My New Years Resolution is keeping up with this blog. (And I am a day early!) :) Life goes by too fast and my memory is too bad to count on. So this blog/journal is my gift to my children. So when I am gone, they will have it to read and reminisce. So today on Dec. 31, 2016, I am beginning. So lets go back to June 2016 where I will pick up. :)
Payton qualified for NITOC (National Invitational Tournament of Champions) for Lincoln Douglas Debate. It was in Missouri, so going across the country meant we would get to see Randy and Jeanette, who are two hours away in AR. Because of Payton's commitment (and love!) for soccer, we didn't get to travel to many speech and debate tournaments during the year, so we figured she was guaranteed six rounds and going to nationals would still be a great experience. Another perk would be seeing family in AR and NM, and it sounded like a fun road trip since school was out. (I was disappointed Landon did not want to go. But knowing he was 21 and wanted some independence and that I would have a dog sitter...it would be okay. I guess.)
Well, little did we know and did not expect it, but Payton made it to finals! Honestly, it was one of the biggest blessings for me as a homeschool mom to see my daughter do so well. There had been lots of drama the five years we were involved with speech and debate, but I hung in there because I knew the importance of teaching my children how to speak well, think logically and have the research skill for college and life! It was a wonderful surprise to end up staying in Missouri for six days and 16 debate rounds later, Payton came in second out of 120 students. But the real hi-lite of five years of speech and debate was the real life experience that happened on a soccer high school bus ride to Phoenix, when Payton's coach (who was very liberal) decided to question the "new Christian homeschool girl" about very controversial topics. And when she had a solid answer and stood her ground (God's standards!), and spoke with confidence and conviction...that was the hi-lite of why we devoted so many hours and money into it. She told me that not only was he blown away by her, but when he question other freshman question about political topics they leaned on Payton to show them how to communicate to him. It not important to me that a homeschool child was well spoken, what gave me hope and blessed my heart was that God use Payton to plant a seed on that bus years ago! That even if one young girl thinks about what Payton said that afternoon...and that if even one will search more into who this God is that the Maxwells follow and live for...then the journey of speech and debate was a success! It is not about the trophy or accolades. It is ultimately about souls be saved. She is not competing her senior year, but I thank God for the five years we had, and hope He was and will be blessed by this skill.
Here she is flowing (taking notes) during a round.
Speaking bolding :)
Pretty in pink
Here supporters
Jeanette and Randy spent the whole week with us. It was so special to have them there. They LOVED and was so impressed at what these kids did.
Here is the final round with 9 judges and hundreds of spectators. (Yikes! I was a nervous mess!) The judges were from the community with incredible credentials. Even though Payton didn't win the round, we were VERY proud of her. After the tournament, she told us that it meant so much more for Brandon to win than it would have meant for her, so she was happy for him. He was a senior, and it was his very last round, so he was thrilled. (She wouldn't have said that if it was soccer!) 😉 He was really nice guy from Colorado, so we were very happy for him. I am proud of all the kids who compete. They are top notch in my book.
Accepting her trophy.
I was told they took individual pictures of everyone on stage, so I didn't go up. But they only got a group shot of the top eight, so I am stuck with a cropped one. Ugh. I was not happy. I think the first, second and third place deserve a professional shot by themselves. Live and learn. If you want something done right, or if you want your own picture...you got to do it yourself. She still looks lovely and happy.
