Game 5: Belmont vs North Carolina Wesleyan - Year 2

The Belmont Abbey boys won 2-0. This was an ugly game in that if the boys played for any longer they surely would have ended up losing the match. As our team deflated due to heat and having played the night before, their boys seemed to get better and better as time went on and did not seem to be affected by the heat. 

4th of July

For the 4th of July, Bobby, the girls, and I headed to a neighboring town in South Carolina to watch fireworks. The place we went to last year could not get a permit from the city of Charlotte to have their fireworks display this year, which isn't the worst thing in the world as their fireworks lasted only about 10-15 minutes and weren't much to write home about. 

This year there was a festival with games and rides and food vendors being offered in a town (I forget the name, Rock Hill, maybe?) just across the border (which is only about 20 minutes from where we live) and we decided to check it out. 

It was really crowded and lines were astronomically long which made me super glad we grabbed a bite to eat before we got to the festival because I didn't want to wait in a line for an hour to get fair food. That being said we grabbed a spot to sit near a curb and waited for the fireworks to begin. The show wasn't that bad. Fireworks went off for about 20 minutes or so and were pretty decent. 

I think we'll try some place new next year as none of us were in love with where we went, but it was definitely nice to have some place to go, and to try something new. 

 

Josh Game 2 - Year 2

To be honest, I am pretty far behind on posting about Josh's soccer season thus far that I do not even remember who his opponent was for his second game. What I do know is that the Belmont boys won, and that Josh had an amazing game. He is playing with some of the passion that he seemed to have lost last year adjusting to being one of many vying for a starting spot on the first team. 

Josh is getting ample play time this year which makes me happy. I would much rather see him play full games (or close to it) on the developmental team than watch him sit the bench on the first team. On another note - I know that the defense did not allow any goals this game giving them what is referred to as a 'clean sheet' for the game. 

Josh's First Soccer Game - Year 2 - Game 1

 

Every game Josh tapes up his wrist with his "Why?". Why does he play soccer? What motivates him to push through the really hard parts of a game/training? He always puts the same things: Sarah, Nana (my mom), Family, the area codes we've lived, the boys (his besties), and Coach Lar (one of his high school coaches who committed suicide). I love seeing that wrist band on his arm. 

Josh had his first game, a scrimmage, this past Saturday. This marks the start of his second year of eligibility for soccer. (Each collegiate athlete gets four years.) The boys played 3 thirty-minute halves so that each of the players could have 30 minutes of play time. The boys played against a semi-pro team from Florida who were absolutely amazing. Belmont lost to this team 2-1. There was some question as to whether Josh was even going to be called up to play in this game as 5 of the 11 recruits this year were defenders (which is what Josh was asked to learn how to play when recruited by Belmont). With two returning starters from last season that leaves on 2 open spots with about 8-12 boys gunning for those two spots, but he did get called up which was nice. 

It was so nice to see Josh play. He didn't get a ton of play time last year. (I think he played in maybe 3 games for a total of about 45 minutes all year.) He did have a roster spot on the first team last year, but I'm not sure how this year is going to go. Collegiate sports are pretty cut-throat and new players are always being recruited, so there is no wait in line and your turn will come type situations there. You could work your butt off all year and still not get any playing time because of size, speed, etc...With coaches being able to select athletes from all over the world there is always a good chance a player might never get a shot at a starting position. It's hard for these players as they are used to being the best on the club/high school teams they came from. To now have to deal with the best of the best from not only your own country, but internationally as well means that there is fierce competition for play time. Plus, what they don't tell you when recruiting you, is that there are always two teams of boys - the first team (the team whose games count) and the developmental/reserve team (whose games don't really count for much). Each team is stacked with 25-30 players, so you are looking at anywhere between 50-60 boys gunning for 11 starting spots on the first team. It is crazy - and definitely nothing like I thought it would (nor what Josh thought it would be like). 

The bright side of Josh not having a first team spot this year is that he will start on the developmental team and get a ton of play time. For me, if Josh cannot grab a starting spot on the first team I would rather he have a starting spot on the reserve team verse sitting on the bench of the first team. I'm not sure Josh feels the same way though. 

It will be what it will be. Josh does everything in his power to get play time on the first team. The rest is out of his hands, and time will tell what the future holds for him. 

That's him in the background with the ball. 

Kicking the free kick.

Giving directions to the defense. 

Right before kick off. 

Rooting for her brother.

Showing up for their brother. 

Gearing Up For The New School Year

The Gregg family is in full back-to-school mode. Andy begins classes next week. Josh and my girls begin their classes the following week, but it seems like we are getting into the beginning throes of the busyness of the school year. 

I always associate new school years with fall - even if those school years fall well within the confines of summer (Indiana and New Mexico started their school year in July.) Fall is my favorite season and always feels a bit like a new year rather than the one we celebrate in January.  I love all things fall - football, soccer season, cooler weather, changing leaves, open windows, new expectations and hopes for the upcoming year. I love it all. 

Josh originally left for school on Wednesday of last week, but asked to come home yesterday and surprised me with a two-night unexpected visit. (The apartment that he was staying at until the dorms opened up were not his vibe and he wanted to come home to "peace and quiet".) He officially moves into his dorm tomorrow morning. That should be more to his liking as it will give him his own space verse sharing an apartment with 7 other soccer players. It was such a nice surprise for me to have him home. 

Josh's first soccer game is this Saturday. I am nervous for him as he is hoping to get more play time this year than last, but with 50-60 guys gunning for 25 first team spots and 11 starting spots, I am not sure that he will see that extra playtime. (I am hoping that he can see things out though because I feel like he will have a good shot at starting next year if he doesn't get too discouraged this year.) 

Andy is still at the community college, but is attending a new campus, so he and I plan on taking a drive down there on Wednesday or Thursday to scope out the campus and buy any books he may need hard copies of. He also wants to walk his schedule so he has a little bit of an idea of where to go on the 15th which is his first day. I am excited for him as he seems like a new man in a lot of ways after being on his own this summer and living in Ohio. (He is making dinner for the family tonight as one example of how he has changed.)

Sarah and Elizabeth don't begin choir until September this year, so that is nice. Soccer for Elizabeth should start somewhere around Labor Day. I need to look up the basketball schedule so that she can start attending those open gyms before tryouts in October. 

Sarah is a senior this year, so this is my last official year homeschooling her. I am trying hard to get in the right mindset and to just enjoy the hell out of this year with both of my girls home. It has been an honor and quite a ride homeschooling these kiddos. It is so bittersweet that one more of my kiddos is finishing up their journey with me. 

On another note - Sarah received her first college acceptance letter last week. She applied to (and got into) New Mexico State University. They have a good horse therapy program there which is what Sarah would like to get her degree in. She will be applying to three colleges in NC and has her heart set on applying to one Ivy League school just to say she did it. (I actually don't think the school is officially an Ivy League school, but it is pretty prestigious.) Which ever school will give her the most scholarship money is the school she will attend. I told her that if she ended up going to NMSU that I was going to be her roommate just for the chance to live in Las Cruces again.)

Sarah is still meeting with her Orientation and Mobility instructor and has made vast improvements in getting around on her own. She should be 100% ready to live on a campus somewhere this time next year. (Who knows maybe she will even have her guide dog by then - although a more realistic time frame is in two years.)

Lots going on in these parts as I imagine there is all over this country with kiddos already back to school or gearing up for it. 

 

Full House / Full Heart

 

Andy and Josh came home this past weekend after spending the entire summer in Ohio working and hanging out with friends/family. It was so good to see them both. They were gone for about two and a half months during which time I saw them once at my grandfather's 90th birthday celebration. My mama heart ached for them while they were gone even though I knew how good it was for both of them to be where they were. 

Josh left for college today (soccer begins tomorrow), but for the past three and a half days I have had my children all to myself while Bobby worked during the day, and in the evenings, it was just the six of us. My heart could not have been more content or happy than during these last few days. 

We had a full house here for the first time in a long time and with that came a full heart. I cherish the times when all of my children are together because it happens so rarely.  I feel whole when we are all together. I feel complete. 

Nothing brings me more joy than being with my family. I love the human beings my children have evolved into so much and there is no group of people I would rather spend my time with than them. When we are all together, I do not take a single moment for granted. It felt so good that first night the boys came home laying my head down for the night knowing that all of my people were under the same roof. I will never tire from that feeling of deep contentment. 

We spent the time that we had doing something each day. Sunday, we went school and clothes shopping, and Bobby took us all out to lunch. On Monday, we went put put golfing; on Tuesday, Bobby sent the kids out to lunch so they could have some time to be together just the four of them. They ended up ordering Chik-fil-A and coming back to the house and playing D & D all afternoon; today, we spent a couple of hours at the pool just hanging out in the water. 

I love being with my kids so much. They are my greatest pride and joy. I am so lucky that I got to spend the last few days with all of them. There is nothing that makes me happier. 

When we lived in Ohio we lived near a gas station that sold this sugary drink called Bug Juice. The only people who bought my kids bug juice were my sister and my mom and it was considered an extreme treat in our household to be able to have one. Andy found some bug juice while staying in Ohio this summer and brought some home for the other 3 kids. Here they are with their bug juice...