Here we go

Nolan's AA Peewee team played their first games of the season.  The AA division is brand new to us this year and means we will be playing some pretty stiff competition.  Every year there are pre-season jitters leading up to the first game.  How will they look as a team?  How well will they break the puck out?  How well can they move the puck?  How will they handle the increased speed and size?  

Nolan's team played 3 games.  Below are just a sample of some of the hundreds of photos that Rick took. 

We were pleasantly surprised- we won all three of our games.  Each weekend we will face tougher teams as we move into our season and discover the challenges of the this new district.  

But the boys played well together.  Scoring came from every line and everyone passed the puck well.  Nolan's off season work has really improved his strength and speed.  While you can never turn a blind eye to all the areas that will continue to need work, its also good to notice all the areas where improvement has taken place.  

We were so proud of all of our boys!  Congrats Peewee AA team! 

Colton also had a big weekend of hockey.  It was the Squirt jamboree.  They have one inhouse team already, but this weekend they are all vying for 1 of 4 travel teams.  Colton played two games Saturday and two games Sunday.  

Colton has really stepped into playing goalie and he loves it.  He is pretty level headed and even keeled.  He can shake off a goal by the other team fairly well and get his head back into play quickly.  A couple of his friends are in the collage below as well.  

Colton's team tied twice, lost one, and won one.  He truly has embraced his role as goalie and we are excited to see which travel team picks him!

Last Thursday night, the "little" in our boys was abundantly with us.  Embracing the vulnerable, the worried, the sad helped propel us into a weekend of growth, discovery and sheer joy at watching them focus their efforts on what they love to do.  

If we accept whatever moments as they come, there truly is a grace that settles in all around.  

I have infusion tomorrow, and an mri of my brain on Wednesday, with sedation.  I have also realized I will need to refer myself back to wound care as it has abruptly stopped scabbing over and is open and angry looking again.  But my eye is fixed firmly on the grace certainly surrounding my days despite where and what I may be doing.  How about you?  

when it swirls around

I'm caught up in a swirl of details, flurrying around, like flakes of snow, prancing, dizzy in the wind.  The second part of my chemo last week went better.  I got pre-meds for my pre-meds.  In 30 years of nursing, my chemo nurse has never heard of this before.  But they worked.  No red sunburn and rash on my face.  No flu symptoms.  Mild achy joints, and fatigue mostly.  But I am out of bed, more than in.  Progress, my friends.  I'll take it.

Of course, my wound has decided to expand into a canyon now, and earned me the golden ticket right back to Dr. Bouton.  The plan is for him to do a biopsy on Tuesday, to make sure no cancer cells are lurking in the wound.  My hope is that this will be a superficial sample of tissue he takes, so that I am not required to lay in bed for two days like last time to keep it from bleeding.

A lot of home made love has made its way through my door.  I thought I'd share a sample of it.  I'm behind in acknowledging everything coming my way- please forgive me!  We've had delicious meals, heartfelt notes- a Subway gift card and lots of emails and texts.

This card came from Jenn in Georgia and "love" exploded in hearts all over when I took the card out of the envelope.  She called it a "love bomb."  Thank you Jenn!

This beautiful card came with a book filled with recipes for juicing and the blue tube scarf below.  Thank you Angie!

I loved the quote on this one and was touched by the thoughtfulness and craftiness of Doris, along with the generosity of her and her husband- Thank you!

How cute are these hats?  This is from my friend Elizabeth and this is a "Sassyknitwear" hat.  Its made out of soft and stretchy recycled organic fabric and I wore it the other day completely for warmth and comfort.  Their site is definitely worth a visit!  Thanks Elizabeth!

The tube scarf from Angie.  I love how everyone remembers my favorite color is blue!

Day 13 and my hair is still surprisingly holding tight.  But here she( I think she needs a name) is... on standby.  Colton giggled through his fingers when I tried it on for him.  Nolan, acting more like 18 than 11, told me excitedly that is looks just like my own hair.  He smiled like it was no big deal and said "it actually looks good mom."   Of course that made it better on the spot.   

We had an exciting weekend of hockey and an extremely surprising, generous, and amazing gift from Colton's hockey team... just wait till you see!  More coming soon...