Go Jump Out of a Plane!

 For anyone who didn't know...

My husband is insane.

He is  a thrill junkie type of person.

The latest thing that he was obsessed with was the "idea" of skydiving.

He kept saying "I'm pretty sure it is my thing".

He researched.

Planned.

Tried to wrangle up others to join him in his crazy bucket list escapade, and succeeded.

Unfortunately the weather was against him (or maybe it was on my side) So,

after a failed attempt, due to WIND he was finally able to make his dream a reality.

He jumped out of a plane.

I knew he survived when he text me four words,

"This is my thing"

_______________________________________________________

Soccer filled weekend

Soccer finally decided to end.
Just like August's soccer it ended with a tournament.
Brayden had a single elimination and his game started at 1pm.
Mitchel had a double elimination and his game started at 11am.

Brent has been working (forever) at opening the new store in Sherwood so he is indisposed for 11 days and was unable to make it to the tournaments.
I tried to tie August up in his stroller so there was a larger chance of me ACTUALLY being able to watch the games....

We got there early for the boys to "warm up".
By "warm up" I mean they ran around with their friends.
Did I mention it started sprinkling?
That only lasted about ten minutes...
Still those dark clouds loomed over us all day.

Let the games begin!

Mitchel won his first game and much to my disappointment his next game was not going to start until 4:45pm.

Luckily we had Brayden's game in the meantime. His team lost so he was DONE.
A fact he was not-at-all sad about. He actually started the day off saying he "hoped they lose" so he didn't have to sit there all day.

Once his game ended I drove him to his friends, went home and made some lunch for the other two and I.
We headed back to the field at 4pm.
Mitchel's team ended up losing this game.
Also it was getting dark so they decided to have the next game, the final game, the game to end all games the next day, Sunday, at 3pm.

Here are all the pictures so the boys can see how awesome they were.

Coach giving the pre game speech to get the kids pumped up

Bray went to get the umbrella, just in time for the sprinkling to stop

Mitch's friend Noah doing a goalie kick

Brayden's team doing the safety check

Bray said the orange team were not nice. They pushed and said mean things...

In between games, goofing off

Came back at 4 and the clouds were still there teasing a downpour

Pre game stretching

Mitch stopping the ball

Congratulating the green team on their win

We called it a night and returned the next day.

More stretching...

Unfortunately they ended up losing that game too. They were sooo close though. They lost by one.
To celebrate the end of soccer, and our boys' losses. We headed over to the Mazatlan for some Mexican food.

On to the next round of sports...

A Little Prayer

Okay, so as hard as this is to believe I am not perfect.
Crazy huh?!
In fact on the spectrum of "needs a lot of work" to "practically perfect in every way", I am closer to the left...

Well the other day I was talking to God about this.
There are so many things I feel like I need help with.
I am impulsive and moody.
I am stubborn and judgmental.
I am prone to tunnel vision...the list goes on.

I just think it is important for the boys to know that I am human too. I thought I would blog some of my thought process so they can go back and reflect on that.
Or, to at least this can demonstrate that I am trying here!

~tangent~

During one of the inevitable sibling battles that took place this week I just lost it.
Like I pulled a page out of my own mother's handbook. (which I vowed to never do)
I said, "You know what? You guys figure it out" and with that walked out of their room.
I was disappointed in myself because I believe in walking them through their problems. Facilitating conversations so they can identify each others' viewpoints.
I am working on just all-in-all being more present in my parenting, and this was NOT being present.

After awhile they both came in and apologized to me for making me upset.
This was slightly unexpected.
I mean, I always make them apologize to each other after an argument, but for them to unprompted come and admit they were in the wrong...Ahh, lets just say it brings a tear to my eye. *Sniff*

Silly I know, but its amazing how much you wonder (as a parent) about your (sometimes obsessive) over correcting actually sticking and creating positive behaviors in your children.
And there it was. 
BAM!
A small proof, that at least, they know when they have pushed me too far. *Victory dance*

~ tangent over~

The more I let this experience resonate with me the more I came to realize that God must have many moments like this with me. Where he can proudly say, "Oh look she's finally getting it!"

Now I may just be one of those weird people that attach meaning to things, when really there doesn't seem to be any meaning there to anyone else.
But, so far this has been a positive thing in my life.
Attaching meaning to seemingly meaningless things. (you still with me?)
Well here is a for instance...
When I see a rainbow in the sky, I tell God thank you.
Like it was put there just for me.

Or, when someone is driving me crazy and I am very close to screaming my brains out, I can just crawl into the calmness there in my heart and say, "Okay God, what are trying to teach me right now?"

Well, lately my universe has been telling me to focus on thankfulness.

It is hard sometimes to not feel like you are falling short.
Whether it is in your relationship with your spouse, or the parenting of your children sometimes you just sit back and question if you are enough. Am I doing enough?

I am thankful that lately I have finally accepted that I am enough. I have accepted that things do not have to be perfect. In fact there is so much beauty in those moments that we do not plan.
Thank you Lord for opening my eyes and heart to this.

I am thankful for those teachable moments with my children. The ones that I am not sure how or if  I will survive, but then somehow do. Through my children I have a better understanding of my spiritual journey. The ups and downs of free choice.
Thank you Lord for unconditional love.

An example of one of those times...

Thank you for making me work so hard to get what I want. I know that has helped me appreciate what I have so much. I am thankful to want for just what I need, rather than having a nagging feeling of always wanting more.
I am satisfied.
It is wonderful.
Thank you Lord for letting me achieve my goals.

Thank you Lord for putting me in my place.
There is nothing better than being knocked off of your pedal stool to know how to better serve those around you. I thankful to have a willingness and desire to serve those around me.
Thank  you lord for a servants heart.

So my conversation with God the other day went something a little like this...

Oh Heavenly Father, I know there is so much more to learn.
I know I have a long way to go.
I am just grateful I can stop and appreciate the way You have worked in my life.
Accepting that I am perfectly imperfect, you love me still. Can I just say that is awesome!
AMEN.

Now if I can just keep this feeling of reverence with me throughout the days and interactions with others.
Just realizing we all have a WORK-IN-PROGRESS sign invisibly attached to us eases my stress.
Thankfully I also have a great sense of humor.
:)

The road so far...

Every so often I get incredibly nostalgic.

I delve into my trove of pictures and memories and just let them take me back.

As the boys get older and *gulp* older, I find I am doing this more often.

Usually when I reflect and examine our lives it is focused on parenting.

Such a profound calling in life.

To raise a person.

And that is how I try to look at it always. That we are raising these "people".

But, lately I have been getting nostalgic about my marriage.

This journey I have been on with my best friend.

While rummaging through the past I decided to try and make another little milestone video of the road so far. I have ton of videos focused on the last five years or so this video I decided to take all the way back. To the beginning.

It all started while I was listening to a song...

Short version video (one song)

Longer version (three songs)