Fun, Fellowship, and Frivolity!

The Walk from Obesity was yesterday, and what a great time we had! The walk started out at The country Music Hall of Fame, then we preceded across the Pedestrian Bridge with a jaunt around LP Field. Then we turned and went back. All in all it was a mile of fun, fellowship and frivolity!

"Look Ma, We're walking"

One of the best parts of the walk, was putting faces, bodies, and voices to everyone. If you have ever been a part of an on line message board, you know what I mean. For months, I have looked at people's avatars, a small 1.5 square inch picture of people I have grown to know and Love. Here's an example:

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Finally I get to hear a voice, or put a face with a face? It's great! And what a great bunch of people! These people are my support, my sounding board, basically my family and friends! They are there for me, and I want to be there for them!

"Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge"

One of the most interesting parts of the walk was listening to this woman describe how beautiful it was downtown. I finally asked if they were from here. The woman exclaimed yes we are. At that point she introduced herself. What was so funny was, she was walking with her husband and I did not even recognize him. It was Dr. David Dyer and his wife Nina! What a lovely couple ! Dr. Dyer is the one who performed Beth's surgery! They are such a sweet couple. Dr. D and his wife both gave me some great words of encouragement, and told me he would see me on the 8th. Sometimes I consider Nashville to small!

Dr. David & Nina Dyer

No rain, a slight breeze, and to top it off...it was not 100 degrees! YEAH! The walk was very easy and was for a good cause. This years focus is on childhood obesity. We all know what that is about.

Anyway, these are a few pics from the walk. If you would like to see more, you may go to the link below and enjoy!

"Walk for Obesity Pictures"

Have a great week!

A couple of recipes plus one!

Well my friend over at Obesity Help has been at it again (Michelle ~ The world according to eggface). She is a wonderful, compassionate, supportive and helpful. Be sure to check out her blog ~ The World According To Eggface , and follow the progress she has made with gastric bypass surgery.

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So these are her recipes, but my pictures! As Michelle calls it- Food Porn. These casseroles I have blogged about here, are what we will be having for lunch throughout the week. In an effort to curb our food intake, we eat a good, healthy lunch, while having a small serving of Tuna fish or something lite for dinner. For those that don't know, neither Beth nor myself arrive home until 8:00 p.m. So lunch is our big, or smaller than it used to be, meal!

Hope you enjoy!
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Shelly's Shepherd's Pie (without potatoes)

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Large Onion, chopped

1 pound Ground Beef (we used 97% ground turkey)

1 Large Carrot, grated

1/2 teaspoon Thyme

1 teaspoon chopped fresh Parsley

1 clove Garlic, minced

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce

Sour Cream Topping:

1 large Egg

2 Tablespoons Butter

2 Tablespoons Flour

1 cup Milk

4 ounces Cream Cheese

1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese

Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350.

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Heat oil in skillet and sauté onion till golden. Remove and set aside. Sauté ground beef and cook till no pink is seen. Drain any fats. Add onions back, grated carrot, thyme, garlic, parsley, S&P and soy sauce. Cook for 1 minute. Pour into casserole dish. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the egg and set aside. In a small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking often, until the mixture is smooth, about 30 seconds. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook until thickened. Lower the heat to low and stir in the cream cheese and ricotta. Salt and pepper to taste. Whisk a spoon of the cheese sauce into the reserved eggs until smooth. Whisk the egg mixture into the cheese sauce in the saucepan. Pour the sauce over the meat in the baking dish. Bake until the top is lightly browned. 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting.

Shelly's Mexican Lasagna

2 whole chicken breasts, boiled and shredded
4 corn tortillas
1 tablespoon Southwest seasoning (cumin, oregano, cayenne)
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese + a little for top.
1 - 4 oz. can whole mild green Chiles, seeded and chopped

Sour Cream Sauce

1 small onion, diced

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 can chicken broth

1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350. Melt butter, sauté onion till golden, add flour, and stir well. Add broth, cook till thickened. Stir in sour cream. Set aside. Mix the shredded cooked chicken, mild green chili's, the seasoning and a cup (minus a couple tablespoons) of Mexican shredded cheese together. Layer 2 corn tortillas in the bottom of a 8x6x2 dish. Spoon 1/2 the chicken mixture on top of the tortillas, spoon 1/2 of the sauce. Place another 2 tortilla on top. Then the rest of the chicken and sauce. I finished with a sprinkle of reserved cheese. Bake for 35-40 minutes till golden and bubbly.

And for something special for dessert, I came up with a parfait type thingy. I started my base with ricotta cheese, DaVinci Sugar Free Rasberry Syrup, and Splenda sugar substitute ( no measuring, just to taste). Mix these ingredients in a blender until creamy. Pour into parfait glasses and chill. At this point I made some sugar free rasberry Jello. Once all the ingredients were set, I layered them in the glasses with a little granola and topped with Sugar Free Cool Whip and granola!

Anyone have an extra GPS?

You know, I think this would be a lot easier with a GPS. You know those things in newer cars! They tell you what road to turn on, how to get to your favorite restaurant, and my personal favorite…”Please make a U-Turn”, right in the middle of the interstate! Sometimes technology is too smart!

I think I need a GPS for the insurance system. As you know, I have just finished my 6 month diet. My 6 month files were to be faxed on 9/15. Guess what? That’s right, it was not done! I called Centennial, where I am having surgery, on 9/21, to find out they did not have my files. Here I go, calling my PCP, preparing to unload! The girl in medical records was super kind and completed the task with in an hour. Now that’s service with a smile!

On Monday 9/24, I found out my file had been transferred to another financial person. At least she had my 6 month files! YEAH! Yep, here it comes…another roadblock. It seems I have to have a surgical consult, along with my nutritional eval, before things may be submitted to insurance. UGH!!!! I am going to my nutritional evaluation this morning, and can’t get into my surgical consult till Mon. 10/8. Hurry up and wait! Seems like the story of my life!

Well, below is my weekly weigh in! And if anyone finds a GPS for insurance companies…please let me know!

Have a great week!

9/24
First day of 6 month diet 355.9
Last Dr. Appointment 297.1
Last Sundays Weight 294.5
Weight this AM (9/24) 291.9
Weight loss this week 2.6
Weight gain this week 0.0
Total weight loss 64

Fly Bys, Pain, and Hot Air...All in the same day!

As you can tell from the title…yesterday was fun, painful, and disturbing! We had another hot one! Or at least it seemed that way. At game time the temp had reached 92 degrees with very little cloud cover. Every once in a while we at least got a small breeze, but that was spectators who were full of hot air! I guess the most fun was had, when the local airport graced us with a fly by right before kickoff. It wasn’t an F-14, but a 747 will do! Kinda cool if you ask me!

The game in itself was brutal! UNA has probably one of the best teams around at preparation and training. They are also probably the best at bending the rules! Anyway, the first half was rough. UNA started out with a run back on the touchdown, and followed up with 2 more before halftime. The Titans stayed strong though! We scored right before the half with a 40 yard run. At the half, the score was 19-7, guess what? The final was the same.

R.J. was pretty banged up the whole day. Once again, the opposing team was double and triple teaming him all day. Right before the half, the UNA Bears ran everything they had right at R.J. My boy was tough though, he never stopped or complained. during the half, the coach helped R.J. work through the pain.

The most disturbing part of the day was the opposing teams fans! At one point, a female fan was right in my ear screaming for her son to straighten up or go home! A parent from our side made the comment, “Wow, some one is taking this seriously”. Well, she thought I said it! She yelled at me and said, “I hope you having fun”! Note, if you are reading this, please add attitude with a capitol A! I told her “Yes, I am having fun, my son is enjoying himself”. I will stop the story here as I don’t want to offend anyone…just use your imagination to finish it!

You know, I believe people like this are living their lives vicariously through their children. Evidently they never amounted to anything when they were young and this is their chance to try again! Well, my son did have fun. Even though they lost, he had fun! These type parents believe it’s all about winning. When you ask R.J. if that’s true, he answers like this…”It’s not all about winning, it’s about playing fair, and playing with heart”. that’s my boy, and I thank God for him daily!

My New Slide Show!

Hey Guys!

Just thought I would take a moment and tell you about my new hobby. Well, not new but recent addition. I was asked back in Feb. if I would take pictures at my Brother in laws wedding. I did, and had a blast. Since then, Have taken over 5000 pics of anything and everything. If it will sit still long enough, and if it is moving, I am snapping photos!

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So, I have added about 50 shots that I really enjoy to the new slide show below. It is labeled "Interesting Photos", and is located on the sidebar to the right., and below the "Madison Titans" slide show.

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If you are interested in seeing more photos I have taken, you can visit my FLICKR page by clicking on this link "Scott's FLICKR Page".

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Hope enjoy and have a great week! Just remember one thing, you don't have to smile when I take your picture!

C'Ya!

Weekly Weigh In

Hello Friends!

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Yes the wait is over! At least the "6 Month Physician Directed Weight Management Plan", don't you just love that phrase. I feel a lot more at ease saying, 6 month diet, but I regress. Anyway, I had my last Dr.'s visit on Friday, and am down another 2 lbs. since last month. So, since the beginning of the year (around Feb. I think),I have lost 62 lbs. On the 6 month diet, I have lost 40 lbs. Either way, this is a significant loss for me!

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Now the "other" wait begins! You know the one, "THE INSURANCE APPROVAL" !!!!! I am going to keep a positive attitude about this, simply because I have laid it all in God's hands. I was told a couple of weeks ago that I probably would not be approved, simply because i have lost so much weight, and have not put it back on. Talk about a bummer!!!! We will just have to see about that though, won't we!!

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No matter what happens, I have been Blessed with a capital "B"! I feel better, I am able to do things that I haven't done in years, and my clothes aren't as tight! So there, no matter what happens, I will fight ! I will fight to be a healthier person! I will fight for and support anyone who needs it! I have decided to keep a positive attitude no matter what! Do you know why?Because it's out of my hands now! It's in the hands of someone higher up, not mine, not the insurance people, nor the person who says, "You don't need surgery, look at all you've lost".

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So there!!!! Sorry to be so long winded this morning, but I just felt I needed to get this out of my system, and I Thank You for being friends enough to support me!

See you at the "Walk for Obesity" !

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Have a GREAT Week!

9/17
First day of 6 month diet 355.9
Last Dr. Appointment 297.1
Last Sundays Weight 294.5
Weight this AM (9/16) 293.9
Weight loss this week 0.6
Weight gain this week 0.0
Total weight loss 62.0

Grilled Sesame Seed Chicken

We tried a new dish this evening, and WOW was it good! Beth has found a great Low Carb Website with tons of recipes. Tonight we had grilled sesame seed chicken, a very small portion of chicken fried rice, and stir fried veggies. What a meal!

GRILLED SESAME SEED CHICKEN BREASTS

1 tbsp Splenda Brown Sugar

3 tbsp soy sauce

1 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds

2 cl garlic -- minced

1/8 tsp black pepper

4 lg skinless chicken breast

Combine all the ingredients except the chicken in a one quart 2 pint casserole.Mix well. Rinse chicken in cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Add thechicken to the marinade mixture, turning it to coat. Cover and marinate in therefrigerator for 2 hours or overnight. Remove the chicken from the marinade and set themarinade aside. Grill the chicken breasts 4 to 5 inches 100-125mm from medium-hot coals or 15 inches 375mm from medium-hot coals for 15 - 20 minutes or until center is white when cut with a knife. Turn and baste frequently with reserve marinade. Discard any leftover marinade after the chicken breasts are cooked.Serves 4. (Or one if it's my son.)

Per Serving 1 chicken breast (excluding unknown items): 309 Calories; 8g Fat (23.6% calories from fat); 54g Protein; 3g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 144mg Cholesterol; 897mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 7 1/2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat.

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Ninja's against obesity !

Over at the Obesity Help online support group, there is a group of people who have started calling thierselves "Ninja's". Now to be a ninja, you have to vow to fight obesity, arm yourself with a pink tiara and a wand! I for one just don't look good in pink. So , noe the less, I decided to take part and create my own Battle Cry. Go ahead and give it a try, some of theses battle cry's have been hilarious!

Have a good week!

What Is Your Battle Cry?

Who is that, stalking amidst the mountains! It is RJSDAD, hands clutching buzzsaw hand extensions! And with a gutteral howl, his voice cometh: "I'm seriously going to clobber you into the fourth dimension!!"

Find out! Enter username: Are you a girl, or a guy ?

created by beatings : powered by monkeys

Oh Yeah!

I believe there are days that are destined for certain activities. You know what I mean…Hot summer days are great for swimming, fishing, or boating. Cold, snowy days are perfect for hot chocolate, building snowmen, or watching a good movie by the fire. Well yesterday was probably the best day for football. Not to hot, or to cold, just perfect! And what a day it was!

The Madison Titans were on fire. These boys came to play, not play around, but to play football! I could not have been prouder of these boys. They have made progress every week. From their first game against Gra-Mar (33-0),where is was 117 degrees on the field, to yesterday , they are a much different team!

Murfreesboro Raiders kicked off, and we ran it back for a touchdown! This was only a fore shadow of what was to come. R.J. was a human blocking machine! Every play he was double and triple teamed. That did not matter to “The Tank”, he bowled over these guys like they were made of air! Once again he played the entire game, both offense and defense. When the game was over, he told me he felt great and was ready to do it again! What a guy!

I think the biggest thing to come out of R.J. playing ball, is his physical well being. When he puts on pants that were to tight last year, and they fall off now, is amazing. My son has gone from 190 lbs. in January, to 162 lbs. as of this morning. I am proud; not only of his weight loss, but that he has adopted my nickname from High School! I think there’s enough room in the family for another Tank! If not, he’ll just have to make room!

Anyway, that is the recap of our game against the Murfreesboro Raiders! Hopefully we can keep it up against UNA next week. Game time is 12:00 on Sat. 9/22. Oh yeah, I almost forgot the score….Madison Titans 27 – Murfreesboro Raiders 0!

Go Titans Go!

Now I tried something different this week. this was the kickoff return I mentioned earlier. I thought I would try to videotape it and post it on the blog! We will see, hope you enjoy!

Fall squash and other vegtables!

As promised, I have posted 2 recipes that we have fallen in love with. Both are very easy to make, as well as WLS friendly.

The Tomato & Onion Gratin comes from a friend of mine at Obesity Help. Michelle has done a tremendous job with her WLS. She also has a blog of her own. Click here for Michelle's blog:

The world according to eggface.

The other recipe is one we came up with for Banana Squash! Very good! We actually bought another one for this week. It was just sweet enough to fill that need for sugar! So have fun, and eat healthy!

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Shelly's Tomato & Onion Gratin

4-5 large tomatoes, peeled and sliced

1 yellow onion, sliced

10 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1/2 cup chopped green onion

2 cups grated Italian Cheese (mozzarella fontina blend)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

Kosher salt

Freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Blanch and de-skin tomatoes. Place the skinless tomatoes in a colander in the sink in 1 layer. Lightly sprinkle with kosher salt and allow to drain for 10 minutes. Sauté yellow onion till golden. Toss tomato slices, basil, and sautéed onion together and pour into a greased baking dish. Season with a little more salt and pepper. Combine the grated cheeses, chopped green onion and mayonnaise together. Spread mixture on top of the tomatoes and bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Note: May bubble over a bit so place a cookie sheet under pie dish. To serve, cut into slices and serve warm !

Banana Squash

Wash and peel squash, cut in half
De-seed insides
Place in a baking dish, hollow side down
Pour water into baking dish and cover with saran wrap
Cook for 15-20 minutes in microwave

When Squash is tender, mash like mashed potatoes. Add nutmeg, I can’t believe it’s not butter, and Splenda Brown Sugar to taste.

As Rachel Ray would say..."Yummo"!

Is It?

At times I must ask myself...

"Is Bald really Beautiful?"

I can handle Ronald McD bald, but Brittany Spears?

NOT!!!!

Banana Squash ?

We did not have a football game this weekend! Yeah! You know sometimes you just need a weekend off with no special plans. So, what did we do? We cleaned house, did laundry, and went shopping.

I’ve noticed a big change in our shopping habits since my wife’s surgery. We seem to be buying more healthy foods and produce. WOW, I could not believe the produce we bought yesterday! And this is not all of it! I left baking potatoes, grapes, and onions out of the picture!

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We have special plans for all of this food though! Tonight we are having Ham, Tomato Onion Gratin, Grape and Apple Salad, and of course this very unique find…Banana Squash! I‘ve never heard of this, but am truly looking forward to it! Of course, after we prepare it, I will post some food porn and recipes!

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Funny looking, isn't it ? It was huge, it weighed about 12 lbs.!

We are also making our "Scoop & Nuke" for the week. Of course, leftovers will be included in that. Beth is doing Spaghetti Squash, and No guilt Banana Pudding! As Rachel Ray would say...Yummo! That's for my nephew Micheal!
Anyway…Have a great week!

Weekly Weigh In

Hey guys!

I have my last Dr.'s appointment this week! YEAH!!!!! But I also got some bad new from the insurance person at my WLS office. It seems that there is a possibility I will be denied because I have lost so much weight, and been able to keep it off! Soon as I heard that , I wanted to stop off on the way home and start the Ice Cream Diet! You know the one, it's where you eat a 1/2 gallon of your favorite flavor everyday till your next appointment !!!!!!!!

But good sense prevailed and I stayed strong! In the past 2 weeks, I have lost another 4.4 pounds! Count me in!

One way or another, I am gonna do something about my

SO CALLED FAT LIFE !

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Have a great week!

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First day of 6 month diet 355.9

Last Dr. Appointment 307.1

Last Sundays Weight 299.1

Weight this AM (9/9) 294.5

Weight loss this week 4.6

Weight gain this week 0.0

Total weight loss 61.4

A whole new us!

Things haven't gone to well in the last couple of weeks. short on money, heat wave, air conditioner broke, etc... Guess what? I think it's all how you look at it! You can choose to have a bad day, or you can choose to have a good day! Once again it comes down to choices, just like it did with R.J. on Saturday (What a Day !) So here it is..."I'm gonna have a good day! There I said it, so that means it should work...right?

It's more than just saying it, it's doing it. As I sit here contemplating what the day will bring, I also look at what it's brought in the past. I have a great wife who is doing things to for herself. She is loosing weight so she can be a healthier person. She leaves for work every morning at 6:00 and because of football practice, does not get home till after 8:00 on most nights. On the weekend, she cooks healthy foods so we can "scoop & nuke" when we get home. I have a wonderful son! He is doing great in school! I was worried, he transfered to a public school this year. I should have known he would thrive in that surrounding. He is doing great at football! Hopefully he will be my wife and I's retirement plan! LOL !!!

You know what, I am Blessed with a capital B! I have nothing to complain about, it could always be worse! Making choices, I think that's what God had in mind when he gave us free will! So I am going to make the choice, here it goes, wait on it...I AM GOING TO HAVE A GOOD DAY, NO MATTER WHAT IS THROWN MY WAY!

Just for giggles, I thought I would throw in a picture of the progress Beth and I have made since Feb.

Just kidding! But my wife has made tremendous progress. since the first picture was taken, she has lost almost 100 lbs. The first picture was taken at Ripley's Believe I Or Not in Gatlinburg on our honeymoon! I love you honey! Oh Me !

Happy Labor Day !

Well, it’s Labor Day! That must mean I have some labor intensive things to do!

Before going to bed last night, I had to fight with a clogged dishwasher that didn’t want to cooperate. Working on pipes filled with slimy water is not my idea of fun! Around 3:00 this morning, I noticed a smell coming from the air conditioning vents. Got out of bed to find my basement wet with water. The drains in my central unit were clogged. Guess what? The air is not working at all right now! We are waiting got a technician as we speak. Then my wife informs me the check engine light is on in our SUV. Now to top all of this…the cable television just went out.

So I assume that this only means one thing! It must be Labor Day, and someone has to labor.

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As long as it’s not my wife going into labor we are all right!

I wish everyone a very nice Labor Day!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

This is another recipe we have tried lately. The original called for real butter, and milk. We have tried to modify the ingredients to make it more weight loss friendly.

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During the week both my wife and I have to work late, so we have what we commonly refer to as "Scoop & Nuke". In other words, we scoop up a plate and throw it in the microwave. I think this is a keeper!
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Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
4 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese

1 large onion, chopped
1/3 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-3/4 cups Fat Free Milk

TOPPING:
1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/4 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, melted

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In a large nonstick skillet, saute ham for 4-5 minutes or until browned; drain and pat dry. Meanwhile, in a greased 2-qt. baking dish, layer the turkey, cheese and ham; set aside. In a large saucepan, saute the onion in butter until tender. Stir in the flour, mustard and nutmeg until blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Pour over ham. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Yield: 6 servings.

What a day!

Well Saturday came and went. The problem was, it went faster then I expected. R.J. woke up not feeling well at all. Typical allergy symptoms...runny nose, upset stomach, cough. You name it, he had it. We talked about the football game and what he wanted to do. Of course, I made him aware, the choice was his to make, not mine.

RJ

I was raised with the idea that when choices were to be made, you had to make them. A lot of people want decisions made for them. I don't buy into that train of thought. Even before I was a father, my thoughts revolved around this philosophy. I want to be the dad who is there no matter what. When my child makes a bad choice or decision, I want to be there to pick him up, dust him off, and talk about what he has learned. When he makes a good choice, I want to praise him, and rejoice in the choices he has made. Well, enough about what I believe, back to the football game!

rj

What a game it was! R.J. sat on the sidelines for the majority of the game But that was OK, it was his decision to support the team, even from the sidelines. It was a dust bowl on the field though. We had several touchdowns or long runs returned on penalties. But guess what, the other team did too!

The score was 6-0 at halftime. A BIG improvement over last week! The other team came back and scored at the beginning of the 2nd half to make it 13-6. When all was said and done, the final score was 19-13. Another loss, but an improvement, none the less!

The best part of the game though...R.J.! With 2 minutes to go, R.J. put on his helmet and decided it was time to play. The response from the crowd, coaches, and teammates was overwhelming! They were shouting his name in unison and clapping like you would not believe it! On his first play, he was triple teamed, and still busted through for the sack! When all was said and done...it was still a little to late!

One thing about it though...this was not the same group of kids that took the field last week! This was the Madison Titans, and they were ready to play!