Searching

A Chilly, Fall Morning Soccer FACE

On Saturday, October 26th, we woke up to a chilly, fall morning-----on our schedule was 'LAST Soccer Game' so we invited Daddy to join us as you finished your second season of soccer. His scheduled was full of odds and ends for various projects with work but his heart was with you. To ease his stress, I told him not to worry about getting there at 9:45 but that 10:00 a.m. would be fine since we never ran on a perfect schedule with our other games. 

When we parked and made it down to field two, there were TWO of us searching for that Daddy-O! As the game started, one question remained on your lips and in your heart, "Where's Daddy!?!" It didn't matter that it was your last game or that your eyes needed to be on that white soccer ball. Your eyes scanned the parking lot for a WHITE truck! Notice that your little head is searching---looking up rather than on the ball. You'd give it your best effort but your heart wasn't on the field today....it was searching!

Eyes Averted to the Parking Lot: White Truck!?!

...and when Daddy-O finally arrived in the parking lot, there were two white trucks pulling in and parking side by side. I saw the silent questions in your body's language as I silently prompted Daddy's long legs to move down the fields to catch your first smile on the field. And as you noticed him, you did just that.....and your body picked up the game's pace. But as the cool fall winds rolled across the soccer fields, the game finished the season all too soon but not for you....

Good GAME Sophia

....you ran into Daddy's arms for the embrace---the perfect GOAL!! The most important kick of the season: Daddy being present on the field to watch you even if it was just for a few minutes. The search was over. Your little heart and eyes could rest.

Daddy!!!

Your team lined up for one more time---to receive your team medals for playing YMCA Youth Soccer in the Fall of 2013. You were delighted to receive your medal but not as much as having Daddy read you the inscriptions on the medal itself.....and if given the chance, you would have traded that medal for a day as Daddy's shadow.

Receiving your Medal

Taking Time to Share the Medal

We ARE proud of our Soccer Girl!!

Your tennis shoes, soccer socks, soccer shirt, medal and all made a pile in the playroom for as we locked ourselves in the house for the rest of the weekend. After a month of being under the weather----first you, then Mommy, and you again...and Mommy's still lingering...now Daddy----it was mandatory that we savored the weekend to relax and unwind. There was no agenda or plans on our calendar that we couldn't mark out to just stay in to relish the comforts of home. Even though we managed to keep busy through our day, we were not searching. You were home with me---content to be playing with all three of your kittens in your playroom. I kept busy ironing, cleaning, organizing and more. Daddy finished his work day and then came home to help with grilling steaks for dinner. We were relaxed and just enjoyed being home together throughout the evening. You kept smiles on my face all day as you played and with things you said. As I was cooking our lunch, I asked you to move away from the stove since the olive oil was hot. You said that you'd color at the kitchen table until lunch was ready. When Princess Girl wanted in the house to check on her kittens, you gave her some cheese and said, "Mommy, she can eat her cheese, you can cook and I can color so that we can all mind our own business!" You silly, silly girl! Or how about at the end of the night when you called Dairy Queen Blizzards, "Lizzards!" as the two of us made out a list of treats we wanted to enjoy at home. Or when you stepped out of the tub at 9:15 PM---past your bedtime----and said to Daddy, "I'm going to hide so SHE doesn't tell me what to do!" Of course, Daddy laughed and said that he would too! 

What an unexpected moment of joy it is when we can all share the comforts of home together, when we can all be who we were created to be---ourselves, and when our hearts are calm because they aren't busy searching for what they need and want but savoring what they have-------time together right now!

I'm reminded of this scripture, "Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give your rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 There's a restlessness in our lives to search, to create, to achieve......and after we find what we're searching for, after we create what we've envisioned or achieved success.......is there rest? Is the search over? Desires and needs...the longing for more always entwines our lives. In these moments little one, remember your source of strength----our Lord. Give thanks for through Him joy is found. Even in your weariness....when the season is almost over...when the last game is being played find the words to breathe thanks---and carry on with your work through the Lord's strength that works through you. It's then that you'll find your own unexpected moments of joy.

I love you little one----and there's no searching for this truth: Daddy loves you too!