What I Learned in March 2016

March was a great month!

Here are 6 things I learned this month.

1.) Sometimes, just showing up means you are a winner

My sweet Monkey Boy didn’t have a good basketball season.  And by not good, I mean they lost every game.

Every.  Single. Game. 

But, bless them, they didn’t give up!  Those boys went into every game ready to play hard and win.

And in my book….that makes them winners!

I’m proud of my boy and how he worked through his disappointment.  He really struggled at times, getting angry, almost in tears….but he didn’t give up.  And at the end of the day, that’s one of the best lessons he could learn in sports!

2.) I never get tired of hearing good things about my kids

At the end of the basketball season for PuppyLover, his coaches had a celebration.  It was amazing how they took the time to talk about each of the boys as they gave them their certificates.  It was so heart-felt, encouraging and honest.

When he walked down the line of coaches, shaking their hands, this assistant coach stopped him and also spoke about him.  He didn’t share about any of the other boys, but made a point to stop and share about the leadership of my boy.  How even though he was on the B team, he was a leader on for the A team, and helped foster a team spirit in the whole team.

I was so proud to hear this.  It was yet another encouraging moment that cemented in my mind why the coaches made a spot for him on the team.

3.) I’m not sad wrestling season is over, and it ended with a big surprise

This season was challenging, at best.  I experienced things I never thought I would as a parent.  We witnessed what can happen when ego dominates over common sense, and many other things I want to talk about, but can’t.

Going the banquet was very bittersweet.  I was mostly relieved it was over, but thankful for the lessons we learned through it.  Thankful for opportunities to have hard conversations with our boy, situations when he saw us choose truth instead of peer pressure, even when it was difficult, and how we advocated for him and his teammates.  But I wasn’t sad to walk out of the banquet, rose in hand and my boy by my side…not knowing what will come of his team in the future.

Mr. Football has experienced some intense moments that have tested his character.  Tested his faith.  Tested his friendships. Tested his integrity.

And despite the pressure, he has remained steadfast.

I could not be more proud of him.  I could not be more thankful for the work God has done in his life. I wish I could take credit for the maturity, strength and strong character of this boy.  But he’s God’s and how he has handled himself is evidence of God’s mighty power in his life.  It renders me almost speechless.  (And I know you know that rarely happens! ;))

But this moment?  I was SO proud!  And SURPRISED!

I did not know that his GPA was high enough to receive the Scholar Athlete Award.  I let out quite a whoop when they called his name.  Especially considering that you have to have spent the entire season as a varsity athlete to receive this beginning at Sophomore year, this was the first time he could receive this honor.

It was a beautiful surprise and wonderful way to end the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.) Hold on tight….time flies WAY too fast!

Good Friday I took my boy to donate blood for the first time.

Yup, I cried.  Happy tears.

I was so proud of him for willingly, happily, blessing others in this way.

And then we left the church after donating blood….and this happened.

Seriously..someone hold me.

And before he drove out of the parking lot, he prayed.

Yup, I cried.  Happy tears. Proud tears.  I don’t deserve this kid as my own tears.  God is amazing tears.  I’m so blessed tears. I think my tears turned into an unspoken prayer.

God is good.  All.  The. Time.

5.) Even if you see a friend once a year, its a blessing

I’ve been friends with my girlfriend Heather for years.  13 to be exact.

I’ve been in her wedding, prayed for her though infertility, a deployed husband, and an incredibly high risk pregnancy.  And been there for the in betweens as much as I can while living 500 miles away.

But our annual get together at the park with our kids is such a blessing and a favorite part of our spring break.  I love watching our boys play together, reminiscing about when we first met and my boys were so little, the time she locked Monkey Boy in her car when he was 2, and sharing what God is doing in our lives.

Friends don’t have to see each other often to be close.  I’m thankful for that fact.

And I’m thankful for my friend Heather and her precious family.

6.)  I just adore these boys

Just because I do.  Just because I can.

They’re awesome.

I don’t deserve them, but I’m so thankful God made me their mama.

I’m thankful for the meaning, joy and purpose they bring to my life.

So what about YOU?  What did you learn in March?

I’d love to hear about it in the comments!