Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 9:46PM Dear John Schnatter,
This time I have a delivery for you. This message is from my son. I thought you would like to hear it.
I happen to agree with him.
Have a good evening, sir.
Sincerely, Christina (and Christian)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 10:10PM We have now begun the soccer season...the games were delayed the first week (and Christian's second one, too) because of the rain, but now the kids are back on the field.
Here are some shots of each of them in their first games this fall.
Michaela is the one throwing the ball in.
In past soccer seasons she has been a bit hesitant, but so far this time has seemed a little more comfortable going after the ball...
She's playing on a different team this fall so she'll be making new friends. The rest of the girls all go to school together, but she doesn't seem to mind or feel like the odd one out. She's so friendly and cheerful-it's good to see her meet new people with such ease.
Christian is playing on a team made up of boys from his school (except for one young man), but they are from different classes. They did a great job tonight in their first game.
A little warm-up...
Christian went in the 2nd and 4th quarters. He played so well! He got in the mix when he could, waited for the right opportunities, hung back, kicked the ball to other players...
And then he scored a goal! You can see the ball rolling in...
That was so exciting. I got pictures of him afterward, jumping and then hugging Mike, but they are all blurry-I'm sad about that. I'm not sure what I did wrong. I wish they had turned out, because the look on his face was so priceless.
Look, I decided to put one on here anyway. You can tell how happy he is (I also noticed that in this picture there is a man who was closer to me than Christian and he is perfectly in focus...I cropped him out. But that would explain why all else was blurry. Wah.)
I also managed to capture him in a moment that looks as though he had only one leg. That would make it even trickier to score a goal, eh?
There will be plenty more games, and I hope to do a better job photographing the next ones! As far as the kids go, I'm sure they will keep up their good work!
life together, soccer Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 12:08AM Stickers, they are everywhere-
In my laundry, in my hair,
Stuck on furniture and floors...
Why do children so adore
These sticky decorating gems?
Ah, but to inspire bad poems!
Mostly Grandma is to blame,
But, no, I cannot drag her name
Through the mud, for guilt lies here-
To honest truth I must adhere.
I, too, in fits of madness sure
Have purchased tens of thousands more
Of stickers, in all shapes and sizes
And so there should be no surprises
When I turn around and find
A sticker stuck on my behind.
Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 2:45PM I don't feel old enough to be thirty-five, but the facts are the facts. And the numbers say that from September 27, 1974 to September 27, 2009 there are thirty-five years. I can't argue with that. Well, I could try, but I don't think I would win. I never was much for confrontation.
Thirty-five things I am grateful for...
1. My husband
2. My oldest daughter
3. My son
4. My youngest daughter
5. My parents are still around
6. My brother and I have a good relationship even though we don't get to see one another very often
7. I got to take a nap today after church
8. Chocolate cake
9. Friends from here to all the way on the other side of the world (like Germany and the United Arab Emirates!)
10. Chocolate cake (oops, I already said that) In-laws who love me
11. Stability in our life even if it doesn't always feel like it (namely because I'm a nutjob)
12. The luxury of blogging, and the people I've (in an internet sort of way) met because of it
13. Being forgiven for everything I have done and not done, by the blood of Jesus Christ
14. Not only being forgiven but being loved by my Savior
15. My Our great camera
16. Skype
17. The wonderful places we are able to go with our family members, from Williamsburg to New Smyrna Beach to Lake Tahoe
18. Reading letters and updates from the children we sponsor through World Vision
19. My health
20. Prayers
21. Our church family
22. Our home and all that goes with that-running water, electricity, appliances...I take so much for granted
23. Being able to spend time with Christian and his classmates on Fridays stitching
24. Our vehicles
25. Peanut butter
26. How, for whatever reason, the Lord has protected our family in many situations where things could have gone differently (mainly, accidents that the kids have had)
27. Benedryl
28. Purell
29. Sharpies
30. The amazing love my kids have for me
31. The memories I have of these twelve years of marriage
32. The great hymn-writers throughout the ages and the gift of their music
33. God's word, which will never pass away
34. Laughter
35. A time to sit and reflect on all the good things in my life, big and small
I have been so blessed, and most of the time I ignore that. I tend to complain a lot. That isn't something that will change overnight; I would like to get better at looking at the good, and being thankful in all things. Paul says in Philippians 4:12,"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." To be able to say that would be a blessing, indeed. I think that may be my prayer for myself this year. Knowing my blessings that I may be a blessing to others.
(That is a long road, but I think it would be rewarding, eh?)
