Faith, Family, and Football

     It's something about Lincolnton that can't be explained in words... it's in our hearts.... "The Heart of a Devil".... Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by The Weather Channel on their visit to Lincolnton.  I had been told a few weeks ago about the visit, by Jim and Guille.... I  thought it was another one of their jokes!  Why would the weather channel want to do a story on Lincolnton??? Well... there will be a series airing during football season on Friday nights focusing on communities and what brings them together.... some about weather...and some about people like us and football!  after over 24 hours of filming.... the segment will only be four minutes... I'm hoping most of our interview gets on the floor of the editing room... It's true... Mama, KB, and I ended our interview of three generations of Red Devil Cheerleaders with the cheer that's been around for decades... "Two Bits".... I'm sure it will be my most embarrassing moment.... but it's amazing what television people can make you do!  These next pictures try to capture Friday nights in Lincolnton through my eyes... and what it is all about.... and the t-shirt we had a few years ago describes it all.... Faith, Family, and Football... that's what LC is about!

 It's about grown men coming together at lunch time on Fridays... and cooking for the masses.... Last night's menu was bbq chicken, baked beans, DELICIOUS potato salad (from Ellie Ruth)...and for a lucky few... we had snicker bar frozen dessert! 

 It's about men who didn't grow up in Lincolnton, but their hearts love the game just as much as those who did. 

 It's about big brothers who love to open up their farm house for family and friends to gather... AND EAT! 

 It's about sweet, sweet "Not From Lincolnton" people being a part of celebrations... wanting to be a part of our special town.... purchasing shirts so they could be a part of this... coming from THE WEATHER CHANNEL TO LINCOLNTON to hear all about our great town!  I told her Wednesday over the phone that once she got here she would never want to leave! 

 It's about Poonk entertaining us all....

 It's about little boys who want to play for the Red Devils one day....

 It's about a Sheriff inviting a neighboring Sheriff to come together for fellowship....

 It's about fathers and sons enjoying memories and laughs under big pecan trees....

 It's about the Chief of Police getting phone calls while he is trying to eat....

 It's about giving up his cooking skills one night for someone else to get to cook! 

 It's about friendships of all ages coming together like brothers and laughing....

 It's about two men who look just alike.... are often mistaken for brothers... who enjoy cooking and laughing....

 It's about nephews who have the prettiest smile... and look so innocent... (BTW...good luck starting college Monday)

 It's about my daddy... who loves to sit around and listen... and watch... and be a part of LC football...

 It's about a former coach of forty-four years standing around and having conversations with former players... and for me... praying for him last night to get through that first game without being involved... and the knot I'm sure he had in his stomach!  It's also about conversations I had with him that make me know he will always love LC...

 It's about men who USED to love Washington... but proudly support LC now with the red and white colors!!! 

 It's about a mama who remembers the first state championship the Red Devils had! 

 It's about God's light shining through and realizing how beautiful being with family and friends truly is....

 It's about blessing the meal.... and men bowing their heads...

 It's about fellowship at a table...

 It's about gooooooooddddd chicken!

 Friday nights and football just go together! 

 It's about little girls who grow up dreaming of cheering for the Devils... and making those dreams come true....

 and little boys... who grow into big boys... and decide to carry on the legacy of their fathers and grandfathers....

 It's about precious boys who don't play football, but they are a HUGE part of our program.... and it's about respecting the flag....

 It's about Friday night run through signs! 

 It's about a new head coach taking the field after forty four years... (and a camera man from The Weather Channel that has become amazed by our hospitality!) 

 It's about a TEAM!

 It's about prayer... and continuing the tradition of The Lord's Prayer with the team before the start of every game! 

 It's about team spirit... and touching our brothers on the field... and coming together as one....

 It's about that team huddle at the end of the prayer! 

 It's about a second generation of #10 representing the Mattison family....

 It's about making huge blocks for your team!  Go Jackson!!! 

 It's about crazy camera men who are never the focus of the great pictures he takes... but I got him this time! 

 It's about a little girl who loves her team! 

 It's about a little girl who doesn't have to fake a smile to show her spirit... anyone can see her heart is in this! 

 It's about listening to our coaches on the sideline during breaks!

 It's about the GO cheer whenever the Devils have the ball...

 It's about a team of girls who have sat together at the ballgames since 2nd grade... who are now cheering on the field! 

 It's about wearing face tatoos, big bows, and smiles....

 It's about being under the lights of Buddy Bufford Field....

It's about smiling....

 It's about cheering at Larry Campbell Stadium....

 It's about learning what LC football is all about...

 It's about putting your heart into cheering for the team who just MAY win a state championship! 

 It's about a girl who smiles... and a mama who couldn't be happier to see that smile and know she loves what she is doing and where she is!

 Friday nights her colors are red, white, and black....

 It's about a little boy who I held in my arms when he was six weeks old... knowing that I would have a little girl come along nine months later.... never dreamed they would be best friends fourteen years later...

 It's about his dreams of playing for the Red Devils coming true! 

 It's about how I wish I had his figure! 

 It's about spotting Columbia County administrators on the other side... who I'm sure really want to be Red Devils! 

 It's about fourth generation Red Devils looking for their mama in the stands!

 It's about the "voice of the Devils"....

 It's about a JV team who LOOKED GREAT last night! 

 It's about a mama who hears her son's name called out for the first time... for taking another player down... and that excitement! 

 It's about that #10 .... that other nephew ... who I love that he is a part of the team... but I wish he would just stand on the sidelines so he won't get hurt! 

 It's about a little boy who knew every player and number... and now he gets his turn! 

 It's about taking snaps on a Friday night and dreams coming true....

 It's about RED DEVIL football....

 It's about completing a play....

 It's about action shots! 

 It's about that fake pass....

 It's about being successful....

 It's about sweat! 

 It's about shaking hands after the game is over! 

 It's about stinky boys after the game...

 It's about three friends who can't take serious pictures! 

 It's about two boys who love one girl! 

 It's about my heart... and how good it feels to see these two have dreams come true... and them being successful at what they are doing...

 It's about mamas who love that their little boys are on the field...

 It's about little boys who grow up to be bigger and taller than their mama....

 It's about little boys who have their mamas' hearts

 It's about grandfathers telling their grandsons about what they should have done! 

 It's about friends... on and off the field! 

 It's about cousins.... who love each other... who are inseparable.... who think just alike... who act just alike... who couldn't be happier to support each other.... their smiles say it all...

 It's about the three musketeers who don't like me to make them pose for pictures all the time! 

It's about going to Jane's after the ballgame... and ice cream... and analyzing all the plays of the game...


And finally, it's about a mama who was hit with the fact last night that her baby girl is now in high school... my chest hurts... there are tears in my eyes... I keep focusing on THIS IS IT... she is with me for four more years... and then she goes to college... I only have four years to instill in her all the good I can... The last fourteen years of her life have literally flown by... I would love her to come back home after college and live with us forever, but I'm sure that the odds aren't really in my favor... I pray she enjoys these next four years.... and remembers that no matter what... being a part of LC football begins with her FAITH... and then it's all about FAMILY... and finally... it's about what ties us all together... the FOOTBALL!  Go DEVILS!

To the Mamas....and myself...

     Being a teacher I have had many first days of schools... in fact, since I was five years old I have had a first day of school each year of my life whether it be as a student or a teacher... one would think I had gotten the hang of them, but this year is a little different. I think it is has finally hit me....

     I remember my first day of school for K-5.  I had a white "leisure" suit with a red printed shirt and an apple on the pocket of the jacket that matched.  I remember clinging to Mama's leg and screaming because I didn't want to stay....  Mama left me.... but I made it through the half day. 

     I remember my first day of second grade when we moved to Lincolnton and Mama spoke to everyone and told me who all I was "kin" to at the school...it was odd for her to know everyone. Little did I know that the children I met that day would walk across the graduation stage with me ten years later. 

     I remember my first day in sixth grade because I was paranoid that my Bunny Rabbit Association was showing through the red shirt I had on.... I was worried sick about that! 

     I remember my first day of eighth grade and asking if I could go to the bathroom and the coach telling  me I couldn't... I was crushed and cried to the point that I had to be checked out....

     I remember my first day of my tenth grade year... I wore a red dress!  I wanted so badly to be cute... but my hair was awful because it was so HOT! 

     I remember the first day of college classes and thinking how easy it was to get to an eleven o'clock class.... the next day I realized how much I hated college.

    I remember my first day of teaching... I wore Bass Bucks and a denim jumper.... while the students said the pledge I had to lean against my podium because I was shaking so bad. 

     As the years went on, the days of me focused on my first days went to my children's first days..... I will never forget dropping off KB at the sitter my first day back at work after having her... I cried and thought I was the worst mama that ever walked the face of the earth.... To the mama who is dropping off her child for the first time at the sitter tomorrow.... the tears will come, but you will be so excited to spend time with that little baby the moment you hold them in your arms that afternoon. 

     KB's first day of school was another hard day... Her granddaddy had to take her... I cried for weeks before... how could a school teacher love her as much as I did...and how could a room full of children get the love they needed from one person.  I've never been more excited to see her little face come through my classroom door and give me a hug... she loved it! 

     Ben's first day of school was really hard because I knew I no longer had a baby in my house.  He smiled, he loved his teacher, and he was excited to go back the next day.... He survived and made me look silly for even thinking that he wouldn't be able to handle it. 

     KB's first day of middle school she should have actually been in elementary school... I was worried about her going to school with 8th graders, but she survived and she loved every minute of it... In fact.... the best four years of her life so far have been in middle school.

     Last year was the first year that I was able to go take Ben to school as a mama... It was wonderful... I cried... he didn't.... we both survived and I treasure that moment!  To the mamas who get to take their children... hug them really hard... some mamas don't get to! 

     I have made it through all these years... I have cried at just about every one of these moments... and I have survived without any wounds.... I can see where God has held each of my children in His hands and given them loving teachers and adults in the building who care about them.  This is why I moved home.... this is why I love living here.... our teachers truly treat these children as their own... sometimes that is good... and sometimes they scold them... but I respect them and thank them for doing that! 

     In all these first days.... I have never experienced sending a high school child to school for the first day.... Can I walk her in?  Probably not.  Can I kiss her goodbye?  You  bet, I kissed Daddy goodbye every morning until I could drive to school.  Can I pray that she embraces these next four years and lives life to the fullest?  Sure I can, and I'm also praying that I let her!  Tonight, she asked me about going on a date... ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?  Why no... you can't... not yet... you are 14.... Yeah.... I'm going to shelter you just a little bit more.  It's funny how I have set up stepping stones of worry throughout her life... I thought the entire time I was pregnant I wouldn't have to worry after she got here... then I thought I wouldn't have to worry after she could walk and talk... then I thought if she learns how to read I won't have to worry... then I thought if she can make a friend I won't have to worry.... right now.... I just hope she will make it through tomorrow as a first day freshman... let her confidence shine.... let her love of learning glow... and let her mama find a peace in knowing that she survived all those other firsts... and she can do this too! 

     I probably won't sleep much tonight.... I never do the night before school starts... but I do  hope that whatever "firsts" may be occurring tomorrow for the students and parents of our schools... that tears of joy stream down faces and the sadness quickly turns to happiness!  I'm also hoping that when I wake up in the morning that I still have a little girl who comes down the steps in a smocked dress with a big bow and little boy who is dragging his blankets and has a pi-pi.... again... I would love to have a remote control to life so I could fast forward, rewind, and pause....