Last Marching Competition

Well, I know I haven't BLOGGED in a week, but we have been so busy preparing and traveling to our last marching competition with our drumline. This past weekend, we went to Birmingham (about a 2.5 hour drive south of the Shoals) to compete in two indoor drumline competitions.

At Hewitt-Trussville High School we received best in class front ensemble, best in class drumline, and the Cahaba Thunder Grand Champion trophy for the highest score for the day. We scored a 96! That made four years straight that we have won this competition.

We then traveled to Hoover High School to the "Mr. Klean Classic." There we received best in class front ensemble and finished in 2nd place by three percentage points. We scored a 78.5. That's the first time in four years we have not won the best overall drumline.

I am very proud of Tabitha and Danielle for their accomplishments through the drumline. It has been a very positive experience for them. They are a classy bunch of kids in the drumline at Muscle Shoals. They have handled themselves very well through the years.

The tough thing for me was that my daughter Tabitha marched in a competition for the last time. She has one more parade, but she says that doesn't count. I am proud of what she has accomplished as a person through this time in her life. She has blossomed from a quiet, shy person to a leader. Her instructor told me privately that he wished he had more leaders in the band that led like Tabitha. His words were, "She leads the hardest possible way, by example. She never has to yell. She shows her leadership by actions." What more could a father ask for that a comment like that?

Thanks for letting a doting father write about his kids. God has really blessed me through my four children and wonderful wife. With that many blessings who can help but dote?