Thursday, February 26, 2009

Last Practice

Well tonight was our last practice for the Upward. We still have our game on Saturday and our awards ceremony on Sunday. I am definitely looking forward to a break after a long season with long hours, but I am going to miss my team and this league. This league has provided so many "God Moments" to help me through tough times this year. It has truely been amazing to see God working through this program to impact the lives of about 150 children, the majority of which come from outside of our church home. I thought that this year was going to be an administrative roll only, but that isn't what God had in mind. I have had so much fun with my team and fellow coaches. What a coaching staff, I was the head coach (talked to parents basically), Josh was the devotion coach, and Jake was our Basketball coach. Even the Lakers' couldn't handle that coaching staff. We end up with a great group of kids who I know have learned a lot about Christ and just maybe something about basketball. Some how I have been picked as the guest speaker at the awards celebration on Sunday and for the first real time I am nervous about speaking in front of a crowd. I know that God will provide me with the strength and the appropriate message, but it is a lot easier to sit behind a microphone inside the radio dial. So if you find time say a small prayer for me, our volueenteers, our league, and most importantly our kids.

Thanks! Oh by the way come see us Saturday I can teach you how to make a mean hot dog!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Everything happens so fast

The past few weeks have been going by so fast. Upward is in the last week of the season, Wesley is walking, playing, and seeing now (can't wait to get him) and yes Bricie is still getting socks. I have been out sick the last few days and can not wait to get back to work to get caught up and feeling better. One week from tomorrow I leave to go on the Walk to Emmaus. I can't wait, everyone says that it is just amazing and I can't wait to see what it is all about. This will be my first spiritual retreat and I couldn't be happier. Since I have last blogged I have been reminded that I serve a very big God who can do anything, and that the Devil is constantly trying to tear down what God does through his disciples. I hope everyone else is doing well, oh yea and I am thinking about starting a new blog for my Sunday school class to keep people updated on prayer concerns and as a refresher on the things we have talked about. What do you think? I am afriad no one will check it, but I also feel it would be neat way to keep everyone up to speed. Thoughts and opinions would be appreciate! Thanks!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Is any week Calm?

So another week has come and gone and once again it was a wild week. This has been a very tiring week, but a very inspirational one as well. I have been able to "experience" the beauty of God a bunch this week. It all began on Tuesday when after a very long day I was at church basically going through the motions waiting on basketball practice to be over. I guess I had been there checking on coaches, mingling with parents, and talking to friends for roughly 20 min. when I went to check on the cheerleading squad. Little did I know, that a little girl had just fallen and broken her arm, and yes it was very obvious it was broke. The children that witnessed this were all in the 5-7 year old age group. In the midst of this horrible thing God was right there. After checking on the little girl we moved the others to a classroom for numerous reasons. They weren't in that room for more then a few minutes and they were praying for their hurt teammate. The little girl had those prayers with her all night when at the last second before surgery the doctors were able to set the arm on the last try without surgery. On Wednesday I went on a "walk" with God as part of our bible study. I ended up getting my shoes soaked and my pants wet, but it was such a peaceful walk and time away from the hectic pace of my life to sit still and listen to God's beautiful creation. On Thursday I had a young man rejoin our Upward team after quiting a few weeks ago, just another God moment. I am truely thankful for these "God moments" even during sad times to help remind us that God is always right there with us and that all we have to do is slow down and look for him. Have a great week everyone!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The Shack

Wow! What a book! If you have not read this book Read it! It definetly puts a new twist on Life, Faith, and God. It is a very intense book that will absolutely touch your heart. Now I will admit that I read the book while going through the Experiencing God bible study and it became a very emotional and spiritual book for me because of that. However, the book shows a level of faith and forgiveness that is hard to imagine. I had about two chapters left to read and decided to go buy two more books from Costco for about $8.99. Then I finished the book and now I wish I would have bought about five of them. This is the type of book that you must pass on to as many people as possible so that you can get the full enjoyment out of it. So in saying that please read this book, but be ready to have your heart touched in so many ways. It has been on the New York Times best sellers list and has been the #1 best seller in paper back at Barnes and Nobles as well as the 2nd best seller (#1 Love Dare) at Chirstian Supply. If you decide to read this book please blog about it, talk about it, give it out, and allow it to touch your lives.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Long Journey

My life has been a wild wonderful journey that has been full of blessing. However, the wildest journey of my life took place over 24 years ago today. As I have my last piece of birthday cake for the night I have decided to share the story with the blogging world. My family hates this story even though they normally get a good kick out of it. My twin Sister (Anna) and I were born premature and supposively I was one of the smallest and ugliest babies ever. I am sad that Anna isn't here with me today, but we had lots of time together before we were born. I decided very early in the pregnancy that it was my job to take care of her and that is exactly what I did. Every day I spent countless hours fighting of infections and collecting antibodies to give to Anna. When times were tough and we didn't have much food I would go and gather enough for Anna to have even if it meant that I would go without. This went on for several months, until I eventually became used to it. It was hard work and caused me to stay tired and exhausted, but it had to be done so that I could fulfill my duties as a big brother.

The story gets even better. When the big day came I knew what had to be done and once again that was exactly what I did. It took some convincing, but finally we agreed that I would go check things out and if I didn't return within 5 minutes she was to come out and join me. Well there were tons of weird people and I cried alot, but I thought that it would be safe enough for Anna to join me so 5 minutes later she came out to join me and has been my "wombmate" ever since. Now we didn't always see eye to eye or even get along, but since we have grown up we have become so close. I hope desperatley that she changes her mind and one day moves back to the Upstate (even if it isn't to the Duncan area. There isn't anyone out there that understands how much I missing being around her all the time, but the most important thing tonight is to wish her Happy Birthday again and to thank her for my new son Wesley (puppy).

Thanks WOMBMATE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! LOVE YOU :)

Friday, February 6, 2009

Week of 2/2-2/6

Wow! What a week. Wild days at school, practices at church, bible study, home school, Uncle Herschel, celebrations with friends, sushi, puppies, sadness, and joy. I know right! Well every week has wild days when it comes to school. And well our coaches do a fantastic job which means very little work on my behalf. Oh and the Bible Studying "Experience God"= Amazing. Uncle Herschel is the Uncle to the founder of the Cracker Barrel. How neat you can go to such a wonderful place filled with great food and fun things to spend extra money on. I have been doing that all my life with my Dad on trips, but this week it was different. This time, for the first time, I didn't have to drive around a weird parking lot and ask a thousand times "how do I get out of here" or "where is the interstate"? Just a simple right on 290 and on the way home. You read that right folks the Cracker Barrel has arrived in Duncan. Now as if that would have made the week complete, but it didn't. The next day I was surprised by my awesome co-workers with two mini parties at school. I still have a sugar high. Wait it gets better! Then my beautiful wife takes me out to eat for Sushi. I mean wow enough is enough, but not yet. My sister, that I miss dearly (Anna), became my first sibling to become a Grandmother. Wait WAIT don't freak out....her dog had puppies. Two to be exact one boy and one girl. (I hope the boy comes home with me) shhhhh!!! All of this before the weekend even begins. I mean there is still 6 basketball games and NASCAR, thats right NASCAR, still to come on Saturday. AM I BLESSED OR WHAT? Well I think that about sums it up :) if you made it to this point thanks for reading and I hope that your week has been blessed as much as mine has, but if not just remember "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12 NIV)

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The Sizemores

Hello World! I have no idea where to start, so here we go. I am 23 about to be 24 and married to the most loving and patient women in the world (She has to be to tolerate me). We are both Education major teaching in our old district. I am currently staying busy by volunteering as the assistant league director of our Upward basketball and cheerleader program at our Church. It is amazing how much God has blessed us in the last 13 months. I am looking forward to wasting away spare time on here blogging to the world about who knows what. God Bless and enjoy the rest of the week!