I'm sorry to be so late in posting tonight...it's been a rough few days in many ways. On this sad, sad, day...I ask that you please keep the family of Coach Matthews and the students of Stratford High School in your thoughts and prayers. My heart is breaking for all of the students, teachers, faculty, and staff who are mourning the loss of this great man, and I hold each of them in the light and love of many angels.
I pray for not only my daughter who is with a heavy heart tonight, but for each student who will be walking into their world history class tomorrow and missing their beloved teacher. Death can be an incredibly tough thing to understand and grasp as adult, much less as an adolescent. Hearts are especially fragile when the circumstances of loosing someone we love appears to be so senseless.
Sometimes in experiences like these, the miracle is simply being given the grace to move through tragic heartbreak and grief with the love and comfort of GOD.
May Chris Matthews forever be held in the light and love of heaven.
In sadness, sorrow, and strength,
Christopher M. Matthews
December 2, 1977 - January 30, 2011
Before each game, they would gather in a circle & shout "KSA" !!! It was Coach Matt's code for "Kick Some Ass"
A sacred prayer the team said at the start of the 1st game that the girls would have to play without Coach Matthews standing on the sidelines...
A special shout out to Heaven...
The ENTIRE school showed up in support of the girls...and all proceeds from the game went to the Matthew's family...
Allie on the field {an oldie but goodie}....
After days of her crying, not talking, and hiding out in her room with music turned up full blast...here's a little note I found on facebook that she wrote on his memorial page:
"When you forced me to play goalie I was upset but it turned out i was pretty BA at that stupid position, when I was really nervous you would wink at me from the sidelines. All I wanted to do was make you proud. You made me run when I didn't know John Wayne was...I still don't really know. HA! Once I replied "AS IF?!" and you called me clueless for the rest of the day. Coach Adcock caught me kissing in the hallway and she walked me to your class room and forced me to tell you what I did...once again another two miles. The greatest honor was when you and Fuller made me one of the Captains. ♥ I gave a speech at the soccer banquet and I'll never forget the look on your face when the team gave you our gift. You are the one to blame who gave me the nickname "little allie PINEcone". After so many hours of practices and games you'd think you'd grow to get sick of us but you never did. I totally remember you reading the girliest nickolas sparks books we all told you to read. You made the team run "super circuits" when it was snowing outside. You told us we were going to do 8...and you said it was easy & decided to run with us... we only did 2(: Once at practice it was the coldest day ever and you said I don't think we need to practice today were going to get some hot chocolate at McDonald's! HA!! You tried so hard to teach me how to drop kick...that never really worked out. You were so competitive always making up these stupid games, like okay if I can do this then we go home now. We used to distract you at the beginning of the period by getting you to tell us stories so we didn't have to go outside and practice...Hey sometimes it worked! I remember sitting on the bench on the play off game watching you coach it was in that moment I knew how much you really cared about us. We love you, I will forever be grateful CMATT. KSA ~Little Allie Pinecone♥"
*********************************************
