Sarah Whitmire has created this incredible site with tons of prompts for creating a Soul Journal. 

Here is my project for days 5, 6 and 9.
Left side:

And the Right:

I have gotten busy with a house project-which is so ironic since my next Soul Journal prompt IS creating a house.
I hope to post those soon!

Originally posted FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009

1. It is expected.  Part of being a parent of a player for any team is working for the team.  Some clubs and sports require more time and energy than others.  Do your part.  And seriously, if your club has a “pay to not volunteer” option, only be that parent if you are the President of the United States or Superman.  They need the man hours MORE than the money.
2. Your kid secretly likes it.  They may never tell you that, but I see the look on their faces with their mom is in the concession stand or their dad is helping direct traffic.  Your kid knows you helping out means you care about their sport AND them!
3. Fresh Perspective.  You gain a better understanding of the game when you are around the fields and your child is not playing.  There is something about having your kid on the field that makes parents (or maybe just mom’s) hyper focus on their child.
4. Teaches a Spirit of Service. I hope I am teaching my child that this is not only one of the responsibilities of parenting, but one of the joys as well.  Helping and serving others is something we take very seriously in our household.
5. Keeping up.  I do love volunteering, but even if I didn’t I would do it for this reason alone.  You can find out a lot about your child and their friends working the games.  You see things that they don’t know you see or are aware of (especially if they are teenagers, and they forget anyone else exists!)
6. Relationships are Formed. I have met some of the coolest people volunteering for various jobs and not all of them are adults-children can enrich or life experience as well you know.
7. Networking. I know I am reaching for the bottom of the barrel here, but sometimes parents don’t do what is best for their kid and their development, they are all about the career, if (I pray not) this is you and your situation, think of the contacts you can make!  Keep a stash of business cards in your pants pocket and market the fire out of yourself.*
8. Looks good on a Resume’. Again for the me-me generation, you can put it under “community service” in case you are looking for a job and someone in the company actually sees value in this sort of thing.*

Originally posted on FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2008

Originally Posted on May 27th 2008.

I don’t know when other area’s have tryout for their Competitive Youth Soccer Progams but in my area they all fall on the same days of the same week. Parents are torn because if their kid doesn’t make team A he doesn’t make a team and recreational soccer is his only option until the next year or season. However, from a club perspective, this does prevent a bit of team shopping. 

I have heard from countless parents who have been so unhappy with the league for which thier child plays. I have heard more than one coach discuss his discontent with parents. I am by no means perfect, but I think that some of the conflict could be avoided with clear expectations and boundaries.

The KY Youth Soccer Blog has a good article on tryouts from a club perspective, but that is 

Originally posted May 3th, 2008.

I have considered writing a soccer type blog for months and every time thought better of it because it was generally on the heels of a huge rant about another soccer parent. Or a “what not do to” as a soccer parent, friend or loved one…and that honestly doesn’t help anyone.

Lastnight I was laying in bed and I thought of about 5 things to blog on before I feel asleep-and trust me, I fall asleep fast-and if you don’t believe me, ask my husband!

Why do I think I can write a blog for families of soccer players? Well, for a few reasons:

• My son has played soccer since he was 4 starting with the local YMCA.
• I have been a Team Manager for a semi-competitive league.
• I am currently the team mom for the school team my son currently attends.
• I dated soccer players in high school and college (ok, that doesn’t count for anything other than to show that I have enjoyed soccer for a REALLY LONG time)
• I have made my share of mistakes in the above listed roles and would like to help other people from doing what I have done.
• One of my favorite quotes lends perfectly to reason #5:
  “If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to serve as a
  horriblewarning.”~Catherine Aird

So, here is to a great adventure!And Let’s get the ball rolling.

That should have been my “word for the year”.  I am in serious need of simplification.

So much going on, all the time.

I think I did a big ole Twitter scream and shout that “SOCCER IS OVER” last week.

Oh silly silly me.

High School “open gym” starts today.
Tryouts for all the competitive teams, next week.

Soccer, is over for the next 4 hours!!!

Speaking of soccer, I had this soccer blog over on blogger…I don’t post to it much and over the next few days, I am going to be moving content from THERE…to HERE and closing that puppy down.

Maybe the girl on the right can be the soccer maven.  ;)

Sarah Whitmire has created this incredible site with tons of prompts for creating a Soul Journal.

There is even a yahoo group (that I just joined) for additional information, support and news on classes.

I have been trying to get my pictures sent to flickr, and my phone and computer has not cooperated with a thing I have done all day…

But FINALLY…

The pages on Armor…

I might add some more text as I go on.  The gel isn’t 100% dry and is messing with my pens.

Seriously.

It is bad enough when you feel the need to talk non-stop on the cell phone while driving.. Especially if you almost ran me off the road because you can’t turn the steering wheel with one hand…

OR

To take a walk, out in the wild with mother nature and YAP the entire time…

OR how about the ones who take their phone to the YMCA…we love hearing about your yeast infection, really.  ( and I am sure the person on the other end loves to hear the heavy breathing).

But, in the past month I have noticed more and more women talking on their cell phones in PUBLIC POTTY’S…now even IF YOU are not using the facility while you are chatting away with your BFF!!!, I AM.

And with all the tile and metal in those places, I KNOW the sound echo’s and bounces and I BET your friend thinks you are at the Falls of the Ohio.

Do us all a favor and keep it in your pocket-at least until you are driving out of the parking lot.

(rant over)

Considering it has been 10 full days since I have had any sort of entry on my blog and almost 20 before anything of substance has been added.  This weeks prompt is quite appropriate!

I have been disconnected.
From my blog.
From my church.
From my life.

I have been so disconnected from myself, my life that I have gained back ten pounds that I fought so hard to lose earlier this year.  

Disconnected and set back.

It was soccer season and never has soccer taken over like it did in the month of April.  My son played on three teams; one for school, two competitive.  None of us will do that again!

My son is tired.  He has been disconnected from his non-soccer friends.  I have not seen a one of them in over 30 days.

My husband-disconnected from his workout routine.

We have all been grouchy and no fun to be around.
Exhausted.
Disconnected from our own beds!

This weekend, it is over.
We are done until the High School season (practices) start on July 10th.

I might just stay connected to my bed until then!

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Check out more writing and poetry on this topic @ Sunday Scribblings

On Sunday, before the first of two soccer games, my first ‘berry love, died a horrible, white screen of doom death.

The little man at The Verizon Store was so cute with his “I am so sorry”s. I think he said that about 10 times, he felt my discomfort and distress.

All my contacts.
Gone.
All my pictures.
Gone.

I back up my computer all the time, but not the crackberry.
That won’t happen again.

Even though I had a replacement phone, I twitched for two days straight until I had the replacement love in my hot little hand.

All will be well with the world as soon as I install the software to back up my crack-data.