Zion's first swim meet

Zion swam in a short course swim meet today.

That means, the lanes run the "short" side of the pool (25 meters)  instead of the long side.
(* the long side is 50 meters, and of course, called a long course meet)

He got a crash course from Coach Lewis on jumping in off the side of the pool.
(*something they don't practice during the week)

He did the 25 free style.

And the 25 backstroke.

There is an audiable gasp on the video when he got to the wall on the backstroke,
but that was the timers voice, not mine......

I had several conversations with Zion about getting DQ'd (disqualified) on the backstroke for flipping over on his belly to touch the wall.  He does it at practice often because he doesn't want to hit his head on the wall.

I guess in the meet he didn't care.......cause he hit the wall, with his head!

When he got out of the pool I asked him if he was okay,
but instead of answering me, he said, "Was I first??"

(a little competitive)  

I am so proud of you Zy, and I love you to the moon!


A couple videos of the Gillam girls too.  Sam is on the Tsunami Swim Club board, so she is always so busy working and timing and ...........gosh, I don't really know what all it takes to put on a swim meet, I just know she is busy.  So here are the girls.  

Maddy's finish in the 100 free (I think)

Ellie

These ladies are pro swimmers, but I am proud of them too! 
They just jump in the water and fly through it like they are fish!

Right in the middle

Today I ran the boys outside, because the day was nice and they had spent far too long in front of the Wii beating each other up with cartoon characters.  (*it's called SMASH BROTHERS, nice right?)

Zion asked Isaac to go to the "new park" with him, that just opened with a new phase of housing development here, but Isaac wanted to go with Michael to walk the dog.

(Maybe it's more "cool" to be hanging out with your older brother?!)

So Zion turns and says, "Mom, will you go to the park with me?"

I can't even think of the last time I went with my growing boys to the park.

I got my shoes and my 'baby' and I walked to the park.

The breeze was blowing and it wasn't muggy.

We even saw a rainbow on the way.

There was no one there, just me and Zy.

I sat on the swing and watched him play with a lego car that he brought.



I captured a few photos with my phone without him noticing.

I thought about how he was right in the middle of being a man.

9 1/2

9 1/2 years ago, he was still kicking my ribs in my giant belly.


9 1/2 years from now,
he will be getting ready for his 19th birthday
and we will be shopping for the things he needs for college.

God, help me always remember this day

wanting his mom at the playground.

With a Lego car,

and imagination.

Wind in his hair,

barefoot,

the sweet smell of a little boy

right in the middle

of being a man.

Zion and his class

Zion's class was invited to sing at a special Martin Luther King Jr. program today.  

He had a speaking part that said,

"Martin Luther King Jr. changed my life, because without him, I wouldn't have a cool teacher like Mrs. Simpson, or my two brothers, Michael and Isaac" 

Mike was invited to the event, I tagged along behind the bus. 

Before the kids sang, Dr. King's speech was played. 
I wanted to cheer and clap and shout "AMEN" along with all the people in the crowd back in 1963. 

And I found myself thinking how his dream has come true,

and how proud he would be if he could see how far we have come since his death in 1968. 

I am thankful that our boys are growing up in the
"Big Navy Melting Pot"

I am thankful that they have friends based on character and common interest, not skin color. 

I am thankful for those that made that possible,

by having a dream,

and not only standing up for it,

but dying for it.