Scary Moments...Or, Rather, Half Hour

The Boy had a football game yesterday.  It was their first region game, so these "count", according to the player at my house.  They played Lehi's sophomore team.  But those boys from Lehi were HUGE!  I don't know that many sophomores at our school that are that big!  Wowzer.

Anyway, Lehi came out and scored on their first possession, and their second.  Our boys scored a safety at this point, but the score wasn't the scariest part of this game.

At 9:42 left in the third quarter or so, one of our boys wet down.  No movement.  The student trainer had run out to check and immediately yelled for Kristin.  Kristin is our fabulous athletic trainer, and she ran out to the player and student trainer.  The next thing we know Kristin has the student run back to the Gater-cart and gets the cell phone and calls 911.  The big gate is opened and prepped for the ambulance to get there.

His mom made her way to the field and watched the EMTs strap her boy to a back board and tape his helmet to the baord before laoding hi on a stretcher and taking him to the ambulance. The whole thing took about a half hour.

The only clue about his condition was his mom taking pictures as they loaded him in.  That was a good sign.

A while after the game I texted her and asked her to let us know how he was doing, and to let her know he was in our prayers. She responded that his neck was strained but no broken bones.  He was lucky.

Today I watched the video of the injury his parents had posted on Facebook.  The other kid grabbed B's helmet and twisted, throwing him to the ground.  The sad thing is The Boy told me that several of his teammates told him that kind of play was happening the whole game.  Yet, there was never a call.  It is scary.  Where were the officials looking?  When kids get tossed about on the field left and right--and after an ambulance call ?!?!--wouldn't you clamp down on that kind of behavior, before anyone else gets hurt?

This kind of  injury is always in the back of my mind, so long as The Boy is playing football.  I know, he is a kicker.  And Kickers don't get that kind of physicality--unless someone whacks him--but there is a "roughing the kicker" call for that kind of stuff.  I just worry.  Swimming is so much less stressful.

The Lost Picture Day

Since each of my kids began kindergarten, we have purchased their school pictures.  One year, because I was the parent helper all day, the photographer even comped an extra set--which happened to be taken on "pajama day" so they were kid of useless anyway. But each year I would buy the kids' school pictures and hang the 8x10 up in our bedroom and send copies on to the grandparents, near and far.

This year, however, the appointed picture day was the FIRST day of school.  Now, The Boy had gone to the bonus "Sophomore day" the day before the first day of school, where they had a fun assembly with the student council, wandered around to find their classes and lockers and were given a 1/2 sheet reminder about picture day.

The first day of school then rolled around and we were scrambling to get everything that everyone needed that day--and still remember to take the traditional informal porch picture.  Well, by the time I sat down for lunch somewhere around 1 PM that day, I discovered The Boy had left that reminder sheet on my chair at the kitchen table--but it was in the seat of the chair--not on the table in the spot where I sit.  I hadn't even seen it until then.

That little nerd!  He didn't want to have to take a school picture this year (!!!) so he figured if he "gave me the paper" but I never saw it he'd be off the hook.  Well, he has another thing coming, I can tell you that.

His solution to this dilemma, when I called him on it later that day, was to use his football picture as his school picture.

Well, that messes up my system!  I like to have their school pictures--similar in every way save only their growth from year to year and the clothes that they choose to wear (Which all fall within the guidelines I have set for school picture clothes.)

So, sorry, grandmas out there.  You haven't got a school picture yet because Señor Smartypants thought he could outsmart me.  Well, picture retake day is Tuesday next week.  And I have checks already written for both of them to take.  So the kids' school pictures are yet to be sent.  And I'm sorry about that.  But your new school years pictures will be a while coming yet.  You can thank The Boy for that.

Calvin Explains It All

Weekend in Review, part 2

The better part of the weekend--especially if the game and it's outcome was the worst part--was our regional conference.  We had our stake adult session, as I said yesterday, on Saturday evening (before the game) and then we had a broadcast session Sunday morning that was directed to all the stakes in Utah County.  That worked out to be 146 stakes.  As large as that group might be there are certainly issues that specifically apply and need further discussion.

I thought I'd share some of the things I garnered from that Sunday portion of the conference.

Helaman 5:12 was a recurring theme in our regional conference today: Make Christ the foundation upon which you build the rest of your life. This scripture had been our Girls' Camp Theme several years ago and I remember thinking then what a marvelous foundational message it has for me.  Hearing it again several time this weekend reminded me that it still is.

We heard from Richard J. Maynes, from the quorum of Seventy:  Be righteous, don't just appear it. Our greatest need in life is to remember: to pray, to read our scriptures, to keep our covenants. We must remember who we are, where we came from & our relationship to Heavenly Father and the Savior. Remembering is a celestial attribute. Remember, and perish not. God remember us and we should remember Him and who we truly are. 

We also heard from Sister Rosemary Wixon, General Primary President:  What is the tap root that will anchor a child [and all of us] in the storm? The Savior will be our anchor if we yield our hearts to Him. You cannot be casual in living the gospel. You have to decide what is good, what is better, and what is best. You have to decide what really matters in your life because the years will pass whether you prioritize or not. Are there some things you need to forsake? The momentum of our lives is always increasing and the devils winds are growing stronger. Perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most because pure and simple peace comes from living the gospel.

From the Provo, Utah Mission, President John A.McCune spoke:  Laman and Lemuel never figured out that their journey didn't have to be as hard as they were making it. Look to God and live. Changing life patterns may seem overwhelming, but following Christ is truly the easier path. Heed the invitation and come unto Him.

Elder Dallin H. Oakes had his wife, Kristin, speak for a little while about singles and the real challenges they face in our family-oriented church.  She said: We need to learn to ask the Lord differently. Let Him know that I've covenanted with Thee.  I'll do whatever you need me to do, on your time, to build the kingdom. What more can I do that is right?  Accept that things will happen in the Lords time. Trust in Him and do not get discouraged. Learn to view things through the eternal scope and step up and be the best you can be.

Elder Oaks came back and concluded the session with several thoughts: Don't think of the church as them who will/should fulfill your immediate needs. Instead ask what can it give your life everlasting? The world will hate us for doing things differently because we do things in the Lords way and not in the world’s way. We must keep ourselves unspotted of the world and help lead others through the stormy seas of sin so we may return to live with God again. Faith prepares us for life - It's opportunities and it's disappointments. Put the Lord first in your life. It doesn't matter what your calling is, if you are married or single or if you die tomorrow - it will be okay. It is vital that we do the right thing, at the right time. And things will happen in God's time. When we put the Lord first, we needn't worry about what comes next. Do your best and trust in His timing.

Overall, the messages were familiar and yet refreshing.  All the things I heard, especially those as I felt the Spirit, felt right and true.  And the feeling as I left was a reaffirmation that God loves us and has a plan if I can just be patient enough to let it unfold for my benefit as I do what He has asked.

Weekend In Review, Part 1

It was a busy weekend around here.  We had a regional conference this weekend,and Saturday evening we had an adult session for our stake.  It w as a great meeting and I heard the scripture from Helaman 5:12 several times--so I guess I'd better learn it and that message.

Then there was that little game of football.  Kick off was at 8 PM between BYU and the University of Utah.  The locals call it the "Holy War".  Last year these two met at BYU and the U ended up with a win 54-10 or something....that game was a ridiculous mess...and BYU served up a complete disaster handing the U a big win.

"The hatred between BYU and Utah is nothing compared to what it will be. It will be a crusade to beat BYU from now on."— Former Utah coach Wayne Howard (1977-1981)

This year the game was held at Rice-Eccles stadium in Salt Lake City.   The place looked packed and the crowd was crazy!  It was crazier than I have ever seen--the Utah crowd actually stormed the field right after a blocked field goal, with a live ball on the field.  So BYU was given another shot at the field goal, after a 15 yard penalty, making the distance much more do-able. The game pushed to near midnight and finally ended with a field goal attempt that hit the upright and BYU lost 21-24.

Yikes.  Too many people around here are far too invested in this rivalry. I'm not saying I wasn't yelling at the TV all evening too, but I had calmed way down by Sunday morning. I am glad the season still has much time left, so we can move on.

 

Video Sunday, part 1