I've watched this kid play soccer for 10 years now. He went from a little tyke whose jersey came past his knees to this annoying little speeding danger on the soccer field. I'm not just saying that as a mother. I've watched him pull the ball back just when the defender goes for the ball and zipping around them to go up the field and pass it off.  I've seen the look of frustration on the other kid's face especially when they out-weigh and tower over him.  He does the same move to me, to his dad, brother and sister.  It's always the same, just as you think that he has lost it by having it too long he does that pull back and switches directions.  It is so frustrating.  I've also seen how his weight prevents him from keeping the ball.  If he isn't careful, some kid comes from behind and bowls him over.  They go shoulder to shoulder but when one kid weighs in at 85 pounds dripping wet and the opponent weighs in at 136-160 pounds there isn't really a contest.  He just flies off the ball as to be expected.  This obstacle kept him on the C-team for high school.  He had a wonderful coach who seemed to really care about his players.  I liked that so I am grateful he had that coach.  The JV coach though had approached me earlier in the year and let me know even before tryouts that Job wasn't making JV.  He had the skill, enough to make Rangers and play for the year where as there were kids on the JV team who had only one year of soccer experience but were heavier.  It was the weight which is a great lesson in life but hurts a mom's heart. Job though had no problem.  He likes the weight he is and doesn't seem bothered by it. He even went out and played with a severely sprained wrist for part of the season.

He walked confidently into the gym wearing a pink t-shirt.  He strutted over to his team, they were all girls and wearing pink. It didn't faze him. I wondered when he agreed how he would feel. I knew Lona's response - "NO WAY. HE IS NOT PLAYING WITH US!" The girls passed it around the court and he jumped in like he was a regular player and not a sub.  They played against a much younger team. They were skilled. The girls and Job held their own to a point.  Then came the drama. The pink team was pressing towards the goal, Job had the ball. He looked up and realized that he had a shot. He cocked his foot back, and sent the ball flying towards the goal only to take out the smallest girl on the other team. It smacked her full in the face and down she went backwards. I was appalled.  "JOB, APOLOGIZE! SEE IF SHE'S OK!" I screamed from the sidelines. My boy child just rocketed a shot into a girl's face. I didn't see her reaction but the parents pulled me back to my seat and let me know that as the girl was getting up, she mouthed a few choice four letter words towards this much older boy that took her out. From then on for the rest of the game it was war between her and Job, at least in her mind. He came up against her a couple more times and she was playing for keeps. After wards he let me know that she signed up for the league and so she either needs to duck or deal with it.  I still think that there is a sense of being a gentlemen on the court.  The grey team ended up winning, so I'm sure that was a consolation for her.  Until they meet again.

It was warm that day, extremely warm, like summer time. I was hunched over the vegetable bed pulling weeds and turning over the soil getting it ready to plant. They were outside talking and scheming, busy running in and out of the house, gathering their supplies. Tent stakes, and straps, pillows and sleeping bags. She had a system and was getting it set up. He was looking for misplaced stuff, asking, "Do you know where..." I was busy.
 Then I looked over and they had stacked their hammocks so that they both could use Lona's rainfly and they were chatting together. The flowers in the cherry trees were creating a beautiful canopy over them and I realized that they had the right idea. Just to enjoy the unusual beautiful warm day during Spring Break. Their plan was to sleep outside that night but they watched Predator and by midnight they were inside asleep in their own beds.

Our family has finally all gone to Artist Point via snowshoes.  Isaac went with his friend Taylor once and again once with Ben.  Then John and I took Job and Lona up there. It seems as though these kids make every outing an adventure. We can't just snowshoe we have to jump off overhangs, over and over again filming it as we go.  We can't go the easy way we have to challenge ourselves and go straight up. We can't stop part way but go all the way before we eat.  Sometimes I marvel at what we do, not because what we do is great.  We are not extreme people or have insanely athletic kids, but we are just enjoying our adventure of life as a family. I am so glad to be able to share in these adventures with them.  I did miss Isaac who was at home plugging away at school work, getting ready for his finals.