It's Been a While

Well, we're half way through summer and it just doesn't seem like it. Living in Nebraska, days are supposed to be in the upper 90's and humid with not much rain during a given week starting in mid-June. So far, it has stayed in the upper 80's (sometimes 70's) and has rained A LOT! This is a good thing, since the Husker State tends to be pretty dry, but there has got to be a good balance. Anyway....

We're still adjusting to Katie working as an RN in a local ICU. She has training and orientation for critical care until early September, so we're still dealing with a schedule which varies each week. Once Kate is all done, she will go to a night schedule (it was her choice). I am dealing with hearing stories about traumas - ugh. But, it is fun to see how much Katie loves what she does.

The kids have been in a day camp all summer and have loved it. They're gotten to goto Memorial Stadium here in Lincoln, see the baseball park where Nebr and our local single A baseball team play, been to the US Roller Skating Museum and Hall of Fame (yes, one does exist) and have been taking swimming lessons among many others things.

My geezer lacrosse team - the Omaha Rhinos West - wrapped up their season this past Saturday in Kansas City. We had a double header and technically lost both. For the first, we forfeited to Wichita because half our team was 30 minutes late due to road construction. But, they still wanted to play once we got there and we beat them. What do they say about moral victories? We were pretty much ticked so it gave us motivation.

I also gearing up to resume theology at my church this Saturday. A few have mentioned that they miss my "unique" perspective, i.e. reformed theology at a dispensational bible church. But, everyone has been kind and there haven't been any nasty debates.

I am also gearing up for Lincoln Lacrosse's fall season.

That's catching everyone one up.

Nope - No lacrosse in this one

Well, yesterday was a busy day. It was father's day (I have a 9 year old daughter and a 6 year old son) and it was my son's birthday. He was pretty excited -- woke up at 7am (on a Sunday) to announce to me that, "Dad, I'm six today!" He was really excited for the gifts he got (a lot of Transformers and Indiana Jones Legos) and to eat out at a restaurant where they would sing to him. He specifically told Katie that he wanted that and he picked Red Robin.

It was a fairly good father's day, too. My in-laws were over and we gave him a handmade bean bag toss game. Or, "cornhole", as it is called in Indiana apparently. Yeeahhh, we'll leave it at that. The bean bag toss game was fun.

Well, we'll catch you up on lacrosse stuff later.

I'm Old and Rusty

Well, I played in my first Omaha Rhinos "West" game today (I haven't played an official game of lacrosse since at Purdue 14 years ago!). Two things: I can confirm that I am almost 33 years old now and that I need to re-learn the game from a player's perspective. I've spent the last three years coaching, but now realize all of the little things I can pass on which I see during a game - defensive slides, offensive players off of the ball cutting in to the goal, etc.

And, the Lincoln Lacrosse season wraps up tomorrow (June 9th). We play our first varsity game and we are hosting. I have a good feeling about this one.

And, my wife starts her new job at Bryan LGH West trauma tomorrow. We are both very excited - she is going to be a great nurse.

I'll have another update after our game tomorrow!

Now What...?!

Well, two more practices, one more game and Lincoln Lacrosse is off until Sept. 15th for a short fall season. Also, Lincoln schools are out and my kids looking forward to day camp with LOTS of field trips and activities all summer. Plus, my wife is fresh out of UNMC nursing school with her BSN and a new certificate from the state of Nebraska. I liken it to the tornadoes which recently came through central Nebraska -- you see the storm coming, weather it and then it is all over. What do I do now? Sure, I will play ball with the Omaha Rhinos West team until late July (that should be fun in upper 90s Nebraska heat!), but then what? I've spent the last three plus years of my life with the goal of getting my wife through school and it's done. But...now what? Catch up my theology which has lagged? Work on my individual stick skills?....wait, I'm a denfenseman...never mind. Go back to school myself? Only time will tell.

Season recap: Mark Churchill and I went in with a simple goal - teach 16-18 guys NCAA-rules lacrosse (for the most part). Half the team had been through a local parks and rec program (more similar to the women's game) and the other half had never caught a ball or touched a stick. So, even though we are sitting at 0-10 with 1 more game to go, I can still announce: mission accomplished. We now have a team that can play zone defense, knows how to set up and run a 222 offense, executes man-ball (most of the time) and even knows how to set a pick! So, mission accomplished!