Saturday (and Birthday) Wrap-Up

Yesterday was the last regular season game for Griffin (and Cami).  Griffin's team tied.  He has made a ton of improvement and is starting to find the ball quicker.  He has been able to pursue the ball carrier and nearly grabbed a flag.  They are now in a single elimination tournament that will end some time this week.

Lexi's team won their first playoff game, so she will have another to cheer for this week.  She also has her last two softball games of the fall season today.

Yesterday, the twins had their "friend" birthday party, which got moved from Friday to Saturday due to Cami getting strep throat for the second time this month.  The kids had friends over for pizza and cupcakes after the football games, and then we went bowling.  It was a fun time, and it was entertaining watching the little ones throw the ball (or gently nudge it and hope the laws of physics kept working, in Cami's case).  Enjoy the videos of the twins.

I Can't Believe They're Six!

Cami and Griffin turned six today.  I can not believe how fast time goes.

Twelve Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur - Book Review

Twelve Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur is the third book in a group that puts the spotlight on Biblical people.  The theme of this particular book was focusing on unlikely people that qualify as heroes.  The group of twelve includes the following: Enoch, Joseph, Miriam, Gideon, Samson, Jonathan, Jonah, Esther, John the Baptist, James (the brother of Jesus), Mark, and Onesimus.  Obviously, some of these names and stories are more well-known than others, but according to MacArthur, all qualify as “unlikely”.

 

I think this is just an average book.  While I did learn some interesting facts about several of the people, often from historical or non-Biblical accounts, many of the stories were just rehashing information I’ve already heard a number of times.  Also, at times there was a condescending attitude in the writing.  I’m not sure that it was intended, but it gave me a negative view of what was being presented.  I would also argue whether of these people were “heroes” in regards to our modern use of the word. 

 

After reading this book straight through, I believe it would be better digested a chapter at a time.  It may also be good to use in a Bible Study or Small Group setting.

 

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about people from the Bible.

 

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Sports Update

Griffin's team "won" their game this week on a controversial TD call that looked to me like apulled flag on the goalline. Griffin gets better at finding the ball while on defense every game. He nearly got a flag this week. The girls cheered well as usual.

Lexi had another good pair of games. She played pitcher's helper and first base for the first time, getting an out in the process. She put a couple more balls in play, scoring a run while helping her team win both games. She has one more double header for the fall season. Her growth as a player has been great.

My Portrait

How one student sees me.

International Talk like a Pirate Day

My pirate name is:

Dirty Tom Kidd

You're the pirate everyone else wants to throw in the ocean -- not to get rid of you, you understand; just to get rid of the smell. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Lexi's Big Softball Day

Lexi had her best day as a softball player today.  She made several good plays in the field(stopping and throwing the ball), had two hits (including a double), scored two runs, and had an RBI.  Her second hit was part of a last inning rally that helped her team win.  It was pretty cool.

Lexi's first double!

A game rallying single!

Flag Football Update

Coming off several good games, Griffin's team struggled against probably the best team in the league (lots of 2nd graders; hadn't had a touchdown scored against them).  The boys played hard, but were not able to win.  They did score a touchdown, but the running back only had one flag on so it was called back.  Griffin nearly had the QB's flag once, but the guy pitched it (the option in flag?).  He also played guard and teamed with the center to put an Oreo block (Griffin and his teammate were the cookie, the defender was the cream) on one little boy, who proceeded to take off running on each snap after that play.  The Oreo thing was my brilliant coaching move; little boys and cookies :).  We are hoping for better results next week.

Rudy by Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger - Book Review

When the opportunity to read and review Rudy initially presented itself, I was hesitant.  I love the movie, and felt like I already knew the story pretty well.  Then I thought about it, and decided it might be interesting to learn more about Rudy's experience playing for Notre Dame.  I was wrong about both things.  I barely knew the story at all, mostly just the essence.  I also didn't learn much more about Rudy's playing days.  In fact, being on the team wasn't much more than a chapter or two.  Instead, I discovered a lot about Daniel Ruettiger's life.  And let me tell you, it's an interesting life.

This book can be boiled down to two things: Rudy's life and Rudy's message.  Rudy's message is very simple - Dream Big, and Follow Your Dreams.  I can't begin to count how many times Rudy mentions some variation of this.  It is his inspiration to this day.  It is a worthy message, particularly when dealing with naysayers.  Rudy had to constantly overcome people's negativity and telling him no, and not just about his Notre Dame dream, either.

Rudy's life is something else entirely.  For anyone not familiar with the movie, he begins with his childhood, as the third of fourteen(!) children born to working class parents in Joliet, Illinois.  He begins to dream of attending Notre Dame and playing for the football team.  But that is only part of the adventure.  As details and specifics about the movie are clarified, we are also privy to Rudy's time in the Navy, his trials in trying to have his story turned into a movie, and his present trials and speaking opportunities.  He also struggles with whether his message is still relevant to today's teens.

What I found interesting, and somewhat hard to believe, was his constant encounters with greatness and celebrity.  I constantly pictured a real life Forrest Gump.  Rudy has an uncanny knack for being in the right place to brush shoulders with the famous and powerful. 

My only complaint is that there is a "golly, gee" attitude throughout the book.  It may be genuine, but it got to be a little much.

All in all, I'm glad I read this book.  It was entertaining and informative.  I really feel like I added depth to a movie I enjoy so much.  I would recommend it to fans of the movie, and anyone who likes inspirational stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Softball Season (fall version)

Today was Lexi's first day of fall softball double-headers.  For the next several Sundays, she'll be working on improving her skills (we've already noticed some improvements just in practice).  She has some great coaches and a team of girls, nearly all of whom she did not know.  It's fun to watch her interact when there are no preconceived ideas about her or girls she wants to impress.  Anyway, she had a good start, getting a hit in the first game and eventually scoring a run.  She also shocked us by asking to play catcher one inning.  She then played shortstop, second base, and outfield.  She had a great time pitching "invisible" softballs to her teammates and then chasing them down during the break in-between games, as well.  She was also very involved in the dugout chants that seem to be so much a part of softball games.  She is number 6.  Her first comment was, "That's what my brother and sister are going to be turning".  I had to remind her it was her daddy's number, too.  She said, "Oh, yeah."  Oh, well.

The Tools of Ignorance

Saturday's Games

Another Saturday and more games.  Cami's squad was AWOL today, other than one other girl.  The game was moved due to weather, a rescheduled varsity game, and other etc-ish stuff.  Anyway, Lexi jumped in to help.  Griffin's team scored all 4 times they had the ball, to crush the other team.  He had a few plays at tailback, but the QB was shocked at the ball being snapped and forgot to hand off the ball.  Griffin nearly pulled flags on two separate plays, and assisted in getting one kid down.  Lexi cheered wildly for her game, but her big moment comes tomorrow as she plays her first double-header of the fall softball season.

Thought for the Day

No games this weekend, but I picked up a new CD, Phoenix by The Classic Crime.  The following lyrics come from the song "You and Me Both".

And you wonder why my eyes don't leave my phone
(Oh whoa oh oh)
It's no wonder that you feel like you're alone, alone
I think I need a new story
One where I take on the world
The one I'm living is boring
It's killing you and me both

How is your story?