Cerebral Maternal Irony: British Soccer Camp 2011

My Journal

2/15/14

Today I don't want to be introspective. I want to just be superficial, which is kind of different for me, not in an arrogant way, just in a factual way. I thought it was interesting when I read an article about a guy who decided to follow Ben Franklin's schedule for a day. Ben left time for study and to deal with spiritual things. The author said he almost never did that, and it was an interesting thing for him to do. Thinking about big things like God and purpose and why we are here and doing research into those questions is something I grew up doing and something I do all the time. How can you not wonder about that? How can you just go through life and just go to work, come home, be with your someone, party sometimes and that is it. That is satisfying? Really? Don't you wonder about things as a whole? Don't you wonder why we are here or how, or do you just take science's or God's word for it and leave it at that. I guess in a way you could have more of your emotional energy available to fritter away on personal drama. That might be interesting. I know it is kind of a weight on me to wonder about my, and our purpose, to wonder what or who else is out there, and it is a huge itch I am just dying to scratch to see everything as it really is. I used to think I would just go to heaven and God would explain it all to me and I could live with that. Now I am not so sure I will ever know, and ugh, that is annoying.

But to live without that burden, to me is to live in a closet. To live in the small world of what I see now. I just need to get out into the air and breath and wonder, and make wild guesses and hope. So with that comes the burden of what I don't know, of making choices and just not knowing if they are the right ones because I can't have all the information. I can't see past death or into the new millennium, so I have to make some of my best guesses blind.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

British Soccer Camp 2011

This was Evan's first year participating in any soccer camp. The fact that it was "British Soccer Camp" was purely circumstantial. He was intimidated by his coach (Miles) at first. A couple of the coaches tended to be blunt and down to business. Evan was a bit embarrassed when he was called on by the coach to improve his skills, but an opportunity to stand up and be singled out as MVP after a scrimmage cured all that. The kids were separated by ages into "World Cup" teams at the beginning of the week. Evan was assigned Holland, and the teams got points for random things like wearing their assigned colors, having a good attitude, and scoring goals in games. The final day of camp teams got points for bringing fans, (including pets) making country flags, and wearing team colors. Grandpa was able to come, and all the kids enjoyed that. To top it all off Evan's team won with top points for the week!

We also got the opportunity to host one of the coaches for the week. Adam popped out early in the morning and got back after dark from a full day of coaching and taking in the sights of Wendell. He was talkative and Todd and I had some great conversations with him after the kids went to bed. He educated us about his favorite "football" team. And equipped us to cheer for Hallam FC properly with posters and a hat when he left. He also made sure we knew they played at the oldest football ground in the world (verified by Guinness World Records). We enjoyed getting to know him, and what life is like for him in Sheffield, England. It was great to put our guest room to use, and we look forward to doing it again when we get the chance.