A Stocking for Kit - Ella & Elfina's Adventures Day 7

Today's Adventures had Ella and Elfina making a stocking for Kit (Ella's American Girl Doll).  Last year during Advent we made a stocking for Lucy (Ella's other doll) so we thought it would be fun to make one for Kit as well.  So Ella found Elfina in the closet with my stash of felt thrown all over the closet.  Kit and Lucy were right there as well watching Elfina make a mess.  Here was her note this morning....

Day #7

I am glad that you found me

I am not trying to hide

I was looking for some fabric

To help out a friend of mine. 

You see Lucy has a stocking from last year,

But Kit wasn’t around so let’s make one my dear.

I need some help because I am not good at sewing

But together we can work and figure out what we are doing

Verse of the Day: Ephesians 2:10 

In addition to making the stocking for Kit - we also spent some time talking about what it means to be God's creation and his workmanship.  It was a fun day of crafting together.  

Meals on Wheels with Elfina - Day 6

Today Elfina was racing around in the critter jeep, towing some bread behind.  The church directory was located next to the car with an arrow to the location of delivery.  Today they would deliver a meal to a woman in our church who has been having some medical issues.  This is what the note said:

Day #6

This car it drives so very fast,

I don’t even have to put on the gas

I was driving around all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even the mouse

The bible tells us that when someone is sick, we should visit

So today would be a great opportunity, you won’t want to miss it

Follow the directions that are posted above,

And please take a meal, that was made for them in love.

Verse of the Day: Matthew 25:36

At first Ella wasn't too excited about her adventure for the day and she wanted to do something els., however I reminded her that her letter the first day said that Advent is a reminder that Christmas is not about you.... it's about Jesus and we are to visit the sick.  Reluctantly she went and had a blast. She loved it like always and they loved having her visit.  

Elfina's Gift - Day 5 Advent Adventures

Today's adventure involved a gift.  Elfina wrapped the gift but not so well, but she wrapped the gift and herself.  Ella thought it was so funny that Elfina was all wrapped up in the paper and ribbon.  She hopes she does something messy every time.  Not sure I am up for that.  Here was the note that she received today....

Day #5

When the wisemen found Jesus it was years after his birth

They brought him gifts to show Him his worth

Gold, Frankincense and myrrh were the gifts presented to the king

To celebrate the birth of Jesus, whose songs we do sing.

So today once you get to Mim’s house

Be helpful, kind and gentle as a mouse

This gift is for you to open after your Mom and Dad leave

I hope you will like it, if not you can cry on your sleeve

Verse of the Day: Matt. 2:11

Ella was so excited when she woke up, and was happy to be able to take Elfina to Mim and PaPas house for the day.  She loved opening her present (Color Wonder glitter pages - which I got for a great deal).  The focus today was on the gifts given to Jesus by the Wisemen.  

Day 3 & 4 - Advent Adventures with Elfina

As usual our weekends are busy and full of ministry events and other typical December joys.  So I had to be a bit creative this weekend with our events as I knew that we would be super busy on Saturday and with my MS my body was probably going to crash on Sunday.... so I used both events to teach a lesson about God.

Day 3 - The Live Nativity - It was such a really cool event.  Ella loved it and I really thought they did a great job.  We did have to wait due to a medical emergency in which one of the actors actually passed away on site right before they started taking people through.  They came out and told the families that he was sure of his salvation and that he would have wanted them to go on with the program.    Here was what her note said on Saturday....

Day #3

Now you caught me on the back of the camel

You see, Ella, I just really love these animals

They are all gathered to see a wonderfully great sight

Jesus the Messiah who was born one December night

The only thing I don’t really like as I sit here today

No one around me is moving, not even to naaaah.

So how about you join me for an adventure tonight

To see a live Nativity, that would be out of sight!

Verse of the Day: Luke 2:1-7

We were so thankful to be able to join a few other families from the church.  Ella asked if her friend Ali also had an elf that was taking her to the live Nativity.  Thankfully she forgot to ask.  But Elfina did enjoy being able to sit on a Donkey named Reuben and Ride on a school bus.

 

Registering as Hebrew citizens 

Elfina meets a calf

Elfina meets Reuben the Donkey

Day 4 - Sunday - Today is the day of rest - though ministry doesn't always allow for that, so we have to be creative.  I had worked most of day at the church doing a meal for our mentoring program so I knew I would need a night to rest, so that was our focus, resting, being still and spending some time together.  So Elfina thought a movie would be a great idea - but couldn't choose.

Here was the poem for the day:

Day #4

Oh the fun, we had on our adventure last night

To see those live animals was truly a delight.

But I am tired and weary from all we have done

So why don’t we just sit back and relax, doesn’t that sound like fun.

Since today is the day, God tells us to rest,

Let’s just sit back and relax, that really sounds best.

S0, let’s watch a movie, but I am not sure where to begin

There are so many choices,  so I decided to just jump in!

Verse of the Day: Gen. 2:2

Even God rested on the 7th Day so it was nice for us to do the same.  After Ella found her this morning, she said, Elfina told me that she wanted to watch Ariel.... so Little Mermaid it was, followed by some cooking shows that we love to watch together.  It was a great relaxing night! 

Silly String - Elfina's Advent Adventures Day 2

Thursday was a long day for Ella and I - long meaning we didn't get along the greatest - I was super tired, she was overtired.... we are both a little bit strong willed (hard to believe, huh).  I felt as though we just needed to let loose and enjoy our time together.  So one of the things I am very intentional about during Advent is to find simple fun things to do together that brings us joy and laughter.  It is a great reminder that Jesus came so we could have joy and freedom from our sins and the things that hold us down.  So today - Ella was greeted with this poem.

Day #2

1,2,3,4 I declare a silly string war!

Meet me after school is done today

In the back yard where you run and play! 

We will have lots of fun as we empty our cans

We just have to be sure we keep it off of the van

Laughter is a gift that comes from the Lord

Let’s celebrate that together, so we never get bored.

Verse of the Day: Prov. 17:22

Note to self and others - don't leave silly string hang on your elf all day - it leaves stains and is very difficult to remove 

So after school we got home and Ella started looking around... where is Elfina she asked I said she was waiting inside for us to get home... and Ella said in her very concrete thinking... the note said she was going to meet me outside after school.  

A fun time was definately had by all!!!  

A Thankful Start to Elfina's adventures Day #1

So this morning, Ella woke up to find an elf sitting on her new writing tray with a marker in hand and thank you cards ready to be written on.  She was so surprised and has continued to ask all day long... "who did that - who put her there?  I wonder what she will be doing tomorrow"  Along with Elfina I included a letter that I came up with late (very late) last night along with a little poem about the event of the day.

My Name is Elfina, I am a kindly sweet elf,

I come around at Christmas, not just to sit on a shelf.

Adventures are my passion, I love them, I do

You may even find me one day, hiding out in a shoe.

New places you will find me, with the dawn of each day

With clues for the adventure that will be coming our way.

I need you to make me a promise that’s true,

That you will always remember that Christmas is not about you,

It’s about Jesus, the Savior, the king of all Kings

So remember to celebrate Jesus with all that this adventure will bring.

Much Love for you sweet Ella, I can’t wait for the start of the fun,

Christmas will be here before you know it and then off I will run

You see my job is just for Advent, a great time to celebrate

God coming near

Then after Christ’s birthday, I must then disappear.

So what are you waiting for, let this adventure please start

For I know that you, dear Ella are an adventurer at heart.

Then next to the letter was a clue for what today's activity would include.  Unlike Elf on the shelf - this elf is invited to come on all the adventures with us... so Elfina helped Ella write thank you notes today.

Day #1

Today is the first of our Kindness Advent Adventure

We will start with a note to thank those who have blessed you.

A thanks for the special Calendar from Mim

And a thanks for the tray from a very kind friend.

Giving thanks is something that is dear to God’s heart.

So writing letters of thanks is a great way to start.

Verse of the Day: Psalm 107:1

It was a great start to our Advent Adventure.... I think Ella is really going to enjoy this and though it is extra work for me.... it is so fun to be creative as I come up with ways to incorporate the things we normally do during advent with the whimsical fun of the Elf.

Elfina's Advent Adventures

For a few years now I have been contemplating the whole Elf on the Shelf craze.  I look on pinterest and see lists of ideas of how to make your elf find itself in  great predicaments.  I even enjoy taking a few minutes to see what my friends have done with their elves on my facebook feed.  I love the creativity and the adventure of the elves.... I am not sure I love the total concept behind the elves. Now before I continue on - I will admit I haven't read the book, and I don't know the exact story behind what the elves do but if I understand the bits and pieces that I have heard it involves reporting to Santa on the behavior of the children... so if the kids are good - then they will tell Santa to bring gifts.  

Just like the whole concept of Santa - some are all about Santa, some are against Santa and some fall somewhere in-between.... my goal is not to get into a deep theological discussion on Elves and Santa and all those other made up characters that come around on different holidays throughout the year.  To be honest I love holidays and the fun fictional characters that come along... but for me... it is important to make sure that my child understands that they are a fun part of the holiday...a fairy tale feature that allows us to pretend and be creative... while still not loosing sight of the real meaning of the holiday.  And lastly it is a priority for me to be honest with my child... I don't want to tell her something is real and then later tell her it is not real.... do we have conversations about Santa - yes! But I try my best to never talk about him as a real person that watches to see if you are good.... That is my personal conviction!  Not one that I expect others to fall in line with.

More than anything I want my child to know that she is getting gifts because God is good to us!  And he is gracious!  Not because she has earned it, because if I am honest - I haven't earned any of the good gifts that God has blessed me with - it is God's grace and goodness that he lavishes his love upon us.  That to me is what I want to be promoting to my child. In the same way I want her to be a giving person, knowing that we give not because people deserve gifts but because whatever we do for others, we do unto the Lord.  I want my child to be giving.

So with that being said - I wanted to come up with a way to stay true to my convictions while also enjoying the fun and creativity of the Christmas elves.  So after doing some research I found some information about a few alternatives such as the Kindness Elves and one I learned about just tonight which was the Shepherd Adventure and Wondering Wisemen.

So I decided to marry two ideas into a fun new tradition called Elfina's advent adventures.... so as in years past we have turned over a Christmas tree to find out what we would be doing that day, now this year instead of having the adventures on the paper trees lined up on the wall I am going to have Elphina doing something fun as a clue to what we will be doing as our advent adventure for that day.

I will be posting daily through Christmas about Elfina's adventures.... I hope you will follow along with us and share your advent activities or your favorite Elf activities and maybe I can use your ideas to help create an awesome Advent Adventure for Ella and her new friend Elfina.

Claiming Truth in the Trenches of Life

Have you ever had one of those weeks.... as a whole the week was generally good, but it seemed as though there were one or two little things each day that pulled you down?  That was my week.  Many good things happened this week, and it was clear that God was working, but it was also clear that the enemy was also working overtime to try to knock down what God had been building up.

Being in a helping profession I find myself at times burdened by the choices of other people.  I feel a heavy heart for them and a burden to pray.  I am so thankful God has given me a heart for people, but there are times when it can be overwhelming as you look into their lives and see the hurt, the pain and the choices.  It breaks my heart... but if my heart is this broken, imagine the level of hurt the Lord feels as we watches his children struggle.

I also struggle to know my role.  This was definitely a struggle while we were away last year in Romania, but honestly I think it is an underlying struggle that has continued to lay heavy on my heart.  There are days in my quest to know what I am called to do that I flourish.... but there are also days in the journey that I just want to "pack my bags" and move on to something new.

I struggle with being overly sensitive.... I know that there are times when people say and do things that aren't meant to hurt, but they seem to anyway.  Times that I work really hard on something just to have it brushed aside.... or thrown out.  I wish I wasn't so sensitive.... I wish I could just let things roll off my back like so many other.  I was just thinking last night... I probably should never write that book that I have been thinking about, because I will never be able to handle the critiquing that comes along with it.  I guess my hard outside shell can't always protect my ultra sensitive core of who I am.

I wonder sometimes if this is God's way of teaching me something.... I also wonder if it is God's way of answering my prayers to continue to drawn me into a closer relationship with him.  A relationship of being more than doing, a relationship of trusting and relying on Him instead of me calling the shots.  A relationship of brokenness turned to beauty.  A relationship of being loved unconditionally without me having to do anything - ANYTHING to earn his love.

So today I will be reminded of these truths to claim as I struggle to not feel defeated:

1.  "I am fearfully and wonderfully made"- he gave me a heart to care for people, he allowed me to be sensitive (though I do know I am at times overly sensitive).

2.  "God is my refuge and strength"  - He is all I need to weather the storms of my life.  I need nothing else.

3.  He has a plan for me.  His plan is perfect and I claim that promise today!  He created me to be a reflection of Him and that is how I must define success.

4.  "Holy and Blameless" - Because of the cross - I am Holy and Blameless.  This one I struggle with an 18 inch problem (the distance from my head to my heart).... I know it to be true in my head, but I struggle to live it and experience it in my heart.  Today I will claim it!

5.  "Be still and know that I am God"  - He's got this.... now I need to rest in Him and his promises!  I give up trying to do for others on my own strength..... today let me be reminded to just BE forgiven, BE loved, and BE still in the presence of the creator.

An Adoption Story & Reunion Retold

My Mom and Dad

It is hard to believe it has been three years since my reunion with my birth mother. I am so grateful for God's faithfulness though my journey. I am thankful for His perfect timing and wisdom... I am thankful for Nancy who loved me enough to choose life and share me with another family.  I am thankful for my Mom and my Dad who loved me and cared for me the last 40 years (oh my that sounds old). So for this journey filled with ups and downs I am grateful!

My birth mother Nancy, Amanda (my half sister) 

Cindy (my half sister on my birth father's side)

Here is a link to an article that was just in the Daily Item this week.

http://www.dailyitem.com/news/lifestyles/one-woman-s-journey-toward-self-discovery/article_c2c9e2cc-cea9-11e5-8a3b-679500b2bec5.html

With All My Heart

Today marks the start of what I hope to be a new February tradition for our family. The wall of hearts were put up last night and each day between now and Valentine's Day my daughter and my husband each get to turn over a heart to reveal something we love about them. Joel and I worked together to make Ella's and Ella worked with me to come up with some for her Daddy. As we were finishing up Joel's hearts Ella asked about mine... I told her I didn't make any for myself, so she decided she would make some for me and she knows what each one says despite the fact that all I see are jumbled letters - they truly are a message of love. 

For each on of Ella's heart we made a point to find a scripture to go along with it so it was not only a message of what we loved about her, it was also an opportunity for us to have a little devotion time together as we talk about who God made her to be and how God has already gifted her in many ways.  

My hope and prayer is that she will always know she is loved not for what she can do, but for who she is in Christ!!

Mine, Mine, Mine

Mine, Mine, Mine... hearing those words would probably lead you to believe that this was a post about my four year old daughter, who happens to be an only child and her inability to share.   While that is true at times.... this post is about us - the big kids.  Though I am talking about us, as adults, I can't help but play the scene from "Finding Nemo" over and over in my mind.

Our small groups at church are currently doing a bible study on the book of Malachi.  I will be honest, this is not a book that I have studied much in the past (honestly, I probably have never really studied it as a whole ever).  So much of the book of Malachi is about God's unchanging love and pursuit of His people, yet his people keep turning their backs on him, time and time again. They were doubting his covenant love for His people and not trusting in his ability to be just.  Malachi (which means messenger) calls on the people to return to following the law that God established.
The specific passage that we were studying was Malachi 3:6-12.

Breaking Covenant by Withholding Tithes

6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,”says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’

8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed,

for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

God is calling His people to return to Him in verse seven.... but the people ask how are they to return... and God basically says - stop robbing me!  Return to me what is mine.  God asks us for the people to bring to the storehouse their tithe (most interpret that to be 10% of their money, their crops, etc.) and their offerings.  In our study we were asked why do you think God focused on the tithe and offerings?  As I thought about that question, I thought about how we as people love our money... we hold it near and dear to our hearts... our lives revolve around it... it can control us, it is one of the top reasons for marriage problems and divorce.... God was asking them to give something that took great sacrifice.  

So I started thinking about giving up my tithe and my offering, and the more I thought about it and discussed it with our group the more I realized.... it's not about what is mine to give up... because NOTHING I have is mine... I am just returning to God what is His.... that is obedience!  It was never mine to begin with, however as a sinful human I struggle to remember that what I have is not my own.

My money...is God's - therefore I need to give freely to others what God has blessed me with, even when I feel like I have nothing to give, I need to give as the widow did in scripture.

My house... is God's - therefore I need to use it to take in people who need a place to rest. I need to use it to invite in both friends and strangers to share God's love with.

My car ... is God's - therefore I need to be willing to share it with others.  I need to be willing to pick up people for church.  I need to be willing to deliver meals to new moms and shut-ins.

My child.... is God's - she is not mine... she is God's gift on loan to us.  She is God's child with whom we pray He will use to change the world, and share Christ wherever she may go... which means letting go, because she too is not mine.

Mine, Mine, Mine.... needs to change to Yours, Yours, Yours - God let that be my daily prayer and my daily offering to "the storehouse".  May we as a family use everything we have for Your Kingdom and for Your Glory, and not for our own.  

A prayer for my sleeping child

There are few things quite as precious as a sleeping child.... whether it has been a great day filled with learning and obedience, or a day that seemed to be the worst of days filled with tears, whining, and what seemed like constant disobedience.  My heart melts over my sleeping child.  Sometimes I just stare at her, looking at her precious peaceful face.  Sometimes I cry tears of joy because of the amazing gift that God so gracious entrusted to me.  And sometimes I honestly look at my sleeping child and celebrate that the day is done... and tomorrow is a new day (if you know what I mean).

Lately I have been convicted of my need to do a better job at praying more specifically for people and for situations.  I am okay at mentioning names before the Lord, but not so good at being detailed in what I pray for.  That conviction has also rolled over into my need to do a better job praying specifically for my child and my husband.

Our evening routine involves a book or two, an evening prayer, and singing.  After the singing is through I usually kiss my sleeping child and quietly exit the room being careful to not wake the sleeping child.... however lately I have found myself lingering, looking and praying.  As I began to think about how to pray for her, I thought of the old hymn... Take My Life and Let It Be and it prompted me to pray like this....

I lay my hand and her HEAD - Lord, give her wisdom.  Help her grow in her knowledge of you. Help her to make wise decisions that would bring you honor.  Fill her mind with godly things and protect her from lies of the world.  Help her to think before she acts, so that she can be a light for you.

EARS - Lord, help her to listen - as the saying says you give us two ears to hear and one mouth to talk let us listen more than we talk.  Help her to be still and listen to that still small voice.  Help her to hear the cries of the people around her who need loved and cared for.  Help her to listen and obey as we seek to teach her your ways.  Give her ears that are fully tuned to your voice.

EYES - Protect my little girl's eyes... help us to teach her what is good to see and what to turn away from.  Give her eyes filled with compassion for those that she sees to be hurting around her.  Help her to be sensitive to those that she sees that look or act differently - help her to see them just as you see her.

MOUTH - You tell us our tongues are sharper than a two edged sword..... help her tongue to be used to build people up and not tear them down.  Help her to speak truth but in a way that is filled with compassion.  Help her words to be kind and caring.  Help her to use her mouth to tell others of your amazing goodness.  Let her be your mouth piece to a hurting world that needs to know of your love.

HANDS - Let these hands be used to serve you.  Let them be used to build for your kingdom and not be used to hurt others or for selfish things.  Use her hands to help bring joy to the brokenhearted and healing for the sick (she told me she wants to be a doctor, so I guess it is never to early to start praying if that is what she does).

I lay my hand on her BACK - this precious little body Lord is a gift from you.... protect her body from harm.  Keep away anyone that would want to hurt her or take advantage of her.  Lord wrap your arms around her as she sleeps so that she can be comforted to know that she is safe in your arms. Thank you for the gift that she is to me and so many others...thank you for her!

LEGS - You tell us that we are to run a race not of speed but of endurance.... give her legs to run that race and run it well.  Lead her on the path that is the straight and narrow.  Give her patience in the journey but help her to follow the leader of the pack, which is you.

FEET - Lord - these tiny feet will walk many miles over her lifetime... may those steps by following in your footsteps.  Let her be your hands and feet and be like You to other people.  Though it would be so hard to let her go far away, Lord if you call her to serve around the world... help me to be willing to let her go.... and help her to be willing to be obedient.

Lord for this little child, my baby, your gift to us... I pray your hand of protection, and pray that you amazing love would radiate from this child.  Thank you for sharing her with us!  AMEN

Countdown to Forty - #26 - Coaching Memoirs

As a former Physical Educator it only makes sense that I would love sports and also be drawn to coaching!  Coaching was one of my favorite things to do in each of the different communities I have lived over the years.  Your team becomes like a family to you, you get to not only instill physical skills but you also get to impact your athletes on how to do live, how to win and how to lose gracefully.  You also get to teach them about how to work together with others to achieve great things for the team..... and great things may not always be a championship...though that is a lot of fun! Great things could be a PR (personal record) improving your win/loss record, or just working better together as a team.

An a high school and college athlete I learned so much about life and teamwork through sports. There are also some great spiritual analogies that we can learn through sports and other teams.  Though I love sports and I loved coaching, I have also seen over the past 10 years how sports are changing and how the competitive spirit has gone from healthy to insane!  I have seen a dark side of parents who think their child should be number one at whatever sport they do.  I have seen people act as though little league baseball is the National World Series for paid professionals.... it makes me sad that we have somehow taken the joy of play out of sports.

Due to my MS, I haven't coached in several years (it's that whole depth perception thing).... but I have many great memories from over the years in a variety of sports that I have coached.... some of which I had played in high school or college, and some of which I had never played before, but hey some of the best coaches are not always the best athletes at those sports... they just know the game well.  I can't say that the sports I didn't play I knew well.... in fact I didn't know them well and I had to work extra hard to learn the sport as well as coach my team.... Thankfully I wasn't the head coach (at least at first).

In high school - I played Tennis, Basketball, and did Track & Field.  In college, I played Tennis and helped with the Basketball team.  So of all the sports, these are the ones that I know the best! However, my first year of teaching the first two teams that I coached in Clearfield were volleyball and softball..... I just laugh thinking about it.  They were in need of coaches and since I was there new Phys. Ed. teacher they asked me if I would and so I did because they were both JV positions.  It was a bit rough I am not going to lie.... I really knew nothing other than how to teach basic skills and rotations in volleyball (I only coached one year until they found someone who was skilled)  Softball I knew a bit more because I had played baseball when I was younger (10 years before coaching) but as the assistant I was able to learn enough to at least keep them team going when the other coach resigned.  I didn't really love the sport... but I loved the girls and it was fun to be a part of a team that did so well.

At Clearfield I also was an Assistant Basketball Coach to a team of girls that were awesome!  We had so much fun together.  Being the only female coach I was also a team mom.  I did the first aid, helped solve the team drama (which is always there when you coach girls and sometimes boys as well).  I did pre-game chats with the girls in the locker room.... as each game they would sing the Hanukkah Song by Adam Sandler and then ask each other who was going to pray.... and then it was always me that they wanted to do it.  They also quoted Happy Gilmore daily!  I loved working with those girls.  I also had the privilege of being the Head Girls Tennis Coach.  Though their wasn't really any feeder programs the girls did well and I was very proud of their accomplishments.  We had a great time together, laughing and joking....I have so many memories with those girls!

In Lewisburg, though I wasn't a teacher, I still had the great privilege of coaching.  I coached at the Jr. High girls basketball level - of which my girls had so much fun learning new words.... such as atrocious!  Then I also was able to coach at the Varsity Level - once again being part of a team that went to States (don't think it had anything to do with me, we just had hard working talented girls on both teams).  I also had the opportunity to do two coaching firsts for me while in Lewisburg.... I coached Lacrosse (which I knew nothing about - though I was good at braiding their hair, doing agility drills and first aid) and I got to coach Boy's tennis.... (I had never coached a boy's team before) Being able to beat many of them on the courts helped them realize I knew what I was talking about. We had our share of highs and lows but as a whole our team did very well and made several district appearances.  The funny thing is that I remember the things that were not tennis related.... like when a few said boys put a figurine out the bus window thinking they were Napoleon Dynamite.... and a few other things that I won't mention since they have all grown up now.  

Taking time to write about Coaching has filled my heart this morning!  I miss those coaching days, but I miss more the relationships I had with my student athletes, the comradery of the team, and celebrations we shared together.  Thanks for all the great memories!  If you have a fun memories or pictures to share I would love to hear from you.... it would be a great 40th gift to me!