Growth is spurt-y...
Have you ever noticed that growth comes in spurts? I think this is true of most growth, but I'm certainly not an expert. I know physical growth comes in spurts. For me, spiritual growth comes in spurts too. And learning. Definitely learning.
We happen to be in the middle of a giant growth spurt right now. It's probably the biggest and swiftest expansion in our personal network that has happened in a long, long time. Maybe ever. Certainly since we move to a new state and were forced to meet all new people.
We are building our number of acquaintances at a very rapid pace right now - all thanks to youth sports. We have 4 new teams of people to meet, get to know, get to like, get to enjoy. I LOVE that about athletics. LOVE IT!
Youth sports can bring out the crazy in some people, but for the vast majority of us, we just enjoy watching our kids and socializing on the sidelines. And when you have 4 kids, you get the benefits of sports-related friendships - times 4.
Beckett is being coached by Zane's football coach from last year. So we know some of those people, but we also get to meet half a team full of new families and kids. And Beckett gets the benefit of some of the kids knowing him already and instantly accepting him - even though he's one of only a couple of Kindergartners on his team.
There are about 9 kids on Zane's team we've played with before. This is pretty cool because this is the 3rd year together for most of that group. It's so comforting, particularly given how many people live in our area and how fast the pace is for everyone these days, that we instantly have those friendly faces. That benefit of shared experience. That community.
Speaking of community, there's Quinn. Lacrosse is kind of like a second home for all of us. Over the past few months, because of an increase in involvement in the youth program AND because of a new high schooler, we have gotten linked up with the high school coaches. We are starting to get to know these men who will be a part of our lives for the next 15 years. (Unless of course someone moves on...) This is the entry point to a long term relationship. And it's pretty cool. And then the rest of our lacrosse family. Goodness - what good people and what good friends. There's almost no distinction any more between our "lacrosse people" and "our people". LOVE THAT!
Spencer's move to high school has changed our network in some pretty surprising ways. Although looking back at it a little, I'm not really sure why I'm surprised at all. I should have expected this. We have 2 different middle schools that combine into our high school. These kids were rivals last season - they are teammates now. It's actually really, really cool to see how easy it's been for them to shed the rivalry and link together. Spencer, in particular, has pleasantly surprised me with his ability to be a bridge between "camps". This is YET ANOTHER one of those "kid teaches parent" things were we have dove into new relationships with people we've been around, but not with, for 9 years.
Sports bring people together.
Last Friday was the first high school scrimmage of the year. It was the first time Spencer got to play in a high school game under Friday night lights. He won't get another opportunity until at least next year. It was so much fun! I can't even count how many people we ran into that I would call friends. It was like a giant party - with a nice side-dish of football. So much fun!
Tomorrow i'm heading over to Scotland for the week. I'm not very excited about it at all. I miss so much while I'm gone. I purposely scheduled this quarter's trip so I wouldn't miss any games, but I will miss all the daily chaos. And the hugs. Definitely the hugs.
Here're some pictures of the little guys in there new jerseys. They are numbers #23 and #44 this year. Super random. Don't you love their game faces???
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