3rd Round Play-Off Game

So Friday was the big day. The day we had waited for all season. Clark's football team had made it to the 3rd round of play-offs and we were headed up to NWA (northwest Arkansas) for the game.

Jim had to work a few hours that morning, but Clark had to be at the field-house by 9:30 for the team breakfast...and a movie...and all the gettin' ready stuff that boys and teams do before a big game. They were going to leave at 12:30, but the families were invited to come up at 12:15 and line the streets around the school...so Jim and I headed up there. I was thankful to see so many come out and support our boys.

The boys got a police escort as the buses left the school...and a firetruck was there as well, lights on and sirens screaming. It was pretty cool.

Jim, Joshua and I left town around 3. We picked up Clark's friend, Faith, on the way up the road a bit. We stopped to eat before we got to the game. At the restaurant, there was a little, old couple. They had already caught my attention because of how they were dressed. Not judging...it was just pretty pitiful. Actually, the woman looked okay. The man? Not so much.

I watched them for a while and breathed a little prayer for them...mindful of my many blessings and of that old saying, "there but for the grace of God go I." Or something like that. I was trying hard not to make up a story about them in my head like Jim's mother does, but I couldn't help but wonder what...why? As they finished their meal, the woman sneezed several times as they cleared their trash off the table. She walked to the bathroom and the man waited for her at the table.

She came out just about the time we were finishing up our meal...she walked over to the man and announced, "well, I just threw all that up."

EEEEK!

Not gonna lie...I felt my throat tighten, and I had to fight the urge to hack my food up as well.

I mean...KEEP THAT INFORMATION TO YOURSELF, PEOPLE.

Jim, who was oblivious to all of this said, "hey, do you need to use the restroom before we go?"

Eeeek! I told him real quick that there was no way I was going in there. I mean, I would rather "go" on the road beside the car than to set one foot into that bathroom.

Well, that should've been a sign that the rest of the night would not go well.

Just kidding.

Really, our team played HARD. Our opponents were used to rolling over pretty much every other team. We were predicted to lose by 18. We lost by a touchdown in the last quarter. We beat ourselves, but we also made them work for the win.

It was such a great season. So thankful Clark had the opportunity to play this year.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17