First Day of Football

Today was Braxton's first day of playing tackle football. He played in South Sevier.(It is still hard seeing him in red. Anybody who knows Brax knows that he is a die hard BYU fan and he struggles wearing the red. He says to tell everybody that it is for South Sevier not Utah!) They played the North Sevier wolves. Braxton's team lost 24-0. He was so upset. I was so proud of him though. He had to be there at 11:00am. He was so excited. I asked him if he was nervous and he said no, just anxious. We got there and the 8th grade team was just loosing. Then the 7th grade team played. Dad and I were sitting on the bleachers dieing of heat. So at half time of the 7th grade game I took the girls and went for something to eat and some more water. While we were getting water dad called and said, "Well, they are bringing in the ambulance for a kid who has been laying on his back for 10 minutes now not moving." At this time all my emotions came and I just started crying. I couldn't get in touch with Tevita (He was coaching his football team in Kanab) so I called my friend, Heather. I asked her if I could have a pregnancy crying minute with her. Thankfully she listened to me cry and tell her that it just hit me that our son is now playing "big boy" football and what if he gets hurt? I wonder if I would have been as upset if I wasn't prego. I was concerned for the kid, I was concerned that Brax might get hurt, and I was concerned that Brax would be upset about the player and not want to play for fear of getting hurt. Well, at this point my girls started to cry so I had to buck up and quit crying and be strong. So, I got over by my dad and brother and thought I was being so tough and wanted to take Brax his water. Then the tears came again. I said, "it just hit me that I am wondering what we are doing." Justin said, "you are letting your boy live his dream." So I wiped my tears away and walked over to Brax so I could give him his water. I told him to come over to me but he said, "Mom, I need to stay on my knee until that player gets off the field." So, I gave him his water and walked away. He was fine. He wasn't worried at all about getting hurt. He just wanted the kid to get better and off the field so he could get playing. I worried for nothing! Well the 7th grade team won and we were so happy for them. Then it was Braxton's time to play. The refs asked for the captains to go meet with them and there was our son! I had no idea that he was a captain. Then the tears came again. I was so proud of this kid. Here he is a 5th grader playing on the 6th grade team and he got to be captain! I was so happy for him. I told dad and Justin, "I never knew football was so emotional!!" Then the game began. Brax and his team played some really good football, especially for their first game. They worked really hard, they just couldn't stop the running of the wolves. After the game Brax was a little upset. I was so proud of him for what he said. I asked him what was wrong and he said, "Mom, there is a rule that if a player cusses he has to go home and is not allowed to play. Well, if that is the case then why do my coaches cuss at us so much. Shouldn't they follow the same rule?" I tried to explain to him that it wasn't right for them to be cussed at but it is football and sometimes the coaches are going to let it slip out. He then wanted to call his dad and talk to him about it. So we waited to hear from Vita and I'm not sure what he told Brax but Brax is feeling better about it now and still wants to play. I am going to have to take pictures of all the bruises he has all over his arms. He looks beat up but he feels great! He said, "Well, I guess after that loss, we are going to have to work harder in practice on Monday." I hope he knows how proud of him we are and we love him so much. Good job Brax and we are looking forward to many more great games!