The Fourth Up North

Summer sun - having some fun!

Special Olympics Summer Games (track highlights)

We've been looking forward to the Special Olympics Summer Games since last summer.  This event is such a highlight in our year, and this year was even better than last year with special guests, Lydia participating as a Unified Partner, and perfect weather! 

My parents, brother and sister-in-law, and three of their kids came to cheer on Brett and Lydia.  Brett tried out the long jump this year and placed 1st in his division.

Next was the 4x100 Unified Relay.  Brett and another athlete on our team ran with Lydia and the coach.  They placed 3rd in their division.  At the Opening Ceremony, we were excited to represent our team and see Joe Mauer! 

The next day, Brett competed in the 100M Run and 50M Dash and placed 4th and 1st respectively.  Between events, we enjoyed watching basketball and swimming, climbing the rock wall, doing an escape room, and many other activities.  What a special weekend!

summer fun

Just wanted to post a few pictures unrelated to baseball or Special Olympics - those posts are coming soon!  We had fun exploring a new art sculpture park.  Brett went to golf camp with Papa and Tiger.  The kids went to day camp at our church.  Lydia and Reggie switched bedrooms - painting is done, but still working on organizing and decorating.  We have a big statue of a snowman in our city.  We rode our bikes to it and got to see inside, then had ice cream.  We went to our city's giant slip-n-slide, and we had some water fight fun!  We went to the country cousin's musical The Lion King Jr.  And we spent a day at a local rec center.  These summer days can seem long when it feels all I do is referee and drive kids from here to there and cook and clean and do it again.  But I miss it all schoolyear long.  

Well, not the cooking and cleaning part.

Grandma Alvina, my last grandparent, went home to be with the Lord. I'm sure she was greeted by her beloved husband and one of her four sons.  She was classy and fierce and full of faith. I miss her laugh - and her cookies.

When I was a child, she taught me this scripture:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23 KJV