One Shining Moment x 2

Back in my young married days, I used to watch a lot more March Madness than I do now.  A lot more as in I actually watched it, as opposed to not really even knowing the games are on!  (Sidenote- I was often known to root for the "Cinderella" team.)  Despite the fact I never watch anymore, I have always enjoyed and still do enjoy the segment after the final game called "One Shining Moment".  It has been known to bring me to tears!  :)

Well, the past few months, I have watched several 7/8 grade boys, and Freshman girls Basketball games.  And, March Madness aside, I had a couple of shining moments that made my heart swell for days after.

The first one happened at one of Kristin's games.  Her teammate, Ashley B, hurt her leg when she was fouled, and couldn't shoot the foul shots.  Her coach called another Ashley from the bench and told her to go shoot the free throws.  Here's the thing about Ashley #2.  She hasn't played much basketball, and when she walks out on the court, you can immediately tell she is not confident being there.  Nevertheless, she stepped up to the free-throw line, and wouldn't you know it, she made the first shot!!  The bench erupted, the student body erupted, the parents erupted!!  Ashley #2 was grinning from ear to ear!  It was a moment to warm even the hardest heart!!  I really don't think it matters to anyone that she didn't make the second shot because SHE MADE THE FIRST ONE!!!  My friend, Roberta, and I couldn't quit talking to each other about how great it was!!  We both rode that happiness wave for days.

Shining Moment #2 came the next week!  I was at Trev's game.  On the opposing team's bench was a boy who was clearly disabled.  His name was Jake.  He sat on the bench most of the game.  His coach seemed more interested in winning than making sure everyone had equal playing time, but that is another post for another day.  Anyway, Jake seemed content to sit and joke around with the other players not in the game.  Towards the end of the 2nd Quarter, he was subbed in and not long after that, he set up for a 3 point shot and made it!!  He was thrilled, the student body was thrilled, the parents were thrilled, Trev's team was thrilled!  He pointed at the coach like "you're the man", he pointed at his teammates, he raised his hands in the air in victory!!  He smiled the rest of the quarter, tried another 3 pointer and almost made it!  Half time came and he was still smiling.  His teammates made sure he knew how happy they were for him, and made sure everyone knew about the great shot!  That was a little shining moment in itself.  I witnessed true friendship from several boys who could easily have thought themselves too cool for a friend like Jake.  He sat the majority of the 2nd half, and was still smiling!  It was another heart-warming moment, not soon to be forgotten and although Roberta wasn't there to share it with me, we again rode the happiness wave for days. (I, of course, had to tell her about it later, but she was still just as thrilled as if she had been there.  That's just the kind of friend she is.)

So, those shining moments were better than any March Madness ones I have ever seen!  They will long be remembered by me and by my heart!

The Sewing Room Mascot

This is my thread cabinet.  Just one of the many things I love about my laundry/sewing room. John made it for me from a pattern I found and ordered.  I really love this cabinet! See the yardstick around the cabinet door?  I found those yardsticks on ebay and they are original, from West Virginia and old (circa 1950).  You can see the old fashioned phone number listed - RE 4-5511. Believe it or not, by the time I was born, they were using the present-day seven digit phone number, but I always found the letter/number combo a bit intriguing.  See the tin on the top?  That is a relic from my childhood and is quite bizarre, but I like it, always have, always will.  The mini oval-shaped box?  That really means nothing, other than I am drawn to toile patterns, and it has that toile look. The photo in the middle is one Alli took in her LHS photography class.  It is Trevor's hand catching drops of water from the spigot.  Clever and artistic.  The ribbon hanging on the side is close to impossible to make out, but that is an "Award of Merit" for a quilt I entered in the fair a few years ago - Square Deal, a wall hanging.  I remember how nervous I was when I saw the judges begin their judging process, then how happy I was to see them pull out their camera to snap a picture of it!  They really loved it!  I took it as a great compliment.  The assortment of threads are a little less than exciting, but hope to remedy soon by adding some bright spools to give a little "pop" to the cabinet.  Not really part of the thread cabinet, but another top favorite of the room is the beautiful orange walls! They are a Christmas gift from Dallin and Chelsie.  I love, love, love them!!!

Looking a little closer, you can see one of the quotes I have stuck in the corner.  Amber used that for one of her YCL favors at camp 2 years ago.  It  is a great quote, and I loved it before she used it, so I was happy she had a leftover I could have.  The other quote is about the pleasure of a bike ride by JFK.  Not such a pretty presentation, but a quote about a great subject.

But did you notice this guy tucked in the corner of the yellow thread section?   He started life as two balls of sticky tack, one yellow lump, and one obviously white.  One day, I realized he had been created!  Soooo cute!  I'm not sure which of my kids made him.  I have a guess who, but I kind of like not being sure!  I smile when I see him, and like to think he is keeping an eye on the room, just in case the scissors decide to rebel or the pins rise up in revolt.  He'll keep things in check!  Haven't thought much about a name, I'm not sure what fits him.  I will have to think about that!  I think he's pretty cute and looking at him, brings me happiness, but more than that, knowing one of the kids took time to make him for me makes me feel special!   That probably wasn't the intent of the sculptor, I have a feeling creativity just took over, but I love it when my kids do little, unexpected things for me!  The word special is often overused, which is too bad, because there is really not another word I could use to describe how I feel - special!