In about five hours, we'll be on our way to our second Speech and Debate Tournament. I'm asking for your prayers for Houdin. He has a very difficult time keeping focused on things, and he has chosen to recite a ten-minute speech on the evils of fast food. He has the whole thing memorized, but really stumbles between transitions. He also has a difficult time refraining from stammering, so he repeats many things twice, causing his speech to run over ten minutes, which will lose him a rank.
Please pray for Bard, too. Last tournament, she was in either third or fourth place; we don't know because they only awarded first and second, but she was in the power round with three other participants, two of whom received the first two places. Pray that she will be able to accept the place that she's given, though I know she's really hoping for at least second place.
And pray for our stamina. We'll be at the tournament from 7:30 to 9:00 P.M. and, obviously, I'm still not in bed. The tournament is very fast-paced. The kids barely have time to get a drink and lunch isn't scheduled until 1:45, over six hours from the beginning of the tournament.
In spite of all that, I think this is a good activity for them both. Bard has a hard time speaking in front of people, and this has given her confidence. Houdin has taken to dressing very dapper, which saved us from the constant argument about stained t-shirts and excessively baggy pants. Plus, he needs practice focusing and memorizing. Ironically, his name means "the Lord remembers." May the Lord remember for him tomorrow.
Thank you for your prayers.
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