Alexandria Blizzard Hockey

Call me selfish. Call me private. I simply did not want to open up my life to accommodate a young stranger. Apparently God had another plan. I spontaneously resisted when we were approached. I put off the housing coordinator by telling her to put us on the “Very Desperate For Host Families List.” I found out later that the list always has that title, which meant we were at the top of the list.  “I can’t do this,” I thought. “My children misbehave. My husband shouts. So do I. Oh my gosh! We’re on the list!”

The list - a short and desperate one - contains the names of families willing to allow a young Blizzard hockey player to live with them for the season. The players to come to Alexandria from different teams, cities, states and backgrounds. And they come for one reason: to play hockey.  They’re here to develop their skills. Ultimately, they hope to play for a Division 1 collegiate program and maybe even the NHL. But while they’re here, they play for us. They belong to Alexandria, Minnesota.

We unexpectedly ended up with a spare bedroom this summer. Then we were asked to be part of this “host family” arrangement. I stewed about it. My husband stewed. And we were asked again. More stewing. We finally decided that if we have a roof over our head, food on our table and an extra bedroom, why couldn't we share it? If my husband started shouting, I figured this hockey player would either run away or ignore him like the rest of us do.  “Okay, fine. Go ahead and put one “on hold” for us.”

We “got” our Blizzard player in early September. Little did I realize that God had “reserved” this special player just for my family.  Lee Joos is a great hockey player and a truly amazing 19 year old from Eagan.  He has an incredible disposition, asks us for nothing, and is appreciative of everything. But God is not without a sense of humor, either.

When I was in high school, I was very, VERY naughty. Lots of time in the principal's office and lots of detention! Well, it turns out that my high school principal, who is also a nun, is Lee's aunt! What are the chances of that? It’s a sign that God does, indeed, have a hand in this.

After Lee moved in, something changed. Our lives were flipped sideways and our hearts cracked wide open. I don’t fully understand how or why.  I worry about his safety, nutrition and health. He doesn’t eat junk food. I have made bars and cookies to tempt him, but he sticks to what’s healthy. He and all of his friends, who also come to my house to eat. I never kept leftovers because my kids wouldn't eat them. I keep them now because I never know when 7 or 8 boys are going to walk through the door looking for something to eat. I have invited them in.

And I love them all. And my kids love them all. These boys are away from their real families and rely on their “host families” for what they need. They are expected to follow the rules of the house. And they are expected to follow the team’s self-imposed rules and discipline. Does it work for every situation? Of course not. But in most homes, in most families, it does work. And something almost magical happens.

It is not the daily rhythm of your home life that changes when a player moves in, but rather, the rhythm of your heart.  You emotionally adopt this player, together with his entire hockey team. You find yourself making a special trip to the store for Gatorade or fruit or granola bars for your player because the team is getting on the bus for an ”away” game. You see other host families at the store picking up similar items. And if you don’t pack your family into the car and follow that bus, you get on the website reporting the game and keep hitting the “refresh” button to find out who scored, who got a penalty, who won. Their victories are yours, and so are their losses. You are drawn in, and you want to be.

I never expected to feel this way. I would love to have the whole team live at my house. But that would be selfish. Good things are meant for sharing. Good things like families and homes and meals. Good things like hockey players who need good families and homes and meals. You want extraordinary living for your family? Call and get on the “short and desperate list.” Your name can be right after mine.