Basketball Season Kicks Off

The boys’ basketball season is in full swing. Their first scrimmage of the season was last night at Ensworth. Keagan had a great game.  He had two buckets, an assist, a steal, and a rebound. His modified JV game was two eight minute quarters and it ended in a tie.

https://youtu.be/9TZ-Fu46vRA he’s the guard with the assist

https://youtu.be/0VykGcjLgxU here’s his steal and jump shot / lay up 

https://youtu.be/1nD9NhdrgFw he’s the PG driving to the basket 

Evan got Varsity minutes. This is all I got of him, a picture and a video of a rebound. 

https://youtu.be/Q2d_PwQ-E-M

Gatlinburg

We were up at the crack of dawn for pancakes. Keagan said he hates it when people take pics of their food, but he thought today’s meal was probably picture perfect. 

We lost game two to a strong ECNL team. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3ks3GIIa158

https://youtu.be/V3EcLTKKE50

https://youtu.be/vE3b4YKvUvM

In between games two and three we did some site seeing and shopping in Pigeon Forge. 

And now we get to watch game three with this view. THIS is the Gatlinburg I enjoy - not the arcades, go carts, and endless shopping. 

 

Soccer Showcase

We are in Gatlinburg this weekend - my least favorite venue ever - for Keagan’s first showcase tournament. I had grand site seeing plans for the down time, but it didn’t take long for me to be reminded why it’s been seven years and yet so little beyond the soccer complex has been seen here. The traffic is horrendous. It took us 20 min to go a mile earlier today, and I was over it! 

Keagan had a great game one against a team from South Carolina. We won by a goal in a tight second half. Here are my highlights. 

https://youtu.be/KX9O_D_vTcY

https://youtu.be/M-40zmh5lFw

https://youtu.be/cNv_MuXM3-8

Tomorrow are games two and three. 

Ballers

Congratulations to both of my boys! I cannot wait to see this season unfold. I won’t have to wait long. The Jamboree is next week!

State Cup

As the eighth seed, we did not have high hopes going into the State Cup and playing the first seeded team. So imagine our surprise when the score was zero all at half. Or our excitement when we scored the first goal of the game in the 75th minute. Even when they scored in the 80th minute with a banger (one of the best placed shots I’ve seen) we still maintained we had the advantage when the game went to PKs. Unfortunately, they hit one more into the goal with twenty seconds remaining. It was heartbreaking. But this is exactly why we come back for more each and every weekend. There is always hope you will win next time.

I though a Keagan had a great defensive game. He had several key plays that kept the Legends from scoring. Here’s his header in the 60th minute. 

https://youtu.be/NY8_Q9hDY80

We left the game with our heads down, but we already look forward to next weekend and the next game.

Happy 17th Birthday

17! 

My Dearest Evan, 

I frequently feel like I’m living out the role of Elyse Keaton and you are the character of Alex Keaton (minus the suit) from any episode of “Family Ties.” Your strong opinions, your unyielding look at life, your unwavering thoughts about politics can be frustrating to me. I often wonder how you, with these ultra-conservative views, could be my son? Then I realize I have a son who can have an articulate dialogue, who can debate any topic with research to support it, and can think freely of those closest to him. This is exactly what I wanted to foster in you these last seventeen years and that is exactly what has been cultivated. You are confident, intelligent, and possess a very strong identity of self. I could not be prouder - even if I disagree in the majority of what you profess - of you! The world is yours! I can’t wait to see you pave your way through the world; your path has certainly been outlined! 

Love you BIG!

Young Life

One of the very best parts of not having to drive to Nashville for soccer and to have the local fields closed for rain is this. 

I love that he has the time to cultivate friendships outside of sports. Last night was the Young Life Hoedown. Next weekend is the Young Life trip to Sharp Top.