What Fall Means to Me

Most of you who know me well, know that I love football. And most of you know that the reason I love football is because it has been a huge part of my life. My mother tells the story that I went to my first football game at 4 months old. Unlike some girls, I can name all the positions on the field and can tell you what the penalty is going to be before the official announces it. Why do I know these things? Because I grew up as a coach’s daughter, a title I have always worn with pride.

Although it wasn’t always glamorous and pretty, I loved growing up the way I did. We didn’t always take a big summer family vacation, because my dad was always getting a football field ready for the fall. I can remember many trips to turn off or turn on the sprinklers on the field. I can remember helping him use diesel to mark the lines on the field in the heat of August or playing around on the field as he mowed the grass. I can remember the fall Friday nights. I can still feel the chill in the air and hear the band songs playing. Those things still signal to me that it is football season. Even though I remember all of these things, the thing I will always remember the most is my dad. He poured almost 30 years of his life into students: first as a football coach and then as a principal and athletic director. This past year, one of the players he had coached passed away. When my parents went to the visitation, the mother of the player told my dad how much he had always meant to her son. I have seen that in the eyes of these men over and over when they see my dad around town. Although I have never heard him say it quite this plainly, I know he never coached to see how many ball games he could win. He wanted to help young men. That is why I have always worn my title as a coach’s daughter with pride.

Hawaiian Sunday

Aloha! No...unfortunately Hal and I didn't just get back from Hawaii, but we did have Hawaiian Sunday at church today! :) Today was the kick off for the student ministry at church. We are really enjoying working with the students. I am having a blast writing the study on 1 John and Hal is looking forward to co-leading a 10th grade guys small group. We are also excited about getting plugged in with a group of friends including Nate and Kim and Stuart and Terra. Kim is with me on the left. There are more pictures of Hawaiian Sunday at the bottom of the page! Enjoy!

A New Task

I was a little worried if I would get bored once I finished up my time with the bank, but was I ever wrong! It seems like I have gone non-stop since the first of August. I have been doing things around the house, babysitting, helping out friends, and writing. Perhaps the most exciting and surprising project is writing. I am writing the curriculum for our youth group this fall on the book of 1 John. God has been so gracious in providing me this opportunity. I am learning so much as I am putting it together. I am also working on a few other writing projects...we will see how they turn out.

Weekend Update

Hal and I really enjoyed having Sarah L here last week. We were able to show her a little more of Houston than she saw when she was here last October. It was also really great for her to meet my friend Kim. We spent an afternoon hanging out at the pool. Yes, I applied sunscreen, but I got burned anyway! The rest of our time was spent browsing a few of my favorite stores, eating sushi, watching Jane Austen movies, and talking.