Haircuts & Basketball

Happy Monday to ya'll!

Rachel has had four good days in a row and we are rejoicing!

I thought that I would share a few photos from our weekend.

The girls with their new haircuts:

This is the shortest Rachel's hair has been. Chic bangs!

And Hannah's curls. The hairdresser told her that

she had Taylor Swift hair and Hannah loved that.

She sang "Love Story" all afternoon.

Saturday was Hannah's basketball game. I think they won 29 to 12???

I was so thrilled to take my new Christmas present with me to the game and snap a few 100 pictures of our girl on the court. After taking my last photo, Mr. Incredible said, "Sweetheart, did you know that you can focus this part of the lens too?" What?????

"It's like a deer scope, see?" I am not one of the hunters in the family so I was just focusing with the outer lens and not the telescoping little thingy on the end. Hence, all few 100 photos look like this:

A little blurry? They look better when you squint. Oh, joy!

I'll try again next Saturday, Lord willing.

Blurry or not, I like this photo. Hannah is the tallest one on the team and we like that very much! She and I were practicing in the family room, using the deer head as our pretend basket (it's good for something).

I was showing her some post moves and some defensive pointers and she was getting it. I was so proud. So I said, "Hannah, you need to use these moves in the game and then you will be unstoppable! If you don't, I'll just come down at half time and we can practice these moves on a real court." Here eyes got really big and with a look of shear horror said, "You would do that?"

I reminded her of the time that I spoke to the referee after one of her games, he outweighs me by 200 pounds, about the way that his prejudice towards his nieces team was ridiculous, or something sweet like that. (It was not one of my finer moments, but there you go!) She nodded remembering this fine mother of the year moment and then said, "Don't worry, I'll use these moves in the game!"

I feel like I must add that I had no intention of embarrassing myself or my daughter at half time, but sometimes you just have to get your bluff in. Know what I mean?

Anyway, whether you agree with my fine parenting skills regarding basketball, or not, it worked! She was on fire on the court. I had to chuckle out loud several times because every time she would score or rebound or make a cool move on the court, she would look up at me in the stands and smile as if to stay, "Stay where you are Mom, I've got it!"

I loved it. She was so proud of how she played. She gave it her best effort and I was proud too. After all, that's what my whole teaching moment in the family room was all about.

Rachel made it well at the game. We stayed to watch my nephew play but he was in a smaller gym and the scoreboard buzzer and the whistles were a bit too loud for her. We left at half time and she rested the rest of the afternoon.

She was able to go to church and Sunday School yesterday morning. A precious lady named Marilyn, who can barely speak due to a horrible stroke many years ago, was able to tell Rachel that she was praying for her. We cried. She felt so loved yesterday and my heart rejoiced.

She is at school today for half a day. We don't want to do too much at once. The principal at her school is wonderful. He encouraged half days to start and we are taking him up on his offer. I will be picking her up in an hour and I am ready.

I didn't realize that I had written so much, sorry! I'll close for now. Thanks for all of your prayers on our behalf. I just love ya'll to pieces!

Joyfully,

Kristi