A "Once in a Lifetime" Opportunity!

We spent the entire long weekend in Calgary for the Canadian Open - a nation-wide volleyball tournament for both boys and girls U15 and U16. So, basically, we were in the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary with thousands of teenagers.

I believe there were 22 courts going at the same time... it was unbelievable! This photo was taken during an early morning game, so the scene is not nearly as busy as it was at other times of the day. But, I think you get the picture.... absolutely amazing!

This was definitely a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for Brett... to participate in a national sports competition like this, competing against teams from all over the country, at 14 years old.... how many people can say they did that?

Here is a shot of Brett jumping up for a hit. He is number 4 at the net. He played for the Lethbridge Volleyball Club and they were called the LVC Heat. He played with a great group of boys and learned so much this season. Brett's ability to anticipate plays and score important points for the team improved so much over the season. He has the height and strength to hit that ball, and it was beautiful to watch! They played some high calibre teams at nationals and did really well! They ended up winning silver for tier 3. I am very proud of Brett and the whole team!

I am also very proud of Darrin, who was the assistant coach for this team. I watched all season as he spent one on one time with these boys, getting to know their individual strengths and weaknesses, and learning how each of them responded best to learning. I watched him not only teach, but mentor these boys. The team would not have been the same without his influence, and I know that he made a huge difference.

Let me just sum it up by saying I was a pretty proud mom and wife this past weekend! :-)

I have some pretty heavy things on my mind today, which makes it hard to find peace. I decided to look at the daily readings from the liturgical calendar. Admittedly, I have not done this for awhile, although I used to find the daily readings a source of much strength and comfort. I am glad I chose to do it today. Today's psalm is one that I have often turned to at other challenging times in my life, and once again, it has brought me comfort:


Psalm 71
1 In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
*let me never be ashamed.
2 In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free;
*incline your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe;
*you are my crag and my stronghold.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
*from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
5 For you are my hope, O LORD God,
*my confidence since I was young.
6 I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;from my mother's womb you have been my strength;
*my praise shall be always of you.
7 I have become a portent to many;
*but you are my refuge and my strength.
8 Let my mouth be full of your praise
*and your glory all the day long. ...

...17 O God, you have taught me since I was young,
*and to this day I tell of your wonderful works....

...19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens;
*you have done great things;who is like you, O God?
20 You have showed me great troubles and adversities,
*but you will restore my life and bring me up again from the deep places of the earth.
21 You strengthen me more and more;
*you enfold and comfort me,
22 Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre for your faithfulness, O my God;
*I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will sing with joy when I play to you,
*and so will my soul, which you have redeemed. ...

I am so eternally grateful that I was raised in a home that was rooted in a deep, strong faith that shaped and molded me, day by day, to be the woman I am today. I have known the love of my Creator all of my life, and I have my parents to thank for that. Although I have struggled with my own faith journey, as most of us do, I have learned that in my heart-of hearts that deep, abiding faith is still there. Life brings us many things that we cannot change or control, and that is sometimes scarey and overwhelming. And, those are the times when we most need to let go, and trust a loving God. That is most definitely not always easy, at least not for me. But, when that is what is left, we often find out it is more than enough. And, I am grateful.

The Best Mother's Day Gift Ever

I have teenage boys. Teenage boys don't necessarily make days like Mother's Day the biggest priority in their lives... lol. I was prepared for that. So, of course their dad had to remind them what day it was on Sunday. But, I have to give Carlin a lot of credit... once he was reminded, he did the most amazing thing! He knows I am a John Mayer fan. He took the song "Daughters" by John Mayer and re-wrote the lyrics and then sang it for me. Here are the lyrics that he wrote:

I have a mom

She's the inspiration for this song

She stays the same,

while I just continually change

She's given all she can,

to give me a helping hand

And I begin to see,

how much she deeply loves me

So son's be good to your mothers

Mothers will love like you do

Sons become lovers, turn into fathers

So father's be good to your mothers too.

I cried. I was very touched. The effort he put into that.... well, I don't even have words to describe how meaningful that was to me. Truly the best Mother's Day gift ever!

On that note, I want to take a moment to acknowledge my Mom. I know that who I am today was largely shaped by her. All my life, I have known I was loved. I have such great memories of family time together and my Mom laughing, swimming with us, going for walks with us, playing with the dog, etc. I also learned, by example, the importance of service to others and caring for those around us. My mom has always had a very special ability to bond with babies and animals, and I know it is because they can sense her genuine love for them. She has always gotten down on the floor to play with her grandchildren, and when they are around, nothing else matters. My mom loves with a gentleness, yet fierceness at the same time. I am blessed to have her for a mother and a role model in my life. I love you Mom!

Birthday Wishes for My Man :-)

Here is Darrin in 1988 when we were first dating. Wasn't he a hottie? ;-) He still is!

I am so thankful to God that after twenty-two years together, almost nineteen years of marriage, three amazing kids and a lifetime of experiences (good, bad, and everything in between) that we still love each other and have fun together. Life is not always easy, but we've always had each other.

Darrin, your gifts of wisdom, teaching and meeting people where they are at have blessed so many, and I am so proud of you! You have taught me so much over the years, and I am still always learning more and more from you. Thank you for being such a good husband and dad. Thank you for always finding ways to make me laugh and look at the lighter side of life. I love you always and wish you an amazing birthday. It is my prayer that the many ways you bless others comes back to you and then some....

Happy Birthday Sierra!

My baby is 13 today! It so hard to believe! I am so proud of my girl! She is smart, creative, artistic, loving and accepting of everyone. She has a very big heart and is always wanting to make sure people feel included and loved. When I think about who I was at 13, I am amazed at the self-confidence and inner strength my daughter has already at her age. I know she will do well in life, and the people she will have in her life will be very blessed! I thank God for the gift of this girl, who she is, who she will become, and the many ways she will live out her calling throughout her life. She has brought many blessings to our family (even if her brothers don't always see it that way... hehe!)

Sierra, be blessed today... may you be surrounded and filled with love and joy! Your Dad and I love you more than you can imagine.

Hamlet and other thoughts....

"This above all,--to thine own self be true; and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." William Shakespeare in Hamlet

I just came from parent teacher interviews and enjoyed a great discussion with the boys' english teacher about both their strengths and weaknesses. We ended up also discussing the fact that Carlin's class will be studying Hamlet next, and how people seem to either really enjoy Shakespeare - or not. I remember loving Hamlet, getting absorbed in the story and enjoying the rich imagery in the writing. This lead me to remember the above quote, which is well known and often quoted. But, like any well-known quote, the power of the meaning often is lost in its familiarity.

The reason this stood out for me at this time, is that there are a few situations in my life where I have finally come to the conclusion that I need to just simply be true to myself. I keep hoping other people will see the situation the way that I do, but in the end I can't make that happen. What I can do, is honour the values and truths within myself, which I believe to be God given, and act on those. I know in my heart-of-hearts what is true for me in those situations, and I need to give myself the gift of honouring that. I need to also believe in myself enough to know that whether anyone else believes in me or not is not what is important. What is important is that there is a God who loves me and wants what is best for me, and that he has called me to love myself enough to act on what I know to be best for me. How freeing it feels to finally come to this conclusion.

Thank you Shakespeare! Who would have thought remembering an old quote from high school english, and having it brought back to my attention by my son's high school english teacher would be so powerful. You never know what blessings are around the corner.... :-)