Jesus Take the Wheel: March 2013

About 2 months ago, one of David's co-workers told him about an event at Texas A&M for kids...the Aggie Youth Experience. 500 kids get to spend 3 hours watching a scrimmage and doing drills with the Texas A&M Football team...for free! WHOOP!!! Where do we sign up?

This morning, we loaded up the van and headed out to College Station. I've only been back to my beloved alma mater a handful of times since I graduated, but when I do, I get a feeling only an die-hard Aggie can explain. There's just somethin' about it...the "Spirit of Aggieland." I love it.

We got to Kyle Field early, so we walked around campus and showed the kids a few points of interest, like the Memorial Student Center (MSC), Rudder Theater Complex, the "Quad" (where the Corp of Cadets live), The Commons (where my dorm was, but I also lived in the "Quad" for 2 years), the Sterling C. Evans Library, the Academic Building, and The Century Tree. This was honestly the kids' favorite. They'd never seen such a huge oak tree where the lower limbs rest on the ground. Many a marriage proposal has taken place under the widespread canopy.

Image courtesy of Flickr

David didn't propose to me here 14 years ago, but today we though it was the perfect place for a kiss. :-). For once, I don't mind getting my picture taken by my 11-year-old daughter...I think I look skinny for once, LOL!

My...what memories I had walking around campus...pointing out other buildings to the kids where I'd gone to classes, eaten lunch/dinner, and studied all night in the library. Hopefully we have 5 future, 4th generation Aggies in training!

After all that walking the crew started getting hungry, so we headed back to Kyle Field for lunch. The program provided the kids with sausage dogs and water...but we'd brought extra snacks too. David made a run to a nearby Walmart for sweatshirts and some lunch for us. Although the day was mild, the wind had a chill to it, and we didn't bring jackets. I wasn't too worried about the older 3, since they'd be running around, but the younger two had on short sleeves. David found what we needed on clearance...each shirt was just $2.00! Score!

He made it back just in time to watch the scrimmage.

Gabriel and Theresa happily inhaled chicken nuggets and french fries while we watched. Theresa was fascinated by the action on the field and kept pointing at the players, saying "Aggies, Aggies!" Too funny!

All the kids were then divided up into 7 groups acccording to age. So David, Gabriel, Theresa, and myself had a fun time going all over Kyle Field to watch our kids. They were in 3 different groups, so believe me when I tell you we got our exercise yesterday. ;-)

Here's Joshua...

Rebecca....

and Christina!

In between rotations, we caught a glimpse of Johnny Football himself and Coach Kevin Sumlin. My goodness...it was amazing to be in the same arena as them...the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and the best coach Texas A&M has had in over a decade. We hoped for photo ops with them, but knowing they were really there for the kids, we just took pics from a distance. Honestly...it was good enough for me.

David taught Gabriel and Theresa how to do a 3-point stance. Oh my goodness, just look at these 2! I laughed so hard. They were too young for the drills, but they had plenty of space to run around the field. The girls taught their little sister how to say, "Gig 'em" and "Howdy." It was adorable.

One very tall young man, Nehmiah Hicks (#81) saw Theresa and said, "Aw...she's so cute."

Can I just say I had the cutest little Aggie out there today? So glad the dress I made for her last year still fit after I let down the hem. And she finally has enough hair to keep a hair bow in!

Nehemiah let me take a quick photo with Theresa. He was a tall 6' 4"! It was really nice of him, and when I said, "Thank you, " he replied, "Yes ma'am, you're welcome." Such nice manners too!

After all the rotations were done, Coach Sumlin spoke a few words, saying maybe in 10 years, a few of the kids today would be playing football for Texas A&M on Kyle Field. Lots of applause, whooping, and cheering. He's a great speaker, even without a mike!

We shook hands with a few of the players...got a couple more pictures around the south end zone goal post...

And that was it. The kids said they had FUN. We seriously had a blast. Thank goodness we were able to come, since the upper age limit is 13. That means Joshua will be too old next year.

After leaving the stadium, we drove over to St. Mary's Student Center (where David and I met) to see Kristine Cranley, Gabriel's godmother. At one point, she was a novice with the Sisters of Life in New York, but eventually left the convent, went back to school for another degree, and is now working as a campus minister at St. Mary's.

We hadn't seen her in over 3 years, so it was great to just sit down for a while and catch up. I made sure to get a picture of Gabriel with her. I know she is always praying for our little boy. There is just something special about Kristine. And I think Gabriel senses it. He's not great about taking pictures...and often won't look into the camera...but every time I've taken his picture with his godmother, it turns out amazing.

See what I mean?

Around 5:00, we said our goodbyes with promises to stay in touch, and took the kids to Double Dave's for dinner. Luckily I had coupons in my purse, and we got 2 large pizzas and a half-dozen pepperoni rolls for just over $30 bucks. Yee haw!

We drove home in the twilight, admiring the millions of bluebonnets along Highway 6 and 105. I wanted to get out and take pictures of the kids in the flowers...but they weren't having any of that. I guess they were too tired. Oh well...maybe next year.

It was an eventful day, but everyone held up great, even the baby who dutifully took a catnap in the van 2x (going up and coming back). Yeah!