Joshua was competing on Friday afternoon, so we left here around 10...to give ourselves plenty of time. His weigh-in was at noon. We ate at Lenny'. Joshua really wanted a Sprite with his sandwich, but since he had a weigh-in coming up, he ordered water. After lunch, we headed to the field-house. Joshua weighed in at a whopping 119 lbs! I remarked to my family that it was amazing that Joshua and I weighed the EXACT SAME...and Jim rolled his eyes back into his head. Sheesh. Don't be a hater.
(and had we known Joshua only weighed 119#, he could've had that Sprite...and a cookie, too!)
As the bench press started, Joshua was excited to see friends who had come to watch. Cindy Scallion, Carla and AK (AK had just won her first GOLD medal in her wheelchair race and came straight over to watch Joshua). Dan Wilbourn. Holly and Aaron, Logan and Clark. Stacy, Aaron and Tori. Jenni Ann Hayes. Tonya and Peyton Wright. Mammaw Jack and Aunt June. I know I am forgetting someone. Each person blessed us so much.
It was so stinkin' hot in that fieldhouse. They had a couple of large box fans, but it's still a contained building and it was very hot. It didn't seem to bother the athletes. The main ones complaining were the "watchers," not the participants.
Joshua did GREAT...bench-pressed 185# and dead-lifted 205#. The best part...well, one of the best parts... besides seeing all the friends...was the jump he did after making the 205# weight. He randomly jumped up 5 feet in the air, kicked one leg out like a 'herky' and then nailed the landing. It was hilarious!
One of the other best parts was watching Joshua with Anna Katherine. He sat ON THE FLOOR right beside her wheelchair. We looked up to see Anna's hand resting on his shoulder...and we all took a picture. It was the sweetest thing. Everyone kept trying to get Joshua to sit in a chair. They had some metal chairs for the athletes. He would not leave Anna. I was really proud of him.
Another "proud Mom" moment happened during the awards ceremony. Joshua had one other boy in his weight class, but Joshua had lifted more in each event. When it came time for the medals, they gave Joshua a GOLD...and then a SILVER...and then another GOLD. I was so proud of Joshua. He knew it was wrong. He knew he was supposed to get 3 gold medals, but he accepted the silver medal graciously, and congratulated his friend, Wesley. Eventually, it was worked out, and Joshua came home with his 3 gold medals. I was really proud of him. Proud of him for his accomplishments, of course, but even more proud that he valued a friend and his feelings...more than an award.
I love Special Olympics! I love that it makes my child feel special. I love that each effort is rewarded.
"A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight. When pride comes, then comes dishonor; but with the humble is wisdom." (Prov 11:1-2)
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