Falling From Grace & A Pic of Brent

Well, it finally happened. Our previously undefeated soccer team lost a game. We played hard, but came up short with a final score of 4-3. (Game 5)

In other news~ I have now done something that Brent will not be pleased with...but I am willing to accept any consequences that may come down the pike... you see, Brent was really tired this afternoon...and in an attempt to get a little rest, he decided to try to sneak in a little power nap. However, once Max saw him lying on the bed, he took this as an invitation for some quality time. And I ask you, what is a wife to do when she sees her hubby snuggling with the dog??? That is right, she takes a picture to post on her blog!!! :)

Winning Game 4

For all of those following our soccer season this year, we won our 4th game!!! 7-0

The best part of winning this game is that Brent and I had to coach it!! Our coach could not be at the game and he asked me to do it...which is when I recruited my best guy to help me out! So, good news is...we are not losers!! yea! Our kids played so hard today...several of our players did not show up which left us with only five players there today! That means that all 5 of those kids had to play the whole game. I was exhausted watching them!!

2nd best part of winning this game, probably better than the previously listed reason~ MIKEY scored his first and second goals of the season...he actually scored the first point of the game. It was awesome!! KUDOS to my 2nd best guy! Way to go Mike!

Joyce Meyer Conference/ Matt Redman

Wow is all that I can say. Or perhaps, in the words of one of the songs that we sang at the conference this weekend, "How great is our God". I had been to one of Joyce Meyer's conferences last fall, and had an incredible life~changing experience with Jesus there. SO, when I found out that she was going to be in Dallas, I just had to go...and I decided that this time I wanted to go with my girls. Hours of prayer went into this decision and the trip. I wanted nothing more than for my girls to get to experience Jesus like that, and more than that to be able to come away from the conference knowing that God loves them, and that it mattered that they wanted to be there to worship Him and to learn about Him.

I had no idea how God was going to show up to answer our prayers. Even though I am navigationally-challenged and got lost 4 times (twice getting so lost I had to call Brent and have him find me on mapquest and redirect me), Lissa and Rye had been praying that God would do something to really make this trip special. Well, for those of you who have been or know about these conferences, they have big name people to come in and do the worship...this time it was Matt Redman We watched him and his worship band lead worship at the first and second sessions. But it was at the third session that we got blown away. We got there early...and while we were sitting in our seats over an hour before it was to start, a random lady came up to me and asked me if I wanted to meet the band, she had an extra "Meet the Band" pass. I said "YES!!!" And with that Melissa got to do what she wanted to do more than anything...meet Matt Redman. It was incredible and awesome and more than we could have ever imagined...which is just so like our God...

As we were challenged at the conference to live a lifestlye that follows after Jesus example, I am encouraged also in this...that God will meet me in those places where I take yet another step towards Him. What a gift we have to be able to seek after a living God.

parents of a t-e-e-n-a-g-e-r-

Yes, that is right...as of yesterday brent and i are officially the parents of a teenage boy... there are so many words to describe how i feel about this moment...the first one would be older. as i got off to a earlier start than most of my friends in having children, i get to experience all of the definitive moments of life first~ wishing they would walk and talk...which is quickly followed by wishing that they would sit and be quiet...potty training..taking a bath without you in the room...kindergarten... intermediate school...the day when you go to pick up your son from school and realize that yes, that is your son sitting on the steps with several girls sitting there with him!!! and ah yes, this moment. the one that tells you that you really are more than half way to them being an adult. and how did that happen? how did your little man go from being totally dependant on you to wishing that you would give him a little space and a later bedtime? well, to all of those of you who are following a few years behind on this path of parenthood, all i can say is that there are no real answers. no specific way to do this thing right. all we can do is hope that our kids grow up to love Jesus, continue to love their momma's ...and pray that those girls my super cute young man is talking to love Jesus, too. of all of the sons that there are in the world, i am so glad that this one is mine...

Our Next Game and an appearance by Maddy

We won our second game!! 5-4 The kids played excellent. Mikey and Mariah both got scored on when they took a turn as goalie~ but they all played hard!! Maddy makes an excellent cheerleader for her siblings, and got to see two games while she was here with us. :)

Another use for laundry

This is why I love my doggy~ he is so simple... all he really wants is a nice comfy place to sleep! A dog after my own heart.