Our Lil' LUTE

I have to admit that I have been completely unmotivated to blog lately, but I got a new computer (a MAC!) and the motivation is coming back so it's time for me to play catch-up! I haven't had my own computer since college so I'm pretty stoked...it's my early one and only Christmas present!

On Halloween, we took a little trek up to Spokane for the PLU-Whitworth football game. If you know anything about me, you know I come from a football family, and even more so a LUTE family. My grandpa, Frosty Westering, was the football coach at PLU for 32 years and my uncle, Scott, is now the head coach. My Aunt Susan (Scott's wife) also teaches there, my 2 uncles and 3 aunts went there, my oldest bro, Chad, played there and led the Lutes to a National Championship in '99, and I went there as well and played volleyball. OH yeah, and Chris and I met there and he played football for my grandpa & uncle (and was a 2-time captain might I add). ;)

FUN FACT - When I was at PLU, in 1 semester I was taking classes from my Grandpa Frosty, Uncle Scott, and Aunt Susan all at the same time!!! (For the record, my uncle was the hardest grader - but I won't get into that!)

Anyway, I grew up going to PLU football games with my family, so any chance we get, we go to games! We love our Lutes and were so glad to bring Hadley to her first game! Here are some pics of our cutest lil' Lute!

With her stocking hat like Grandpa Frosty wears...

With Grandpa Jim after the game

A jersey of our dear friend, Nellie, hung on the sidelines. Nellie passed away in August and it was so strange that he wasn't there at the game....it was the first game I can remember that he wasn't there. He was such an amazing and inspirational man. He was born in Singapore with a disease called arthogryposis, which locked all his joints from the neck down. He was released by his family as a child and adopted by a family in Orting, WA. He grew up battling his disease and depression and eventually ended up at PLU, where his life was changed by getting involved with the football program - which ironically changed the lives of COUNTLESS others, including Chris and I.

A documentary was made some years ago about him that I recommend everyone to watch if they can. It's called, "Nellie, A Life Worth Living." Chris and I have a copy we would love to share with anyone interested. Below is a link to the documentary info. If you click on the "REVIEWS/TRAILER" link, you can see the preview and get a glimpse into who Nellie was...

http://www.penumbrafilms.com/nellie/