Soccer

I have finally grown my own soccer team!

This fall, I signed up all 5 children to play Upward Soccer.  The league was perfect for us.  Upward is a developmental sports program, with an emphasis on good sportsmanship, so there was no pressure to win.  The fields and teams were smaller than a typical soccer program.  That made it possible for the league to run 6 fields of games at the exact same time.  It was wonderful.  The kids and I would go to the field every Saturday morning, for an hour of practice and an hour of games.  

My 5 kids were on 3 different teams.  Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 were on the same team.  Jersey #3 was on a team on his own.  Jersey #4 and Jersey #5 were on the same team, and I was their coach.  Everyone had the same uniforms, reversible red and black.  

All of the kids seemed to enjoy playing soccer.  It was a fun family activity.  Jersey #3 appears to be a natural athlete, so he picked up the sport right away and usually scored goals every game.  Jersey #1 enjoys soccer and has played a few years before.  She had a blast, and often scored a goal.  There was one game where Jersey #2 scored a goal for her team.  It was her first goal, and she was thrilled.  The last time she played soccer, we did not realize her heart was on a downward trend, and she did not enjoy running around at all.  I am glad she enjoyed this soccer season.  She has even asked to play again next year.

Jersey #4 and Jersey #5 thought soccer was fun enough.  They are not kids who run around just for the sake of running, so they complained about having to run back and forth along the field so much.  Jersey #5 wanted a snack after every quarter, and cheered when it was his turn to sit out.  Jersey #4 was pretty tough for such a petite thing.  She would take the ball away from the opposing team, and kick it.  Then, she would stop and check to make sure I saw her kick the ball.  Most of the time, this meant that she missed the next couple plays.  

From the moment I signed up all 5 kids for soccer, I knew I wanted to make our family photo a soccer team theme this year.  I waited anxiously to see what color the uniforms were.  Black and red worked great, because The Referee prefers to wear black.  I pictured the kids in uniforms, girls in red and boys in black, with me in a red shirt and The Referee in a black shirt.  I was so excited.  Unfortunately, The Referee refused to take a family photo with us this year, so my plans were ruined.  I was really disappointed about that.  I did get some great photos of me and the kids though.  I suppose that is a more accurate representation of our family this year anyway.

My sister took our family picture, and took a few different fun poses, including the kids hanging from the goal posts.  

I did learn that outdoors in the sunlight is not a good place to attempt a circle of heads photo...

I enjoyed playing soccer as a kid.  So, it was fun for me to get to see all of my children enjoying a season of soccer too.

Go Team Go!

A Team of My Own

I finally have my own team!

A 5-person soccer team.

When we start welcoming more children than the socially acceptable 2.1, folks will often comment about how pretty soon we will have enough for a basketball team....baseball team....or whatever sport seems relevant at the time.  I find that fun and amusing.

This Fall, all 5 kids are playing Upward Soccer.

Upward is played differently than most soccer programs.  It is Christian-based, with a strong focus on sportsmanship and Christ-likeness.  Competition is low key, and encouragement is high.  It is an excellent program for younger kids, or for kids who may not be real athletic by nature.  For our family, it is also wonderful because all 5 kids can play at the same time, as practices and games are at the same field.  

Another difference is that the Upward soccer program we participate in is playing games of 5 versus 5 players, and no goalies.  

To have my own basketball team, I would need 6 kids.  To have my own baseball team, I would need 9 kids.  Typically, to have my own soccer team, I would need 11 kids.  But, with this season's Upward Soccer, I can have my own team with just 5 soccer players!

How fun is that!

Technically, my children do not all play on the same team.  They are different ages, and they are placed on teams based on age category.  All have identical jerseys, though, because Upward uses reversible jersey's to distinguish between home team and visiting team.  So, really, I am just pretending they are my team.

My real team this season is a team of Kindergartners and 1st graders.  I signed up to coach.  Yes, I finally put the "Coach" back in "Coach Mom."  It has been a while.  I coached soccer when Jersey #1 was in kindergarten.  I am coaching again, 5 years later, when Jersey #4 is in kindergarten.  My how time flies...

Jersey #4 and Jersey #5 are both on my team.  I asked for permission to register Jersey #5 for soccer, even though he is not of kindergarten age, because I knew he would feel left out with all of his siblings playing soccer.  Plus, with his size, I knew he would not stand out oddly.  He enjoys the game of soccer, but definitely tuckers out faster than the other kids on his team, including his sister.

I am completely enjoying soccer season this Fall.

The weather is great for it right now.  (Although we can expect it to become much colder as the season progresses).

I enjoy washing an entire load of uniforms.  5 jerseys, 5 shorts, 10 socks, 1 coach shirt.

I have a whole bin in the hallway, dedicated to soccer gear.

We come home from practice/games and air out the cleats and shin guards on the front porch.  Decorating in soccer gear?  Why, yes we do!

I enjoyed playing soccer when I was a kid.

It is fun for me to see my own children enjoying soccer too.

Plus, I get to coach, and enjoy it with them.

Vacation Bible School

This week, the children are attending Vacation Bible School with friends.  The church hosting the VBS is using Lifeway's Amazing Wonders Aviation curriculum.  I love Lifeway's VBS music.  The kids are still singing the songs from previous years.  This church gives the kids their own CD of the VBS music.  Two of my kids brought the CD home already and have been practicing the songs.  They are catchy!

Another blessing about this week of Vacation Bible School is that all 5 of my children can attend.  This church that our friends attend, has a big enough facility, and enough manpower, to house all age groups, even toddlers and preschoolers.  My kids really enjoy themselves.  My friend is a teacher in Jersey #1's class.  One of her daughters is in class with Jersey #2.  Her Mom is the Children's  Ministry Director.  Since I know both ladies and am quite fond of them, I am comfortable leaving my children  under their supervision and care.  I know they are in good hands.  That gives me 3 full hours to myself each day this week.  Respite!  

In our town, there are many churches and many VBS programs.  If desired, a family could attend VBS each week in June, July, and even the first week of August.  Some families do something along those lines, sending their kids to VBS all over town.  I have not had a desire to do that.

Even so, my children will participate in 3 different VBS programs this summer.  First is this Lifeway program at our friend's church.  Next, we will go on a mission trip where we will help out with a VBS at a chapter house in the Navajo Nation.  We will be joined by a youth group from Indiana, and will use the VBS curriculum their church uses.  Our final VBS will be with our own church, in August.  

Our church is part of the ABA (American Baptist Association), which has its own VBS curriculum.  I usually prefer the ABA curriculum the most, because the lessons use both the old and new testaments of the Bible, the daily verses are in the King James version, and the lessons are very solid Biblical teachings.  I also like that it is not the common curriculum used all over town, and  I like originality.  But, I will say that the ABA music is pitiful.  They really could use a few lesson from the Lifeway folks.  Our church usually ditches the music that comes with our VBS program, and organizes our own praise and worship or camp-style songs instead.

This summer, I am praying about the impact that VBS could have on my children.  Three of my children...Jersey #2, Jersey #3, and Jersey #4....appear to be ripe for spiritual growth, and have been engaging me in a lot of questions and discussions recently.  Jersey #3 and Jersey #4 are not saved, so my prayer is that they see the truth and come to a realization and decision about sin and their need for a Savior.  Each person is different, so I am not yet clear if they are getting close to a time of understanding, or not.  Both of their older sisters caught me completely off guard when they reached that point of understanding, so maybe I am just not good at detecting the progression.  Jersey #2 made a profession of faith a week after VBS two years ago.  She is currently struggling with some deep thinking about living a life of truth, knowing right from wrong.  She does not have a servant's heart naturally, so she has really been struggling and growing in that area.  

I have always felt the strong conviction to raise my children in church.  Through the years, I have detailed that goal to specifically raise my children in Christ, and live out my faith in front of them.  It is important to me to have opportunities like church, AWANA, mission trips, Upward sports, and VBS, to give a full array of methods to teach Biblical truths to my children.  It has always been my prayer that my children will come to know Christ, as their Savior.  What I did not realize is just how tough it is to watch my children go through spiritual growth.  Some lessons are painful.  Some are emotional.  Some are challenging.  As a mother, I would like to spare my children from any hardship, and guide them right to where they need to be.  But, faith doesn't work that way.  I can't force my faith upon my children.  I can't save them.  It is a personal decision, and everyone has the same freedom to choose.

God has a plan for my children.  I am suppose to teach them about God's love, and live out my faith in front of them, so that they will see faith in action.  God will equip them for the tasks He has for them.  

When I picked the kids up from their first day of VBS, Jersey #5 proudly announced,

"Mom, I was SO good today.  I didn't punch anyone!"

Yes, his standards of behavior are quite a bit lower than I would prefer.

Just like how Jesus meets us right where we are, I must meet my children right where they are and help guide them through the next level of their growth.      

Christian parenting is certainly not for cowards!  

Thankfully, just like the first VBS lesson taught, "God is Amazing!"

I am prepared to be amazed by what God is going to do in our lives this summer.  

Basketball Season

Basketball season has begun.

The excitement is brewing around here. We even put a basketball hoop in the living room. The kids practice constantly. Jersey #5 will shoot baskets for hours....and he isn't even on a team.

The older 3 kids are playing this season.

Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 are on the same team, which is very convenient for me. Now that Jersey #3 is in kindergarten, he can sign up for Upward Sports too. He is on a separate team...and a separate age division, actually....than his sisters.

It turns out that Jersey #3 is actually quite good at basketball. He can swoosh the ball into the net most of the time. I asked him if he liked basketball. He answered,

"It's Ok. But, I miss football."

I find this piece of information to be perplexing, considering how he had such a hard time remembering which direction to run for a touchdown during the flag football season.

Jersey #2 is determined to make a basket this season. She did not make any baskets last season, and that bugged her. (She refuses to accept that maybe her weakened cardiac health was the problem). Much to her dismay, the 2nd-3rd graders play with a taller basket too. During practice this past week, she managed to get the ball up to the rim, so I am pretty confident she will meet her goal here soon.

I love Upward Sports, in general. But, I am extra-thrilled by the way that they give my children uniforms that match my blog. This season, my Jersey #1 is actually wearing Jersey #1...

The uniform colors are a bit of an eyesore. I've been told that the colors are chosen by which NBA team wins some event in the previous year....or some such formula. That system is fine with me. But, I am a bit shocked to learn that those blinding colors belong to a professional basketball team as well. Yowza!


Upon seeing the wild uniforms for the first time, I immediately thought of Jersey #2 who loves to dress in bright, mismatched colored clothes. This uniform is certainly her style. I thought I was being funny when I asked her how was she ever going to coordinate socks and hair ties with the orange and purple uniform.

Without hesitation, she answered, "blue and yellow."