Highlights from the week

Monday was our 18th wedding anniversary. Tony sent me 18 roses to work. Wasn't that sweet and thoughtful? We enjoyed them at work all week and they are still looking nice over the weekend. We went out for supper while Quinn was at soccer practice and we left Madison at home. Quinn was a little upset. He just could not understand ... "You do this EVERY year... you always go out to eat and celebrate your anniversary and don't take us with you!" He suggested just staying home and ordering Domino's Pizza. After all we only order pizza to be delivered like that about once every 2 years (seriously) so he thought that would be special enough.

Tuesday brought some "bumper cars" in our own driveway. Long story short... Tony backed into the corner of the van. Don't tell me that medical costs are the only thing out of sight. This little fender bender is estimated at $2000!! I guess I need to take a picture for you but it's too depressing so I probably won't. Good thing he had already sent those pricey roses the day before.


Three soccer games brought us 2 wins and 1 loss this weekend. I love this picture of Madison. She just headed the ball. Look at how high she can jump. The U12 Flames beat Argos 5-1 at Argos. It was a fun game. You can tell our girls have played together for a long time now. Her U12 teammates have become her good friends. She played with the U13 girls this afternoon and they got their very first win of 2008! They beat Warsaw 3-2. They were so excited. They did not score any goals during their Spring season (their first as a team). They've scored several goals this season already and today was a highlight with their first win. Madison is double rostered and plays with them whenever she can. You know.... it's never too much soccer for her.


Here is a picture I LOVE. You have to double click on this to see the boys' faces. Quinn is in the goalie jersey... I wish I could see his face too. He has a super neat coach who prays with them before and after every practice and game. The players pray some times and the boy on the right is praying before their game got started in Fort Wayne on Saturday afternoon. They lost 5-1 I think. This is definitely a growing year and we probably won't win a game this season but the boys are having fun and are improving. At half-time the score was only 0-2. Quinn told me that Coach Gio said at half-time, "Let's all give Quinn a hand because of the great job he has done the first half." That made him feel good. I should have counted his saves. Our young defensive players actually back-pedal down the field when the offense is dribbling down (instead of running forward and attacking the ball for you non-soccer people) allowing shot after shot after shot. Yaw, we need to get back to practice.

Quinn saved another one in this picture! Thankfully he doesn't take all of those goals scored on him personally. I think it helps knowing that Tony was a goalie for forever and they can talk "goalie-talk" with each other. He really is enjoying the new goalie role. I kind of miss seeing him out on the field but it's OK. It's always good to try new things. I heard Kevin Leman say something awhile ago that keeps coming back to me. It was something like this...

Don't be afraid to let your kids try new things, things that involve a risk of some sort...things that you don't think they will excel at. Allow them to find the things they are best at by allowing them to learn how to experience disappointment and failure... now... as a kid. All great and successful adults will be able to give you examples of when they tried something and failed at it. They learned from it and moved on.

Quinn is doing a great job at being the goalie. He is learning more each game... and it will take lots of actual game experience to be really comfortable with it... and for me not to be on pins and needles with him in the box!

Well, tomorrow is a new week. Ahhhhh Mondays. I'm going to bed and praying about my attitude the whole way.

Love ya, Leah