What should I talk about first – our basketball tournament or our new toilet? Both are so very exciting. We’ll go with basketball since that involves my boys and as much as I love my new toilet, I do love my boys more.
I always enjoy our big end-of-year homeschool basketball tournament in Kansas. This year there were 7 states represented and 74 teams. It is so great to be a part of this! This year was just a little bit more special as it is Asa’s final year to play. I might have been teary-eyed all weekend. Shoot. I’ll probably be teary-eyed from now until we drop him off at the dorm in August. It’s a mom thing. I’m just trying to avoid doing the ugly cry in public. This was not easy when he came off the court for the last time on Saturday.
No doubt, Asa was feeling it too. He has loved being on this team. What a gift from God this has been – in so many ways. A friend of mine captured this after our last game:
This man I used to read Curious George to is an entire head taller than me.
Since we got home, Matt has been finishing our (grueling) tax paper work, working on the FAFSA (gag me), and continuing work on our bathroom. Ladies, I have a new toilet. It flushes. It is white. It makes me smile. (I also have a sink, but I do not have a faucet. No matter. That makes me smile too.)
Knowing that the toilet will never again be this clean, I might have lingered a bit, just staring at the clean. Stay clean, toilet. Stay clean. (If you look real close, you might notice that there is a ladder inside the shower. This came as a surprise to me when I tried to slide open the shower door and the door fell over. Shucks, I forgot that it’s not attached. Matt’s been pulling it back and forth as he works on tile and as he needs to get it out of the hallway. Do I really need to explain this? Just whatever. My toilet flushes!!
One more item of note. Our family pretty much never goes to the movie theater. Cha-ching, right? BUT, all six of us went to the theater tonight to watch McFarland USA. We were happy to pay the fee. Why? Because this movie was made about a man who is a friend of Matt’s family. In fact, for one week during the summer of 1990 Matt was privileged to train with coach Jim White’s cross country team. Seriously. We highly recommend this movie and love that Disney made a movie about a Christian man like this. (Christianity wasn’t brought into the movie, but the goodness of this man was.)
So basketball, toilets, and a movie. We’re celebrating it all this week! How about you? What are you thankful for this Gratituesday?
Olivia G. says
Yay for new toilets! A warning to those out there who may want to go watch McFarland USA… it is rated PG and the Dove Family Review website said there is language (swear words) in this movie. No thanks! Bummer, because it did look like a good story. Link to review here:
http://www.dove.org/review/10893-mcfarland-usa/
Teresa says
I love the picture of you & your son hugging! I have a 21/2 year old boy & hope that can be us one day. Also this is random but i have been looking for boots for awhile & can’t find any I like but i love your boots. Where did you buy them?
Laura says
I found them last year at Kohls. They are perfect as they have tread on the bottom so I don’t slip in the snow, but they are cute. :) I was having a hard time finding boots that were both cute and functional. Most of the cute ones were flat on the bottom. :)
Rachel E. says
Yeah for clean toilets and new bathrooms. If only they could stay that way. I would love to see MacFarland. My kids asked the other day if we could. I’ll need to find a babysitter.
Dottie says
I can’t believe how tall Asa is! And he’s going off to college in the fall?? Time passes all too quickly. So blessed you are, Laura. :)
Rhonda says
Great photos Laura!
We also saw the movie McFarland.USA. Great movie. Often we don’t appreciate the everyday blessings we have and the challenges others face. Wonderful to see this coach “walk in the shoes” of his athletes and treat them with respect. I highly recommend this movie, especially for middle and high school age kids with their parents. So neat that Matt knew this man.
Stephanie says
My husband and I went to McFarland USA for our date night this month. Best movie we’ve seen in a LONG time! Amazing you know the man! I can’t wait for it to come out on dvd so my son can watch it with me!
Wendy says
Totally looks like he’s hugging his sister or girlfriend- you look great!
Lisa @LisaAppelo.com says
Catching up late with your posts this week. We <3 basketball around here too (and tall boys that still hug their mama!) Thank goodness for indoor gyms in the winter season. :) I'm grateful that God has freed me from my fears. At one time, I felt strangled by some very real fears, but God has really freed me from them through some very intentional steps. http://lisaappelo.com/say-farewell-to-fear-part-i/
Ashley says
Can you post the measurement of the bathroom? We have a closet that I’m thinking could be a potential 2nd bathroom in our home with 4 girls. But my husband thinks the space is too small.