Mismo Meet

It is good to be home.  Bronwyn and I made a 500 mile round trip to her gymnastics meet today.  We got out of the house in good time, and all was well until I crossed the state line and realized that the meet was in the next time zone.  That half an hour cushion I had planned into the trip was now gone and we were a half hour behind schedule.  I was hoping she would only miss her warm up, or maybe one event.  Then she softly said, "Mom, I forgot my grips."  Great, suddenly I was hoping that bars were the event they had first since we might be missing it anyway.  I quickly shifted from, "great! I just drove four hours to miss two of four events and waste a whole day..."  to "I am thankful for a beautiful drive with my daughter.  Maybe we can get in some shopping."

As it turned out, we made it just in the nick of time.  The majority of parents on the team also miscalculated the drive time, so we were all a little rattled.  She was able to borrow a set of grips.  The team placed third overall, and she placed third in her age division.  She learned how to overcome adversity, and keep her composure.  I was pleased with how she did.  The trip really was beautiful.  The change in scenery was very refreshing.

I was reading One Thousand Gifts while I waited in the stands.  There were three brothers sitting in front of me.  I was so grateful to be able to watch them without them realizing it.  One of the boys was in a wheel chair.  He was cheering on his sister and playing with his brothers, just like many other children in the stands.  I don't think the wheel chair even mattered to them as they played together.  It was very sweet.  I jotted down a few more things I am thankful for in the book as I read and watched.

#72-84

Siblings.  You can't live with 'em and you can't live without 'em.

Food, which can visibly refresh a person right before your eyes.

Glitter and sequins, they really are pretty.

Hugs.

The familiar faces of strangers.  When you get into sporting events you start to see the same faces in the crowd, which is very comforting.  A guy came up to me at the meet, and said, "I know you!"  I had handed him a map at a meet a year ago so he could give directions to another team mate.  I've seen him at every meet since then.  I cheer for his daughter, they are starting to feel like family.

Bubbly sweet things, sometimes it just hits the spot.

Text messages from children that are far away.

Blue skies over white mountain peaks.

Friendly servers at Starbucks.  Starbucks on every other corner.

Costco, a blessing to large families everywhere.

Sleeping children that wake up and tell me they miss me when I get home.

It's a Blur

The theme that keeps coming up in my life is Sabbath.  Taking time to rest in my Lord.  I'm clearly not getting it yet.  This weekend was Bronwyn's home gymnastics meet.  My brother and his family wanted to come and see her compete.  Whenever we all get together it is a wild time.  There was also a fundraising dessert for our school on Friday, so we decided to add that to the "things to do" list.  As it turned out, our oldest and our youngest children were singing at the dessert. Saturday morning our realtor called and had someone that wanted to see the house, and for some reason Rick said they could.  Finding rest in the midst of this busy weekend was a challenge.

I tried very hard to keep my sense of humor through the weekend.  I think I did okay, but during church Sunday morning I had a really hard time focusing.  I do remember that we need to trust God to do things His way.  It was a good sermon, and I am very thankful I can download it and listen to it again, when I am not trying to keep my five year old's bad attitude from becoming obvious to everyone sitting around us.  I really need to think about finding rest, and not succumbing to the chaos that seems to creep into my life.

I love having my brother's family visit.  They are very energetic.  They get me out of my rut, and make me serve cheerfully.  They went to our fundraising dessert with us.  When we got home, Rachel made two very astute observations.  She noticed that the history of the school is quite an interesting story, and that it is still being told.  Our school is celebrating its 30th year.  Many of the alumni are now enrolling their children.  They have a much better perspective on how far the school has come in the last 30 years.  They are leaving it better than they found it, by being involved supporting the teachers, and encouraging the children.  It is an awesome thing to see.  She also pointed out that the teachers, staff, and families all love the school and each other.  They are committed to this community and its children.  They have made countless sacrifices throughout the years to be in this particular place.  I am so thankful for the love that they bestow on my kids, and all of the kids everyday.  It is a remarkable school, and I am very grateful that my kids are a part of their story.  Nesradine got to sing his cowboy song in front of everybody, and Madison got to be part of the choir that performed.

Saturday morning we got up, fed all the kids and cleaned the house.  It got a bit chaotic for everyone, so I finally loaded all of the kids in the big van and took a little cruise around town.  Kiki's breakfast wasn't sitting too well, so he yacked all over Soren.  This caused much wailing and tears, (some of them from Rachel and I laughing).  My dear friend Heather had offered to make us brunch while the realtor showed our house.  I was questioning my sanity, and how I continue to get myself into these situations.  Rick took Bronwyn from there to her gymnastics meet.  He worked concessions while some of us popped in and out to see Bronwyn compete.  She ended up getting second in her age division.  She did very well after some prayer for God to settle her spirit.  I think the chaos was getting to her before she left for the gym.  I am learning that some of my kids really need more calm in their lives.  Now, when I figure out how to work that in I will be doing some amazing work.

We didn't make it to Sunday school in the morning, even though we can all tell you what our only comfort in life and in death is.  Maybe we will get our candy next week.  We did make it to worship, which was much needed and well worth it.  I am very thankful for our church family, and that it is a place where we know that we have a community of people that have our backs in all things.  I know they pray faithfully for Martha and Nesradine.  I know that they watch our children and they will get away with nothing as they get older.  I know that I have a lot to learn about living a Sabbath life.  I do have the foundation of knowing that God is sovereign in all things.  I am not my own, but belong, body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful savior Jesus Christ.  Just knowing that I can lay a lot of things to rest.  This weekend was a blur, but I made it through.  The kids are all accounted for.  No one missed a meal.  The house was shown.  And to the best of our ability we glorified God.

Salute!

Bronster had a meet this weekend in Yakima. Mads got in some practice driving on the way. She has finally mastered her beam dismount. She got first in her age division and her team came in first.