Andrew's first college meet!

Andrew ran his first Appalachian cross country meet Friday evening at the Greenway!  We were so happy to go and see him.  In true Andrew fashion, he was probably in the last 10 as they started and then moved up a bit before they went out of sight for a while.  When they came back into sight on the other side of the covered bridge, he had moved up - way up!  He ended up running a 25:59 8K (5 miles) and was 15th overall and 6th on the team and only a few seconds from 5th!  It was his first 8K race (unless he had run a road race - and I don't think The Bear counts!).  He looked so good - so smooth and so strong. 

Of course Pete is running around all excited and happy during the race.  I was excited too, but I tend to ponder more.  I know more on which to ponder too.  So sometimes I have more for which to be thankful.  And I am thankful.  I want Andrew to do well.  I want him to be healthy.  I want him to overcome this stuff that gets in his way.  But I know what is most important is what points to God.  I need to be willing to know that sometimes things won't go our way or be understood by us.  I will know without a doubt how I wish things could go and how I want them to go.  But I need to be more willing to trust that things will go the way they need to for HIS glory.  Friday, I was pondering on whether he could keep the pace.  I know things others don't know.  I know what we are working on medically.  I should have just enjoyed watching!

I have talked of my grandfather who prayed and prayed for Andrew when he was still alive.  He had a limited education, helped support his family of four boys during the depression, lost his father in the coal mines when he was seven, built his own business from scratch, worked six days a week most of his life, and was more generous than most people would ever be willing to be.  While he was not perfect (none of us are!), he knew where to go when he could not help Andrew in the way he would like.  He still tried to slide me money to help pay for travel expenses to the doctor and for medical bills.  And he called to check on us on a regular basis even when it was hard for him to find my number (until Whitney put it right next to his phone).  For years after he died, I would start to pick up the phone and call my special grandfather to share something with him.  I go to visit his grave sometimes - my grandmother is there and my little niece and other loved family members.  I know he is not there, but it is a place to be still and remember him and appreciate him.  Because he knew he had to get on his knees when he could not take care of something for me - or for Andrew.  And for someone who tried to be self-sufficient all of his life, that was a big deal to know he knew that and acknowledged it.

My grandfather was not on the front page of the newspaper.  He was not the wealthiest man in the town where he lived and worked for most of his life.  But he was a very hard worker, and he was very well loved.  When he died, people who worked for him came to tell stories of how he had helped them.  Friends told how he had paid the bill at the restaurant for them before he left ahead of them.  He helped people out of jams.  He was remembered for his hard work and work ethic.  All of these people knew he was not perfect, but they loved and appreciated him just as we did.  The point is that we don't have to be famous or out front to make a difference.  His difference was that he lived what he believed about hard work.  And as he got older and found out firsthand that he could not work things out himself, he knew to get on those knees.  He, like a lot of us, had to learn that over years and through experiences; but it still speaks to me greatly.

My grandfather would be so proud of Andrew - for his hard work and determination.  As my dad gets older, it is clear to see some of the same traits in him as my grandfather - sometimes in different ways.  I won't share that with him yet - that observation!  So Andrew is not out front, but he is out there and working hard and showing us what miracles are.  And when other things may come his way, he will just keep going the same way he is now.  And as his mom, I think it's okay - even great - to enjoy the good days and great races as long as I give credit where credit is due. 

Cannot wait to see what else is ahead for this boy.  I was so happy to see Peter bragging about Andrew on Facebook and saying he knows God has a plan for Andrew.  God has a plan for everyone.  The ones whose lives seem toughest right now and those who seem to be on easy street.  We need to be willing to watch and wait and listen so we can go in the direction He would have us to go.  So many things have worked out for Andrew in the past several weeks that could have just been disappointment and potential disaster.  So I am thankful for all of those things.  All of them.  And, again, I know I don't know the half of it!