Alec's First Track Meet

Alec is competing in track this year. The first meet of the season was held yesterday. It was quite an ordeal with hundreds of middle school kids competing. Alec's events are: (1) 1600 meter (1 mile), (2) 800 meter, and (3) 200 meter relay. We were so proud of him! He did very well with those long skinny "Knopf legs." Since it was his very first meet, we didn't know what to expect. As his mother, I was just praying that he didn't come in last and that he didn't drop the baton in the relay. My prayers were answered on both counts. Four kids finished after him in the 1600 meter. And in the relay, he grabbed the baton and ran like lightning to the next exchange zone.

Finishing the first lap of the 1600 meter

(2nd in this group)

Approaching finish line in 1600 meter

(pushing it hard at the end)

We forced Alec to go out for track -- "lovingly urged" I like to say. He did not want to do anything in the spring after football and basketball this year. I kept saying to him, "But what if this is your thing? What if you are best at this? How will you know if you don't try?!" So he tried. Now he says he likes running track the best. He is very good at it and seems to enjoy the kids on his team. But Tim and I couldn't help wondering if it had something to do with the hordes of girls encircling him after every race telling him how great he did. Hmmm... whatever his motivation, we're just happy he's out there. And I'm pretty sure I was the loudest mom in the bleachers cheering for my baby!

Baby Sam

Yesterday Sam's class went on a "scavenger hunt" field trip sponsered by The Lion's Club. It was a beautiful day and they went to one of the prettiest parks in Springfield.

Around lunch time I got a text on my cell phone from Sam's teacher, Mrs. Popp. It had this picture attached. =>

The text said, "Sam said it was okay to text you. This is Brenda. Your child was stuck in a baby swing for about 15 minutes. We got him out and he kept his legs. But he almost lost his pants."

A few minutes later I got

another picture...

After I finished laughing, I called Sam.

He assured me he wasn't in as much pain as these pictures show him to be. He said he was finally able to get out by

"standing on an old man's back...someone from The Lion's Club named Lion Jerry."

When I asked him what other people were doing, he said, "Laughing really crazy-like."

We all had a good "crazy" laugh at home. Sam enjoyed seeing the pictures of himself and telling us the whole story. Tim asked him how he got into the swing. Sam said matter-of-factly, "I climbed in."

Confirmation

Alec's confirmation class graduated today. It was a wonderful ceremony with six baptisms among the class of 33 kids. We are so proud of him and what he has accomplished throughout this journey. He has learned so much and appears to be stronger in his love of Christ.

During the service they showed a video on the jumbo screen of different things the kids said in their interviews about "faith." Lots of kids were saying things like "Having faith is like believing in God" and "Faith is important because it's what stays with you for life."

Then there was Alec's big head on the jumbo-tron and he says, "Faith is important for everybody, not just me." Then he scratches an itch on his nose and says, "I mean, cuz what kind of crazy person would be crucified on a cross for nothing?!" That was funny.

But before his interview even started, Alec could be seen sitting on the stool eating a doughnut. He held his hand up and said with a full mouth, "Hang on, I haven't had my 4,000 calories yet today." I just nodded my head and thought - yep, that's my kid!