January 24, 2010 update

Hi everyone!

It's hard to believe it's almost the end of January! Happy New Year again to everyone!

We've been busy with Nick's wrestling and getting back into our routines with school and work, etc. As you know from previous posts, The Toledo Blade and The Sentinel-Tribune did stories on Nick which I put the links to in previous posts if you're interested. We had an interview this past week with a reporter from The Perrysburg Messenger Journal for a story, which hasn't yet come out. FOX news is also going to be doing a story and have already come out to one of Nick's matches this week to tape some footage. They're supposed to come over this week to interview us. We've been getting a lot of e-mails, mail (cards, etc.), and wonderful messages from people, some we know and some we don't. We want to thank everyone for their kind and supportive comments, thoughts, and prayers for Nick and our family that have come as a result of the stories about Nick's wrestling. We really appreciate it!

Nick has wrestled in a couple of matches this month. Yesterday they had a tournament at Lake High School, Nick wrestled twice. Nick did not win his matches but did GREAT and continues to get stronger, and is learning more and more all of the time. His team DID win the tournament yesterday! Go Jackets!:) The other coaches and wrestlers have been so kind and supportive to Nick, telling him to "keep going"! The thing that gets me (Amy) the most is watching how much, how often, and how far Nick has been walking during his matches. Just seeing him stand up, no leg braces, no support, no walker or wheelchair, all on his own, standing up and walking, is amazing. It takes my breath away, literally, every single time. It makes me pause and think about how far he has come and how much stronger he has gotten just since he started wrestling. We had no idea he'd be doing ANY of this three months ago, NONE! There are no words to adequately describe how proud we feel and how amazed Greg and I both are. We're just going along for the ride and we'll let Nick show us what he is capable of and can do:) Nick was also the honorary coach at a Jr. High wrestling meet in Perrysburg this past Wednesday. He was asked to coach and give a speech to the boys and he did a great job. They gave him some cool shirts to wear and he loved doing that! He gave them some inspiring words to think about.

Bella has been busy with dance again and still loves it. She got her grade card this week, all A's! Nick got all A's and B's! All we've ever asked them to do is "do their best". We're so proud of them both! The thing that makes us most proud though is what kind of people they have become/are becoming, kind, thoughtful, compassionate. We've always told them, we'll be there to support you and will be proud of you and all of the activities you do. BUT, your grades, trophies, accomplishments, those things are nice, but don't matter as much to us as the kind of person they are! No grade, degree, trophy, success in an activity will be as important to us as if they become good people and treat other people well. Don't get me wrong, of course we are proud of all of the things they do and if they are doing their best, that's what we want. It still doesn't matter to us as much as their character and how they treat, talk to, do things for, etc. other people. Having said ALL of that, we think they are turning out to be wonderful human beings so far!:) (didn't mean to go on so much!!!!!)

That's the latest scoop on Team Hyndman!

Blessings:)

Amy