Here we go Woodlawn

So it's been a bit of a rollarcoaster ride these last several months dealing with Woodlawn soccer. While I don't think of myself as an over the top planner and actually love to live day to day trusting in the Lord's plan, there is still a bit of planning that needs to take place in life....and it was not happening with soccer this year.

This will be my 3rd year coaching the Woodlawn soccer team and we've made great progress over the past two years so I thought we'd continue building on that progress this year. As it got deeper into the fall, I was far behind my planning that I had done in the previous year due to circumstances beyond my control...

A new principal at Woodlawn.
My teacher contact retired.
No one from the school was responding to my messages.

I think I let it go for a while seeing that I really couldn't do anything else about the situation. But then it got to January and if season was going to happen this year, it needed to start happening! I finally was in contact with the Athletic Director at the school and things seemed to be looking up. Alex and I were scheduling games with other schools and patiently waiting until we had the go ahead from Woodlawn to start the season. The principal though still had not hired an official coach for the team yet and that was a vital part to the season. This was still the case as of only a week ago and honestly I gave up. I just was tired. Tired of praying about it. Tired of worrying about it. I really didn't think "ministry" was supposed to be this hard. I didn't know if the doors were being shut by God or the enemy. I was sad, not that I would not be involved, but that the guys wouldn't have a season.

My wonderful husband told me to just be still in the Lord. To let Him handle things. So I waited a week. I waited but like I said, I also had given up so it's probably not that hard to wait when you've given up. I sent a message to the AD this past Friday because I needed confirmation that the season would not be happening so I could cancel the games we had scheduled. And to my surprise...they had hired a coach and we could start practicing! I'm so thankful that the Lord works even when we've given up.

So we had our first practice yesterday! It was so good to be out there, to see some of the guys from last year. It rejuvenated me. I always forget how much I love it until I get back out there. I have no idea what the season will look like. I have no idea how long I'll be able to be out there for. I'm praying that we won't hit any obstacles we can't overcome. I'm preparing myself for a different kind of season. My main goal is not to get caught up in logistics and perfect practices and winning, but to produce real fruit - love, joy, peace, patience, etc...and to have some fun!

My Growing Belly

I've been horrible at blogging lately. Life has been so busy and this week, I feel like I've finally been able to catch my breath.

I'm at 31 weeks in my pregnancy which I can and can't believe. In one way, it feels like I've been pregnant forever (since we found out way back in July) but then in another way, I can't believe I'm only 9 weeks away (possibly sooner, hopefully not much later) from holding our little baby in my arms. I'm being completely honest when I say I am SO excited to give birth to him. Through all the negative stories I hear about labor and delivery, God has given me grace to ignore them all and simply look forward with excitement to the day when it happens - I have no fear whatsoever thanks to Him.

At the beginning of my pregnancy, we thought it'd be fun to take pictures in the same outfit as the weeks went by to really be able to see the change in my belly and body. I'm sure this is just a "first time mom" thing but pregnancy is such a miracle and I just want to try to document everything I can related to it this first time I'm experiencing it. That said, I've slacked a little bit on the pictures but here are some from the last few months...

21 weeks pregnant

25 weeks pregnant

31 weeks pregnant

So I probably don't have to say it, but I definitely feel pregnant now!! 

A few more weeks to go :) 

A Wii Little Blessing

Hogan and I have a lot on our plate right now. A lot to do. A lot to get ready for. We are trying to find a car and sell mine to make room for baby. I'm trying to help plan a season for Woodlawn soccer that I'm not even sure is going to happen right now. And if it does, I'm going to help coach as much as I can. We have to find a physician before the baby comes. We are praying that we get into a daycare in time for me to not have to take too much time off work. We have labor classes coming up to go to. We have to change my phone plan and thus, buy a new phone so that I can get better service at our townhome. In the back of our minds, with all this other financial stuff, is saving enough money to hopefully put a down payment on a home this next year. And on top of all of this, my work is definitely not slowing down.

From reading all that, you might assume I'm overwhelmed. I don't think I am. I know all of this has to happen but I also know who is in control. Honestly though, it's still pretty easy to feel some anxiousness. I know anxiousness and I pray it off constantly and turn my eyes and heart to the Lord but it's a continual thing lately.

But He assured me of something today...Hogan called me and told me that his boss gave him his son's Wii and a ton of games. His boss bought his son a new video system and it turns out they didn't want to keep more than one system in the house and so he offered it to Hogan. The beauty of this blessing is that over the past few weeks, we've been talking about purchasing a Wii. We thought it'd be something fun for us to do together and a good video game system for our child as well when he's old enough - basically something fun and interactive we can all do together inside. We know that the Wii isn't much money these days but it's still another expense so we hadn't purchased it yet. Hogan's boss had no idea we wanted one and were thinking about getting one. But I have a good feeling that God did. And through this blessing, he assured me that He has it taken care of. He is in control. He cares about the little things. And if He cares about the little things, he most definitely is going to take care of us in the big things.

Luke 12:27-31

“Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."