Humble Pie Anyone? Anyone?

OK, I'll have some! In fact, I had some last night! Last night was our last game and the other coach served me up 2 slices of some humble pie! Mmmm Mmmmm Good!

The first slice of humble pie came when we were about to begin the game and the other coach came over and asked if he could have prayer with me and my team at center field before the game got started. We had not really done that with any of the previous teams that we played, but that really shouldn't catch me off guard should it? After all we are at the YMCA and I am a fellow Christian! I think it reminded me of why I was really suppose to be out there coaching these young boys. Yes, I wanted to make each child a better soccer player and I wanted them to have fun while learning, but I really should have done a better job with them in leading them to be Christian athletes and help mature them spiritually. My focus should not have been on how many games we had won and by how many goals. It should have been on leading (coaching) through Christian example. Now, I never expressed to the boys that we should go out there and win. I always stressed to them that the main reason we were out there was to have fun. That is true to an extent, but the main reason we do anything is to glorify God. Next time, I will stress that more than anything and I will remember that we should begin each game with prayer. I mean after all, I play on a men's basketball team and we pray before every game! Shouldn't we more so pray before every game with our kids to teach them the value of playing sports with a Christian attitude? Of course! Kudos to the other coach! By the way, he was at least 10 - 15 years younger than me!

As you know I have said that so far the boys' soccer team was undefeated. I shall now emphasize the word WAS. My second slice of humble pie came when his team, who by the way was much smaller (and much faster) beat the socks off of my team. I'm not sure what the score was because I stopped counting when it was like 4-0, but I'm pretty sure it was bad!

Nonetheless, we had a lot of fun and had our awards banquet at Fuddrucker's after the game. Each of the boys got a trophy and had a blast hanging out with each other!

Remember, LIFE IS GOOD!

So Far So Good

Tonight we had our 5th soccer game and I am proud to say that we are still undefeated (5-0). Technically, we don't keep score, but everyone knows that everyone is keeping score in their heads. We don't make a big deal out of it, but I would say that most of the dads, not only on our team, but on the other teams too, are keeping score. They know whether their team won or lost. I think it's just in our competitive nature. I would say that the kids have no idea whether we win or lose. I really do think that every kid on our team is really just having a lot of fun! I really can't take all the credit either. There is another dad that has been helping a lot, especially while I was out with my knee surgery for a couple of weeks and even since the surgery. He has been a big help!

Anyways, here are some pics of T & R playing soccer. We are, obviously, the team in gold.

This is Tyler last Fall.

This is Tyler this Spring throwing the ball in.

This is Ryan. Doesn't he look cute in his uniform!

I'm back!

Sorry for the long break, but I think I really just needed some time away from a computer. I was at home for 2 weeks after my surgery and I think I may have gotten on the computer once or twice in that 2 week period. I did return to work last week, but worked from home every day. I am back in the office this week working away on a project that I don't think will ever happen, but if it does, at least I will be ahead of the game.

As far as my knee, I am actually doing pretty good with it. I do have my days where I try to do too much and end up having to ice down a swollen knee by the evening, but other than that, I think things are going well. Physical therapy is going as expected and I hope to only go one more time next week.

Soccer has been going great! Tyler scored his first goal of the season on Tuesday! Our team is undefeated (4-0)! It has been fun coaching them and watching them develop.

Church has been great! We have been going to a class on Wednesday nights called "Tyranny of the Urgent". It is a class that discusses our priorities and fosters discussion on how to decifer what we choose to do with our 24 hours each day. Everything seems so urgent and demands our immediate attention a lot of the times, but is it really urgent? Is it important? Is it really meant for you to deal with at all? I will talk more on this class later, but for now just wanted to mention it. The people at church have especially been great! We have received many cards, e-mails, several dinners, and a peace lilly over the past few weeks that I have been recovering from knee surgery and the passing of Megan's grandpa. He was 92 and lived in Oregon. He lived a long and fruitful life and will be missed by many!

Sorry to be so short with everything today, but I am getting ready to leave work and wanted to update my blog since it has been a while. One last thing ......... 37 days until we go on our cruise!!!