Madison Thorn, shoulder to shoulder with her bestie Claire—muddy field, oversized jerseys, no idea what life would ask of them later. Just joy, effort, belonging. Being a good teammate mattered more than being the star.

Back then, I thought this picture was about soccer.
I know better now.

It was about character in formation.
About learning to stand beside someone.
About trusting the field, even when it’s uneven.

Over the past two years, I’ve written book after book—about grief, faith, mistakes, second chances, presence, and making the best of whatever season you’re in. And somewhere in every page is this same lesson I watched my kids live long before I learned to name it:

Life isn’t won by trophies.
It’s shaped by who you become while you’re playing.

My children have been my greatest teachers. They lived the truths I later tried to write. They showed me resilience before I had language for it. They taught me that love looks like showing up, staying connected, and giving your best even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

This picture reminds me that the seeds of who we become are planted early—but they grow over a lifetime.

Proud then.
Proud now.
Always grateful for the field, the friendships, and the lessons that never stopped.