Abby: Team USA for Volleyball (& Wood Block)

Let's talk about Abby, shall we?

She had her first volleyball game this week.  She played...with enthusiasm.   She was so nervous before she left for school that she forgot her snack and her water bottle.  But she was equally as excited to be wearing her jersey.  She is so proud of that jersey.  When it was her turn to be on the court, she could never remember to pull her knee pads up.  And she waved at us.  Twice.  

But she loves to play.

She loves to cheer for her teammates.  She loves the smell of victory.  And she gives the game her all.  Every time she is on that court, she is playing as best as she can and is positive even when the score is looking a little bleak.  I think Tuesday was the first game that both teams had ever played because they were all running around, not quite sure where they were supposed to be, not really getting the ball over the net, sometimes not even getting the ball in the near vicinity of the net.  But they all had fun, Abby especially, and I think that's what's important.  It takes time to learn how to work together as a team.  It will be fun to watch their season progress as they start to become a team.

The Homecoming game was a couple of weekends ago and Abby marched in her first Homecoming parade.  She showed that woodblock who was boss while rocking her sweet, fine Spirit Lake Indians Marching Band Uniform.  While we were waiting for the parade to start, the elementary school kids were chanting back and forth across the road to keep warm.  One side would yell: "Indian!" and the other side would answer back with increasing volume: "Power!"  Uriah and I could only laugh.  This school...this town...is so different from what we are used to.  And Abby is thriving.

See that really tall kid in the back?  Yes, he's in 7th grade.  And yes, I asked for you.  He is going to play basketball this season.  I bet the basketball coach tinkled in his pants a little bit when he saw that kid.  Based on the way she blushed when I asked her about him, I have a feeling Abby will be asking to go to a lot of basketball games this winter.

And that's the middle school news from Iowa.  It's getting cooler here, although this weekend's forecast boasts of low 70s. I've been DIY-ing the crap out of my days this week. I made some sweet little Halloween luminaries that are almost done (hopefully tomorrow) and I've been painting and mod podging the alphabet to hang on Finn's wall, but that project is taking longer than I anticipated.

It's almost the weekend...I'm going to get out and enjoy it!  You should, too.