Who's coaching or playing?

As I've been updating the schedule in my Palm handheld a significant change in our family's activities emerged: none of us are coaching or playing competitively in school arenas!

Children being on a ball teams has been part of our family routine since Brad started farm league in the mid 80's, soon Erik, Kyle and Kristi were on ball teams - these teams dictated our family schedule. Soon the children were playing competively in middle school, high school and college. Always, when making plans, their team schedules were very important in our schedules. More recently all three sons and daughter in law Lisa coached teams. Again, we tried to include their games or matches in our schedules.

Among the adjustments we are making is a change to the priorities in our schedules.

We will miss:

• encouraging our children in the athletic arena
• seeing the progress and improvement of their teams
• relishing the wonder of the competitive spirit (I believe it is God-given.)
• learning to know new people which has extended our network of relationships
• the anticipation and hope each new season brings
• creating new memories - all the surprises and unexpected moments

Our family has benefitted in so many ways from involvement in athletics. As we move into a new season of life (this doesn't preclude the probability that someone in the family will be coaching in the future) we look forward to the new opportunities we will have because our schedule is not dictated by sports commitments.

PS: To those of you in the midst of hectic family schedules which include athletics - enjoy these times!