Turning the page to 2013

We began our first Upward game of the seaso yesterday. It amazed me how much Ri and Elizabeth have grown since last year's season. Last year, Elizabeth loved the game, but was shy and timid when playing. Everyone was routing for her to make one basket during the season. With every shot, the entire crowd were root for her to make it. It was probably because was just so stinking cute on running around on the court. This year, she is still the littlest on the court with the sweetest and shyest little smile. She plays with determination and excitement, focused on guarding her man and making sure she passes the ball if she needs to. But the difference yesterday was that she made 3 baskets and she seemed to be confident in her dribbling! It was so much fun to watch. Ri was just as good. He played his little heart out. He made 3 baskets as well. They were as excited as could be when the games were all over. This year, Mark and Emily are coaching Elizabeth. I was all excited for Jacob and I to coach Ri, but jsut as it was time to turn in the applications, I found out that Jacob had planned on coaching with one of his buddies. I was crushed. But... I stepped out and let him do it. So, I am really not a part it this year. That is pretty hard on me. I have always coached as long as I have been able to coach. I had to stop for awhile because of Ri and Elizabeth. Then, last year, Mark and Jacob coached Elizabeth and Sam and a buddy coached Ri. All last year, I kept reminding myself that this year I would get to coach since Sam was heading off to college. I never dreamed that Jacob would not want me to coach with him. I should have seen it coming, but it blindsided me. I guess it is another time in which God had chose to humble me. I am really getting worn out with his humbling me. I wish I could just learn whatever it is he wants me to learn so that I could quit having to face it. Faith and Eli got home safely. Today, Sam headed back to college and Emily headed to spend a few days with her boyfriend and his family. It is quiet around here. Watching Sam leave makes me very sad. I feel like we didn't really have any time with him. With the cousins here, I never really got to have time alone with him. He faced a few difficult situations, and those seemed to shut him down. So seeing him leave has left me kind of feeling empty. I ache for him. I want their breaks to be good and enjoyable and relaxing. I don't feel like his was any of that. He loves his cousings very, very much. But it is a time in his life when he really just wants to move forward and find someone to share it with. It seems that God just keeps allowing Sam to struggle with that area of his life. It breaks my heart. Erin leaves for Africa in 11 days. I'm not so comfortable with that part of my life as well. She just had immunization shots for yellow fever and polio and is currently taking live typhoid pills right now. It is quiet nerve wracking knowing all that is going into her system and all that she might encounter. She has to begin malaria pills as well. She wont be home until May 12th. She is planning on starting a blog so that she can share with us "her journey". That gives me a small comfort. I am fine with a few weeks away .... in another country.... but a few months....so far away.. not begin able to get to her if she needs me...... is very, very hard.