Halloween, Senior Night, and Football

Last Halloween of kids in school in my home. Wow! Where did the years go?

I cooked tonight ~ Chili in Baked Bread Bowls, topped with cheese. Orange jello with sour gummy worms. Pumpkin Pie Cake with Cool Whip.

My daughter and her boyfriend took turns answering the door, giving out treats to the little ones... and the big ones who can't quite give up the trick-or-treat tradition even though they stand taller than me. We had plenty and were quite willing to share with the small and the tall.

My son was here for the weekend. He spent his time with friends, but I got a couple hugs and a chance to send him home with some groceries. I will see him at Thankgiving.

Yesterday, my daughter finished her early application process. Three applications in the mail and over the internet to her top 3 picks. We hand delivered a packet of application odds and ends to TCU yesterday and then went out to lunch. Precious Moments.

Friday night was senior night for the football players, cheerleaders, stow-aways, and band. My daughter's Dad and I posed for pictures with her and then linked our arms with hers and walked through the Pirate tunnel onto the football field to hear her name announced (and ours). There is a finishing up of high school beginning way too soon. And yet it is ALL SO GOOD. The honoring of these kids and their activities.

We made it to play offs that night. The kids have EARNED this. My daughter pointed out tonight that I was younger than her the last time Granbury Pirates went to the playoffs. Obviously, she was pointing out just how long ago that was. :-)  I got the opportunity to be down by the high school section at the end of the game. We were tied and the clock was at 3.8 seconds. We had worked the ball down the field and we lined up for a field goal. I was praying, the kids were hollering and so excited in anticipation, and the ball was snapped, put in the kicking position and just like the movies - everything sloooooooooowed down as the ball went up and up and then yes, over and in-between. The referee's arms went up, the kids went wild, the cheerleaders were jumping up and down, the boys were proud and happy.

It was our turn, don't you think? As I was walking out of the stadium, my daughter's boyfriend's senior sign under one arm and my daughter's bouquet of flowers in the other, I got in-between some of the Burleson players. They were tall and big compared to my small frame. And I saw that one boy was crying. They lost their chance at the playoffs and it broke their hearts, just as it would have broken ours for our kids. I suspect this boy was a senior and this was "his last chance", but I don't know. So, whose turn was it? Well, this year, it was the Pirates. I don't think we wanted it more than them. We just won this time.

I pray for all these young people. I pray for my son and his friends; my daughter and her friends. The world moves fast and is not always so kind, and never, ever, ever fair. I pray they make wise choices. I pray for their health, their safety, self-discipline, and for good times. Gut wrenching laughter and smiles as they lay their heads down to sleep. God bless them real good.

Well, folks ~ Halloween is officially over at my house. The candy dish is empty, the jack-o-lantern's candle has been blown out, the porch light has been turned off.

Halloween will come around again next year - and the small and the tall will visit my front porch again, but I expect the inside of my home will be a bit more quiet and a bit less busy.

God bless us all real good.

Namaste