Mostly Upward

It's amazing how one child sick with the stomach flu can completely halt all normal operations in a family.  A week and a half ago, Luke contracted a nasty bug that laid him low for the better part of seven days.  No joke, people.  It was bad.  Blessedly, the rest of us stayed healthy.

Luke missed his first Upward game because of his sickness.  Paul didn't miss his, but it was pretty much a non-event because I was so busy keeping Luke comfortable.  Yes, he was there, just not up for anything other than sitting in a camping chair and looking miserable.

SO, as far as we are concerned, today was the first Upward game of the season!  Paul practices from 8am to 8:45am.  We hosted another player from Luke's team overnight last night so that she could make it to practice and the game.  They easily entertained each other during Paul's practice.  Then their practice started about fifteen minutes before Paul's game.  Awesome.

Paul was able to go the entire practice without ejecting himself to come look for food.  MIRACLES happen, people.  The game went pretty well.  At one point, he needed to be on the sidelines because his team has seven peeps, and only six can play at one time.  This was a time of sorrow and mourning.  If sackcloth had been handy, it would have been donned.  But he survived.  And went back into the game.  This is a HUGE improvement from last year!  We are all pleased and proud of our Paul.  :-)

Here are a few pics of Paul's morning at Upward.

 Playing follow the leader to learn where the sidelines and midfield are located.  These coaches are awesome.

 I love the sunshine in this shot.

 Paul playing center.  They don't hike it through their legs at this age.  There's just not enough space down there.  ;-)


Paul's favorite moment of every Upward Saturday.  The Tunnel.  They have the littles run through after their game.  Good thing, too.  Paul's Upward experience is all about the tunnel and I'm pretty sure he would be happy to run through and go home.


Paul watches Luke's game with his buddy.  So cute.

We are also seeing improvements from Luke this year.  He was able to play the entire game even though at one point his heart was broken by a broken play.  Let me explain.

Luke played quarterback today for about ninety percent of the offensive plays.  And like all things in his life, he took it pretty seriously.  At one point, after a very successful downfield drive, Luke snapped the ball on about the five yard line.  The touchdown was in sight and my boy could taste it.  And I can tell you now, folks, he wanted that touchdown more than he wanted his next Lego Ninjago set.  And that is saying something.  He took the snap and handed the ball off to one of his younger running backs, who proceeded to run the wrong direction.  :-(  My guy nearly melted.  

I was so proud of him for not yelling at his teammate. But he went straight to Coach Tammy and said, "I can't do this anymore.  I want to be done."  She knows my boy.  She got down on his level and said, "Luke, I need you.  You are my leader.  I need you to play.  Your team needs you to play." And Luke stayed in the game.

He didn't get his touchdown today.  There are still lots of things that need to click, but his head was totally in that game.  I wish you all could have seen him.  His ability to stay focused on the play and help his teammates get set up before it all starts is awesome.  My favorite play of the game was a particularly well executed hand off to our dear friends' daughter, who ran for the first down.  So much fun!  If you think of it next Saturday, pray for encouragement for my boy.  He knows the goodness of God in so many areas of his life.  I would love for him to see the sweetness of being on a team.  And maybe leading his team to a touchdown.  I don't think Jesus cares about touchdowns, but I KNOW he cares about my boy's heart.

And now Luke's pics!

Luke coming through the tunnel, closely followed by a teammate, who is our strongest defensive player.  Go Saints!

Both teams at center field for a prayer before the game. Did I mention I love this league? I do.

Luke under center

Upward, Electricity, and Easter

This past weekend was quite eventful in BangsundLand.  Saturday marked the beginning of the Upward Flag Football season.  We kicked things off right with a pancake breakfast at Trinity Fellowship, the host church.  After yummy pancakes, we hit the field for our first practice.

This year Paul had the option to play with all the other five-year-olds or with his brother and the seven-year-olds.  Saturday morning, after a heart-felt conversation with my littlest guy, we decided to have him join the five-year-old team.  Upon arrival, Paul was placed on Coach Adam's team, the Bengals.  And he LOVED it.  He is no longer the smallest on his team AND he's the only one who played last year.  When I say played, I mean chewed on his flags while watching his six and seven year old team mates do random things that vaguely resembled football.  ;-)  Regardless, Paul is thrilled with his team and we continue to love Upward.

Luke meanwhile is on the Saints with the much-beloved Coach Tammy from last year.  This woman rocks.  She's so patient.  Watching her run practice with these second graders was awesome.  And now for the unabashed bragging.  Skip to the pictures if you'd rather not hear it. ;-)

Luke played quarterback for most of scrimmage and completed four or five passes out of roughly ten attempts.  I was cheering when I noticed all the other parents cheering as well.  Um...that's my boy?  So crazy to see other parents jazzed about Luke's abilities.  The thing I love about Upward is that Luke will not be the only quarterback this season.  They will all have the chance to learn more about each position.  And Coach Tammy will balance helping Luke grow athletically with helping him grow in character and integrity.  Just call me the happy mom.

So, here are the Upward Pics.  Sorry there are so few of Paul.  Erik spent most of practice with Paul while I hung with my friend Holly over at Luke's end of the field.  More Paul pics next week.

Paul runs with his arms in his sleeves because he refused to wear his sweatshirt at first.

 Paul runs back with it!

 Luke gets ready to throw during a contest to see who can hit the assistant coach.

 Luke didn't hit the coach, but he came close.  The player behind Luke, a dear friend of ours, totally hit the coach.  Love it.  :-)

 This play is either called The Eagle or Statue One.  Luke couldn't remember which.  He takes the snap...

...fakes a hand off to the halfback and completes a pass to the running back at the top of the picture...which I never got a picture of because I was so stinkin' excited about the completed passes!

It's shaping up to be a super-fun and exciting season.  If you are in the neighborhood any Saturday morning between now and June, come cheer for Upward!

After Upward practice, we came home and the Daddy-Man did Science Saturday with the boys.  They are currently studying electricity, circuits specifically.  I am perfectly capable of doing these experiments with the boys, but Erik LOVES to do them.  And I appreciate the expert level of knowledge he brings to the experience.  Here are some cool pics.

Reading all about switches and circuits.

 Building a circuit with a switch!

And then it was Easter!  No joke.  That's how it felt to me.  Sometimes working as a Children's Pastor brings an added level of crazy to Holy Week; hence, the stunning lack of Easter prep on my part.  But we did celebrate!

Luke chose to do his half of the egg hunt outside in the backyard.  The weather was stunning.  He had a blast finding his six Resurrection Eggs and his two Yummy Candy-Filled Eggs.

Paul just knew it was too cold outside and decided to find his eggs in the basement.  Pretty cute anyway.

After all the eggs were found, we went to the living room with all the goods.  I instructed the boys to open their candy-filled eggs immediately.  I told them that I wanted them to eat that sweet yummy chocolate while we re-told the story of Jesus' resurrection because there is NOTHING sweeter than Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.  The boys thought this was a brilliant plan.  I totally stole this idea from Jewish tradition.  When a child begins to learn the Talmud, the rabbi places honey on his tongue so that he will associate learning scripture with sweetness.  I think this is an excellent tradition...and my people like it, too.

And then the Easter Miracle occurred.  Both boys agreed to wear collared shirts and dress shorts for church that evening.  Our church, Roots, gathers at 4pm, so the weather was totally warm enough for shorts.  Lovely.  I took some pictures.  They are all a little goofy, but that's who we are here.  So it works.

Easter worship at Roots totally rocked.  I was SUPER blessed to not be working in a kids' classroom because of dear friends who gave up their Easter afternoon to do kids ministry in a church that isn't even their own.  WHO DOES THAT?!?  Jana and Bill Quatier and the three oldest kids of my best friend Holly Willsea, that's who.  Huge blessings.  I was so grateful to celebrate the Risen Lord Jesus Christ with my Roots family.  So good.  :-)