PERSPECTIVE

Today was a little rough.  It was the first time my children have been to a funeral.  Jax's football coach's mother passed away after a 5 year long battle with breast cancer.  Even more devastating, she lost her life on Christmas night.  While I find it comforting that her family surrounded her and I know that she was so very loved, as I listened to the pastor, I totally understood as he tried wholeheartedly to get everyone to realize that her 6 small grandchildren will forever associate Christmas and New Years with the day they lost their grandmother and the day they buried their grandmother.  He wanted these kids to know that it was not a sad day.  That this was now a time to celebrate these days.  Time will eventually heal those wounds.

It was not until Joe's 12 year old son stood up and spoke about his grandmother, that it really hit Jax, or myself, for that matter.  I pretty much started bawling at that point.  Angel spoke so highly of his grandmother,  The one thing he repeated, through his tears, was, "she always taught me to never, ever quit.  My grandmother came to every single one of my football games even when she was sick, she never quit and she taught me, to never quit or ever give up."  Jax told me that he was quite impressed that Angel stood before such a large group and spoke and then said to me, "Angel was lucky that his grandma went to every one of his games."  I agreed and then said, "true, but Jax, she was so sick, and now he does not have a grandma." 

He sat and pondered that for a second and said, "yeah, but they did a lot together in the time they were together."

Yep Jax, you can't get time back, and tomorrow is too late sometimes.......

It's all in the perspective.

Railroad Park

With one night off from task force we decided to head out to Railroad park to attempt a Christmas photo with Santa and a train ride with the kids.  Well, you know how that goes......  one little schmuck wanted no part in posing for pictures, some of the lights were not working on the train ride..... but we made the best of it...  and Santa was overly cool about us taking pictures with our own camera inside the train.

SHOP WITH A COP

This year I took on yet another task.  It is called the, "907 Group" through the POSA organization through the Scottsdale Police Department. I don't often advertise the things I do outside of our family or neighborhood to others.  This one I kept to myself for quite awhile.  I was even shocked when Tommy decided to get his a few guys from his squad involved.

The 907 club takes children from families of fallen and injured officers from around the state of AZ shopping for Christmas.  They are escorted by officers from agencies as a way to show families that they are still part of the law enforcement family.  In a way I think it was a form of healing for me as well.  My kids learned a valuable lesson this day.  I think they were shocked to see so many children at one time or another kissed their mom or dad goodbye for the day or night, and they never came home again.  Thankfully I only had to coordinate about 15 children to shop for my group.

When all was said and done, over 257 children went shopping, and over $47,000 was spent in just a few short hours....  and I was pretty darn tired!!

Updates

Yes kiddos and big kid alike...  I will update this baby tonight...  for now...  be happy I got the i-Touches going and a workout working.... I have 634 pictures to play with and one month of things to go through....  and a house to clean and you kiddos to pick up after....  anyone want to help?

WISHING YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS!  WE HOPE YOU ARE SAFE AND WARM WITH ALL YOUR LOVED ONES AND GOODIES THIS HOLIDAY EVENING!

LOVE,
THE JENSEN FAMILY
TOMMY, DEANNA,JAX, BRINKLEY, AND JUSTICE  

PINK GLOVES and a Golden Trophy

Adrenaline was running high all week in our house.  Practices were a little more amped, it was a little harder to concentrate on homework, even I had to rethink my daily things that really needed to get done...outside of taking care of my "other 25 boys."  The last six months of Jax's work had come down to his final game of the season....  The AZYSFO State Championship game between the Titans and the Vikings.

During Wednesday's practice, Jax ripped his beloved pink gloves.  The gloves that we had bought for the month of October.  The gloves that had brought him touchdown after touchdown and win after win.   The gloves that everytime a player made fun of him for wearing, he flattened them, sacked them, tackled them, or just flat out, took them out.  He made the last minute decision to switch to one black and white and one pink.  Whatever works.

During Friday nights practice, one of the Dad's and I met with Steve Breaston, #15, of the AZ Cardinals.  He graciously handed over 53 tickets to Sunday's game against the Rams along with hats, food and drink vouchers and parking passes.  Just to do a good deed for the boys. The story of how it all came about is way to long to even go into, but I can only hope that anyone reading about Jax today, decides TO PAY IT FORWARD too.  I quickly calculated that he donated over $700.00 worth of goodies to our TITANS family and man do we feel loved!!

ONTO THE BIG GAME.......

With all that adrenaline flowing, eye black smeared, signs waving, freshly patched knees, coolers filled, hearts racing, and 21 TITANS anxiously waiting to hear their names called out before the whilstles blew, I said one quick prayer to keep these boys healthy and unhurt during this final game of their JPW season. 

Our first half did not go very well.  We scored only one touchdown but had over 75 yards in penalties for false starts, off sides and tackling in the back field.  Our little guys were anxious and making a lot of mistakes.  Thankfully our defense was holding strong, as always, and the Vikings were not able to score. At halftime I could see how upset Jax was.  He was beyond angry and could barely contain tears of frustration.  The only words that came out of his mouth were, "I WANT MY PINK GLOVE MOM!"  After a coaches talk and some quick oranges our boys came back with a new outlook on the game.

The third quarter brought on a few penalties at the start but the Vikings finally stopped covering the BIG BOY and on came his first touchdown, pushing the score up to 12-0.  Jax was excited and finally found his groove again.  He had been making all his tackles and hitting everyone but had way too many kids covering him to risk a pass his way.  Later in the night Jax told me that he finally looked at David, our quarterback, and told him, "I can't drop the ball (shaking his hands that were now wearing both pink gloves   .......throw to me." David agreed..... and the Titans came alive again.

A few plays later Jax scored his second touchdown of the game. This boy was psyched beyond belief.  he was all over the field, making tackles right and left and made a huge fumble recovery to allow for the final touchdown of the game.  The game came to an end with the TITANS victorious with a score of 26-6.  I couldn't wait to pass out their golden CHAMPION medals.  I took a chance buying them in advance but knew these boys were that good that they would win.

It wasn't until each boy had their medals and I went to put Jax's around his neck that I realized that he had HUGE tears of joy streaming down his face.  That was when I lost it.  I had been completely emotional all week about this game but really tried hard to keep it in check.  He was so happy and I was so proud.  A few of the other moms kind of made fun of me about me crying, others started getting tears in their eyes when they saw mine...either way.... I didn't care...... my kid scored two touchdowns and played his heart out for this team and I was simply PROUD beyond words!

You earned the right to be called a CHAMPION Jax.  You earned that Huge golden trophy for your Coach and your played your heart out with those pink gloves....even with all those boys that had the nerve to make fun of you for wearing them.  You had the last laugh though didn't you?  I will miss your team as you move up to a new level next season.  It will be bigger and stronger boys and you will have to train to meet the demands of that team.  I know you can do it.  You have proven yourself this season.  You proved you are capable of being a top athlete, an honors student and wonderful son.  Not that any of those were ever in question!!!!  Keep up the great work.......Just make sure you take a shower!!!!!!

Dear Jax,

Everyday I hear I have yet to blog again, it has been so many days since I have blogged or, Mom, why haven't you blogged?  Well, kiddo, here it is. Just for you.

As you read this, I hope you keep in mind, that it is not just for you.  It is about our entire family.  Your season is coming to an amazing end this Saturday.  No matter what the outcome, you have come a long way in 6 months.  You trained hard, you learned from amazing men, you listened, you worked as a team, you worked on your own, you gained knowledge and muscle mass and size...Lord did you gain size.... and you matured.  We are very proud of you.  No matter how your game ends, know that you have won.  You learned what it felt like to lose a game that was lost on uncertain terms and you learned what victory felt like.

I hope that you realize that it has been a long 6 months for your entire family.  Every person has given up time, energy, and other things to always be there to support you and your love of football.  From the 4 days a week practices to 4 days a week with practices and games, it has never been easy to get everything in and make it seem simple, but everyone has given it their best for you so that you could be successful on that field every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and on game day Saturday.  Please don't ever forget that Jax.  It has been so much more a part of your success than just your practices, than you will ever realize.  No matter what your little sister or brother may say or do, they look up to you and respect the young man you are becoming and the athlete that you are.  Don't ever tarnish that image Jax.  It is an honor to hold such a place in a family.

I hope you know how proud I am of you.  I listen to parents talk about you and how many of them are shocked that this is your first fall season. You are still my little boy even if you stand nose to nose with me.  I want you to do your best on Saturday and when that last second ticks away, hold your head high, because no matter what, your family will be there with you, proud as ever for the season you have had and the player you have become.

I Love You!
Mom