'My Boys'

This is copied from a forum that we have for our kids and all their programs in Dexter, NM. My husband posted this and men, in general, rarely expose their feelings and if they do, it is usually in very few words. But the response to this posting has been so touching, affecting so many that I wanted to share. I think these moments always help us wives to remember some of those things about our husbands that made us fall in love with them.

To set the background for this story...my two oldest boys have been playing football since Jr. High and have helped put the Varsity program back on the map in our community with great coaching from their uncle and great team mates committed to giving it their all as well. The last three years in particular have been an amazing climb to the top in their division in the state of NM. Last year we were undefeated coming into the semi-finals and lost a heartbreaker to a great team from Texico, NM with a final score of 15-14 after being ahead 14-0 until the last quarter of the game!

So this year, they set their focus early - since January! They worked in the weight room, worked out all summer, made all the practices, gave up the chance to work for money in order to put football first, gave up drinking cokes and eating junk food and so many other things that teenagers love to do because the prize was worth the sacrifice. We worked our way through the season, one game at a time, undefeated again. This time all the way to the State AA Title Championship Game and we were going to be able to play it at home! Wow! I just knew this was their year...


I don't do much bloging but i do a lot of watching and reading what others have to say. So after a long and nerve racking season I have a few things to say. Wish me luck and here it goes...In the 1990's three baby boys came into my life, not all at the same time mind you. As a proud dad I walked out of the hospital with my lovely bride on one arm and my little boy in the other. The whole time saying "that's my boy". As we moved down the path of life, events that are special only to a dad have taken place over and over again. I call those "that's my boy" moments.
The first day they could recite John 3:16,
the first day of school,
the first fish caught,
the first hit, and walk, and home run, and hit by a pitch without tears,
the first time to play the whole song without the music(Nathan aka Dexter Demon10)
the first girlfriend (even if mom did not approve of them all),
still "that's my boy".
What about the first big hit, or the perfect crack block, touchdown or interception.
How about fouling out in less than 1 qtr of his first varsity basketball game ( Zach #58 )
or standing on the awards stand at the state track meet and looking at all those 3A long jumpers that tried to be #1 and could not leap long enough.(Daniel #15)
Life is a funny thing when you slow down and watch. You see, even in a house full of good young men, things don't always go the way I, as a dad, want them to.
I have worked hard to leave footprints for my boys to follow. When they come home from a hard day at school, it is OK to just go hang out in there room, they are still " my boys".
When something brings tears to there eyes and they can no longer control there emotions,say... a girlfriend, fear, excitement, or even a football game that did not end the way they hoped, still "my boys".
I have taught my boys some things in life that seem to be forgotten among there generation. You see "my boys" still open doors for the girl,not there mom so much...they consider her one of the guys...love you babe. They will get out of there truck to help a lady, sometimes a complete stranger, pump her gas on a cold rainy day. And as member of the local vol. fire dept, they will stop doing whatever they are doing and go to help total strangers when they are called. Those are " my boys".
Yesterday as my oldest son sat alone on a bench and watched a group of young men receive the award that he was so close to getting ,many emotions came to my heart and my mind. You see the rest of the team had left the area and my number 58 sat alone. Do I go hold him, do I leave him alone, should I call his brother over, how am I ahead of his mother in this walk down the sidelines? As I reached him I did what many have forgotten how to do, I held my 6'5, 240lb senior and cried with him.
You see at that point I did not care who was watching, or about the cheering by the other team. I did not care about cameras, or other kids coming over. I only cared about one thing, "my boy".
I look forward to many more "my boy " moments in my life. With basketball,track, golf, girlfriends, rescue calls and little old ladies still pumping there own gas. I know I will have many more times to say thats "My Boy"
Zachary, Daniel, and Nathan you have all made me so proud and always remember....Your "My Boy"


The final score on the board? 28-26. And our last 6 points came with only 1:35 left in the game. 14 seconds left and a 2-point conversion would send the game into overtime...the pass...the silence...it's in the air and it's...incomplete! Some would say Texico became the champions on the Dexter field that day, November 29, 2008; but I would say champions are those that stay standing on the field in respect as the other team receives the accolades, those that hold their helmets high while singing the fight song to their home crowd after the game just like every other game, those that gather together on the field after the game-joining hands and bowing heads in prayer thankful for the freedom to play and for the protection God provided, those that don't make excuses or pass the blame but leave the game on the field. They are the champions each and every day, on and off the field! Zach and Dan, you are true Champions!

"Cheers, Cheers for Ol' Dexter High...We never falter, we never die."

D...edicated
E...xcellent
M...entors
O...vercomers
N...ever look back
S...trength

Dexter Demons, Go Fight Win!