Always an Eagle

Some of the boys watching the slide show of Ryne and T.

David Jones, one of our quarterbacks, sitting behind me and Ash during the service.

Donald Johnson, a coach, speaking during the service.

Todd Oliver, a player and also Ryne's roommate and T's roommate last year, hugging T's dad.

"Even young youths shall faint away and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:30-31

This verse, for obvious reasons, has always been the team verse for Faulkner Football (for anyone who doesn't know, we are the Faulkner Eagles). Friday during Ryne's funeral in Mississippi and yesterday during the memorial service here on campus we heard a lot of different verses used that are supposed to make you feel better at things like that. I'm sure that I will hear some more Friday at T's funeral. But, yesterday after everyone had left I was sitting in the locker room in one of the lockers and I pulled my feet up and kind of hid myself in there. When I looked at the back of the locker that verse was hanging up and as I read it the most amazing thing happened. It made me feel better.

I thought of County Fair (for all of you x GCSers this is like a three week "Gut week" for anyone else, you should be getting a pretty clear picture by now) and Spring practice and watching these boys work SO HARD. I would see them just fall down from being so tired and exhausted and August seemed so far away even to me and I was nice and warm and comfortable, certainly not running until I threw up! That memory is what jumped into my head and, for maybe the first time I really smiled when I thought about them. I just love the thought of them flying around like Eagles all full of life and looking down.

Anyways, Friday morning, after a VERY long week me, Ashley, all the coaches, and some of the players loaded a bus for the five hour trip from Montgomery to New Albany, Mississippi. We arrived at the church building for lunch and got to spend some time with the family. The people from the congregation there were just amazing and there was so much wonderful food. Even with all the football boys there, there was still food leftover! Next we went into the sanctuary where the service was going to be and spent an hour sitting there watching the family have their last moments with Ryne and watching a slide show. It was a very emotional hour and we were already pretty exhausted by the time the funeral finally started. The service was very nice and then we all loaded the bus again and we followed a police car to the cemetery. After the graveside service we went back to the building and they fed us again before we got back on the road. i just can't say enough about how nice they all were.

Skip ahead to Sunday night (after what, at best, would be described as a horrible weekend) and I went out to eat with Ashley (our trainer), Doug (our asst. AD), and Ryne's mom, step dad, brother, aunt, uncle, and cousin. We had already met his dad, step mom, brother and sister, and the Hollis family at the hotel, but none of them were feeling up to going out to eat. It was a wonderful dinner but I was so tired and emotionally drained that I just couldn't go to work and make it through all that had to be done the next day. Sunday was about the hardest day so far.

Monday morning was so busy, I didn't even have time to think about anything or be sad. By the time I had arranged everything and met up with the families in the President's Dining Room for lunch with the coaches, I was already exhausted and hadn't had A SECOND to think about anything else. Lunch was very nice and then we took the families over to the gym. It really looked so good, if I do say so myself, and it was nice for the families to have a little while in there by themselves.

There were about 600 players, coaches, students, faculty/staff, media, and people from the community that filed in the gym. First, President Hilyer got up and spoke and said a prayer, then Cornerstone sang "I'll Fly Away", then Aaron Greenwood, the SGA president spoke, and then four football players spoke. I am SO PROUD of Sean Thom, Bobby Britton, Todd Oliver, and Paul Adams that I can't even put it into words. They did incredible and I know how hard it was for them. I honestly don't know if I have ever been more proud of anyone ever. Next Cornerstone sang "It Is Well With My Soul" before Coach Baker got up and spoke and my pride (and tears) continued. He did so good and had even written a poem for it!

Remember Us
To the living, we are gone.
To the sorrowful, we will never return.
To the angry, we were cheated.
To the happy, we are at peace.
To the faithful, we never left.
We cannot be seen, but we can be heard.
So as you push through the tough times, remember us.
As you celebrate life's victories, remember us.
As you cheer our Eagles, remember us.
Remember us, in your heart, your thoughts, and your memories.
The times we've shared, the times we've cried, the times we've laughed.
For if you always think of us, we will have never gone.
Ryne and T, We will never forget you.
BY GREGG BAKER, FAULKNER HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

After Coach Baker spoke, Heath Stripling, another coach led the entire group in "Amazing Grace" before Donald Johnson, another coach, led us in a closing prayer. All the parents were presented with a honorary degrees for the boys, their jerseys, and footballs signed by the entire team and staff. It was just an amazing day. The links I posted at the bottom take you to a recording of the entire service, a clip from the newspaper, and local news links. The story did make it on ESPN, FOX News, and many other major news outlets, but it was all pretty much the same.

http://www.faulkner.edu/athletics/memorial/

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009904280334

Please, please keep these families, friends, and this team in your prayers. There is an unbelievable amount of hurt to fit in such a small field house. There is so much healing that needs to be done that only God can do it.

The post I never wanted to make

Terison "T" Hollis 11/07/88- 04/21/09

Ryne Wilhite 08/26/89- 04/21/09

Last year, not too long after I started working at Faulkner for the football team, a player died from Huntingdon College, our rival school here in town. I remember thinking how awful it was and actually praying that nothing like that would ever happen here. Today, with tears flowing down my face, I have to report that it has happened twice.

Ryne Wilhite and T Hollis were killed in a car crash on Hwy 82, returning to campus from a friends house in Tuscaloosa. According to troopers, it appears that they fell asleep and veered into an oncoming eighteen wheeler. Both were killed instantly.

I knew Ryne pretty well because he just transferred in in January from Mississippi, where he played for a junior college there, and I did a lot of talking to him and his parents on the phone and during visits. I didn't know T as well but he is one of only a handful of players that has been here since our inaugural season. Both kids were great kids with great hearts. T was a leader on this team and everyone had already grown to love Ryne.

I beg you to please keep their friends and families in your prayers and also the football team and coaches. These kids and coaches have to spend so much time together that they become each others family. The reaction of these kids when they were told this morning will go down as one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever seen.

We are swamped with media today, coming in and out of the office and calling. I really wanted to post more and tell you about how great these kids were but, it will have to be later. Just please keep them all in your prayers.

****terrible time but today is my dad's birthday and there will be a 53 things post about him, just not today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY! I love you!****

Orange and White Game 2009

Here comes Lane, Smokey, and the Vols!

The boys that accompanied me. From left to right, Uncle Ted, Dev, Braden, and Dad.

Me and Dad

Me and Dev

Me and Dev waiting on the Vol Walk

So, it has become a father/daughter tradition for me and Dad to go to the Orange and White game (every team has their own version of a Spring game....Faulkner's is the Blue and White game, Alabama's and Auburn's in "A" Day, ect., ect.) in Knoxville every year. We have gone the last four years, one year the whole fam went, two years Dev went with us, and this year Uncle Ted (Mom's brother) and his stepson, Braden, went with us. We got there in time to walk around on the practice field (usually it's done on the real field but, due to construction, that was impossible this year), where all the players and coaches were taking pictures and signing autographs. I really wanted to meet Coach Ed Orgeron and see if he really talks like that (search him on YouTube, it's hilarious!) and get my picture taken with him for the guys (they love him too...the only person the wanted me to get my picture taken with more was Layla Kiffin, just google her and you'll see why pretty quick) but it was hot and Dev was hungry so we didn't stick around to wait in VERY long lines.

We went and met Uncle Ted and Braden, who were already waiting on a hill for the Vol Walk and got a pizza. We also met up with Michael Rainey and his girlfriend Anne Marie, who goes to UT and is a huge Vols fan too! I really hope he keeps her around (he's a Auburn fan)! It was fun just getting to hang out and visit with friends and family right outside Neyland stadium. Finally it was time for the Vol Walk, where the Vols and the coaches (and during the Spring game, recruits) walk from their field house to the field and THOUSANDS line the street to cheer them on, bump chests, and high five them on their way.

To give you an idea, last year there were about 30,000 there. This year there were over 50,000 (due to the construction, the fire marshall would only let 50,000 in and there were some very unhappy fans outside the stadium when the game started) people there! Before the game they honored Coach Phillip Fulmer with the Neyland award and I am happy to say that he got about a five minute standing ovation from the crowd. I was so glad, I still don't love the way his "retirement" went down and I am glad that he and the University and him and Coach Kiffin are all getting along. I hope he never speaks to Hamilton again. Dirty old butt deserves it.

Once the game started we saw REALLY excited and spirited coaches and players, some better than expected Offense and some AWESOME Defense! Lane doesn't play around and Coach O and "Dad" Monty REALLY get into it! It was real hot and we all definitely got some sun but it was a GREAT day! It is just enough football to help you get through to Fall. It was great to spend time with Dad and Dev and it feels SO good to have a renewed hope about Tennessee Vols football! After the start the Braves are having (losing five in a row, with the last two being shutouts!), and the way the Vols and the Lady Vols ended their MORE than just disappointing basketball seasons, I need some renewed hope for one of my teams!

Thanks Dad and, IT'S GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL!!!!!!

Taxed Enough Already! (FOR THE LOVE!)

Me, Dirt, Louise and Leigh in the back of the T.E.A. party, Montgomery, AL edition!

I LOVE people getting their kids involved! And their signs were SO cute!!!

University Church of Christ representing!

Again, I LOVE the kid signs!

If that didn't make you laugh out loud.............

Dirt and some of his patriotic co-workers!

Yeah! Party like it's 1773!

Just hanging out with a couple thousand of my most patriotic friends!

So, this is a little late but on April 15th Leigh, Louise, Dustin, and myself all went to the T.E.A. party on the front steps of the State House in downtown Montgomery. I have recently decided that all the things that I hate about what America has become is my fault and probably yours too. I HATE most of the decisions that our congress, house, and presidents have made in the past few years. So, what can I say that I have done about it? Let's see... well, I voted. Yeah, that's it. I haven't written, e-mailed, or called my congressman, my senator, or my president. I haven't ever demonstrated or in any way shown my displeasure for the decisions our lawmakers have made. Persecute me for believing in and worshiping my God and what will I do? I'll vote! That'll get them.

I'm not downplaying the importance of voting at all. I have only missed one vote since I turned 18 and I DO consider it very unpatriotic NOT to participate in that right. However, that is not enough! One of the speakers said at the T.E.A. party said, "I keep hearing people say, 'How did we let all of this happen?' Well, the answer is pretty simple. 'WE' were at work!" Pretty true. I can honestly say that I feel like between my two jobs, church activities, ect. I don't feel like I have time to be a political activist and I'm sure you feel the same way. But, the truth is, that it's going to take, those of us who "don't have time" to get up and start getting involved before it's too late!

50 years ago who would have thought that killing babies, killing the elderly, getting pregnant just to use the stem cells that are grown during pregnancy and then "disposing" of the fetus, and gays marriage would be legal? And, who would have thought, 50 years ago, that praying before a ballgame and carrying a Bible in school would be ILlegal? What, then, will be legal and illegal fifty years from now? Who is OK with paying FORTY-TWO PERCENT in taxes, while over FIFTY PERCENT of the country DOESN'T even pay taxes?!?

What is going to be the last straw for you? I kind of had a few straws fall at one time, so it was hard to tell which one was the actual last. One of the straws was when I sat down and figured out that I paid more in taxes in 2008 than I MADE at my THIRTY HOUR A WEEK part time job! That means, I am working a entire SECOND job just to START paying my taxes!!! Another "straw" was when president Obama lifted the ban on spending OUR taxpayer money on abortions, OVERSEAS(http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/23/obama-lift-ban-overseas-abortion-funding/)! Does that even sound remotely right to ANYone? The last proverbial straw was when he went over to Europe and APOLOGIZED for America. I wanted to shout on TV all over the world, HE ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ME!!!

So, (I'm getting ready to step off of my soapbox) I am announcing that I AM not standing by and being persecuted any more! I AM getting involved more and I really urge you to do the same! This T.E.A. party was just the beginning for me. I HATE the response to this by the main media (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G3fvNhdoc0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IeRxVMpyDg if you haven't seen these, you REALLY have to) who blames Fox News but for anyone who is interested in the truth, this is where it actually started (on CNBC, how funny is that!) you can watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZB4taSEoA

Last but not least, the TEA party was so fun and SO refreshing! Sometimes when you are surrounded by stuff you see on TV, read on the internet and in newspapers/magazines, you think that you are pretty much by yourself in your beliefs but I was assured on Wednesday that I wasn't! And, I LOVED the signs!

These guys!

No real reason to post except to say how funny these guys are I work with! I am about to be laid off for three months and yesterday and today these guys have had me rolling! Being around boys on a regular basis is such a different experience. Their point of view is SO different from mine and, might I add, usually so misguided!

Lately our conversation has revolved around one of the guys that is getting married in June. It is HILARIOUS to listen to his expectations from marriage! I can see why so many marriages fail....because boys are CRAZY in what they expect! It's a good thing he is marrying such a good girl!

The other thing that has occupied most of their/our time has been some kids stole some of our golf carts and took them for "joy rides", wrecking them, and tearing them up. Well, we have a camera out there but since it was dark, it was real hard to make out the kids. So, for two days the guys and the security guys were all crowded around my computer, watching the video feed. My little regular detectives :^) I wish I had been able to take a picture or better, a video, so ya'll could have heard them figuring it out. Which, I am proud to say, they did.

I really love this job and wish that it was a more permanent thing. Now.....I am off to create memories for my next blog.....The TEA Party!!!!

Happy Easter

Kristen working hard dying the eggs!

Our supplies are prepared!!

It's hard to believe that just one week ago I was telling Magiboo and all of my friends in the Philippines goodbye. Yesterday, as I was walking through Target looking at the Easter stuff I saw a small little Easter toy that just unexpectedly brought tears to my eyes. The thought came to mind that Magiboo has never had a Easter basket and most likely never will. The tears came with a smile though, just thinking about how much he would love all that candy :^)

Yesterday I went Easter shopping at Wal Mart as soon as I got up. I also picked up my pictures and 127 pictures later and hour had past with me just standing there looking at them. I then came home and went to bed so I could get up early. I got up about 5 and me and Kristen, who is my only family member in town this weekend, went to the salon to get pedicures. How it needed mine was from those weeks walking all over Luzon in flip flops! Then we cam home and dyed eggs! It was SO fun!

When I got to work last night, my secret sister had left me an Easter basket with some of my favorite things inside! I'm am ABSOLUTELY embarrassed to tell you that I ate an ENTIRE bag of mini Snickers! On top of that we had Easter dinner there and I had two helpings of lasagna and of course only one small one of lasagna! Either I am totally glutenous or I REALLY missed good old American dishes (please ignore the fact that lasagna is Italian!)

This morning I came home and made Kristen, Leigh, Louise, and Dirt Easter baskets. Fun stuff. Now I am about to get ready and go to early service with Kristen and then we are going out to eat for Easter dinner! I hope that all of you have as wonderful an Easter as I already have with your friends and family!

Home Sweet Home

Well, as of about 1:30 this morning I am officially home. Started off my first day back by oversleeping, running late for the Dr, finding out the hard way that someone left the shower on so when I turned on the water I got sprayed with freezing water, getting in the car and finding it on empty and a bad case of road rage with a VERY rude driver! Have I mentioned that my stomach decided that the 12 hour plane ride where I was in the THIRD of FIVE seats would be a great time to start acting up. Yeah, you gotta love multiple trips to a plane bathroom, crawling over people who are sleeping and eating to even get to the aisle!

I decided after the Dr appt (no lice....YAY!) to start my day over. I went home and took a bath and visited with my new roommate (and cousin :^) Kristen for a little while before headed into work about 1:30. The guys were pretty happy to see me, I have to say. Now I have caught up on e mails, am working on our phone messages, and about to go to the chiropractor before Weds night service. I guess real life doesn't break for long in the USA. I must give a shout out to Leigh though, she did make up my bed and put fresh flowers on my nightstand, and even turned on my heater (knowing that I would be freezing!) for me.

I really miss my kids and friends and have teared up many times today talking and thinking about them but it is good to be home. I hope I can remember on long work days, days when I oversleep, and driving with the terribly rude Montgomery drivers, how good I really have it. Thanks so much to all of you who supported us and prayed for us. We couldn't have done it without any of you.