His Love of the Game

 Josh is back. The kid who loves soccer through and through and it shows. The kid who gives 110% every play in every game. The kid who plays the entire game because he is too valuable to be subbed out. This kid. The one in the pictures below. 

It is so good to have him back. I wasn't the only one that Portland did a mental number on. Josh suffered there too. And it was really hard to watch the light and love he has for this game almost become extinguished because he was so discouraged. 

I am so proud of him for sticking with it and not giving up. Even when he wanted to because it was that rough for him. 

Hearing the announcer call his name and number is amazing. Watching him assist with a goal or score a goal himself is amazing. (He is tied for the #1 spot at highest goal scorer on the varsity team.) Watching him bond with this group of boys is amazing. 

These next two years of high school ball are going to fly by. But I plan on savoring every single minute of every single game. Because I am not the only one who is super thankful for this opportunity to play soccer at this high school. There is a tough, hardworking, 16 year old young man who is just as thankful - if not more so.  

P.S. My kid is so handsome. He is really and truly becoming a young man and as he grows into his own body he becomes even more handsome,

For some reason my kid is the one without a shirt on. 

Getting ready for his first official introduction over the loudspeaker. 

The starting varsity lineup. Josh is second from the left. 

I love the way they put their arms around each other. Josh's Rio Rapids soccer team used to do this and they were as much as a brotherhood as any group of boys could be.