Go Gators!

I love college football! Especially the Gators. We are big University of Florda Gator football fans in our family. There are a lot of big football teams in Florida (Florida State, University of Miami, University of Central Florida) and so there is a lot of rivalry come football season. We even rival with our pastor since he's an Alabama fan.

For several weeks before the season starts, and continuing through to the end, there is considerable teasing between the different fans. We start wearing t-shirts and hats. We put messages all over facebook. We put stickers and flags on the cars. And we even dress our little children and grandchildren appropriately. If they're too little for a gator t-shirt we just dress them in orange and blue. We teach them very early in life to say "Go Gators" and how to do the Gator chomp with their little arms.

I think what I like most about all of it, is that it brings people together. Whether they are Gator fans or Alabama fans (or whatever team) people share a common bond that spells out "fun". There are so many things in life that seem to stress people. All you have to do is listen to about 5 minutes of news to know that. So when football season starts and people start having cookouts, and gatherings with family and friends, and cheering at games to celebrate college football, I love it!!

Tonight we will gather at family's house for the opening game. I can't wait! It will be a joyous time. We'll all be in our gator shirts (including the grandbabies). I actually got some orange and blue radiation tattoos! We'll laugh and shout and cheer and share our love for each other. And at the end of the evening, whether my team wins or not, I will have had the victory for "The joy of the Lord is my strength!"