Caleb Playing Soccer

Last Monday marked yet another milestone, I guess you could call it, in my life as a parent. Caleb started soccer practice. Now keep in mind, I have played organized sports for as long as I can remember. My entire childhood was spent playing either football behind Joe Cook Junior High School, or baseball in Propst Park, endless practices in the middle of of a HOT Mississippi summertime, working on base running, hitting the cutoff man from right field, or in slightly more tolerable weather conditions in the fall blocking linemen during a fullback slant to the right, running end around reverse plays.

My parents were ALWAYS there. No matter what. I cannot remember one game or band competitions (and there were hundreds) that both of my parents were not there. Looking back, that had a huge impact on who I am as a man and as a parent today. Their love and support pretty much made me who I am today. Put it this way, if you could go shopping for parents in a store, Howard and Linda Jenkins would be the ones that no retailer could keep in stock. Once again, thanks Mom and Dad. By the way, my parents will be married 50 years this December 21! I can never repay them for what they did for me and my three brothers. I can only try my best to return the favor with my own child.

The first two are of Caleb scoring his first goal (even if it was in practice.) It was a big moment for him, and me. The first thing he does is run to the sideline and hug his mother. There are just no better moments on earth than these.....

And for those new to my blog, My son Caleb is the one with the curls;)

We went to Orange Beach this weekend despite the impending threat of Hurricane Gustav. Caleb has been dying to go to the beach this summer, and this was pretty much the only chance we were going to get. He had a blast as usual, and we managed to get three days in at the beach before the mandatory evacuation Sunday morning. As I was editing these photos, it occurred to me how big he is now, and how fast he is growing up. I don't like it at all......so I am making a conscious effort to enjoying every second of it. Rather than dwell on the things I do not have, I make it a point daily to remember the things I do have. I am truly blessed. He is my heart, my soul, my life.