Blessed...

Best German Birthday Ever!!!

(Here's where the tiger mobile sleeps every night)

Last night we had some birthday festivities at our practice facility.  Just to have a fun time with the Tigers, we celebrated saturday night in the gym.

(DJ Chris getting the night's beats ready)

We did have a fun time, roughly a dozen ish Tigers made their faces known Saturday.  Little BBQ, tunes, football (who would have guessed) and conversation made the night a heck of a German Birthday.  Summed up by the classic Happy Birthday singing at midnight to kick off my 24th year.

(Outside eating: grill master Flo and Coach B in the foreground)

You know you're blessed when...

(Host family has special candles for the celebration)

(Host Mom makes you're favorite breakfast dish: company french toast)

"Plan your party..."  I got some recipes and Momma Klietsch sure did it well.  Tastes so good.

(You receive gifts after someone has only known you for not much longer than a month)

(You've got a teammate/roommate/new friend who'll pose with you)

(Mom and Dad)

You've got parents who from thousands of miles away, separated by the Atlantic Ocean, and 7 time zones can make you cry with a birthday card.  I've been blessed by these two and haven't been loved more by anyone, besides my heavenly Father.  

Thank you to all who have my birthday special.  

Joshua Aakre

Colossians 1:10-12

Peach Iced Tea

Saturday...

Boy it's finally gorgeous outside.  70 degrees reads the thermometer on the edge of the house.

(It's us: Chris, myself, Pappa Klietsch, and Momma Klietsch)

Like I said it's nice out.  First day we've all been able to enjoy the outdoors  on the back patio.  Cappuccino and peach tea for myself all with the infamous sour cream raisin bars that turned out really great.  The tastes of home.  

Past couple days have been good.  Was at the doctor on thursday and he said to take the weekend off but the ankle is sure feeling great.  Next week is going to be exciting with the conclusion of the week playing Hildeshime.  Here come the Tigers.  

We had pictures last night at practice, which means we got our jerseys.  Pretty great to be suited up in a Tiger's uni.

Tonight we are having a belated Chris and early my birthday party at the practice facility.  Tomorrow we'll just have some goodies at home and relax.  

Joshua Aakre

Hebrews 13:5

Only in Germany...

Couple days since the last post, but nothing too crazy we'll say has happened.

Monday and tuesday spent some time working out at the gym, practice monday night, icing the ankle, and doing homework have filled up most of the days.  I had a treatment on my ankle, basically an ankle massage, which felt really great and every day we're gaining back some mobility and can nearly walk without a limp.

Got up this morning and had a great skype session with some of the boys from the house.  I guess they do miss me a little.

With regards to school, roughly 3 weeks left and finals, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It's coming.  So exciting...

So with that treatment on tuesday, I thought I was going to get Kenisiotaped on my leg afterwards like I did on saturday after the game.  So to prepare for it, I took a trimmers/shaver to my leg to clean up the wooly mammoth legs that I had going on.  But I didn't get taped so now I'm walking around Germany with one (left) shaven leg, although it does feel nice, only in Germany.

Only in Germany... Today we had sauerkraut with potatoes and ham for lunch.  Salty cabbage is what it tastes like, makes sense because that's what it's made of.  Will I eat it again?  Probably dabble with it here and there if it's offered but it wasn't a personal taste sensation for myself or Chris.

Momma Klietsch said we had to plan our own birthday party for this weekend. I never done that before.  the past 3 years I've been at school and hid my birthday from everyone so I didn't fall to teh spanking machine at spring ball practice, and before that mom took care of everything.  It's weird throwing/planning yourself your own party.  I can host stuff like no one's business but planning is jut different.

Life is good, God is good.

Only in Germany...
Joshua Aakre

Matthew 6:34

Self Inflicted Wounds...

Saturday April 21, Hamburg Germany

Hamburg Blue Devils vs. Osnabrueck Tigers

We left our stadium around 9:30 to make the trek up to Hamburg.  I initially found my seat next to Chris on our double decker coach bus, but soon after our departure, I found my common travel position (between the seats, on the floor with my pre-game nap).  After a couple stops, one bathroom trip to the woods, and roughly 4 hours, we found ourselves in the City of Hamburg.

(Picture of the Harbor in Hamburg, it's huge)

We arrived at the stadium a couple hours prior to the game.  The weather was a comfort mid 50's and without rain, but during our pre-game warmups it started to poor for nearly 20 ish minutes.  After getting dressed, our pregame warm-up, and equipment/personal check (they make sure you are who you are), we took the field infront of a crowd of 2500 fans.  

(Mr. Blue Devil; he must work out)

We haven't gotten our jersey's yet, so we are in the whites.

(Coin Flip: Myself, Dean, Jens, and Flo)

They won the opening flip, so we took the ball to start.  Our first drive stalled after a few plays and we had to punt.  After a couple plays, by the Blue Devils, they ended their drive with a 60 ish yard run.  They're up 7-0.  Next drive we moved the ball 70 yards which ended in a score.  7-6.  

(Right after we took the field)

After our first score, a complete confidence/peace came over our team knowing that we do belong on this field with this GFL 1 team.  We are the Tigers!  We are not to be messed with.  The score at half time ended up being 21-8 and the final was 28-8. 

(Deans: the meanest running back in all of Germany)

Although the score said we lost by 20 points, I do not believe it was a correct representation of how the game went.  First real game, always comes with some dumb penalties on both sides of the ball.  A few offensive penalties killed some drives, these are fixable now that we have actually played a game.  Defense built walls at times, but I feel they also have things they can easily correct.  

Two weeks before our division opener and we will be ready.  After the game, it's obvious we came out a little beat up.  A few normal joint tweeks, but also a couple broken fingers and one dislocated shoulder.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -  James 1:2-4

What do I think after one game of professional German football?  I love it.  Football is football where ever you play.  

Thanks to Silke, oldest host sister, I was able to make it to church this morning.  Small english service, 8 of us including the pastor.  They incorporated me into the service and let me read the first reading.  It was good stuff.  Thanks to my involvements with the Agapes, a youth Christian choir, and football at BU, I knew the songs we sang this morning.

Man at church: "You have a strong name... Who was the greatest Joshua?"

Prayer Requests:  Team health and injuries to be able to come back for our division opener in two weeks.  

Joshua Aakre

Joshua 1:9

This is not a perfect report on how our game went so check out:

gotigers.de

The Ferrari is mine.

Michael is back home! He actually came back a couple days ago, but I don't know if I've posted that he has officially returned yet.

School has consumed the past couple days so nothing too exciting has been going on, unless you consider papers, a test, and more papers exciting.

Story time:
For approximately 9 summers, I was the master of the lawn.  I couldn't begin to count how many times I mowed our yard out at the farm.  Ever since I lived with Grandpa and Grandma Hanson before beginning 4th Grade at Dawson-Boyd, I've been the one who got stuck with mowing.  It was no small feet, although we did have a great John Deere rider, it took at least 3 hours.  I don't know how I was still mowing when my younger brother was plenty old enough, I still was stuck with the job.

Looking back now though, I actually can say that was a great time.  I would often pretend I was farming on a much smaller scale of course, but early spring was planting season, then summers were either spraying or cultivating, and when fall mowing came that's when I had harvest.  Don't know how childish that sounds, but now I've just planted my first German field, figuratively of course.

Friendly game is only a couple days away and the coaches are getting nervous about me showing up looking like how I do.  It would be quite "interesting" to see how Hamburg would react as they see myself under a helmet playing football.  They would have to thing I've got a screw loose.  Fact is though, I've probably got a few screws loose.

Talked with the incredibles today: TJ, Kae, Joelle, and Liz.  TJ is doing well it seemed, her Grandmother passed away this past week and she spoke at her funeral for those who have been following.  Also, the admissions office is still there so obviously I wasn't that important that things were going to fall apart.  Welcome to the new students planning on coming in next year.

Life's good... Living a dream. What's yours?  Let's make it happen.

Joshua Aakre
Romans 8:28

I'm not a gambling man.... But.

Last night we were able to finally drive home the car.  Boy is it nice to say we have some freedom to go to and from when we want and not have to rely on the bus or other players to come pick us up.

We also broke the beast car in with a trip to KFC, first road trip, where Chris and I have been officially out with the car.  It'll be easier now to get to and from workouts and practice and anywhere else we please.  Time to explore Germany.

(Here's the car)

Don't worry, last night I only killed it twice.  Thanks to the farming background and the little times Vavs let me drive the Volvo, I do feel capable to drive the manual. 

Story time:

First time I ever drove a stick was in Alaska for my uncle Scott at the age of about 17.  Never drove a stick before but understood the concept.  Spent about 15 minutes trying to get the thing started, finally remembering I needed to engage the clutch first.  After getting to the garbage dump, I killed it 3 times while trying to back up.  Good thing he sent me to the one in the country versus town.

Conversation went: can you drive a stick?  sure! (not really knowing how to).  want to do a garbage run for me? yes sir.  And that's about it, sorry I lied Scott but Kai and I had an adventure.

I lost a bet on Saturday to Meta.  It's s o g double o d good, is not for Arby's but for KFC.  Should've known because I don't think Arby's even has a restaurant over here but he has spent sometime in South Carolina, living with a host family and going to school there.

(Me: the half bearded man)

So for the next 2 weeks I'm looking like 2 face from Batman.  Sorry Mom.  

Joshua Aakre

Junior Season Opener

Junior Game 1: Tigers vs. Birds of Prey

(Marv and Meta playing a little backgammon, pre-game strategy to fire up the minds)

Yesterday the Junior Tigers kicked off their season with the Bremen Birds of Prey.  After a crazy afternoon of football, the Tigers ran out of time against the Birds losing the opener 4-0.  The Birds of Prey scored early in the first and second quarters via two safeties resulting from the punter stepping out the back of the endzone and an early whistle by the refs on a quarterback drop back, respectively.

(Pre-game warmups)

The defense stood firm; building a wall on multiple occasions when the Birds were knocking on the door.  The offense were at moments looking like a well oiled machine but at other times struggled to keep the Birds out of the backfield causing chaos for our running and passing game.

(Cointoss)

 The hardest part for myself during this game was to watch the reffing.  I've been warned in the past by other players and coaches about it, but I was amazed on Sunday at the poorness of refs.
On our first safety, the head ref tossed the yellow flag as the punter stepped out of bounds and then proceeded to blow his whistle seconds later.
The Birds were in shotgun, and because of a low snap or by design (it was fourth down) the quarterback fell on the ball/took a knee (OUT OF SHOTGUN) and before the official our blitzing linebacker collapsed on the QB.  Personal foul.  ??????
On numerous occasions their right guard would bounce in his stance, no false start because an explanation by the sidelines official, acknowledged the man was bouncing, said he isn't causing the defense to jump.  Later the D-lineman jumped in anticipation of the snap, and the offensive lineman moved and it was encroachment.
Finally, near the end of the game, the Birds were punting to the Tigers and their was a flag for a false start, play continued, then another flag for illegal formation, play continued and the punt went through the back of the endzone for a touch back.  Final result was somehow both penalties were waved off and the Tigers got the ball on the 20.  ???????'s

(Just a little shout out to Kyle Boersma, I found your cousin.  #65 runs in the family. He's got nothing on you.)

I'm going to have to get ready for the upcoming season and prepare myself for the refs.  It's just a game, games are supposed to be fun.  

Coming off a Junior Championship last season and a disappointing season opener, I pray the men keeps their heads high and play the game  for a reason so much greater than a championship where men will say well, but for the Man upstairs who one day I pray will say, "Well done good and faithful servant."  That's my ultimate goal.  

There is a war raging in this world and everyday is a battle.  Football is a game of battles every down.  Even though this world is dark and ugly, the greatest thing to know about life is that we can already claim victory through J.C. He's already fought the war and because of His sacrifice we can claim our citizenship eternally with One so much greater than anything fathomable.

Michael may be coming home tomorrow, hopefully.  Grandma Hanson is alive and kicking.  TJ Jones' grandmother has gone on to dance with the King, so rejoice for her and her family but also pray for TJ as she speaks at the funeral on Tuesday.

Joshua Aakre

Proverbs 4:13-15