But, wait, let me backtrack to how he got to this point. So the game in San Diego was absolutely insane! Dustin got in and played with such poise and confidence that it immediately demanded people's attention. To put it lightly, we (Gina, Scott, Dillon, and I) were complete fools. Well, okay, Gina, Dillon, and I were complete fools. Dustin clearly gets his poise from his father (although I know he wanted to scream and act like the rest of us... the doctor in him just makes him better at hiding his emotions in PUBLIC but we all know he was boiling with pride and excitement inside.) I met a couple of the women after the game (they knew who we were with because we were the idiots in the stands going nuts even though the Cowboys were losing) and the girls ended up staying in Oxnard while I was there. They were SO welcoming and inviting and that really eased some anxiety I had. The Cowboys came home for good on August 15 and played the Ravens the next day. Dustin threw his first TD and of course, we all went insane! They then went down and played in Miami and he got playing time in the fourth quarter to which it was.. well.. just kinda uneventful. He went into a lot of detail about the events of that game but like I have said before, I still have no idea what he is talking about when he talks football with me. To summarize how he felt about the game "it was alright." The fouth preseason game was huge for him as the Cowboys played the Broncos and Dustin played for 2 1/2 quarters. One thing that has been absolutely amazing has been the support we have received from so many people. We have received so many texts, facebook messages, tweets, phone calls, etc. with people expressing their support and love. From our families to our friends to our hometown community to our college communities to people we have never met before, people have let us know how proud they are of Dustin. In fact, we have gotten some good laughs in because the support has been... overwhelming at times. But we know that people have been praying for Dustin and it means the world to us that so many people are excited for us. What a complete blessing to know we have SO many people praying for us and encouraging us along in this journey. His parents have been so great throughout this entire time and have done such an amazing job of balancing being Dustin's proud parents and respecting him being an adult. That may not make any sense... but it works in my head, so we'll just go with it. But anyway, they are just.. so awesome and I am BEYOND thankful for those two. How I want to pray constantly and love and think of others first as Gina does. How I want Dustin to be just like his dad: wise, patient, and respected by all. Although people can look up articles and watch the Cowboys play, what most people don't see is the journey these players go through on a day to day basis. What a privilege it has been to watch my husband face this battle every single day. He wakes up around 5:30, goes to work, comes home around 5, we talk about our days, he may take a short nap or watch tv for a little bit, we have dinner once Blaine and Sam come home, then he spends the next couple of hours on his iPad watching and re-winding film, and occasionally adding insight to whatever the rest of us are chatting about or doing. This process can be brutal on these guys with the constant "what-ifs" rolling through their mind. I tell Dustin every day how proud I am because I have been been beyond amazed how he has handled the pressure and stress of having a job that can have such a "revolving door" aspect to it. He is confident in his God-given abilities, is beyond smart and such a quick learner, and puts his whole heart and effort into playing for the Dallas Cowboys. Dustin is so patient with this process and is truly the hardest worker I know. So, for those of y'all who are proud.. be even prouder because his hard work, passion, humility, and love for the game is 100% genuine. He is such an amazing husband who makes sure he hugs and kisses me every day and asks me every day how I am doing with everything. Let me say, I am SO glad he is the one with the job he has and not me.. because there have been days I have been a crying, stressed out, emotional mess. The over-achieving Courtney who has had her life planned out from day one, has had some major growth this summer learning to completely trust in the Lord's plan for our lives and learning how to be content in every situation... even if that means being 24, unemployed, and being still at home (with a bum foot) more than I would like. Anyway, I could go on and on but that would just embarrass him even more that I probably already have. So finishing up. Just a fun story to finish with. So two weeks ago, I was walking to the bathroom at night and stubbed my toe on a metal bar stool. Welll... I looked down and my pinky toe was at a 45 degree angle out and completely twisted so my toenail was facing the outside of my foot. Anyway, I laughed and made sure and showed Dustin, Sam, and Blaine before Dustin decided he would put it back into place. (PS. I am the most accident prone, klutz of a human being.. thanks for passing that trait down to me, mom). Well, a couple trips to a doctor's office later, I find out my toe wasn't dislocated, but was broken and Dustin realigned it for me. The orthopedic surgeon I saw said he was very impressed with Dustin's work. So, I guess those years of shadowing Dr. Parker in Amarillo really paid off! Anyway, for those concerned, my toe is still intact and healing well. DUSTIN IS A DALLAS COWBOY!
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