Ahhhhh, It's Friday night

From my back deck I can hear the band warming up for the big game tonight...Yep, it's officially football season and I am sad. Why ? Because for the last 13 years, football has been the one constant in my life (other than family, duh). We have lived in 3 different states in the last 13 years, but every fall our lives have revolved around football. Both my boys played since they were 8 years old and the helmets looked bigger than their little bodies. Every fall was filled with fundraisers, muddy uniforms, treats for tired players, long rides to far away games, freezing my toosh off on metal bleachers, selling raffle tickets, yelling till my throat hurt, listening (ad nauseum) to how "unfair" something was, cleet shopping, manning the refreshment booth, football banquets with BAD food, concussions , torn ACL's, trips to the physical therapist and many more fond, fond memories. Even  last year, when both boys were playing in college and I didn't have to sell anything or wash anything, our lives still focused on football for the autumn months and they came home to watch the Steelers, bringing their buddies with them.
This year my youngest son is in the Marines and my oldest son is out on his own so it's the first season where I dont have a child playing football... somewhere. I'm not sure if I like it or not. Even when I was sick and couldn't make it to every game I can remember the hubs carrying me from the car to the chairs he set up near the end zone (only place we could put chairs) so I could watch for awhile. Even then I missed our normal spot on the 50 yard line.

I guess today I am just feeling a little sad at the realization that those times are over. Even the anticipation of the Steeler's first game on Sunday is a bit sad. My boys always had a crowd here for the games. Sure, the inlaws are still coming over, but my oldest is having his friends over to his house for the game, so it's just us. Now before you all think I am a football fanatic...let me tell you that I'm really not. I learned what position my kids played and know the general rules of the game and since I'm from western Pa, I bleed black & gold and always, always root for the Steelers, but mostly I just loved watching my boys play, or making a mountain of  food for the boys and their friends when the Steelers played.

I am just stuck on sad today. I am really trying to figure out what I am supposed to do now (sigh). My whole adult life has been spent as a mother and now my nest is empty and I just dont know what to do with myself. I am sure God will shine a light on the situation, as He always does, but it's still sad...Like when you finish the last page of really terrific book where you feel you KNOW the people in the book. You stay up reading all night because you want to see what happens, but it's almost sad because you know the story is over. Thankfully in life , this chapter might be over, but perhpas a new book is just beginning. That's the way I am going to try to look at it anyway.

 Here are a few pictures of my guys in high school and college (sigh, again)
 

Kirk in high school

Kirk at college

Kyler in college

Kyler & Ashlee on Senior Night

Our house decorated for the game

Well there you have it...my sweet little boys are all grown up. I need to dig up all their little kid pictures from football...they are too cute, but I didn't think I could stand that today. I am surprised at how emotional I am over this...silly me.

OK, gotta go get dinner started. It's after 7 and the hubs will be getting home soon.

Grace to you,
Margie