A look inside: Becoming Tough

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Becoming Tough

Let me tell you a little bit about Daniel. He loves animals. He loves to read. He loves pickles (even dipped in ice cream), He loves to give homeless people food (if we drive by a person holding a sign,

I always hear, "mom pull over!" and he will proceed to give that person anything he has, string cheese, fruit snack, half eaten hamburger....anything!) He loves science. He loves 500 piece puzzles. He loves studying human anatomy. He loves building 1,000 piece star wars lego ships all by himself. I wish I had a picture of his lego collection to show you, but he has taken all his ships apart just so he can put them back together again. He calls himself the "lego doctor". The neighbor boys bring over their broken spaceships and Daniel puts them back

together for them without the directions. And you should have seen the Thomas the Tank Engine tracks he would build when he was younger. He's a whiz on the piano, it just comes naturally to him. I could go on and on, but I'll spare you. One thing Daniel is not naturally gifted in is athletics. The whole running, hand-eye coordination, agility, and competitive-attitude thing just has never caught on.

He made the choice to play football this year, and has been having quite a hard time. His coaches are pretty over-the-top tough on the boys. He just hasn't been "getting it" and wants to quit. But last night him and Jon came home grinning ear to ear, and Daniel looked like this:

Daniel got his first big tackle ever! Not just one, but several! Jon said he just came alive out in the mud and rain, and it was like everything just "clicked". Jon said Daniel just got in attack mode and started plowing guys down! Jon almost started crying (well, not really, but he was very excited and very proud) as he was retelling the practice to me. So here's to you Daniel! We're proud of you, that you worked hard, and did your best! And we're proud of who you are, even if you don't choose to play football next year, that doesn't matter. We just want you to *be yourself, because God can't use anyone else.

The way He made you is perfect!

*this quote belongs to Pastor Bob Kruse, I can't take credit for it :)

10 comments:

Stefanie said...: Hi! I don't know you, but I see your comments on my sister-in-law, Becca's blog and some of her close friends too. I noticed on Julie's that you said "Garland Trivia" and I thought - lizzyg, huh, Garland, must be her last name. We're having our third girl right after Christmas this year and I really like the name Garland for a girl! Is that weird? My husband isn't in love with it, but I thought you should know:)

Also, I love your tribute to your son - Great work buddy!; October 4, 2007 at 1:27 PM
Sharon said...: Way to go Daniel! I love it! Even if you might not be in the NFL one day, I'm sure that pummeling a few guys along the way feels pretty darn good!! I would love to hear you play the piano~I think that's awesome. Real men play the piano~it's very romantic, you'll get all the ladies.

Gabby came home from soccer practice last night looking JUST like that! She was so excited to tell me about the slide tackles she made in the mud. Clorox is my bestest friend right now!

See you Saturday! Yea! : ); October 4, 2007 at 3:22 PM
LizzyG said...: Sharon,
2 days till GAME DAY! I can't wait!!! It might just be one of the proudest moments of my life.; October 4, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Lindsay said...: Totally loving that Daniel commented!!
... and what a great post!
You are a treasure Liz & your writing proves it!
Have a wonderful weekend!!; October 4, 2007 at 10:14 PM
Rachel said...: I'm still laughing at how dirty he looks! He's like an Orbitz gum commercial.
What a wonderful kid...and pretty darn cute too! Oh and my vacuum cleaner is broken...can he fix that?; October 5, 2007 at 8:57 AM
Unknown said...: Great Job Daniel! I'm loving all that dirt..and I have utmost respect for anyone who understands the game of football. I love going to watch my nephew play, and have been for several years...yet I still don't get it! I feel like I know you guys, even though I've only met Jon. Such a wonderful tribute to a wonderful kid!

Thank you so much for the pregnant picture...you look SO cute! I wish I could get Eddie to rub my feet...although its a mutual feeling, we both have issues with touching feet. :); October 5, 2007 at 4:24 PM
Arminda said...: Yay for Daniel! Hope his game goes well tomorrow. Sarah's too! Loved catching up on Garland news, and I'll see you tomorrow night!; October 5, 2007 at 6:11 PM
Ona said...: Hi,
Got your comment. Yes! I know who you are and it was so funny when I saw John. He didn't quite remember me if at all until I told him it was me. I could have sworn he was looking at me like a stalker when I kindly said, "hello".; October 5, 2007 at 7:02 PM
Unknown said...: Ok, I just have to say again, thank you for the pregnant picture. Eddie came home to eat and I showed it to him and he thought it was so sweet of you to post it! My belly button feels like its going to burst this evening, please tell me it won't? :); October 5, 2007 at 7:57 PM
Julie said...: Way to go, Daniel! I love it that you're out there doing your best!

I'm excited that you'll get to meet Sharon... all us blogger girls need to get together sometime!; October 5, 2007 at 10:20 PM

Words to Remember

"Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had. Let them not promise themselves more honor or pleasure in the world than Christ had. Let each live a life of labor and self-denial as his Master, and make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him toil, and do all the good he can, and then he will be a complete disciple."
~Matthew Henry,
English Pastor 1662-1714

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
~Martin Luther King

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
~Jim Elliot

"I am a missionary, heart and soul. God Himself had an only Son, and He was a missionary and a physician. A poor, poor imitation I am, or wish to be, but in this service I hope to live. In it I wish to die. I still prefer poverty and missions service to riches and ease. This is my choice."
~David Livingstone

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same. "
~C.S. Lewis

"I want Thy plan, O God, for my life. May I be happy and contented whether in the homeland or on the foreign field; whether married or alone, in happiness or sorrow, health or sickness, prosperity or adversity - I want Thy plan, O God, for my life."
~Oswald J. Smith

songs with meaning

If you hear one of these songs playing while visiting my blog, here is why it is so special to me:

I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman: I would listen to this song as a young teenager and dream about finding a love like this song describes. Guess what? God gave more then I ever dreamed.

Any Song by Keith Green!!! I first heard Keith Green as a young child and knew all his songs by heart. As a teenager, I loved his music because he is so honest and authentic. I also read his autobiography when I was in my teens. He is one of my all-time heroes! I remember my friends laughing at me when they were in my car, wondering why I would be listening to songs from the 70's. Yes, the music is cheesy, but the lyrics are simply amazing!

How Could I Ask For More by Cindy Morgan: My senior year of high school I was on homecoming court with four other girls, who were all good friends of mine. We all picked this song to be played during our ceremony. I still love this song!

Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart: The song Jon and I danced to at our wedding. I smile every time I hear it.

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me: This song was played at Brian Ditchen's memorial service. Brian was Jon's cousin who he grew up with, and who I went to school with, and he was a dear friend. He passed away in March of 2004 in a tragic plane accident, he was only 28. It shook the core of our faith. The only comfort came from knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, who Brian lived his life for: Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated believer, and we can't wait to see him again. Every time we would hear this song, it touched us deeply, it still does. Heaven has become very real to us.

The Scientist by Coldplay: My younger brother, Ben, sang and played this song on the piano at my brother Jeremy's memorial service. Jeremy passed away suddenly in September of 2004, he was only 31. Once again our faith was shaken (see next song)....

Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day: Whenever I hear this song I am reminded of my brother Jeremy...."To everyone who's lost someone they loved, long before it was their time, you feel like the days you had were not enough, when you said goodbye....cry out to Jesus" I am reminded to turn to God in the midst of my pain and loss, and it's OK to go to Him with my questions

We Will Dance by Steven Curtis Chapman: My current love song. It so beautifully describes mine and Jon's relationship.

I'm Not Cool by Scott Krippane: This is Daniel's song.Not in a mean way. He absolutely loves this song and sings along with it every time. The funny thing is, it describes him perfectly.

She's a Dancer by Phil Keaggy: This is Sarah's song! It so sweetly reminds me of Sarah...."she's a dancer, she loves to dance, she's a singer, she loves to sing, she's a lady, walkin' round in mama's shoes, standin' tall in mama's shoes" Sarah has also been caught singing into the bathroom mirror. And when she was younger she put on many "dance performances" for us in our living room.

Olivia by Phil Keaggy: Obviously Olivia's song! I've sang this song to her since she was a tiny newborn. She knows the words and sings along now. Whenever I put this song on, she stops what she's doing and gets a big smile on her face, and says "my song!"

Beautiful by Bethany Dillon: OK I'm 32 now. And sometimes when I look in the mirror, the depression creeps in. I don't look like I did ten years ago, I don't see a beautiful young woman looking back at me. And that can get you down sometimes. This song reminds me that true beauty is who I am in God's eyes. I could be perfect in every way on the outside and yet not be beautiful in the eyes of God, and when it's all said and done, my life would have been lived only for myself. I want to be beautiful in God's eyes, I want Him to look inside my heart and smile, and most importantly, be pleased.

Who Am I?, The Voice of Truth, and Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns: All three of these songs are very special to Jon. These are three of his all-time favorites. These songs brought him close to God when he was going through a hard time in his life.

I Am by Nicole Nordeman: The first time I heard this song was at a Women of Faith conference. She played it live on the piano. It was so beautiful and moved me so deeply. God is truly my "I Am", He has been my one firm anchor through every season of my life.