Soccer Mom

Today is our 11th wedding anniversary. And it has been a crazy enough day that neither of us even remembered that fact until Jared's mom wished us "happy anniversary" an hour ago. Today was also opening day for soccer and 104 degrees. Yes, Faranheit. And since we have two kids in soccer, who have games across town from each other, we were doing the soccer thing from 9:15 until 2:00 today, not counting the time spent putting on shin guards and finding jerseys and cleats that had mysteriously disappeared since yesterday.

I went to the store this morning about 5 minutes after I rolled out of bed to get snacks for us to have while we were hanging out at the soccer field--rice cakes, bagels, grapes, apples. I filled up more bottles that I even counted with ice water--next week, we'll take a big cooler full, because it still wasn't enough.

The boys did well, especially given the heat. Kimball experienced his first soccer headbutt in the middle of one of those mobs you get in rec league soccer games; you know the kind where all the kids on the team are trying to kick the ball at once and mostly just kicking each other. He was dazed for a couple of minutes and shed a few tears but then jogged back out onto the field. Henry's team played some awesome defense and he had one moment when he got a little carried away and stopped the ball with his hands. Oops. Both boys were enthusiastic, red faced, and thirsty after their games, feeling good about what they'd accomplished. So that made the morning a success.

When the games were finally over, we headed over to Jared's parents for a quick dip in the pool--we couldn't wait to dive in and cool off. When everyone was in their suit except for me, Jared took them out back and I went to get changed. One minute later they were back in the house, with not a little weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. The pool had missed us since we hadn't been over to swim since Monday, and had decided to fill up with algae to fill the void. Bummer.

We pulled in at 2:30 exhausted, hot, thirsty, and ready for some downtime. For the moment all the kids are resting in their rooms and their dad is resting in front of a college football game. Later we are headed to some friends' for swimming and grilled pizzas. This might not be how I pictured spending our anniversary 11 years ago when I married him . . . but I am so grateful for this life we've made together. I'm grateful to have a family. I'm grateful to have the luxury of spending day like this together, even when we get tired and cranky with each other. And I don't think that 11 years ago I could have even fathomed the way I feel about my husband and this family that the Lord has given us. Isn't it amazing the way love grows and deepens and changes as time goes on? As we choose to focus on our relationship and put energy and time into it particularly? What a great reward for the sacrifices required.

And I'm so very, very grateful that next weekend the grandparents are taking over and we are going to have some alone time to focus on each other and enjoying being together without our progeny. Thanks, Mom and Dad! We owe you guys big time.