Thursday, September 22, 2011

My Sweet Hogs (aka the Awesome Indian Offensive Line)

Unsung heroes.  If the Indian offense scores points, it all began at the offensive line.  We adoringly call them the Hogs.







We try to say thanks by feeding them every Monday night, so if you see these vehicles clustered around a house, the Hog meal is in full swing.  This week we converged on my house. 



We served homemade sloppy joes on fresh buns, potato salad, cheese dip and chips, and a favorite Hog dessert, Brownie Heaven.


I know we shouldn't encourage gluttony, but my heart really is happy when I hear them say, "I can hardly walk, I'm so full...."  and sayings like that.  This week, a couple of the players were bragging on one of the coaches' wives' Hot Sandwiches and how much they love them.  One player said, "If I'm on death row, I want my last meal to be Mrs. Burtch's sandwiches."  


Two of our linemen couldn't make it this week due to illness and an appendectomy...our prayers are with their quick recovery.


Caught my cute coach hubby in the middle of a bite!
The offensive linemen are on the front line, doing battle every play.  Their excellence this year is opening the gate to a successful and fun season. Way to go Hogs!!  Keep it up!  To God be the glory!!




Saturday, September 17, 2011

Seminole vs. Snyder, Game 4

I'm not sure what to say.  I've been battling my thoughts all day, trying to take captive every thought for Christ.  I love how The Message explains it.  I copied this from biblegateway.com.  

2 Corinthians 10:5

The Message (MSG)

 3-6The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

It was one of those games I came away from angry, shocked, sad, disappointed... I was so proud of our team.  I've watched God work since July, raising spiritual leaders among the team, seeing players become a team of brothers allowing God to work.  They are still 16-18 year old boys.  They aren't perfect, but I'm proud of the commitment they have made to honor God as a team.

Next week we will have at least 3 of our players back after healing from injuries.  That will allow those that have taken their places to return to their original positions.  I believe football teaches these teenage guys how to be men; how to handle life's hardships and unfairness.  I pray for the Indian football team to walk heads up into practice Monday ready to prepare for the next battle, ready to keep on glorifying God.

One last thing, I want to lift up Mr. Singleton's family.  I looked up from my seat to see a wreath of red roses where he in his wheelchair is usually stationed, cheering on Taylor, #11, and the Indians.  He also had a special spot in the Indian gym.  Thanks, grandparents for encouraging your athletes and loving them. I know my kids love their grandparents dearly.  My boys' lives are richer and wiser because of them.



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Help...An Apology

    
Labor Day weekend, Chad was blessed with a Sunday off, so he asked me out on a date!  We headed to Midland, me driving, Chad watching film on his laptop.  We looked at the movies and really weren't too excited about any of them.  The Help was one I wanted to see.   I was surprised that Chad agreed, since he sometimes agrees to movies and ends up being the only male in the theater....

When the movie was over, I had to make myself stop crying. My mascara was running; my nose was running.  It was really embarrassing.  I normally hate movies that make me cry like that, but I was so thankful we had gone to see this one.

Hilly was one of the main characters.  It turns out the actress is Ron Howard's daughter.  She is one of those characters that inspires the kind of hatred for which I have to ask forgiveness. Sadly, I would imagine I have several of "her kind" in my ancestry. For which I want to apologize.  

In the third Yada Yada Prayer Group book, one of the black prayer lady's elderly mothers accuses one of the white husbands of being the young white man that took the life of her brother as part of a lynch mob.  The elderly mother suffers from dementia, and the episode sent her into a frantic panic.  As the book unfolds, the accused man feels compelled to apologize to the confused matron for the horrible attack, even though he is at least 50 years younger than the actual man and has no intentional racist prejudices.    She rubs him on the head and says that she forgives him.  The apology blesses her with a peace she had not had before.

So, after seeing The Help, I want to apologize to all of the blessed women who raised children not their own, labored for little money, and trusted God to right the wrongs.  I would hope I would be like Celia in the movie who loved her maid like a sister.  

I haven't read the book, which is shameful since I am an English teacher and insist on my students and children reading the book before seeing any movie.......but I highly recommend seeing the movie...with a box of kleenex.