The Bears Visit Jerry World

Continuing with our sports theme this week (add that to the list of phrases I never thought would appear on my blog), we'll discuss the Texas Tech/Baylor game that was played at Jerry World (aka Cowboys Stadium) last week.

While I can't say that I agree with the outcome (last time I checked, it was NOT a fumble if your knee was down and I will go on record as saying Smith was NOT out of bounds), I was very proud of our team. They've been through a lot - like, a WHOLE LOT - this season but they went out with style. And pride.

They beat the other team on the field. They simply couldn't beat the guys in the black and white stripes who were on the field. This Baylor team has not gotten one single break this year. Zilch. Zero. I'm just praying that something (wink, wink) will happen during the offseason to discourage this poaching of Baylor. It's not fair to the young men who are giving it their all.

Steps down from soapbox.

Anyway, we did not attend the game but I my stepdad (who is a Red Raider but let's not talk about it) did and I managed to snag a few pictures from someone else who attended the game. So it's almost like I was there, right?

These two guys are a great team. And when we have RG3 back next year (along with 6'7" 285-lb. Troy Baker, who recently indicated he'll enter early in January), I think we'll see a markable difference in the team. We're still building so when Griff went down, we just didn't have the depth to back him up. These things happen. Just wish everyone understood that...

So #55 is J.D. Walton. And #11 is Phil Taylor. And #88 is Jason Lamb. All amazing, sizeable opponents. Walton is currently ranked as the #1 center to enter the NFL draft. Taylor is a transfer from Penn State who suffered from turf toe for most of the season but he'll back - and awesome - next year. Lamb is a punt blocking fool who I hope will get a chance in the NFL. 

This is Kaz. He's the strength and conditioning coach at Baylor. It's his second year. He's, um, a bit intense. But he's also amazing. In fact, he's so good that Jason Smith (remember #2 overall draft pick in the NFL last year?) comes back to Waco to train with him. Yep, that's impressive.

One of his assistant coaches is the husband of Taylor's current 4th grade teacher so we obviously feel a bit invested in his success. :-)

Funny story: Last year Tay took golf lessons from Ryan Roberts, who was the third string QB for Baylor at the time. (This was RG3's freshman year.) Anyway, we were chatting with him one day about the new coaches and he told us all about Kaz. Now you have to know that Ryan's a pretty buff dude himself (and was Tay's first crush ever) but, in his words, "no one has ever worked me out like Kaz - I thought, at one point, that I actually might just go met Jesus."

Needless to say, we're blessed to have Kaz on our side. I offered to set up a personal training session with him for my man as a Christmas present. He muttered something about the likelihood of having a fatal stroke and then declined. 

Go figure.

Who Dat, Y'all

Now I'm really not one to jump on and off of bandwagons, particularly when it comes to sports teams. In fact, I have a few I love and - regardless of the outcome of our games - I remain a steadfast fan to the end. 

I'm a huge Baylor Bears fan (obviously, right?) not only because I graduated from Baylor and now work at the University but mainly because I believe in what Baylor stands for. And I believe in our students. And it's hard to root against our guys once you get to know them. Because they're awesome. Truly remarkable young men.

I held out for a long time where the Dallas Cowboys are concerned because I felt Jerry Jones treated Tom Landry unfairly. Obviously I learned to carry a grudge from my mom because she will not cheer for them to this day. Out of loyalty to my husband, however, I have come to like the 'Boys. However, if this season's performance is any indication, my support isn't necessarily a positive.

There is one team to which I have - and will continue to - been loyal to all of my 31 years. As a young child who grew up in Louisiana, I vividly remember seeing the newscasts showing the fans of the New Orleans Saints walking into the stadium with paper bags over their faces. 

Let me tell you - there are NO fans like New Orleans fans, y'all. Case in point - in preparation for last evening's contest against the Patriots, yesterday was declared New Orleans Saints Day. Yes, an official holiday.

There are no words to describe the feelings felt last night when my Saints put on a clinic against the Patriots. No words to convey how I felt when Brady and Belichek were staring up at the scoreboard wondering what had just happened to their team. No way to explain to you how proud I am of the guys in black and gold.

Yes, my team. A winning team. A team that has a legitimate shot at going to - and winning - the Superbowl. Sweet mercy, I never thought those words would be uttered in reference to my team.

So Geaux Saints - show the world how awesome you truly are and know that you have fans like no other cheering you on (and raising the roof when it's called for) all the way.

Who Dat, Y'all!

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

Happy Christmas season to you, my friends!

This is truly my most favorite time of year and I'm so happy that this year does not entail recovering from septorhinoplasty like last year did. In fact, I've got big plans for our family that include a trip to Grapevine, a ride on the Polar Express, attending Christmas on 5th, the ladies' Candlelight Christmas at church, a trip to BLORA, a Sunday School fellowship and both mine and Dave's Christmas parties. 

That doesn't even begin to cover Miss Taylor's church and school schedule but I am choosing to delight in this season. To that end, I've purchased all but two gifts on our list and, truthfully, I'm just waiting for the price to drop on those before I'm all finished. Our stockings have been hung by the chimney with care and I'm hoping the outside of the house will have minimal - but super cute - decorations this weekend.

Why, might you ask, am I trying to get everything done so stinkin' quickly?

So that we can spend time just enjoying the season. I usually don't do that. Instead I stress about making sure I have the prettiest packages and that my hair is just right in our family photo. 

Too much worry, not enough fun...but we're about to change that.

So if we're absent from the blog most of the month of December, know that hundreds of pictures are being taken so that we can document every minute. I know you'll be so excited :-)

Gobble 'til You Wobble

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

We've been MIA lately but it's only because life is getting much busier as we close in on the holidays. I pray you have an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and that you truly gobble 'til you wobble. And then take a nice, long nap.

The year 2009 has been one of ups and downs for our family but we truly have much for which to be thankful. Here's the short list:

• Our fabulous Disney vacation
• Our health
• Our jobs
• The Father
• The Son
• The Holy Spirit
• The fact that my daughter and my stepdad were baptized within a week of each other during the summer
• Our church family
• The opportunity to give back to our community through volunteer work
• A daughter who suffered a very unfortunate injury last month but who has amazed us with her courage and determination to get right back in the groove
• That our pets are still alive (they've truly acted horribly lately and I'm sure they're thanking God for their lives today as well :-)
• The chance to live in a free country
• Multiple Thanksgiving meals!
• Friends and family far and near who bless us richly, cry with us freely and support us no matter what

If you're reading this, know that I am thankful for you as well. And that we pray this entire holiday season will bring you nothing but joy.

The Power of Prayer

I don't have much to share today but did want to thank you for your prayers about Tay's arm. While it's still not perfect, she has made significant strides this week and I know that progress is directly attributed to prayer. 

If she pushes it, her elbow is almost (but not quite) straight so I'm hopeful (and remain prayerful) that she will regain full range of motion in the next couple of weeks.

In other news, I'm still totally bummed and, quite frankly, my attitude stinks. Tay is spending the weekend with my parents and this is Dave's weekend to work so my hope is that some alone time will be just what the doctor ordered.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

No Pain No Gain

Ok, friends, I come to you today a bit of a wreck. And I'm not even sure why. Well, I have some idea, but really can't go into detail about it at the present time. 

I hate it when people say that but it's actually true in this instance. I will, however, share something with you that is part of the cause of my cracking little heart.

My baby girl has been out of her sling for a week now, which means she has 3 more weeks to regain full range of motion in her elbow. While I originally had no worries about this (it's not like this is our first - or even second - rodeo), I must admit that I'm growing increasingly concerned.

You see, that little elbow is more stiff than I'd realized and my little one is having a hard time forcing herself to stretch it out. So, being the one over 30 in this relationship, I've taken to stretching it out myself each night.

And it makes her cry.

Real tears.

Which makes me cry.

And then we're in an endless cycle.

So if you wouldn't mind throwing out a few extra prayers for my baby, I would appreciate it. Because just typing this is making my eyes start to water. Those of you who know me well realize that usually only happens when I'm angry. But I'm not mad. I'm just sad. 

Are you grasping the severity of this situation?

If you have some extra prayers to spare, you wouldn't waste a prayer on this other situation I'm being very shady about either.

Please and thank you.

Homecoming Game

As promised, here are our pics from the 2009 Baylor Homecoming Game. There really aren't many but, if you keep up with BU football, you know there weren't many highlights during that game. 

Quite frankly, OSU didn't need much help defeating our freshman quarterback but the refs apparently thought they did because they provided as much help as possible. Of course, the same can be said for our game against UT this past weekend but the guys in stripes certainly didn't mind throwing flags for imaginary penalties that day either.

Bitter much, Casi?

Why, yes, I am. Thankyouverymuch for asking.

Actually, I'm not really bitter. I don't have a problem at all getting beat by a better team. I just happen to think we should ALL play by the same rules.

Stepping down from soapbox...

Our hero, who I hear was walking around quite well on Saturday - 2010 here we come!

Have I mentioned that he's Taylor's hero?

The terrible twosome - Tay and Logan

See the player standing sideways? That's #11 Phil Taylor. He is a beast. And I mean that in the kindest sense of the word. He's an amazing defensive player who's been struck by the dreaded turf toe. Bless his heart, though, I don't think he should be forced to wear such a light color from head to toe. If you know what I mean...

We shall now return to regularly scheduled programming. Not exactly sure what that means but I'm rather positive I still have a few more Halloween pics to share. Because, you know, I thought maybe you forgot what the cutest costume my child has ever owned looks like :-)