You Say It's Your Birthday?!

Happy birthday to the most wonderful, handsome, loving man who is my best friend. I hope your day is wonderful and filled with fun and surprises. We love you!

So, What'd You Have?

Tonight I'm posing a question to a reader and a friend (you know who you are)...what did you have to eat tonight between the hours of 8-10 PM? I opted for the graham crackers. I was very sad to see Jerry go home.

It's Time for Some Recognition

It seems, at least in the last several years, that the OAC (Ohio Athletic Conference) needs a little bit of recognition when it comes to Division III football. Out of ten conference teams, four of them are in the national division III top 25...with number one Mount Union, in our conference.

For some of these other schools it's easier to be ranked higher when you don't have to play a Mt. Union or a Capital, etc.

Northern won again today against the Blue Streaks of John Carroll 23 - 13. Way to go, guys!!

Let's hope Michigan fares as well against Penn State.

For a Time as This

This week one of our youth talked about this song by a guy named Tay Zonday. At first I wasn't really sure what I was going to find. Then as I went online and found it I saw that it was compared to the likes of William Hung so I expected something really bad. But this song not only has a guy singing who can sing pretty well, he has an unusual voice and looks a little like Steve Urkel, but don't let his appearance fool you.

In recent weeks, we have heard sad stories of hate and racism in our midst. This song is pertinent for such a time as this.

I have put the video that someone made to it which is also pretty well done in spite of the little cartoon like picture of Tay on the bottom corner, but his video is found on youtube if you'd like to see it. Here is Chocolate Rain...

Now That's Football!

OK this week was more like it. My Polar Bears won their game against Muskingum 27 - 9 while the Wolverines finally had a victory over the Fighting Irish 38 - 0. I was a little nervous about the Bears because it was a little ify looking early on. I wasn't sure what was going to happen when Notre Dame came to Ann Arbor, but the game was good. It was good to see a little bit of the old Wolverines show back up. AND, Mallett looks really good. Sorry Chad Henne, but your job description may change.

Hopefully this losing streak, they hadn't lost 4 in a row since like '69, is over.

Yea Teams!!

A Night Away

Last night our oldest stayed over night at a friend's house for the very first time. This event was planned about a week ago and he was so excited that he came home from church and began to get his stuff out that he wanted to pack. Every day we had the countdown to slumber party until finally Friday came. I got him from school, we packed his bags and then took him over to his friend's house. He was so excited. I helped him carry his stuff up to the house and then he brushed me off as he ran off with his friend.

Our youngest didn't know what to do without his brother. I think he went back and forth thinking he was at school and would be home soon. It wasn't until bath time that it really became evident that big brother was gone. He kept looking at the door of the bathroom like, "Where is he? Why isn't he taking a bath with me?"

He seemed to forget until this morning when our oldest got home and a little while after I asked our youngest if he wanted to go see J....his eyes lit up and he was ready to welcome big brother back home.

J had an AWESOME time.

Getting Ready for Some Football

Well, it's Friday night and tomorrow is a big football game. What will the future hold for my favorite teams tomorrow? Go Bears! Go Blue! Go Herd! I'll be nervously watching/listening.

Remembering

Our world stood still....we all sucked in our breath and waited to wake up from this nightmare. A friend came over to watch our boy and told us to turn on the TV. It looked like a scene from a bad movie as we tuned in to see the second plane hit. What was happening?! This was no longer an accident, a miscalculation...it was done with deliberation...it was done with hate.

I looked at my little baby...he was just about 8 months old...what kind of world would he know? What was happening around us? Would we ever really know? I hugged him tighter trying to protect him from the evil that was outside. Trying to shelter him somehow, some way from the "real world" where bad things happen for no reason to good people.

I called a good friend who was scheduled to leave that day for London. Where was she? Was she in the air? Was she safe? The lines are busy...please try again...Everyone was trying to call the ones they loved. Finally I heard from her...she was safe...she was in the states....she was at home....she wasn't leaving.

So many people lost their lives that day and the days to come. For what? I guess just so someone could make a point about how much they hated us.

Six years later and it seems like just yesterday that we all walked around a little stunned and kinda in a daze. We saw the people on the news...holding up pictures...searching for loved ones...searching for hope. We came together. We joined together in ways that only tragedy bring. We gathered in the church to offer prayers...prayers in different faiths. We were one if only for a while...if only to help each of us begin to heal.

Six years later and things are pretty much back to "normal." We go through our lives so eager to get quickly from here to there. We don't really pay attention, real attention, to those around us unless they're in our way, we want something, they are close to us.

As we pause to remember, let us pray for love. Love for each other...love that can conquer evil. Let us pray for continued healing. May the rain that fell today remind us of the tears we shed that day six years ago. And may we seek to reach out to one another...in the name of love.

What?!

The day started out relatively well....Marshall showed up in force against WVU and did a pretty good job even though they didn't come out with the win.

Ohio Northern beating Millikin at the half with a score of 14 - 0 but then I lost my internet connection and couldn't listen to them on the Bear any more. Now that I'm back online I can't find out what happened as they still have the half-time score up. Update: Just heard the score on the Bear...the score was a big 42 - 0. Way to go Bears!!

But the big disappointment today hands down has to be Michigan WHAT ARE THEY DOING?! Last week was bad enough, but I chalked it up to the fact that they usually don't do that well in their first games. But today it's like they're on vacation. Come on guys, let's go. Hoping the second half will be better.

It's That Season Again!

I'm so excited...it's football season again! Although last week's game for the Wolverines looked more like a high school team playing a college team, I am hopeful that they will redeem themselves against the Ducks tomorrow. Hopefully more folks will show up tomorrow than just Mike Hart.

Ohio Northern begins its season at home against Millikin, Illinois. The cool thing about tomorrow's game (other than the fact the Polar Bears are playing, of course) is that 100% of the money from ticket sales will go to help the areas impacted by the recent flooding in northwest Ohio. It was quite disturbing to see Findlay look like a river ran down Main Street. So it'll be fun and a great way to raise money for a good cause.

Finally, the "big game", WVU at Marshall. Now I have to admit growing up in northwest Ohio I had never heard of Marshall until I came down here...and I really didn't get the whole fan thing until I started looking deeper into the history of the football program especially in the 70s. But now with the knowledge that I have gained I must say I'm a Marshall fan. 'Course two of the guys in this house I think will be rooting the other way. Hopefully my youngest will be on "my side" he's at least going to dress like it.

May the best teams win tomorrow (the ones I'm rooting for!)

Great Weekend

Sunday afternoon I was given a great opportunity. Several months ago (I can't remember how long ago it was) I was contacted by one of my former youth group "kids". She told me she was getting married and wanted me to come back to Ohio and participate in her service. I was humbled and touched by this request to have a significant part in this new chapter of her life. It had been a while since I had seen her (I think it may have been at my own wedding 10 years ago). She had gone to college, received a PhD at Berkley and now lives in California.

The wedding would be outside something that always makes me a little nervous with the weird weather we've been having. But Sunday the weather was gorgeous. Tina made a beautiful bride and the day was really neat.

It was good to connect with Tina, her sisters and her family again. The interesting thing was...years ago, when I was 2 or 3, I was the flower girl in her aunt's wedding. It's kinda a neat little circle of events there.

Congratulations Tina and Brian. Best wishes for your new life together.