Regional Church Ball

This past week was a sports week for me, and I am feeling it now. We had a Regional Stake basketball tournament for the Sandy/Draper area.  Our stake scraped together a team. We had never practiced together or anything, besides a couple of scrimmages with random ladies for a few weeks.  But man, when we got out there for the actual games, it was super competitive.  There were some tall chicks on those other teams. It is a very sad day when I have to play center because I am the tallest.

Heather, Tammy, Melissa, Amanda, me!

Still, I think we surprised people with how well we played. I think I surprised me, too. Our core team really knew how to play ball, even though we were a step slower than our younger years.  I actually think I am a much better baller now, because I am stronger and have more toughness. This probably comes from having 6 kids, 4 boys.

On Thursday, we won a squeaker against a very tall team. Somehow, we ended up on top by two points.  Therefore, we had a game on Friday. This team was even taller and better.  Unfortunately, we lost. However, they did not blow us out. That is for sure. I thought we were out. But it was a double-elimination tournament. Hence, another game was scheduled for Saturday. Three days in a row? Whew!  We played and we should have won. We were definitely better basketball players. However, we are old and we were just plain tired. I think the fight had petered out of us.

Still, I made some wonderful friends and had an amazing time rekindling the basketball girl in me.

Weaknesses

This picture has been floating around facebook the last few days and I really like it.  It speaks to me, which is probably an indictment of my personality.


Yes, if things don't go my way, I do tend to get a bit flustered and frantic. I know this can drive my husband crazy, but somehow, he seems to take it with an incredible amount of grace.


I also don't do well when I can't find things. Ask my kids. They know.  


And I strongly prefer not to make u-turns when driving.  This probably goes back to the whole "Plan A" scenario.  I would rather chance it on finding another way than actually backtrack one foot.


These are some of my weaknesses I really need to work on daily.  But now, with this helpful reminder, I think I know what I will do...


Sing the alphabet song!  If you hear me singing the alphabet song, I am trying to get to my happy place. Beware.

The Destiny of Serendipity

It was destiny, a serendipitous fulfillment of fate. When I was about 3 years old, I have a distinct childhood memory of many women coming to our little apartment in Provo, Utah. They were working on some kind of pink blanket. There was talking, and laughing, and just a subtle busyness I could sense, even at 3. How was I to know that it was all for me and my older sister Christi?

My mom made matching quilts for us. The bottom was a solid pink that she used as tablecloths at her wedding. Then she had this adorable flower print that was perfect for two little girls that she put on the other side.  They tied it with yarn. The women used pink for me and white for Christi so that you could tell them apart.

Then those two vibrant quilts went on a journey. First it was from apartment to apartment in Utah and then carried all the way to the eastern shores to North Carolina. They were taken on camping trips and sleepovers. They were used as tents and fortresses, cuddlers and comforters in times of distress. They went to track meets and basketball tournaments and long, icy journeys to Western Kentucky. Those two blankets went everywhere and they were loved. To. Death.

Kismet.

Last week I went on a thrift store shopping excursion with Angie and Brooke, my two super-cool sister-in-laws.  Angie is a thorough shopper, where I would have called it quits much sooner than she.  But because I lingered, there it was...winking at me from across the aisle. I couldn't believe me eyes. I dashed across the Goodwill store, and lovingly embraced a fitted sheet that had to be at least 32 years old.  My sheet. The pattern of my life. My childhood.

And not only was there a fitted sheet, there was a flat sheet as well. I think I could have cried. I quickly gathered my treasure and put it in my cart. I took a picture of it and texted a picture of it to Christi and Heather. Christi texted me back and I could feel the tears oozing through my phone. 

"I WANT IT!!!", she yelled at me.

Too bad.  They are mine! All mine!!!!

So, if you are ever in a thrift store and you see this particular sheet set, I know a lady who lives in Arizona that would pay you big bucks for it.  

But mine are not for sale!