Earlier this spring, Michael's AAU team, Prodigy, did so well in a Cincinnati tournament that they qualified to participate in the National Tournament for the Midwest region, held in Indianapolis. Finally, the tournament arrived. Michael's team played more synergistically than they had all year, and it paid off. Team Prodigy advanced to the Final Four, in the gold bracket, before losing to the eventual champions. Michael was spectacular, leading his team with scoring throughout the weekend. Truly a once in a lifetime experience that will likely stay with him for years, if not for life!
Almost equally as exciting (not really), Steven and I kept the official scoreboard and clock for every game in which Prodigy played. That helped us not yell as frenetically as usual, because we were seated next to a representative of the opposing team and were instructed to remain impartial. As if. Angie accompanied us on the trip! She and Elizabeth sat together and we could always, always hear them cheering. Here are a couple of clips, I hope they aren't blurry: His usual NBA three and then a jumper which cracked me up because he gets past 3 defenders while being fouled and then someone yells "Thank you!" while Angie nervously covers her face. The 5 of us had many laughs together in between the games. After the tournament, Angie and Michael drove back to Georgetown to relieve Stephen Jasper of the three stooges' duty.
Elizabeth, Steven, and I traveled an additional 4.5 hours to Galesburg, Illinois, home of Knox College. Go Blazing Prairie Fire! Knox is one of Loren Pope's 40 most influential colleges and emphasizes social justice and diversity inclusion across their curriculum. Elizabeth spotted their Human Rights Center immediately upon our arrival. One of the windows displayed a sign that read "whoever you are, wherever you are from, you are welcome here." WE have that sign in our house!!! During our visit, we took a tour led by an alum from San Diego; Elizabeth loved the tour guide, who truly was inspiring (a psychology major who is pursuing a ph.d. in something upon which she hasn't decided). Then Elizabeth had a one-on-one meeting with an admissions counselor named Joyce. Joyce told Steven and me that Elizabeth is amazing! and that she cannot believe how aware Elizabeth is of social issues and how impressed she was by Elizabeth's involvement in related projects. She told Elizabeth the Peace Corps seems like a good fit for her post-college, which is what Joyce did in Africa. 
Galesburg is home to one of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates. Elizabeth sat in Lincoln's chair, which we were told is periodically reupholstered but otherwise is in its original form. Elizabeth loved learning that President Obama has spoken at Knox twice since 2005. So much to love about Knox! We left that campus so excited about the possibility of Elizabeth attending there.
We eventually made our way back to Kentucky, appreciative that our trips to Indiana and Illinois were so positive, successful, and memorable. Maybe next year we'll visit Idaho and Iowa!
