6 Weeks till Spartan
Roll it back: From the Gun Show to the Rust n Dust Gas & Steam Show!
Gun Show is ready to Go on the Road!
As I’m hanging out 350miles away in Zeeland, Michigan at the Rust n Dust Gas & Steam, a tractor show the Coach Emily’s family has put on for the past 8 years, the picture day feed back started to roll in and all I could think was “This Gun Show is ready to hit the Road!”
The first couple weeks of summer practice are always hard to get the whole team together and some faces haven’t been seen since last fall. Our Cross Country team has always shared athletes with other sports and the band so different faces appear and disappear over the days and weeks. It’s a bit to keep up with but when you see it begin to come together with some focus and attitude, from a coaches perspective, you start to get fired up!
Big Thank You to all the parents that helped with picture day and picking up balloons. Picture day really needs to be a fun event for the team and seeing the photo’s it looks like it was.
Rust n Dust Gas & Steam Show
It’s really hard to put this tractor show into just pictures. It’s an awesome event that started with the heart at the heart of the matter. Emily’s Dad, Phil Ferwerda, need a new heart just over 8 years ago. Phil was dealing with an amyloid blood pathogen that had hardened his heart. As Phil was waiting for a heart transplant the family took up to fundraising the help pay for the procedure. From those efforts the Rust n Dust Gas & Steam show was started.
Phil got a new heart & he is still here today at the show. It is truly a celebration of the possibilities of this life. To see a man restored by a new heart and to see old tractors restored by new parts and paint makes me consider the impact we have on each other. It’s sad to think someone had to pass to provide a heart for Phil but yet amazing that someone would share that heart, more amazing that it’s possible to transplant a heart.
Opportunities can be a hard thing to understand. Most of the time we don’t even see the opportunities directly in front of us. Other time there is no question about opportunities, like I need a new heart type of opportunity. The process of working out those opportunities is a challenge because of the resistance that comes with it. In the end it’s all a matter of time, how much time do I have? How much commitment can I make towards an opportunity? In the event of a full commitment to an opportunity, I need a heart opportunity, you will remember the experience for sure but the relationships are what will cary you through to the finish line.
So to wrap this up, be open minded to the possibilities of opportunities and take great care of those supportive relationships along the way.
What’s Coming up…..
This week:
Monday Parent meeting & Meet the Team night.
Lot’s to talk about at the Parent meeting
Fundraising
Home Invitational
Spartan Meet
End of Season Banquet
Athletes need to wear Tie Dye shirts for meet the team
Tuesday
Snap Raise - Possible Launch Date
Saturday
Prairie Oaks - Breakfast & Long Run
Team Bio’s will be slowly rolling out this week too. Click below to see and check back for updates.