November 25, 2017

I was so worried about Julia.  She gave her heart and soul to her team for five games in 24 hours.  I kept telling Julia that she needed to score more.  She responded with 13 and 11 points in her last two games.  And in the last game, it was so intense that she played the whole game.  Before the game even started, she could hardly sit up.  We went for lunch at this little pizza place that we had been to while in Scottsdale.  Last night after we left Panera Bread, Emma spotted a Grimaldi's Pizzeria.  She was SO excited because we had eaten at a Grimaldi's on our girl's trip.  And we had loved it.  So after a couple games today, we went back and had some pizza.  Julia was almost too tired to eat.  I tried to take really good care of her.  I made sure she ate and drank and then I let her lie down in the car and rest in the shade.

After a night's sleep...still tired!

Emma and Mom at breakfast!

The girls ordered banana bread french toast.  Interesting!

I had this huge and delicious breakfast burrito.  

YAY!  We found a Grimaldi's!

As we walked in to the last game, I told her to just do her best, but understand that she was really tired.  Well, the game ended up being really intense and Julia ended up giving her absolute all.  We barely lost, but Julia was amazing.  She hustled and sprinted and chased.  At one point, she chased down this girl on a fast break and flew through the air.  Julia blocked her shot so hard, that the whole crowd went wild.  Both girls fell down, but it was such a clean hard swat.  That was 100 percent hustle and grit.  She has amazing basketball skills, but I am more proud that she knows how to dig deep and work hard.  That skill will serve her so well in her life.  There will be so many days as a wife and mother, or a college student, or when she has a job, when she will feel too tired to keep going.  But I hope she always remembers that she has a deeper well of energy than she realizes. I love the notion of digging deep when life gets tough.  I see that quality in her.  It is awesome.

We practically carried her to the car, she was so tired.  We stopped for a few treats and then headed home.  It was a nice drive.  We talked for an hour and then listened to a comedian named Ryan Hamilton.  He is so super funny.

Greg had worked SO hard while I was gone.  He completely cleaned out the laundry room.  He washed, folded, and put away every stitch of laundry.  And he had the whole house clean.  He'd exercised and made it really fun for the boys.  I'm so thankful for Greg!!

Yesterday while driving though Las Vegas on the freeway, the traffic came to a bit of a standstill.  All of a sudden, we heard this loud screeching noise, and then BANG!  I had glanced in my rearview mirror when I heard the screech, and I watched as a car slammed right into the back of the car next to us.  It really startled us all.  Just then the traffic started to go, and we had no other choice but to keep moving.  I was so scared because that had been SO close to being us.  Emma wanted to say a prayer and ask for our protection, which we did.  But I just felt so thankful for every day and every minute that I know our Heavenly Father is watching over us.  I know He is aware of us.  I'm so thankful we made it home safely.