ASU vs. Wofford

Today Tommy and I attended the Wofford game....Matheus is in Washington DC with a group from AFS. We missed him but we know he is having a GREAT time and getting to see many of the sites of our capital.

ASU won their sixth straight SoCon title today when they defeated Woffard 43-13.

It was also the day I discovered I have a video component on my camera....ha.

Check out some pics and a video of ASU moving down the field in the second quarter.

Black Saturday

A pic of us and the beautiful mountain sky.....both taken by our boy!

Today was the annual Black Saturday and ASU defeated Furman 37-26 in a hard fought battle. Here are some interesting notes about the game.....

DeAndre Presley threw his first interception of the season

Tavaris Cadet had a career high---3 touchdowns!

Jabari Fletcher scooped up a blotched handoff in the Furman backfield and ran it 40 yards for his FIRST career TD!! Here's a pic of Fletcher coming off the field!

Needing the extra point to draw within one score in the fourth quarter...Furman’s PAT was blocked by Mountaineer cornerback Troy "Trigger" Sanders, who scooped up the loose ball and took it all the way back for a defensive two-point conversion that gave Appalachian a 37-26 lead and effectively ended any hopes of a Paladin comeback. Here is a celebration pic right after that play.

And of course....Hershey's favorite offensive player, Brian Quick, caught a career high four passes for a total of 46 yards, including a 19-yard reception in the third quarter that made him only the fourth Mountaineer to ever reach the 2,000-yard plateau for career receiving yards.

It was an AWESOME game!!!

ASU vs. The Citadel

The only night game of the season....against the Citadel.....occured last night and ASU beat the Bulldogs 39-10. Brian Quick caught a couple of GREAT passes for touchdowns.....I LOVE this team! It was a clear night....you could even see the moon.

Homecoming at ASU!!!

Today we went to the ASU vs. Elon game---Homecoming---and we had a BLAST!!! At first we thought it was going to be a difficult day as we had to squeeze into our normal seats. There was room further down the row so I finally asked folks to slide down and explained to them that these were our season tickets that we had purchased prior to our knowing that foreign exchange student was coming to live with us. They reluctantly agreed as they pointed out they were taking someone else's seats and we agreed that if these folks showed up....we would have to regroup. The lady beside me seemed real irritated so I tried to strike up a conversation and before I knew it....she was telling me all about the new Boone High School and the weather in Boone....so it all worked out. Even when the folks did show up....Matheus still had more room than he did initially.....he is just a little thing and doesn't need much room at all....ha.

The game was a nail biter.....and ASU played their hearts out.....I LOVE watching this team....they NEVER give up! Elon played well. There was one Elon fan sitting behind us who kept yelling for them....her friend was laughing hysterically as I think he was embarrassed because every time she would yell 'Go Elon,' everyone would turn around and look at them. This may have been the purpose....she did have an Elon shirt on too....brave girl...lol.

Matheus LOVES concession stand hot dogs....go figure!

Handsome man!

ASU held on to win in the end 34-31....the difference was a running TD scored in the 2nd quarter by Cedric Baker...it was only 6 points as we missed the extra point....but this turned out to be the difference as Elon came back and scored a field goal and these three points difference was what won the game for ASU. It was exciting to watch.

AFS Fall Orientation

AFS had their required fall orientation at a campground in Marion.....Gretchen took Matheus and Marco up there on Friday and we went and picked him up on Sunday.

They had a talent show on Sunday for the parents.....it was AWESOME! Matheus' friend, Pedro, attended as he had missed the required orientation in the East. He and Matheus sang the Brazilian national anthem for their talent.

Jon showed off his strength for his talent.

These boys were GREAT....they sang 'Take me home, Country Roads'. The guy in red is Linus....he was one that Tommy and I looked at before choosing Matheus. He is from Finland.

Gerri & Gretchen enjoy the talent show---I would LOVE to eavesdrop on this conversation...ha.

First Home Game

Today we traveled to the first ASU home football game. ASU played

Jacksonville and they won 45-14. Brian Quick had an AWESOME game...caught a couple of great passes from DeAndre Presley for TD's.

Matheus seemed to really enjoy it. He asked many questions about football and the team and Tommy loved being the instructor...which is GREAT at....guess who used to know NOTHING about football....ha.

Torn

Who am I Lord…..I am telling this kid that he cannot be around these other kid….because…he might be involved in a gang….I am looking at this face….of disappointment….this is so hard Lord…..I know that it is my job…my responsibility…to protect Matheus…..so I can’t take a chance…..but what about this other kid….who is taking a chance on him? Maybe that is why this came up….I go to these games….and I watch these young men play their heart out in front of a crowd of what….30 people….I just don’t understand….maybe their parents are working…maybe they have small children and they can’t come….or they have no transportation…..but who supports these boys? Does anyone tell them….that they are capable of doing ANYTHING they chose to do….that Jesus died for them….I can’t imagine what they go through….I watch the coach try to calm them down because something is said on the field and then I hear an adult…..yeah that’s right….an adult…..make a racist comment in the stands behind me…..I guess the apple doesn’t fall from the tree…..and my husband has to remind me to stay calm.
I want to tell these young men that the only reason boys on the other team use these despicable words is because they are ignorant…they don’t know any better….they have been taught by ignorant parents that there is a difference in people based on color of skin….and they are trying to use their own prejudice and hatred to get inside your head….because they know that is the ONLY way they can beat you.

Yes…it is true, that I have not had the privilege of getting to know the young men on this team yet…but I know enough to know that you ARE BETTER than that. DO NOT give them control….it is control that YOU have and do NOT have to relinquish. Anger is a powerful emotion that can either destroy you or push you forward to something great. Even Jesus got angry so it is NOT a bad thing…it just has to be controlled….managed…..directed in a way that will be positive for you and for others….to glorify our Lord….it takes a MAN or WOMAN of great character to say nothing….in our culture we are taught this is weak….but anyone who has ever done it successfully….knows it is NOT weak…not even close.

I wish there were something I could do….to hold a mirror up….from the heavens….so that these kids could see what God sees when he looks down from heaven at them….because they would then understand that they have SO many more options than they would ever believe…..the way people believe here in Caldwell County…it is not like that everywhere….. what is a minority one place….is the majority another place….but if you allow this experience to leave you with hatred in your heart….then you have become just like the rednecks that hate you….hate begets hate….it will never end. Hate will eat your heart alive….ask Jesus to forgive them….and to help you focus on what is really IMPORTANT…on HIM….and YOU and YOUR FUTURE….and HE will show you how truly insignificant they really are.

Please feel free to come and speak with me or my husband as we would LOVE the chance to get to know each and every one of you and please know that we are here to support you.