Highlights from Brett's Floor Hockey Season

Brett decided to do adapted floor hockey instead of basketball for his winter sport.  

When I look back on Brett's high school experience, Thunderbolt's adapted sports is one of the biggest wins. Brett gained confidence, leadership skills, and social skills that would not have emerged solely in the classroom. The highlights from Thunderbolts, regardless of what sport they were playing, came in the form of potentially lifelong friendships.  

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Lydia's Volleyball Highlights- Junior

It took me almost a full year, but I'm finally ready to come to terms with Lydia's decision to transition from player to coach.  The demands of being a high school volleyball player - at least in Woodbury - are extensive and yearlong.  Lydia truly loves the sport and comes alive on the court. Yet, she has a realistic perspective on her talent and stature and knows collegiate volleyball is not in her cards. Combine that with some not-so-healthy dynamics in team culture, and she was ready to retire as a player after her junior year.  Financially, it has already paid off.  She was offered a coaching position over club season last winter, and this summer, she was able to work many more hours without off-season training and practices starting three full weeks before school. 

I love watching Lydia play volleyball. She's gritty, competitive, and explosive. She has grown as an athlete, a problem-solver, and a leader.  Now, she applies those skills as a coach and in life. In our journey through the world of volleyball, we have seen many players burn out, lose passion, or not finish on their own terms. None of that is true with Lydia. She still loves volleyball - and she's not done yet.

This video got a little long, but you will be rewarded if you stay tuned to the end.

Happy 17th Birthday, Lydia!

Lydia had a messy fall.  She had the unfortunate luck of contracting hand, foot, and mouth disease, which was going around the athletes using the weight room.  It put her out of school and volleyball for a week. Then she had the worst migraine she had ever experienced.  It took her to urgent care, the ER, through an MRI, and to a neurologist.  It extended 10 days. Anyone who says a migraine is "just a headache" is very wrong.  Thankfully, now she has some tools that are helping her keep migraines more manageable.

Despite the setbacks, Lydia pulled through in her classes and most of her extracurriculars.  She had an exciting season of volleyball.  To reveal the anticipated, it was probably her last. I need some time to put together her last volleyball video, and it will probably be this summer.

So when she had one well-thought-out birthday wish - two tickets to the Josiah Queen concert - which was in April - it was most certainly granted.

Lydia is very dedicated to school and committed to her plan.  She balances her hard work with friends, church, and employment.  There are mishaps and learning opportunities, but she takes it all with a steady and persistent nature.  We are so proud of who she is and who she is becoming.

football, thanksgiving, and aurora borealis

 Moving on to November, we had Special Olympics flag football.  Brett plays the quarterback.

We celebrated my mom's birthday right before they left for Texas for the winter.  I love having them near us for half the year!

I have always wanted to see the northern lights, but even when they are visible in our area there is usually too much light pollution where I live, and it is past my bedtime.  It was very exciting to see the northern lights from our own yard last fall! It was sweeping across the entire span of the sky, and the movement of the colors left me awe-struck!

For Thanksgiving, we went to Papa and Meemaw's.  After a very hectic fall calendar, I loved heading up to the North Woods for a couple of days and having Meemaw host the holiday!