4 Men AND a graduation, movies, some music, & a cutter

My sister in law (LynDee) made the comment this week that our boys are more like brothers than cousins.  I agreed.

Our boys – that’s what they’ll forever be but actually they are men now.  The baby has graduated from high school and Son two will be living in Bryan – College Station in the fall and going to school at Blinn.  He’s studying Kinesiology and has plans to transfer to A&M.  His brothers have been watching out for him all these years and lovingly refer to him as Crudder.

Our oldest is living in Austin and doing what he loves – producing films.  His production skills have taken him across the seas to England where he produced a film about Lord Montague of Beaulieu.  Most of Nephew one’s films are filmed in the Austin area including one that all of his brothers worked on with him.  It is that film where they met Ryan Lee.  His name now appears in the credits of “Super 8”. 

Son two lived in Alabama last year and is back in Texas now.  He is working for our company and is earning an associates degree in Oil & Gas Technology.  I suspect that degree will take him back to Alabama but while he’s here he blesses our lives with music.  As a self trained player of the guitar – he has written and shared some amazing tunes with his brothers and the rest of our family.

I mentioned in an earlier entry that I had no earthly idea what Echo 185 meant – well my limited knowledge just continues to shine.  This week I realized I had no idea what “cutter” meant.  So I started researching and found lots of pictures of cutters.  They are the high endurance ship/boat of the United States Coast Guard.  Just a couple of days after I learned about cutters we found out that our Nephew two will be stationed on a cutter for his first assignment.  Niece (our first daughter) received the call this week that Nephew two will be stationed in San Diego California on the USCGC Boutwell (WHEC – 719). 

Our four are all named after family members:  Nephew one – for LynDee’s dad – Wayne Curtis, Nephew two – for Kevin’s dad – Kirby Groves, Son one – for my family, and Son two for Kerry’s family (his grandfather William Harold Schmidt).  I think that must be where it all began – from the naming of each son – we have made an effort to make their lives about family. 

Oh how LynDee & I love being moms of boys – unbelievable joys that never cease.  Each of our 4 are in different stages and very soon they will each be in different places of the world.  Son one in Graham – for now, Son two in Bryan – College Station, Nephew one in Austin, and Nephew two if in port will be in California and if not in port – he will be all over the west coast of the US and maybe even up to Alaska.  We are thankful when we have them all together – ready for Nephew two to be home before he leaves and maybe we can get one more picture….

4 Men – and a lifetime of joy.

Christmas 2010 

USCGC Boutwell (WHEC - 719)

Summer of 2009 - Set of Playland

The last time the 4 were together

Son two's graduation - May 2011

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.

More Than A Game....FCA All Star Classic

What does Fellowship of Christian Athletes mean to you?  Quite honestly sometimes I think we do some lip service to the phrase.  I am not so sure that my boys really participated in FCA like one would like for them to – but I do know that my boys know what it means to be a Christian athlete and their FCA experience was amazing.

It all began in 2006 when Nephew two – he was selected to play in the FCA Myrle Greathouse All Star Football game in Abilene as part of the Big Country FCA Chapter.  He was in the first group of Graham athletes to participate.  Coach Brad McCoy had been a part of the Big Country FCA Chapter in his previous school and he understood the value of FCA and wanted Graham to be a part of that group.

Nephew two loved the experience and we loved watching him play one last football game.

Then in 2009 – Son one was selected to play in the game.  He too loved the event – again it was great to see him in a football uniform on a field one more time.  He stayed with a great family – The Nichols from Abilene – roomed with a football player from Snyder and really appreciate the emphasis on Jesus and being a Christian. 

Now it was Son two’s year – except do you know how his football season ended – on a stretcher (from the very field of the FCA game) as he was taken by ambulance for broken transverse processes in his back (that’s a way long story that I will have to tell later….).  BUT he healed up nicely and was selected to play in the game – only to be injured in the last basketball game and decided he could not play in a football game.  We contacted the FCA and they encouraged Son two to attend the week’s activities – that they recognized that some kids would not be able to participate but they still wanted him to have the experience of the FCA event.

Wow – what a week our Son two had.  Its hard to write how incredibly proud of my son that I am.  Our older son has always been very comfortable around people – he doesn’t meet a stranger and will talk to anyone.  For Son two – that has been a learned skill but he has learned quite well and is really quite good.  Both the boys are leaders – and both boys served as team captains their senior years.  Their leadership tends to shine in all kinds of places.

Son two went to the FCA All Star week knowing that he would not be able to have contact play in the football game but he found a way to participate.  No one on his team had served on special teams as the holder for the kicker (imagine that ---- God is just pretty good) so he volunteered and since they do not allow the kicker to be rushed – he held for the kicker and all three extra points were good!!! (The North squad won – 21-10 Woo Hoo!)

Son two’s leadership shined – one coach said that he knew everyone’s name within a couple of hours and made a point to help the North Squad become a team.  Because of that leadership he was selected by the coaching staff (both the North and South) to receive the Jon Rhiddlehoover Memorial Spirit Award – the award is given to the player who exemplifies courage, sacrifice, and selflessness. 

The Mission of the Big Country FCA Chapter:

Our mission is to present to athletes and coaches, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church.

What a great way for our #88 to end his football career – this time at Shotwell walking off with smiles on our faces.  We loved the Saturday events – honoring Son two as he received the award and watching him be a part of a football team once more….

The family of Jon Rhiddlehoover presented the award

Sam Corn, Kerry, Me, and Coach Quinn Conley with #88

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.