We've Already Won The War

My boys LOVE playing X-Box and X-Box360. They enjoy playing the 'war' games and forming alliances to "get the bad guys".

Yesterday, they got to experience it first hand.

I'm not talkin' bullets, but rather......




Paintball.


In the woods.

Thirteen teenagers and two adults (plus two adults who were designated as photographers) running around with rifles filled with ammunition of yellow paint......

dodging 'bullets', hiding behind tires, crawling into trenches, running from tree to tree, shooting at "the enemy" (or in some cases...their own team members!.... yikes!)

Join me as we take a look at some brave kids (and some brave adults!)





Sorry, Christopher, there's no where to hide in this game, and that includes climbing trees........
'

'

'
Two teams were formed, and this photo shows the beginning of the first game. Lee, our "man in charge" at Rapidfire Paintball, was most pleasant to deal with and treated all the kids wonderfully. He was the referee for all the games and is shown here in the centre of the photo wearing black and white. Thanks, Lee, for a fun day!

'

'

'

Recognize this person?

'

'

'

It's ME!......Michelle!

I am one of the photographers for the day. You will notice I am wearing a BIG BRIGHT RED SHIRT. This shirt speaks for itself. It says to all players: "The person in the big bright red shirt is NOT to be shot at with a rifle under any circumstances! Failure to abide by this law could result in the photographer seriously ripping your head from your body! Please use caution at ALL times!"

The rules were followed by everyone; however, a stray bullet did find it's way to the area where I was standing and I did get splattered with yellow paint.... not much.... just enough paint for me to say, "Rats! What IS IT with THIS SKIRT? A seagull pooped on it last month and NOW it's been sprayed with yellow paint!"

(For those of you that are wondering why I'd wear a skirt to a paintball field..... I was planning on chauffeuring the kids then sitting in the car and working on a bible study by Beth Moore. But when I found out I was allowed to enter the battlefield to take pictures, I thought... why not!)

OK, enough rambling.... on to more photos..........

'

'

'

Poor Jared.... he got shot. I know he looks fine to you here, but the wounds are shown on the next photo.

'

'

'

Just like Forrest Gump, poor ol' Jarey got shot in "the but-tocks". He also got shot in the back of the neck... you can see some of the paint on his ball cap.

'

'

'

Shortly thereafter, Blake wandered off the field...... all I can say is, "Thank You, Lord, that they MUST wear their MASKS!!!!!"

'

'

'

This is one of the adults, Dave, who was dressed in full camouflage regalia.

'

'

'

After Lee-The-Referee blew the whistle, signalling the game was finished, the teams headed back to base to load up on ammunition. Pictured here is Jared with our "adopted sons" Christopher and Matthew.

'

'

'

Back out onto the field for another game. Blake, Chris, & Matt await the famous whistle, signalling "Game On!"

'

'

'

Lots of "hiding" places to choose from. The problem is getting from one hiding place to another! There were trees, trenches, wooden walls, barrels, combine tires, and little houses you could seek for "safety".

'

'

'

"Cover me!"

'

'

'

Duncan surrendering. I think he actually got shot a few times; however, sometimes the paintballs don't break. It's my understanding that the unbroken paintballs hurt worse than the ones that splatter!

'

'

'

"Uhhh..... 'Scuse me, Duncan.... was that some back-talk you were givin' me? I'LL show you who's boss!"

'

'

'

Matt and Chris waiting out the enemy. (Good camouflaging, Matthew; I can barely see you up against those tires!)

'

'

'

Matthew.... think about it. Not a good idea to shoot your chauffeur. It's a loooong walk back home. (Just kidding, folks; I told him to pose like this.)

'

'

'

Chris got pelted pretty good in this game with some paintballs that didn't break. Took a rest against the tree before heading back to camp.

'

'

'

Most serious injury of the day was to Blake. The whistle blew to commence battle and he was on the front line for his team. He'd barely had time to think when "BAM!", he got shot in the face by his own team-mate.

He walked towards me to head off the field, and we discovered that he had a nice mixture of yellow paint and red blood running down his face. (That would make orange for you non-artists out there.)

After we cleaned him up, we took this photo of his jawline to show how tough he is! Then he went right back out into battle. What a trooper!

Later that evening, that area was swollen up like a very large grape! This morning I asked him if it hurts and he said, "No, there's no pain, but it looks pretty bad." (It's all scabbed up today and is about the size of a nickel.) I said, "When people ask you what happened, just tell them it's an old war injury. Either that, or tell them that your Momma took you out!!!!!!"

'

'

'

In this game, one team (dubbed as 'The Terrorists') have kidnapped Nikki from the other team and are holding her hostage. 'The Rescuers' must find Nikki and rescue her without her being shot.

'

'

'

At the end of the wars, Christopher could not get his camouflage pants unbuttoned. Honestly, these kids are going into high school and they can't even manage to dress and undress themselves yet??? Jared tried to help him, unsuccessfully. Matthew tried to help him, unsuccessfully. Ol' Mom to the rescue! But don't worry.... he had his bluejeans on underneath. Jared decided to make it a Kodak moment, but Momma's too quick for Jared!

'

'

'

Here's a photo of all the warriors (and the photographers!)Back row (l-r) - Michelle (photographer), Sydney, Blake, Justin, Jared, Shayne, Duncan, Claire, John, Kristen, Angie, Andrew (photographer & lunch-man), Nikki

Front row (l-r) - Dave (warrior & photographer), Matthew, Christopher, Mitchell

'

Thanks again to Lee and Rapidfire Paintball for a day of battle. I can't even tell you which teams won which battles; however, I am reminded by the words of a song from one of the The Isaacs albums:

"There's not a battle that I cannot win, We've already won the war; I come in the name of the Lord."

Thank You, Lord, that as Christians You help see us through our daily battles and that someday You will return to fight the last war, and You will reign victorious.

Amen!