Garden City Basketball BATTLE AT THE BRIDGE 2023

 This past weekend was Macie and Wades final tournament for U11 at the Battle at the Bridge.

It has been a well run tournament that brings teams from Calgary, Okatokes, and even Sift Current SK.

Macie's team was coached by Debbie Steed, and Mandy Baker and Wades team by Brant Hansen, and Kalinda (his mother)

Overall Macie's team only lost 2 games this season, both to Raymond teams. This final tournament  her team with the three best teams pooled on one side and the the 3 lower teams pooled on the other side.

Macie's first game was against a WIN a Calgary team who was very well rounded team. Macie found herself in foul trouble early in the first and the team was down by 13 points. 

From Macie:

"it was a mental and physical challenge but Coach Debbie said that we can't give up" It was hard for our team but deep down inside I knew we could win.  After I got my 3rd foul, i had in the first i had to sit out until the second quarter. Our team worked really hard to not get further than 13 points behind. Maddie Baker scored several baskets to keep us in it. When i back in the game in the second, i picked up my game by not fouling and making most of my shots. I was really stressed cause i really wanted to win. In my head i was like we have to win this game and i was able to keep composed and continue to make shots and defend effectively with out fouling.

By the 4th Quarter we were down by a few points and i knew i had to keep making my shots. we tied the game and pulled 4 points ahead, but they kept battling and tied it back up and then pulled ahead by 4 points with under 2 min to go. I was able to make 2 quick baskets to tie it at 40.When the WIN guard was bringing the ball down the court she picked her head up for just a second, and I instantly poked the ball to steal it and go in for a lay up. She ended up fouling me on the shot, to put me at the line with under 30seconds to go. My heart was racing and I knew I had to make 1 shot to get us the lead. I made my first shot and missed my second. The WIN team brought the ball back down the court and had a turn over with 20 seconds left. Maddie  was brining the ball out of our zone very slowly to run the clock and then she stopped and picked up the ball. I went to help at the half court line but ended up going over and back and losing possession with 9 seconds left. Coach Debbie told us to get in the key to defend the net. So we all went to the Key. The WIN team got possession and took the shot and missed giving us the win.

Macie scored 30 points had many steals and rebounds to help lead the team to a 41-40 victory. After the game parents from the other team congratulated Macie for her excellent playing, and one girl even compared her to Delaney Gibb.  This had to be the game of her life so far. She played outstanding, not giving up or fouling out. 

The Girls were able to win their next game and make it to the final against an Okatokes team. The final game was not easy but Macie, Jenessy and Emma played their hearts out and were able to win the tournament.  

Final thoughts from Macie: It was a hard tournament. Everyone had to play their best. It was an amazing feeling to win the final game and bring home the medals for a second year in a row. 

Wades team was able to win his final game for 5th place. Those boys played hard against some really tough and tall teams. 

Each of the team grew so much this year, and saw big growth from a few players. 

The summer will be a nice break but I am sure that there will be some basketball played all summer long.

Baseball

 It’s baseball season. Wade is not in the minors for the first year. Now kids pitch the whole time. Wade’s coach (Ben Uhouse)from last year wanted him on his team again. 

His team does not have many Allstars so there are many challenges. 

One of the benefits for playing on a team like this is the playing time. Wade works really hard and doing so has earned him lots of pitching time. Time he might not have got on a more talented team. 

He has struck out. 3 batters several innings. Great work kiddo. 

The crazy times

 For some weird reason we have digressed in to a state of evil wickedness. Men want to be women and play women sports and big money and activists are placing all their pressure on sports associations to play the game. This is hurting women’s sport by allowing Mediocre men athletes disguised as women to highjack medals from there rightful owners.

There is one woman who is standing up and she will go down in history as the next Rosa Parks

Riley Gaines, a 12 time All-American swimmer with 5 SEC titles was a successful female swimmer at University of Kentucky with ambitions to pursue a dental degree. That post-graduate ambition and her entire life was changed when she was forced to share a locker room and then compete against biological male Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming Championship.

This uneven challenge, not just for Riley but for every woman competing in the pool that day, was made even more traumatic when the NCAA officials insisted on giving Lia Thomas the trophy, despite tying Riley down to the hundredth of a second in the event. Riley can recall wondering why no one was standing up for her or for any women in the room.

This moment became her call to action – to defend and protect America’s daughters against the woke left and their gender-denying ideology. Biological men should not take opportunities for success in sports away from women. Biological men should not share locker rooms with women. 

She has the truth on her side and will be on the right side of history. 

Thanks Riley for your bravery

Glenwood May Long Weekend

 Last weekend we packed up and went out to Glenwood. We got the trailer ready for summer camping and planted the garden. 

The kids and mom went to the dam to jump in and play around. It was cold but you could function. Level was not to capacity but the dock only had 2 lengths not floating. 

We decided to do a hike in the mountains and went just west of twin butte. Kansas is such a 5 yr old rockstar and climbed up the mountain with the rest of us. We came across a few snow banks but for the most part it was dry. Even some crocuses and these yellow flowers were out in full bloom. 

We left our phones at home so we had no photos to share. 

It was a fun family weekend to get away from everything. 

Track and Field

 This past week was track and field, and. Macie and Wade have been working hard practicing ball throw, long jump, triple jump and they have been participating in the school walk run club and running almost 3-4 km Tuesday-Thursday. 

They both did so well in their events. 

Macie took home a lot of ribbons and even beat the 800m school record  for grade 5 girls in under 3 min. 

Wade who is one of the youngest participants in his grade 4 class, by as much as a year, did so good in the long and triple jump and did very well in the running. 

Great job kids now on to divisionals. 

Macies First Talk

 As Macie enters young women’s there are many firsts. 

Today was her first talk. She was ask to talk on for the strength of youth topic of her choosing. 

She chose to talk about how the truth will set you free. 

She did a very good job for a first timer. 

Cherry Grove Building

While Our family lived in Cold Lake from 2015-2020 we enjoyed the going to church in Cherry Grove. The ward and the building was nostalgic.  The people were as unique and special as the building. Both the membership and the building started out small but expanded to a full size ward and building and produced many wonderful memories for all the ward members. 

This morning in the early hours a fire was started and spread to the entire building. By the first light when the sun peaked over the trees, there was very little remaining of the building. 

Those in the community and those who have been blessed, baptized and watched grand babies do the same in that building, are in shock. 

Although the building is gone, the church members are still strong and remain faithful.  

Edmonton Sun Article :

Cold Lake RCMP received a call on April 28, in the early morning hours, of a church on fire in the Hamlet of Cherry Grove, a community located around 10 km east of Cold Lake, according to a Friday news release. Police say when they arrived they found the building was fully engulfed by flames.

Based on their initial investigation, Mounties believe the fire was deliberately set and are investigating the fire as suspicious.

Officers are asking anyone from the Hamlet of Cherry Grove who may have information about this crime, or anyone who may have video surveillance from the early morning hours, especially in the area of 50 Street and 50 Avenue and Pine Drive, to contact Cold Lake RCMP at 780-594-3302 or local police.

Cold Lake is located around 300 km northeast of Edmonton.

Kansas Ballet

 Kansas is not a fan of being in front of large groups performing. She doesn’t mind small group of people she knows but usually only if nothing is rehearsed, only totally spontaneous. 

Well she was in post covid Ballet, in a small little class and once she found out there was a performance at the end of the year she was horrified. 

She did not want to perform. She was so scared that she only wanted her family there and no one else. Grandma and Grandpa did not get to come. 

The night before the performance, she was talking very cute, I need to clean my feet for the dance recital. 

Well as nervous as she was, Kansas did it. She accomplished another hard thing in her life. Her family was so proud. 

All the little girls did so well. They were so cute. It was a fun short event. 

Recognition

 This week I wanted to make a note of recognizing our kids good choices, perseverance, and overall awesomeness.  

This past few weeks Kansas was super sick and had to get some blood work done to check on some bacteria levels and she was super brace getting her needles.

 Pretty awesome. Also her getting 3rd place in her age category at the family fun run. 

Wade has been working extra hard, practicing  shooting and dribbling basketball. He had his first basketball game in Stirling and got 11 points to help his team win . He also  got 1st place in his category for the family run.  Great job. 

Macie has been the lead scorer for her basketball team and has been working hard on developing her shot and skills. She practices an extra 4-6 hours a week.  Her coach told us that she was getting frustrated with her team as they all call for the ball but are not open. Macie was very mature and did her best to pass the ball and not yell or coach the girls. After practice she talked to her coach about it. The coach was able to see the challenge and will support Macie and the other girls to get better. That was a very mature choice for Macie. 

She also was 10th out of 320 women in the family fun run. 

Coaldale Family Fun Run

 Family fun runs are always a great experience. The people are always so positive. Our family enjoys races. 

This time the family had a few practice runs around Magrath to help us get in shape. 

This year all there were over 600 racers. 

Macie, Wade and Kansas did so good. We were very proud of their efforts.