Fall is officially here, and this week has brought about some cooler weather and the leaves are changing colors.
A lot has happened in a month around here, and it would be impossible to catch up on everything, so I’ll skip all that!
Summary of fall sports:
* Middle School Volleyball wrapped up their season. We did not make it to the tournament, but we also didn’t realize until the season was almost over that not all MS teams got to go to the tournament. That was a bummer for our team, as our girls have improved so much over the season! It was a fun group of girls to coach, and watching them improve over the season was definitely a highlight.
*Roger wrapped up the soccer season. The play-off games for soccer begin before the actually tournament so we played our “play-in” game into the tournament on the Tuesday before the tournament weekend. The soccer team did not advance to the final four for the tournament, but Roger has consistently said all season, “You cannot ride on the shirttails of a previous championship. You must put in your own work!” Much to the frustration of several of the soccer players, we learned a lesson. (One that we already knew!) Seven good soccer players playing at 110% cannot compensate for four soccer players playing at about 60%…it doesn’t work. It’s a team sport. There were some frustrations on and off the field for our boys and the coach, and it wasn’t the way that we wanted the season to end, but it is what it is. Travis and Wyatt both pulled their weight and then some on the team, and they also learned some valuable lessons as players and individuals. Wyatt was named to the All-Conference team, so that was a fun highlight for him. The school received the Christian Testimony award for the fall sports teams, and we give God glory for that as well. Roger has coached the boys soccer team for three years, and all three years the team has received Christian Character award…I think that says something about the coach and his style of coaching. One of the teams we played told Roger that, “Your school’s soccer team has made a complete turnaround in three years. The players are so much more respectful, the competition is better, and the praying before the game starts have been just a few of the changes we’ve noticed.” Roger certainly isn’t going to brag about himself, but I will say that is his character to work on respectfulness, being competitive and most importantly, being Christ-like.
Garett- He has been busy with many projects in the last few weeks. He’s been working hard at getting his private pilot’s license, and he’s taken the test…twice, now. The first time he failed by three questions, and the last time he failed by two questions. To say he’s been discouraged would be a vast understatement as the test is expensive, it’s time consuming, and he’d really like to move on to the next step. He’s been working with a flight instructor to get signed off to take the test yet again. The test is scheduled for this week. Please, please pray that he will pass it. Garett struggles so much with education, but he’s wanted to be a pilot since about three years old. Please pray that he will be able to overcome his insecurities and that he will just rest in Jesus, take a deep breath, and pass the test!
Garett- on top of trying to get his private pilot’s written test done, he has been preparing for an Elk hunt to Montana. He is very, very excited to go to Montana with my dad. It’s an adventure that Garett has wanted to do for a long time, and my dad and Garett are traveling to Montana to go Elk hunting. We have some good friends out there, and they are allowing Garett and my dad to stay with them. I’m praying for great memories, safe travels, and a successful hunt! Please pray with us. Garett will then be returning to Wisconsin to spend some time with my parents. Wyatt, Travis and Roger are planning to come up around Thanksgiving to go deer hunting, and since it’s only about two weeks after the Montana trip, Garett plans to stay in Wisconsin. Lots of adventures in the works!
Chandler- oh, so much to say and so little I can say! He’s busy. He’s committed. God is faithful. If you want more information, you would need to message me directly. We are praying for Godly friends, growing faith, a body of believers, and so much more. He was able to get a pass to go into town for the first time in a long time this past Saturday. He has a new address, and he was shocked to realize how expensive sheets, bedding, snacks, cleaning supplies and toiletries cost! Haha! Oh yes! He’s made a wish list, and if you’d like to send him a package or card, you can message me for his address. He called me on Saturday, while he was out and about, and he had a picture with a Visa gift card in his hand. I asked him what that was about. He told me that he had gone to Goodwill to look around, and a lady had come up to him. She had asked him if he was in the military and active. He replied, “Yes, mam.” She said, “Well, you probably need this more than I do. You remind me of my son who I miss a lot.” She handed him the $50.00 gift card! Let me say that I was crying in Sam’s Club over the God who blesses my son and continually encourages my heart too. It was completely unexpected, but I know that God knew that both Chandler and I would be so blessed and encouraged by that gesture. It’s hard being so far away, and the Lord only knows when we will get to see him again. Please continue to pray for Chandler. There’s a lot happening in his life, and I know he would appreciate continued prayers.
Wyatt- Wyatt continues to plod along through school. He doesn’t always love it, but he does like to socialize with his friends. He struggled a lot with the soccer team at the beginning of the season, but he did seem to settle down a bit when he realized that not everyone loves the game like he does. He’s pursuing college options and would love to try to play soccer in college. I’m not sure what God has for him, but please continue to pray for him also. He’s quiet, much of the time, but I know that God has a perfect plan for him. Please pray that Wyatt would fall in love with Jesus and let God work out the details for his life.
Travis- Travis does not like school much at all, but he continues to get through it. He works hard at it, and it does not come easy for him. He’s a good friend to all his classmates. Roger and I just got back from taking his class on a trip to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. Travis is laid back and a good friend. He’s got a good personality and a good head on his shoulders. He misses Chandler the most out of the brothers, and I can see how much alike they are every day. Please pray that he will continue to do his best in school, be a good friend, and that God will direct his future. He is playing basketball because Wyatt convinced him to do it, but he doesn’t enjoy it as much as Wyatt does. Travis does like to get out of school for basketball games though, so if I had to guess, I’d say that’s really why he’s playing!
Emma- she’s not great at school, but she seems to be a good friend. She works hard at school, and sometimes has some misconceptions about how well prepared she is for tests or quizzes! :) Emma is sweet, and sometimes that has caused her to be taken advantage of by classmates. We are working on “it’s ok to be sweet and kind. It’s also ok to tell someone that you don’t want to buy them something at lunch. Or that they need to bring their own pencils to class!” Pray for wisdom as we parent Emma.
Sarah- this has been a rough month for me. Actually the school year has been a bit challenging overall. We took 51 art entries to the local fair, so that was a huge commitment to get all that ready to go. On top of helping to coach Middle School volleyball, help with the soccer team, help with the Student Council, be a supportive wife, love my husband and kids, pray fervently for many things in my life, well, my stress levels have been a bit elevated! I am so thankful for God’s goodness, grace and mercy. Roger and I have a planned trip away in November. It’s actually been planned since the spring of 2024. At that time we had no idea that Chandler would be in the military, I would be teaching all the art classes, or that this is what life would look like, but here we are and God knows that we need this time away! We are going away with some dear friends from Wisconsin, and I’m looking forward to going “off grid” for a few days. I didn’t realize that I would use all my days off (and now am taking unpaid days) this year, but there’s no way this side of heaven that I would’ve given up that trip to Texas. In fact, if I did it again, I’d take additional days! God is faithful to give us exactly what we need, and Roger and I need a few days away. We have a lot to process and think about in the next few months. I’m thankful that we serve such a faithful God who’s time line is perfect (even when I don’t think so!).
In the closing of this blog post, I want to write again that God is faithful and good. I’ve had several really great friends message me this month to let me know that they were praying for me and our family. What a gift we have in prayer, and it’s one that I want to utilize every moment of my life!
No comments:
Post a Comment