Shout it from the Rooftops!

 

So, as you know, Stirling is a diver.  He competed, made it to State, and placed 4th.  I was amazed at how much I was excited about this, for him.  It was something he had worked for very hard.  As a mother I wanted him to accomplish his goals.  I wanted him to "pluck the fruits of his labors".  It was SO great when he did!  I just felt so excited I wanted to shout it from the rooftops!  Seriously, I felt like everyone I talked to I wanted to say, "My son placed 4th in state!".

 

Taco Bell Drive thru?  "Can I take your order?"

Me- "Yes, did you know my son placed 4th in state?".

(LOL!  That didn't really happen, but SERIOUSLY, that is how I felt!  I wanted to tell the world!) 

 

I have had other moments like that with my children...  where I wanted to tell the world about their victories.  Many of those moments are the amazing, everyone can see, moments.  Camden getting married.  Having a grandson.  Payne getting a job.  Liam playing the cello and being first chair.  Good grades, birthdays, baptisms, accomplishments, milestones that are publicly marked.

 

Some of those moments are private though... and maybe something they didn't even knew I was celebrating.  The first time they showed a love for Jesus Christ.  When they served noticed someone in need, and unselfishly served them.  When they bore testimony.  When they hugged me spontaneously.  (okay - I know that happens when they were little ALL THE TIME.... I remember thinking some days that I didn't want someone to touch me anymore!... but now?  I miss it.  Teenagers don't hug as often!). There are those times that only a parent notices... when they are working to overcome something and they do.  Even the dumb, kind of funny things like when they shower on their own, and I don't have to beg them!  (those of you with pre-teen kids will understand!)

 

This got me to thinking, why don't we "shout from the rooftops" a little more often?  I drive a school bus.  I have 2 routes, one that is 5th thru 8th grade, and one that is Kindergarten thru 4th grade.  Kindergarteners crack me up!  They get on the bus and always are SO excited about pretty much anything that happens to them.  This is a typical exchange, every day:

 

Me:  Good morning, Clara.

Clara:  Good morning, Miss Stephanie!  LOOK, I have a loose tooth! (or I lost a tooth!, or I have a birthday coming up! or My Grandma is coming to visit! or Today I have a playdate with a friend! or I got new shoes! or It snowed! or I stayed on green today! or It is warm! .... and on and on and on.)

 

I admit, sometimes I am frustrated with it.  Could you just get on the bus so I can get you to school?!?!  But recently, I have recognized these are those shout it from the rooftop kind of moments.  They have a TON of them!  They want everyone to know!  Why do we fall away from that so much? 

 

Don't get me wrong, I know that life is hard.  I know there are many sorrows and sadness and heartache.  Not only have I had my own... I have witnessed my children's difficult times.  I know heartbreak as well as the next guy.  For example, I didn't say in the road to state post, but the Wednesday before the State meet Stirling hit the board in practice.  With his head. Hard.  I am not sure how he did not hurt his head worse and need stitches.  (I believe angels were watching over him). I was also running a fever that day... and REALLY sick.  It was a bleak day. 

 

But then we had the amazing thing happen!  The SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS moment!  It was easy to forget the bad at that moment... actually I don't think we forgot it, I think it was sweeter because of the bad moment.

 

Life is like this, right?  There is lot of bad stuff... but there is SO MUCH GOOD stuff!  Those personal victories. (Getting the laundry done, folded and put away! Helping someone feel loved! Making dinner! Having fruit instead of a candy bar! Making someone smile! Exercising! Not yelling at the kids when you felt like it! Dancing in the kitchen! Getting a good grade! Harvesting the garden! and so on and so on!)  Those things that are amazing... EVEN if it is just to you!  I want to be more like those kindergarten kids.  I want to find joy and amazingness (yes I know I just made up a word) in even the small things. Share it with me and I will celebrate with you!   Let's do it together... Let's SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!!

STATE DIVE MEET

Sectionals

We went into sectionals nervous about it.  There are 20 sectionals in the IHSAA.  The top 4 divers from each sectional moves on to Regionals where the top 8 from those 8 regional meets go to state.  We live in an area wherSorry this morning went so poorly. Let's talk about how to solve this problem later.e diving is pretty big.  There are 6 of the top 15 divers in the state in our Sectional.  Only 4 can move on.  (A system I find crazy and one that doesn't make sense). This was a very stressful meet for Stirling.  He had to dive very well.  He did... and he was 4th!  We were so excited.  (Just to give you and idea, the diver in 7th place had 330 points and would have WON one of the other sectionals in the state... he would have been in the top 4 of EVERY OTHER sectional.  The top 6 divers all had over 400 points). We were SO excited he was moving on!

 

Giving the swimmers high fives as he walks in for his event.

The three Fishers Divers: Blake, Stirling and Austin, as they walk in for the diving event.
 

Blake and Stirling with Coach Kristy.  (I don't know what dive they were watching! :))

 

What a great pike!

 

The whole team, with the girls.  (the girls competed in their state meet the week before)

The Award stands... Stirling 4th!  Moving on!   

 

 

REGIONALS! 

 

The Top Eight moved on from Regionals to State.  It was a tough meet.  Stirling finished 6th... and was less than one point behind Austin, who was 5th.  There were just 20 points between 3rd and 6th.  That is really close!  1st and 2nd will likely be 1st and 2nd at State.  They are very good.  It was a great night!  We are gong to State!!!! WOOHOO!
 

Stirling and Austin.  Great divers, better friends!

 

 

 

Coach Kristy... best coach!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 STATE!!!!  

State was AMAZING!! Just the perfect day.  Earlier in the season, before Sectionals, Kristy had sent Stirling an e-mail that talked about how Darth Vader uses methods that are also intimidating and helpful in sports.  It became the joke that for both Stirling and Austin.  When they both made state we started the process of surprising them with Darth Vader suits, as well as Darth Vader towels and a Star Wars gift bag.  My sister and niece even madke this great sign for the front of the house:
 

 

Here they are in their Vader speedos... they even competed in them!

 

 

I was super excited he just made it to State.  My advice to him was to have the time of his life... he worked SO hard to get here, now enjoy EVERY minute.  I was so excited for him! He dove AMAZING!  It was the best meet of his life!  (and definitely the meet to do that!). He was having so much fun, and it showed in how he was diving.  He placed FOURTH!  (missing 3rd by less that 2 points!). We were SO excited, happy, and proud.  It was seriously an amazing moment!

 

One of my favorite things about Stirling is how kind he is to his competitors.  He cheers them on and he congratulates them for good dives, and helps them feel better after not so good dives.  :) There was a diver sitting behind me during part of the meet from another school.  He didn't make state, but did compete against Stirling twice during the season.  He was talking to a friend, critiquing the dives and such.  After one of Stirling's dives he commented that it was a great dive, then made the comment to his friend that he was so glad, because Stirling was such a good person.  He made the comment that Stirling deserves this, because he is such a great guy.  That makes my heart happier than 4th place!

 

 

Final Scoreboard

Austin placed 8th.  (top 8 podium) ... so it was just a great day!  Here they are with their inspiration, Vader.  :)

Here they are on the podium.  So excited for them!

 

This was the first time that we saw him after the event.  It was one of the most amazing moments of my life.  (Thank you to my friend who captured the picture!). We were all so happy we were all very tearful!  Stirling posted this picture on Instagram and said that today was the best day of his life. He commented that 4 years ago he could hardly dive off a diving board and after a lot of hard work and sacrifice placed 4th in State!  He said that he could not do it without the support of his parents.  (Love that kid!)

Stirling has been prayerfully considering what he should do in the future.  As some of you know we are Mormon, and he could choose to serve a two year mission serving others and teaching about Jesus Christ, directly out of High School since he is 18.  (There was recently a change in the age of when missionaries can serve, used to be 19, now it is 18 and graduated from High School.  Want to know more about what Missionaries do?  Check out this short video to better understand). ANYWAY - He has felt like he should pursue his diving, and dive in college.  He will then serve a mission after a year (or possibly two) of diving in college.  (depends on what the college offers, etc). It hasn't been an easy decision for him.  It is always hard to decide what to do in your future, especially if it is a little different than the "norm".  He said that after he won fourth it was a confirmation that he was making the right decision.  It was a big deal, for him, and for us. 

 

I wanted to SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS! :)



So, Camden and David came... and here is the "eye candy" of the post.  My sister took this picture as I was saying good-bye to him.  Isn't he the cutest?!?!? :)