Upward

Oakdale just finished a great season of Upward Basketball and Cheerleading, and we were grateful that our kids were able to participate!

Thanks to John's coaches, David and Kim Wells (above).

Our favorite moment of John's season was when he was able to do a devotion during one of the halftimes:

Thanks to Anna's Cheerleading coaches, Renee Howell and Lauren Sledge. (I was one of the cheerleading coaches, too, but I was taking the picture.)

Likewise, our favorite moment of Anna's season was when she was able to lead a devotion:

And thanks to Christopher's coaches, brothers Danny and Matt Varnell.  Thankfully, I was able to get this basket Christopher scored on video....although I almost missed it!

The season ended with the Upwards Awards Ceremony this past Sunday night in the church's gym.  The event provided Oakdale the opportunity to present the Gospel to more than 600 attenders.  Praise the Lord, we saw 31 first-time professions of faith from the invitation!

 Oakdale's Interpretive Movement group performed to Casting Crowns' song East to West...

 The kids in the audience especially enjoyed the performance of Christian ventriloquist Steve Brogan:

Oakdale Deacon Robert Chadwick was a good sport when the ventriloquist turned him into a "human dummy:"

It was a proud moment for this mom when Christopher's team-mates voted him their team's Most Christ-like...

A super-big thank you to Aaron Rhodes, Oakdale's staff Upwards Director, and to his wife Trina for doing such a tremendous job with the program this season!