Soccer!

Lately Leah has been using her beach ball as a soccer ball, and our fireplace as a goal, so we thought it would be a good idea to transfer that interest into something that isn't going to be quite as disastrous. I googled for youth soccer in our area, and found a club that has something called K-Ball for 3-5 year olds. It runs once a week for six weeks and the kids work with college soccer players playing fun little games and working on soccer skills at the same time. Monday night was our first session, and Leah had a blast. There were about 125 little kids there, so it was crazy, but we are so glad that we found something like this for her. Enjoy these pics and the short video at the end of Leah's first soccer experience! A note about the video....the coach was "Shrek" protecting his treasure, and the kids had to act like trees when he was awake so that he wouldn't see them. When he was sleeping they had to steal his treasure and run it back to their base. We have some soccer skills to work on (such as, don't touch the ball with your hands!), but it was sure a lot of fun.

Rainy Day Thoughts

It is one of my favorite kinds of spring days...all day rain, where a good book and a warm blanket just call my name, and I can see the grass turn green quite literally before my very eyes.

Of course, before the book and blanket come the dishes and the laundry, and then lunch has to be made and then I have to think about supper, and then, and then, and then. So for a minute this afternoon I'm going to take some time to write a blog, and perhaps pick up a book for a little while. I have soup heating up for lunch, which seemed perfect for today. Why do all our moods seem to tie themselves to different types of food? I seem to tie one food or another to just about anything I am feeling. Except ice cream. I can tie that to any mood!

Last weekend I had the chance to go to Women of Faith with my mom, sister, sisters-in-law, and a few friends. It was the second time I've gone, and although I went into with a mood of "this is just one more thing to do", I really was able to settle down and find great blessing in it. One of my favorite moments was actually an unintentional one, which is probably why it stuck with me. Sandi Patty was performing, and had talked much about the process in her own life of peeling back the layers that we put on, resulting in discovering beauty that is only God-given. After a particularly rockin' song (seriously, Sandi was movin' and groovin'!), she danced off the stage, saying "Wardrobe Malfunction! Ladies, gather around!". So, all her friends who are also speakers and performers throughout the weekend encircled her, while another assistant went "up and under" to correct whatever had malfunctioned. Everyone continued to dance and sing, and it was something that was perfectly beautiful to witness. In a time when layers were most definitely being peeled back, she was surrounded with an incredible love and friendship. It reminded me of the friends who bless me in the same way...some who live close, others who live far away, but who will all gather 'round when I am having a malfunctioning moment, wardrobe or otherwise. I am certainly thankful for these friendships.

I think this may be enough for my rainy day musings today...I have a book still calling my name...