Jake’s moving again! From San Diego back to Texas. He’s been on the Chargers practice squad and today the Houston Texans signed him to their roster after Owen Daniels (TE) was injured. Daniels will be on injured reserve for quite some time.
Jake was on the Texans practice squad at the end of last season then called back preseason before getting cut and picked up by the Chargers.
We’re all proud of Jake! Thanking God for this news and praying for continued blessings for Jake in Texas! Go JAKE! GO TEXANS!!!!! Follow Jake https://twitter.com/sugarfreejb82
Yep, that’s a picture Jake took in the SAN DIEGO CHARGERS locker room today! Yeah, that’s right! Our boy is a tight end for the San Diego Chargers!
We are so grateful to God for this blessing. Thank you all for your prayers. After playing a great pre-season game on Thursday, Jake got cut from the Houston Texans, but was picked up on Sunday by the San Diego Chargers. Not bad, Jake! Even Tim Tebow and many others who got cut didn’t get picked up by another team. The NFL is not for the faint of heart! What a crazy few days with lots of prayers. On Monday Jake plays his first game against guess who? The Texans. Lol!
Romans 8:28 is coming to my mind. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
About the photo above: Sent a group text to the kids this morning. Jake replied with the above photo and: “Guess who is also rocking the 81.”
Youngest son Nick is #81 (For the Ragin Cajuns-University of Louisiana-Lafayette).
Nick texted: That’s what I’m talking about.
Then Jake texted back: I thought for once I’d copy you.
Betsy and I replied: Awwww!!!
What keepers these kids are, right?! So sweet that Jake took his younger brothers college number. In high school, Nick took Jake’s high school number, #1. Here’s both boys at a football camp Nick attended. Big brother giving little brother some advice. Picture taken by daughter Betsy.
We are all so excited abut this news about Jake and so proud of him for so many reasons. Jake has type one diabetes and really wants to do what he can for the diabetes community. His twitter reads: Jake Byrne San Diego Charger, Former Wisconsin TE, Type 1 Diabetic. Passion for helping youth with diabetes, feel free to ask me questions and advice.
Follow Jake on Twitter @sugarfreejb82 and you can follow my blog for future updates too!
Thanks be to God for this wonderful news! Going to be a great football season! Go Chargers! Go Ragin Cajuns! Go #81s!
Now, because I am a “real writer” and have a real writer’s conference I’m preparing to attend, I’m retreating into Novel Land where I’m going to attempt to finish my third novel (only on chapter 7) in a little more than three weeks.
See you some time in September, unless I have some really big news to announce before then.
In the meantime, please keep my son Jake, #89 Houston Texans Rookie in your prayers during the upcoming pre-season games. He’s a “real NFL player.” Go Jake! In these crucial days to come, hoping both of continue toward successful careers. SO to daughter Betsy too, to the left of Jake. She’s having a birthday next week! She’s a “real cutie!” And proud of son, Nick too…in camp with the Ragin Cajuns down at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Go fam!
Jake played his second preseason game last night for the Houston Texans. We’re so proud of him. And the fact that he’s only one of two players in the NFL with Type One Diabetes, makes his success even more sweet! He’s doing great! Keep him in your prayers that he earns a spot on the final roster! Next game is August 25th, next Sunday against the Saints!
What makes a mom proud? Sure, it’s nice to have a son in the NFL, but having a son with type 1 diabetes, who goes out of his way to mentor a young boy with type one who wants to play football…that’s what makes a mom proud.
Caught up in the busyness of all that encompasses my life, I haven’t blogged much lately. Ministry situations keep my husband (Bishop Leo Michael) and I busy, writing has kept me occupied, but sometimes we grab fun time, too, especially when family and friends visit. Had a great time over the holidays with the kids. (all back in college now.)
Note to self: Don’t take your adult children to toy stores.
In his off-season with the Houston Texans, Jake (left) will finish his classes at the University of Wisconsin and graduate this spring. Congratulations on signing for next season, Jake! And congratulations to Nick (right) on his football scholarship to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. (He began this semester). Betsy is back in the US and has returned to college, too.
Speaking of family visits, last week my brother Mark and my lovely sister-in-law Laura, visited from Wisconsin. We had a blast showing them around Kansas City.
Visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Could spend days there! Below Mark and Laura playing outside the museum:
Also visited the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, where we crossed over a glass bridge with 9000 poppies underneath, each one representing 1000 lives lost in WWI. (Total of nine million).
After wandering around the museum, we climbed steps to the top of Liberty Memorial Tower, where we took in a lovely view of Kansas City.
Now, I’m settling into some serious writing. Like climbing the stairs to the top of that tower to find spectacular views, writing takes focus and forcing myself, each day, to take the next step toward writing goals, which I’ve set high for 2013. (below my photo from Boulder, Colorado).
Now, I’m doing rewrites on two novels, while working toward a solid first draft of my latest novel, Blank Pages. This new novel takes the main character, Anna, from a low place in the low country of Charleston, South Carolina to lofty Boulder, Colorado.
Blank Pages begins with Anna taking this photograph, lying on a Charleston boardwalk near her home:
I love that my photos from places I visited during ministry tips last year became inspiration for this year’s novel!
Back to the novel:
An address found behind photos in a locket, dropped on the church floor by a dying man, leads Anna to Boulder (photos by me):
The novel, Blank Pages, is a difficult journey of discovery and self-awareness. It’s about relationships and finding out the truth about family, friends, and new loves.
Hoping by spring, all of us will have climbed a little higher toward our 2013 goals and can stand on the mountaintop and breathe in success. Now, back to Anna and chapter three.
The world didn’t end, Christmas is over, New Years is past, turned another year older yesterday, and big changes in 2013!
On Sunday, Nick leaves for college on a full football scholarship to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Go Rajun Cajuns!!! Go Nick!
Betsy returned from her semester in London and left this morning to return to college. She’s such a sweetie-pie!
And Jake was supposed to be going back to college to finish his last semester, but got a call from the Houston Texans. He’s been signed! Root for the Texans on Sunday!
We had a lot of fun over the holidays.
And enjoyed a lovely Christmas at St. James Anglican Church.
But now, it’s back to work and on to exciting changes in our lives. For me: second novel will be sent to the agent before the weekend is over, and I’ll make a few edits to the first, then delve into the third. With the kids busy with their lives, I’m settling down to some serious writing. My goal is to write a lot of books in 2013! The next few weeks will be busy with novel work and probably won’t blog much!
I often text encouraging Bible quotes to my kids. Yesterday, Jake said, “Keep them coming. I like them.” This morning, I found the above Scripture quote and texted it to Jake. It seemed appropriate for a type one diabetic and rookie in the NFL nearing the end of pre-season games (when players face potential cuts due to the league’s 53-man roster limit.)
One reporter, grading the rookies said this about Jake, “His time with the team is about up unless he pulls a miracle out of his hat.”
I wanted to tell that guy that our God is a God of miracles and my son is awesome, but I remembered that Jake is an adult and well, it’d be weird if I texted Bible quotes to reporters or yelled at them. To my kids relief, I swore I wouldn’t call their coaches or interfere in their sports business as soon as they grew bigger than me. (Age eleven for Jake.)
So, in spite of the reporter’s comment and the mountains in his way, Jake assured me he isn’t worried and that he’s entrusted his future to God. After a few more minutes of my preaching, Jake gently suggested I call Betsy or Nick and give them a pep talk. I got the “message” and told him maybe I needed the pep talk myself.
I don’t think anyone has ever thrown a mountain into the sea. It’s one of those Bible quotes that’s really hard to accept because you can’t take it literally. Who can throw a mountain into the sea? But God’s power can move mountains. God’s power can make the impossible become the possible. And prayers matter. And I guess if God wants that mountain to be in the sea, and it needs to be there, He can do it. But the mountain becoming a seafaring vessel and dissapearing on the horizon because of my faith? Hmm…
…though I pray and have peace about my son’s future, I’m flailing in my own troubled sea of uncertainty, wondering if I should continue fiction writing. Can I make it as a novelist? Why am I so uncertain about my future, my life, at my age? Am I such a late bloomer? Why can’t I get it together?
My angst might have something to do with my agent sharing rejection letters from publishers. They are like that reporter not appreciating Jake’s ability.
I understand that Stephen King and many other well-known authors received hundreds of rejections before getting their novels published. Yet, I question myself when I get a rejection, even those my agent calls “thoughtful” ones.
Yes, I have mountains in my way. I question if God really wants me to continue this path. I’ve worked as a journalist and freelance writer and have had some success in nonfiction in the past. Seriously, perhaps I should consider a different path.
It’s not defeatism, I tell myself, but rather contemplating on whether this path is the right one. Maybe it’s a “when a door closes, God opens a window” thing sometimes. Perhaps I should quit beating on this door and look out the window at other options and opportunities. Really, how do we know the difference? Are these mountains meant to be climbed over or throw into the sea or are they blocks God has placed in our way to divert us to where we really need to be?
Jake expressed peace about God’s plan for his life. I know he’s working really hard right now, often exhausted by the physical strength it takes to do what he does, and most likely even more tired of everyone (including me), giving him pep talks.
I am encouraged by his faith, endurance, confidence and willingness to embrace the “now” and the open possibilites of his future. And so, before I turn away from the mountains in my path, I’m going to pray for both of us, considering these lyrics to this wonderful song:
Chorus: Lord move in the way, that I’ve never seen before
Cause there’s a mountain in the way and a lock on the door
I’m drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore
So Lord move (move), or move me.
Please pray for Jake during this critical time in his life and for my intentions. And if you have a mountain in your way, let me know, comment below, and I’ll pray for you, too. The road toward our goal is often rocky. Dark mountains throw shadows onto our paths and loom mightily before us. It’s scary stuff. We need each other and God to get us through it all. With God, prayer, and support from each other, we can throw mountains into the sea…or at least climb them and reach new heights…and then…perhaps the sun will be shining on the other side. Anything is possible with faith.
It’d be nice if writers could just write and not have to be twisted around the tumultuous crazy social media kaleidoscope. I blog. I Facebook. I tweet. I LinkIn. I Pinterest. I even have a Klout account now. Klout is a social media that measures influence online. I just discovered, according to Klout, that I am an influencer on NFL and Unicorns.
I really “lol’d” over that crazy discovery. Though my son is a rookie in the NFL, to show how much I know about the NFL, here’s the conversation with my daughter after Jake’s first pre-season game:
Betsy: “Hey Mom, how’d you think Jake did?”
Me: “I don’t know, but he looked really good on TV.”
Betsy: “I know. He’s so cute, isn’t he?”
Me: “Especially when his helmet pushes his cheeks together. Wish I could reach through the TV screen and pinch them. He should stand beside Drew Brees to get more face time.”
Betsy: “Or maybe he should focus on the game.”
Me: “Yeah, you might be right about that.”
Sorry Klout, I’m no expert influencer in the NFL. Since Jake played both offense and defense in high-school, it took a year of college football to finally get that being a tight-end means Jake plays on offense, which means watch for him when his team has the ball. But if Klout could measure a mom’s love and pride for her children, I’d score 100. (We’ll get to the part about me being an expert unicorn influencer in a moment.)
So, the update on Jake, according to Jake, is that the first game went well. Our boy is now in Foxboro, Mass, practicing and getting ready for Thursday nights game against the New England Patriots. Watch it and you’ll see what I mean about how cute he is on TV…I mean, how AWESOME of a player he is. There he is signing autographs.
New Orleans Saints tight end Jake Byrne (82) and tackle Marcel Jones (70) sign autographs after training camp at their NFL football training facility in Metairie, La., Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
I think I’ll let Jake be the NFL influencer in the family. But, I’m seriously thinking about cornering the market on unicorns.
I saw these two unicorns in the field the other day.
Surprised? It’s true! That photo is not photo-shopped! After all, I’m an expert influencer on unicorns. Just ask Klout. I know what I’m talking about. Trust me! I wrote a blog about unicorns once. I have influence!
To conspire... act in harmony toward a common or agreed upon end. God wants to conspire with us [and] this means that God calls us to give our lives to God, to surrender completely, so we may live more fully. Dallas Willard