Just a note: Because so many of the blog posts linked with us here on Gratituesday have not followed the guidelines, I have decided to refrain from adding a link-up option at this time. Playing Gratituesday Police and deleting irrelevant posts keeps me from spending my time in a productive way. If you’re a blogger and wrote a Gratituesday post to share, and if your post talks about how God is working and doing good in your life, please do leave the link in the comments section of this post. We’d love to come read about it!
I’ve been looking forward to our boys’ basketball season starting (why yes we do play other sports besides soccer!), but I had no idea their first games would be so much fun. We headed to Kansas this weekend for a triangular. Since we were heading south, and my dad and his wife live just a couple hours away from where our games were being played, they blessed us by coming up to watch their grandsons play. Little did we know that my dad (the boys’ “Papa”) would be joining the boys on the court.
See, my dad was a basketball referee for over 20 years “back in the day.” He hung up his whistle over ten years ago, but continues to love the game of basketball. As the varsity boys were warming up to begin their first game Saturday, we could see a referee making a phone call and looking at his watch. It would appear that the second official had failed to show up.
So what did my dad do? He borrowed a black and white striped shirt and a whistle, and out onto the court he went. Well now, that’s one way to watch your oldest grandson play – up close and personal.
In this picture, you can see Asa (#23) – and that referee over to the right? Asa’s Papa. It was awesome.
I have to say, my dad’s still got it. He didn’t miss a beat (although I dare say he was quite sore after the game). He even had the nerve to call a foul on Asa. “Clean your glasses, Ref!” I yelled. Totally kidding. It was actually a fair call, but I did giggle at the whole idea of yelling at him out on the court.
The “regular referee” showed up as the game was ending, so my dad was able to watch the rest of the day’s games from a seated position. This is Justus’ first year to play. As an 8th grader, he played in the JV games and did great like Asa had done. It’s so much fun to watch them learning and playing hard!
Justus is pictured below, number 32, over on the far left.
Both boys scored some buckets, both had fun, both were completely worn out on the way home. The weekend was a blast! God is good to allow so many fun activities in life, with the bonus blessing of fun with grandparents.
Now your turn. Share what you’re thankful for! Leave a comment on this post letting us know how God is working in your life. If you’ve written a blog post about what you’re thankful for, leave the link in the comments so we can visit your blog to read about it. We love sharing and reading about God’s blessings!
Tehila says
God is leading me to stop and assess all that I have to be thankful for!
Can You Stop In the Midst of It All?
http://www.womenabiding.com/can-you-stop-in-the-midst-of-it-all/
Brooke Espinoza says
I am thankful for the powerful promises throughout God’s Word that are ours in Christ–without which I can’t imagine my life without. Some of my favorite promises are in Psalm 34:17-19. “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” I am so thankful that God is actively delivering me from all my trials. Not one trial will carry over into eternity. Like the food in my fridge, every one of my trials comes stamped with an expiration date. That always encourages me when my trials would otherwise discourage me.
Here is a post I wrote about 8 Children’s Resources I Am So Thankful For… http://brookeespinoza.blogspot.com/2013/11/8-childrens-resources-i-am-so-thankful.html
Happy Thanksgiving!
Janelle @ The Smudge Curve says
That’s such a bummer that people aren’t playing by the rules. :-( But thank you for going ahead and posting Gratituesday regardless! Your kiddos are so blessed to have their grandparents involved in their lives. :-)
This Gratituesday I am thankful for our new dishwasher!
http://www.thesmudgecurve.com/2013/11/no-more-washing-dishes-by-hand.html
Hannah J @ Dreaming of Perfect says
This Thanksgiving really has me upset.
Read about why at:
http://dreamingofperfect.weebly.com/1/post/2013/11/give-thanks.html
Jill Roper says
I for one got tired of clicking on a link on Gratituesday and it was nothing about being thankful. I love keeping up with your family on your blog. Just got back from Haiti. It delivered 57 babies. I am blogging about my experience on my blog.
http://gratituesday.blogspot.com/
Love your family Laura.
Jessica says
Once again it’s those who don’t follow the rules who hurt those who do… but it’s totally understandable! I recall almost every Tuesday seeing how many posts are up but that no one has commented. So sad. Sorry to hear that. But what a wonderful legacy you have above. What a blessings. I wrote about our awesome little family vacation…. it was truly something to be thankful for even when all didn’t go planned (ie – kids gave up sleeping while there!!!)
http://andtheycallherblessed.blogspot.com/2013/11/little-mini-vacation.html
Amy says
It’s frustrating when people don’t follow the rules. I enjoy being intentional about sharing what God has done for us on my blog each Tuesday and linking up with you there. I will miss that opportunity. :-(
This week I wrote about a great friend. She’s a wonderful school leader and always kind, but this week she went out of her way to help me, and I appreciate it a great deal. I love that God puts these special people in our lives and doesn’t make us flounder around on our own. http://anestintherocks.blogspot.com/2013/11/gratituesday-silver-and-gold-and-fancy.html
ms.p says
Its been a rough year one I don’t want to repeat, I am thankful for my relationship with god (get better and better). My family I won’t have made it without the support of my hubby and knowing my daughter is watching tried to set a good example for her.
Heather D. says
Ooo oo ooh! I’ve got one! Ok, I prayed specifically several months ago for a certain % to refinance our home which would then cover Christian Healthcare Ministries for us and a little extra to save/for needs. After one hassle after another, a higher %, rules changing in the midst, etc. we closed Fri with the exact % I had prayed for – and get this, our closer and his wife had prayed for it to go thru at a lower rate as well, and it did! Then our closing costs mostly covered, all we had to pay was almost exactly what we had in savings (not much) leaving just enough to fix our washer that broke that same week. God is so faithful!!! And… I was really wanting to find a cheap fake tree for Christmas since I think we’re allergic to the real deal, so sad. Went to several goodwills, found some garland to make our own mini tree, prayed, went again, and found a 7 ft. sort of realistic one for $30 (and I found a $20 in my purse that mostly covered it). Yeah, pretty grateful for big and small.
Barb says
What a blessing to have grandparents watching their grandchildren. We are a military family and I remember how my children would love to have family watching them participate in their activities. Now that we live closer to family my children and parents have this opportunity :)
http://www.theforeverneighbor.com/2013/11/facetime.html
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rachael @ Mommy LCSW says
God has provided a way for me to leave what has been a fulfilling career as a Christian Counselor, in order to focus on my family as a Stay at Home Mom! I am so thankful, for the work I was privileged to do, and for the answered prayer in staying home!
http://wp.me/p3RhKW-9c
Carmen Nuland says
Day 26 of my 30 days of Gratitude: http://www.asimplehomestead.com/30-days-of-gratitude-day-26/
Karen O'Dell says
way to go, papa john!!! you still have it, young man!! loved the picture of you and asa on the same court. laura, it was sort of fun “yelling” at your dad, huh????
aunt karen
Stephanie says
God is so faithful as we work toward our adoption. Today I had a major milestone of getting my fingerprints done. I am so thankful that I can trust God every single day. http://www.joyinthewilderness.com/fingerprinting/
Charlotte Moore says
Very grateful to be able to keep our first great granddaughter some. I always worked when our grandsons were little. Now I am retired and never having a little girl she is a delight. It is very tiring but lots of heart warming moments.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
Jamie D says
My dad used to play city league basketball on our church team, and when they quit sponsoring a team, he turned ref instead. I got such a kick out of going with him – I’d sit in the middle of the two cheering sections and cheer no matter what call he made. Someone would eventually notice and ask whose side I was on…I loved telling them I was cheering for the black and white team!
This is our first Thanksgiving without him (he died in February) and I am so very grateful for all of the wonderful memories he left us with – thanks, Laura, for reminding me of this particular one!
Hannah says
I recently hosted a Thanksgiving Challenge at Shining Stars Magazine and we came up with 337 things for which to be thankful: http://shiningstarsmagazine.com/2013/11/28/what-were-thankful-for/
Personally, this is a testimony about how the Father has been working in my life lately: http://radicalfemininity.com/2013/11/23/i-like-spending-time-with-you/