Championship Game

Marie’s modified soccer team made it to the championship game.  Unfortunately, it was on the WORST field ever.  One corner of the field is on a hill… I’m not making that up.  So if the ball goes out in that corner, they have to move the ball to another corner for a corner kick.  The field is also on a slight hill.

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These awesome kids played so well.  They didn’t even buckle when the ref made multiple questionable calls.  Their wonderful coach sets such a great example of humility and nobility.

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My sweet SK girl cried on the way home.

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She’s not sad because they lost.  She’s sad because it is over.

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Goal!

SK games are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, except when they are on Mondays.
Mommy works on Fridays and Saturdays, except when she works on Mondays.

Marie got a goal on Monday, October 16 while Mommy was at work.
Really.

But – this is where I love our fabulous God’s care for us.
Marie recently started attending youth group.  Her youth pastor, D.L. had sent out an informative email a few weeks back and mentioned if our kids had games, or concerts, or meets, etc., to let him know as he enjoys supporting the kids in their endeavors.  Well – it had dawned on me when I read that email to let him know about Marie’s games.  But I let it go, because the youth group is HUGE this year and I thought it was better not to add to his load when he could maybe concentrate on the oldest kids who would be leaving youth group sooner; Marie has years of soccer in front of her. 

However, this morning I felt a huge nudge push of the Holy Spirit to let D.L. know Marie had two upcoming home games.  I argued with the Holy Spirit for a while and finally decided I would just let D.L. know, but also let him know we had zero expectation he needed to attend at all, much less these two upcoming games.

Hours later, after the text was forgotten, I was in the med room at work.  Nan had taken Marie to the game and was texting me play-by-plays.  Then there it was – the text, “Marie got a goal!”  Tears of both joy and regret sprung to my eyes.  How had I missed that?  I struggled and talked to God about my anger, disappointment, and also about how weary I am in general with my aggressive October work schedule.  My good God comforted me, and I pushed through my responsibilities.

About an hour later I was having dinner and I got this image on my phone from D.L.

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It was this shot that delivered the goal. 

I can’t make this stuff up.

God is so good. 

A Soccer Game Down Memory Lane…

Marie’s game was all the way out in Brockport today.
Once upon a time I drove to and from Brockport with my eyes closed.  (No.  No.  They weren’t closed.  I mean I was really, really tired, but they were open.)  I attended college at Brockport and I’ve only been back through the town once or twice in the last 23 years. 

A lot of the scenery has changed, and there are a lot more stores out there now, but it isn’t any closer and it made for a long trip.

The trip included me turning one street too soon for the soccer field and ending up smack dab on the west side of campus, where I was suddenly greeted with the high rise buildings I had lived in all those years ago. 

Now – if I had never, ever seen the campus again, it wouldn’t have mattered to me.  I rarely reflect on those years at all and I certainly don’t pine for those days.  But it was interesting to see them still standing tall there.

We made it over to the field where the team won again.  It was a very good game.

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But it wasn’t 80 degrees like it had been last Thursday!

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After the photo we drove back through the south side of campus to see what we could see.

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I’m not one of those folks that smile wistfully about my “college years.”  College was something that I needed to do to get on to the next step in my life.  I did have some fun, and I made some great friends, but I’m  not a “whole college experience” kind of person.   Especially these days.  College has gotten astronomically expensive for very little return on investment.  But – it did make me smile when I remembered the days when this was my home for the night. 

In an effort to emphasize that these structures were my homebases for a season, I said, “Marie – this is where my bed was.  This was where my pillow was!”

She responded with, “Mom, you are always thinking about sleep!”

Colossians 2:8 –

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

SK 2017 season

The first game was today and the weather could not have been more lovely.  I convinced Marie to let me braid her hair early and as soon as Spanish class finished up we hopped into the van to get to the game vs. Saint Paul on our own field.

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If you’ve read other posts about Scarlet Knights, then you might remember how highly John and I regard Marie’s Coach, Mr. Marshall.  He is SUCH a good and godly influence and mentor.  I am regularly astonished at how gently noble he is. 

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Nan met us there, and later Stewart and Nigel headed over to watch the second half.  Marie got to play quite a bit and the won the game.

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Throughout the game we wondered what the band was she was wearing.  It turned out that in addition to the two regular team captains, they are going to have two honorary captains each game to bolster both defense and offense plays on the field.  Marie was given the honorary defensive captain job this week.

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The little girls were whiney and hot.  Or hot and whiney.  You decide.  I decided that I would not bring them to another game.  Just sayin’.

I Timothy 4:8 –

For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Being good sports.

Marie and I went to watch the Varsity teams play their championship games. 

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Boys lost.  Girls won.  Her team moves on to semi-finals on Tuesday…