Blue Eyes and Blue Skies : Rebel Football and A Lot to be Thankful For Recap (part 2)

So here's another recap from this past fall. Just a warning that this is a loooong post and I know that the subject is old, but for my memory and this blog, I have to write about it...so here we ago again. Way back last year and maybe even the year before that, Landon started to beg to play football. I know we had a good excuse one year (he was too young) and last year I'm sure I made one up. But this year, we bit the bullet and signed him up for his first season of tackle football with the Vestavia Rebels!

I was pretty nervous about the whole thing, but from day one he loved it and I loved to watch him. It's no surprise that he had some natural ability (and I know some of yall are rolling your eyes, but he is my son, so I can brag a little, okay? :)) and the coaches did take a liking to him immediately. They had him on the line both on offense and defense.

At first he was a little upset about this. This is the first sport he had played were he would not be able to score (and be cheered for) and he started having some doubts about this whole game of football...but then Papa entered the picture...

Aside from Ash and I, he was Landons #1 fan. He was there for almost every practice and definitely every game and he talked to and coached Landon on how important his position was. One of his positions (left tackle?) is what is known as the blind side and according to Papa this is the second highest paid position after the quarterback in the NFL...who knew!! Anyhow, after all the pep talks, Landon was all in it again...

He played nearly the entire games only getting out ocassionally to catch his breath...

And after hearing his name announced on the loudspeaker for making the tackle or recovering the fumble, he really started to embrace the game and his position. His team had a pretty good season and made it to the last rouund of playoffs. This was the last huddle of the year after losing in the playoffs.

Landon was so lucky to get the coach he got, Coach Kevin. He played at the University of Alabama and was know as "Touchdown Turner" and helped them win the 92' National Championship with Stallings. He then went on to play in the NFL for the Philadephia Eagles and the New York Patriots and even played in the Super Bowl (although was on the losing team) However, how cool that Landon's first coach and the coach that taught him the foundations of this sport has such a history and legacy. And let me tell you what an awesome coach he was. Some of the others team's coaches were the type that try and live their own glory days (or lack there of) through the kids and would argue and yell and go completely over board about 8 year old football. Our coach had so much class, never lost his temper and wanted to teach the boys the love of the game which he did. Later in the season, we found out that Kevin had just been diagnoes with ALS or Lou Gehrigs disease and while fighting the fight of his life, was still taking the time to coach mine and other children.

I cannot say enough good things about this man. We are so grateful to have had him as our coach and can't wait to get him next year! :) He is the father of three kids the youngest being on Landons team and he is in for the fight of his life and the prognosis seems grim. But I beleive in the power of prayer and in miracles so please say a little prayer for him and his family! Thanks Coach Kevin for an awesome season!!

The news of coach Kevin hit hard and close to home and seemed to be followed by more bad news and more bad news. This Thanksgiving, I hit my knees and prayed hard for all of our family and freinds who had been struck with one thing after another and gave thanks for all of the blessings in my life...namely these 3!

A lot of the bad news, had to do with little ones, and I will spare you the details, but it made me realize how much I take for granted. So, my thanksgivings for Thanksgiving were no brainers. These three are everything to me and I love them with every fiber of my being...

And if your thinking Landon looks like a conquistadors, well, he does, it was part of a school program! :) Anyways, moving on, I don't have any pictures from Thanksgiving day, sad I know. But we ended up driving north to Nashville to spend the holiday with Ash's family. His sister hosted dinner at her new house in Brentwood and everybody got along and everything was delicious...what more could you ask for!? The day after we loaded up the crew and headed to a japanese steak house (one of our favorites) and ate way to much. The kids had fun watching the chef...