OUR FIRST SOCCER SEASON

This year, Lily and Bella are playing soccer for the first time, and they are loving it!  We've only had a handful of practices and games because of erratic spring weather.  Neither John or I are super coordinated or athletic, so I think our athletic hopes for our children (especially the biological ones) are relatively small.  That said, we want them to always be active, and soccer is a great way to do that.  It's excellent exposure to team sports in general, and so far, our experience has been mostly good.  (the only downside has been the cold temperatures while watching soccer so far)

Our first practices were a hit!

The morning of Lily's first game was in the 40's, and the twins and I thought we might die.  We didn't, but it was a close call.

 

Watching seven year olds who have had almost no experience on a soccer field play a game is pretty entertaining, and Lily was just so very excited.

If watching seven year olds play is entertaining, then watching five year olds takes it to another level.  They have a lot of heart right now, if not talent and skills.  Those can always come later, and again - Bella had so much fun playing.

This past Saturday brought games for both girls which meant we spent three hours at the fields Saturday morning.  Because it was a crazy day at the restaurant, I was kid wrangling alone.  Thankfully, we signed up to do soccer with friends, so I do end up with a little backup and extra sideline fun.

This hug/fall was one of my favorite picture sequences caught by a nearby watching grandparent - oh to be five.

I am looking forward to the unfolding season and unfurling talent and learning and working that the girls are undertaking.  It really is amazing to see your children running and playing and finding joy just in being there.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity and am trying to embrace the soccer Saturdays in our near future.

SPONSOR US FOR WALK FOR THE WAITING

Sometimes the orphan issue feels too big.  Too many things have gone wrong.  The system is broken. Families are broken, and children are paying the price.  They are vulnerable and often devalued by our society.  For whatever reason, last night, this laid so very heavily on my heart.  The numbers are tragic and staggering.

On average, 12 kids enter foster care in Arkansas every day, and there are not enough open foster homes to welcome them.

600 children are available for immediate adoption, because their parents have lost all rights.

Over 250 teenagers will age out of the foster system never finding a family and being ill-prepared for adulthood.

Looking at the numbers is one thing.  Feeling them is another.  Feeling that 12 children are losing families and security and falling into the unknown EVERY DAY in my state is heart-rending.  Knowing that 600 - SIX HUNDRED - children are languishing in limbo waiting for a family to take them in.  And knowing that so many of them will not find a family and will age out of the system, not knowing real, permanent love or being set up for success in their lives.

I remember when I learned about people being homeless when I was a kid.  And I couldn't wrap my mind around it, because I knew that no matter what happened to me, I would always have a place to go and people to take me in.  Even if I made all the mistakes and had horrific luck, people would be there to help me pick up the pieces.  But when you are in the foster care system and then when you age out, there are not people there to help.  You have no network.  You are alone in the world.

The idea that my children get to experience a family and love and security when so many others don't feels unbelievably unfair.  The heaviness can settle in, and I want to be able to do so much more than we are able to do.

So, this year, like the last three years, we will be walking in the Walk for the Waiting.  There are so many things we can't do, but we can do this.  We can support organizations that are in this fight.  We can talk about it to raise awareness of the issue.  We can walk.



And so can you!  If you want to register for the Walk yourself - click here!
If you can't make the Walk but want to sponsor our family walking (which we would love!) - click here!

Please know that we are so grateful for any support for this, because our family is passionate about this issue.  We are invested, and it matters, and we appreciate anyone who joins us in any way to be a part of it.  Hope to see you April 30 at War Memorial Stadium!

MEMPHIS TRIP: DAY TWO AT THE ZOO

I already wrote about our first day in Memphis, and this post will wrap up our very quick trip.  We've gotten to do stuff with friends the last two spring breaks (last year we went to Branson) - friends make life better!

We did breakfast at one of the oldest (maybe the oldest?) restaurants in Memphis - the Arcade.  It's a throw back diner with lots of tasty goodness.  They seated us in a room with a TV that we changed to cartoons, so our children were quite happy during our wait.  The french toast did not disappoint, and I was thankful that we would be heading someplace to do a lot of walking after eating most of this plate.




Next stop for us was the Memphis Zoo.  Two more families met up with us there which made us into a party 32 people strong - 12 adults and 20 children.  Amazingly, it did not feel super crazy.  I think as our children get older, things get easier.  We can trust them a bit more, and they are slightly more compliant as a group.  (though you might notice one of mine is face down in this pic, ha!)




We LOVED our day at the zoo- it really is a great attraction and well maintained.  We took in the sea lion show before checking out more animals.




(Pandas are always one of my personal favorites!)

The grizzly bear feeding time gave us an up close view of these massive creatures - this was a real crowd-pleaser.  The day turned beautiful as it wore on.

One of our last stops was petting and feeding the sting-rays, which is probably the thing the kids have talked about the most since we left.




(Everybody 9 and under pretty much ended up soaked.)

(the little cups of cut up dead fish made me want to gag, but the stingrays gobbled them up)

It was an unforgettable day with friends and sunshine and fun.  My heart overflows with gratitude for moments like this in life.




Let us all pause to marvel at the group picture featured above.  This was taken with a self-timer.  A SELF-TIMER sitting on a stroller!  And still everyone is more or less looking with so many smiling.  It must be said that we have likely worn down our children's anti-picture taking wills overtime - but still - we were all amazed at how easy it was to get this picture.  Almost eerie.  Most definitely awesome.

As John and I left Memphis, we really were thankful for the fun that we were able to have as a family.  We've had some less than stellar moments in the last several years, but trips like this give us hope that our future family time will not always be quite so intense.  Our car travel was really good considering the participants, and though there were certainly a few harried moments - on the whole, everyone really enjoyed themselves.  There is hope on the horizon, and we are certainly glad for the incremental improvement!

And in a story of undeserved grace, I left my phone on top of the toilet paper holder in the restroom.  I didn't realize it until we were out in the parking lot, and I ran back in to find it right where I had left it.  Thank you, God, for giving me far more than I ever deserve and letting me keep my phone.

Now I'm getting back into the swing of non-Spring Break life, and it is an adjustment - but routine certainly has its place!

(to see Court's take on it, click here!)

HAPPY EASTER!

Easter truly is special.  Celebrating all that Christ has done for us in his death and resurrection is such a gift.  Here are our highlights!

Attending church and getting a family picture in.

Impromptu Mexican lunch with friends.



Heading home and trying to get a few more pictures of the kiddos.  The sun came out right as I got them settled.  (laugh cry emoji)



We tried by the trees with not much more luck.  Such is the way it goes.  Gran Gran and I worked together on their clothes, and I'm so pleased with the results!  William can totally rock that suit.



After nap time, we did an egg hunt where I re-hid the eggs they already hunted for the other night + a few more.  It's so fun that the twins actually care now, and the big girls were so kind to always be helping them find eggs.

(When did she get so big?)

(She loved hunting eggs!)

Savoring the bounty as the sunset on the gorgeous day made everyone so happy.

There are always a million layers going on in our world, but today stood apart as a joyous day.  We celebrated what Christ has done for us and what he continues to do in our lives.  We are messy always, but he meets us in our mess to make us more like him.  Which I always need more of and am so grateful for.

Happy Easter - He is Risen!