Life Together

*Alright friends, I’m sure you are tired of hearing about the Olympics. Bear with me for one more Olympic themed post! Please and thank you!*

The other day my director said to me, “Your room looks so much better than last year, I love it!”

I wanted to punch her.

Now, I’m normally not prone to fits of rage, and I definitely would never hit someone. But I was so close.

You see, last year was, to put it mildly, crap.

Lets take moment for a quick recap:

*January: Found out my school was closing at the end of the year. The first, and only, school I had ever worked at. *February: My grandma was diagnosed with terminal cancer. *March: Started job searching. *April: My great aunt, who was like another grandma, passed away from the same cancer as my grandma. *May: Grandma passed away five days before the end of my school year. Flew home to Wisconsin, stayed until June. *June: Packed up my classroom and house. Moved some of my stuff into my new classroom at new school. *July: Moved into a new apartment in a new part of town. *August: Started my sixth year of teaching, new school,  new grade level, new struggles.

Now, I’m not writing this to say, Oh look at me I’ve been through so much I deserve to be held and coddled. I’m using this to how much we need the Body of Christ. I’m so grateful that I have such a strong support system. It hasn’t been an easy road at all. There have been plenty of tears, sleepless nights, and panicked calls/texts to friends. I’ve never needed my supporting cast more than I have in the last year.

*Umm ok, so let’s see how I can tie this all in to the Olympics!*

I was struck this week during the prelim relay races by the way the US team decided to stack their relay teams. I was so confused as to why they would swim the prelim with one team and use a completely different team for the finals. I was shocked! What? You can send one team in, expect them to get a good position, and say Thanks so much for your time, let’s have the A team take it from here.

What if they won a medal? How would the prelim team feel? (I found out that both teams get a medal if the final team wins.) I was reading the swimmers twitters (I’m obsessed by the way!) and they were congratulating the prelim team for getting them to the finals. Talk about teamwork. I admit, I was a little more impressed when I thought the prelim team didn’t medal!

The swimmers all knew what was best for the team. If their coach said, “You’re swimming the prelim, go out do your best, your team is counting on you.” They did it. Why?

Because they believed in the team. They were willing to literally “Take one for the team”.

My favorite swimmer this Olympic time has been Allison Schmitt. (known to most, and me, as Schmitty)

Schmitty is most known as being Phelps training partner. According to MP, he credits Allison with a lot of his maturity during these games. She made him laugh and kept him loose during all their training sessions before the games. He, in turn, helped her to become more focused and calm. She credits him with most of her success this time around. Sister friend broke TWO world records! (She only swam in one relay in 2008.) I loved reading their twitter exchanges and to see the brother/sister love that they have for each other.

Most of the team has said that Schmitty is always laughing, dancing, and joking around. She brings joy to all of those around her.

This, perhaps, is the best example of Michael and Allison’s relationship.
Here they are at their last practice together, and what are they doing? Laughing, holding hands, and taking one last leap into the pool. Together. Each knew what a big moment this was and didn’t want to do it alone.

She’s my new hero!

So, do you have a Schmitty in your life? Perhaps you’re a Schmitty to someone else.

We were not created to go through this life alone. Praise God that we don’t have to!