Today, my Assistant Coach and I drove ten high school women’s lacrosse players (two of them were our daughters) up to Northwestern University for “The Best of the Best” Women’s Lacrosse Camp which runs through Friday. Top players from all around the country gather at this clinic which is led by the Northwestern Team who has won the NCAA title the last four years in a row. Last year only our two daughters, Steph and Maddi went. This year with ten of our girls going, we expect it to make a big impact on our team!

As a former youth minister who has travelled lots of places with high school youth, I learned something today…….high school girls are a lot easier to travel with than boys. They talk and they laugh, but generally are well behaved, and I didn’t need to turn and say “stop it” once! They are a pretty good bunch, and I not only appreciate their respect, but their dedication to the team and the sport. I am excited for them to be there.

Of course the day has been exhausting (4+ hours each way) but it was well worth it. As I look at my life I can see that I have not just been blessed by family and friends, but also by other people brought into my life by my kids. I have talked about the Lacrosse Community before here in Noblesville…..they never disappoint me and always amaze me. But the girls, and their parents, really affirm all the hard work we have put into this. They are wonderful kids on and off the field, but just when I think they have plateaued, the amaze me again.

I am sure the girls, while they are away in that dorm all together at camp, are going to be miserable because they miss us terribly….right! (Oh that even made me laugh!) But I know we miss them. I suppose it’s just good practice for what is coming our way. Just yesterday Steph was in preschool, watching Barney, and showing me how she could color in between the lines. Now she is driving, dating, and hanging out at a college all week. That little girl can still be sweet, all of them can I am sure, but when they put on those goggles and grab their sticks, they seem nothing less than intimidating. That’s how they want it, but they are all great kids.

Anyway, off to bed I go. Tomorrow is full of meetings and I am pretty wiped out from the day. I will need a good night’s sleep to make it through tomorrow. But I had to mention “The Best of the Best.” Some people think it’s a camp…..I know it’s our team. And I do not think you could ever convince me otherwise!

Nite and God Bless!

Tom+