Mrs T

We called her Mrs T.

And I think we thought we were the A team. The A team of a bunch of private school cheerleaders. But not your typical cheerleaders. T had a vision for us. She wanted us to be the best. She was a no frills person. How a no frills person is a cheerleading advisor I'll never understand. We had a strict dress code at my school. So she wore these long funny skirts with her tennis shoes every day. Her version of "doing" your hair was to flip it over and spray it haphazardley with hairspray. The school board didn't always like her. She listened to some rock and roll. She had bizarre ideas. She secretley taught us the "dance" routines from the public schools.

But when it came to us. It was a different story. Lipstick and bows. We had to take quizzes to know the basketball referee signs. No way would the A Team be doing offensive cheers when the real team was on defense.

We worked out. We were in great shape. She believed in us. We weren't allowed to compete. We weren't a priority to the school. But we were to her. We weren't allowed to be rude to each other. Has anyone ever seen a group of high school girls all get a long? We needed to get along. Reconcile. Be a godly example.

We held a "devotions" time with the cheerleaders from the other school. We made them little bags w/ candy and a note about how much God loved them in it. We prayed for our team. We prayed for each other. We worked hard. She expected a lot out of us. Still does. She was our friend.

She came to my wedding 2 years ago.
13 hours from our home town.

She said she woulnd't have missed it. I think she had her tennis shoes on with her dress.

When they asked if anyone wanted to make a toast. She took the microphone. She looked at my new husband and said, "I've been praying for you since Jess was in the 7th grade." And she had been.

That is Mrs. T. And I bet she's still praying for me.