Upwards 2012

Another fun and exciting season of Upwards is now in the books! This is the last year that Bryon will coach all three. He has been Matthew's coach for 7 years!

There were many highlights, but perhaps my favorite story of all is about Thomas. Thomas has been playing on Bryon's teams since he was 4 years old. He has always been a pretty good player, but he was on fire all season this year! There were four teams in the division, and several weeks ago, he played against a team that lost 34-4. Several kids on the team were teary eyed and deflated since they had only won 1 game in 5. Thomas looked at Bryon and said, "I want to help that team out." It was worked out with the other coach (friend of ours from church) that Thomas would switch with the coach's son for the final three games of the season. He ended up scoring between 10-18 points per game the last three games, some shots from beyond mid court, and his new team won their final 3 games! I was proud of Thomas's athletic accomplishments this season, but more proud of his tender heart and selfless attitude.

Mary Beth also did really well this year. She scored 1-4 baskets every game and loved every minute of it. Bryon ADORED coaching the little girls again. Such a contrast from those competitive boys games!

Matthew had a disappointing season this year. There were only 2 teams in the division, and Matthew's team lost every game! Oh, the agony! Oh, the humility! Matthew was the only 6th grader on his team, and it was pretty painful to watch, but it was always fun watching Matthew play. He has become quite the 3 point specialist and had more 3 point baskets than 2 point baskets this year.

And then there is Bryon! I don't brag on him too much on this blog, but I will say that he is quite the Upwards celebrity. He has a knack balancing encouragement with pushing the kids to do their best. Despite the fact that teams are formed by the computer, he always gets requests to be on his team. I am so proud of him! It took lots of patience, time, and vocal strength to coach all three kids this year (practice from 6-9pm every Thursday after longs days in trial), and he loved every minute of it!

Thomas guarding his best bud, Noah, playing against his original team.

These two teams played against each other every week. Mary Beth is playing on the opposing team in this pic, since they were short handed the last game.
Bryon lets the girls "dunk" in the last half of the last game. Mary Beth got very into it!

Dodgeball Tournament

For the past 8 years, our church has hosted a Dodgeball Tournament to raise funds for the youth group's summer mission trip. Each year, Matthew has counted down the years until he could form his own team. Well, this was the year! Few sports incorporate so many characteristics that Matthew adores....intensity, aggression, pegging people with balls...like dodgeball. If he could major in it in college, I believe he would.

After 4 hours of Upwards basketball last Saturday morning, Bryon stayed at the gym to ref the high school division while I worked the snack bar. A few minutes before it started, Matthew raced over to me to let me know that a high school team was short a player and they had asked Matthew to fill in. He was beaming! My co worker at the snack bar told me to run in and watch him in action. Sure enough, I walked in with Matthew being the sole survivor on his team staring down two large high school boys. The crowd was cheering Matthew on and erupted in applause when Matthew pegged the first guy out. Members of the youth group started shouting, "Dude! You're getting beat by a 6th GRADER!!" It may have been the proudest moment of his life! The remaining high schooler waited until time expired and a tie was called. What a nice warm up!

Then, it was time for the junior high division. There were 13 teams involved with 6th-8th graders. Matthew and crew beat every team but one 8th grade team. They were so much fun to watch and are already planning on getting the team back together for next year. Something tells me these guys will be unstoppable! Bryon's team did great in the adult division later on that night. Last year, they came in 2nd place, and this year lost in the semi finals. After 14 hours of being in our church gym, we were very happy to get home!

1,000th post!

Well, this is officially my 1,000th post!

A little over 7 years ago, I started this blog as a way to connect to the outside world. Looking back on it, I think I can say that I started the blog in one of the most challenging times in my life. I was smack in the middle of my year that all three kids were home before Matthew started kindergarten. Having a 5 year old, 3 year old, and 5 month old at home was challenging for this quiet and solitude loving mama! I quickly found friends around the country who were also bloggers and enjoyed my little escape every day. Getting out of the house with my three babies was more trouble than it was worth many times, so I felt like blogging was the closest thing to socializing.

Well, 7 years later, my life has changed dramatically. Through the invention of the iPhone, I hardly sit down at my computer anymore, and Facebook has more or less replaced blogging as my way of catching up with friends from afar. I am also free during the day, as all the kids are in school, to eat lunch or exercise with friends, so I no longer need my computer to simulate socializing! In fact, I rarely read blogs anymore as I am usually out working or volunteering during the day, and so busy with the kids after 3:30. I view blogging as solely a way to document the kids growing up. I am so grateful to have this outlet to record our fun and busy family life.

My life with toddlers has slowly morphed into life with school aged kids. In a few short years, life will change dramatically again as Bryon and I navigate the waters of raising teenagers! Wow! If I am still blogging in 7 years, I will have one in college and two in high school. What tales will those blogs tell? Stay tuned....