the past several weeks my mom and I have been going to the Women's Fall Bible study at The Heights. The study we have been doing is "Discerning the Voice of God" by Priscilla Shirer. In the past couple of weeks I have come to realized through my life how many times that God was trying to speak to me but I just didn't or wouldn't hear.

I go back to when I first realize that I didn't hear God or just wouldn't. I think the deaths of people starting during my junior high years began my destructive cycle that continued through high school and into college. There were deaths of classmates, classmates parents and my own sister, Melinda. We lost Dion, Randy, Robbie and Perry. Then there was my brother-in-law Steve, Shawn's mom, Sue and sister Alicia. Then adult friends of Shawn and I, Casey, Carl and Shane and my step-dad, Jerry. Then ultimately my dad. When I look at this 20yr period of time in my life it was not that I did not believe in God and not that I was necessarily angry with Him but that I just ignored Him.

There were so many times that I know He was talking to me and trying to help direct me but I thought I knew what was best for me. Hanging out with friends, going to parties, just staying busy was my way of dealing with things and helping me drowned out what He was trying to let me know. The ignorance of youth. It is amazing that more of us don't get lost forever. It is only by the grace of God that we make it through. I am so thankful to Him for not losing me forever and now days I listen, I hear and I really try to do what he is directing me to do. I am trying to remain obedient in my walk even though I know I stumble sometime, I know he is there to help me up.

"Obedience will always produce benefits that far outweigh the consequences of disobedience." Priscilla Shirer

Don't Be Silent

My family and I were just discussing the other day how we are not seeing political yard signs or bumper stickers displaying individuals choices in this presidential race. Is it that people are that unsure or just too embarrassed to let others know who is the candidate of their choice?

Well, I have made the decision not to be one of those silent few. Have I been overly excited about the 2 choices for this election? No way. However, after studying and reviewing what these two individuals represent and stand for, I feel my choice stands alone, John McCain.

I know that it may not be the popular choice, but for me, it is the correct choice. I know I may catch some political backlash for this choice but that is what makes America great, we have a choice.

During this time of uncertainty, pray for Americans to make the choice He wants to lead us to. Be Strong and don't be silent.

Disappointment

Those of you who have read my blog often know about the academic struggles of my oldest son. Zach is a severe dyslexic that struggles daily with reading and math. We managed to get through the TAKS hell of last year just to move in the uncertain world of junior high (we all remember those horrific days).

The year started promising enough. Zach finally got the amount of homework under control and has some decent grades going for this six weeks. However, last week he got his big first disappointment of the year. After a reading screen the school does, Zach did not score as well as they would have like, tell us something new(this is not our first rodeo). The school decided that he would have to take a reading intervention class. Zach is ok with having to do this but what he is not ok with is that he had to be taken out of band to do it. This pretty much devastated him. He really liked band. Zach realizes he is different then other kids. His disability can not be seen by looking at him. Trust me, he knows he is different.

When Zach was younger it was a little easier to reason with him. Now that he is almost a teenager, man he is angry about this. We have discussed how it is just how he was made. That we just have to work through it. He questions why he was made this way even though he will tell you he knows this is his testimony but he said he just doesn't know how it will all come together for him. He has told me a number of times that he would trade all the athletic ability that he has been blessed with just to be able to read well. That is a huge statement coming from a soon to be teen boy in this crazy for Friday night football state of Texas.

I know in the end it will all work out for him. It is just hard as a mom to see him struggle through it but having the understanding that he has to face this struggle and overcome it. Even though I can help and pray him along the way, this is his fight he has to face and win. I know I won't always be there to help.

SYATP 2008

This morning was the annual time for See Ya At The Pole. A grassroots movement of America's youth coming together at their school's flag pole to pray.

Zach has been ready for this for weeks. I worked last night but I have some wonderful co-workers who allowed me to leave a little early so that I could get him to Shallowater for the 7am gathering. (Thanks ladies).

It was great to see so many teenagers taking control of their salvation for their generation. It was encouraging to see so many adults there to support them. Zach and I discussed the presence of God there but we also felt Satan was doing his best to throw some kinks in. There were giant mosquitoes that I am sure could eat a small child all over. However these young people stood firm in their convictions.

I have such hope for this generation rising to the occasion in bringing the following of Christ to the forefront of society. Stay strong in your convictions and faith and thank you for letting me be a part of it.