Cancelled

This post was written several weeks ago but never published (most likely due to power or network issues).  I’m gonna post it anyway.  Just pretend like its October.

"The other team isn't going to show.  The game is cancelled"  The call came 45 minutes before kick off was to take place.

"Man", I thought, "The middle school boys were so excited for their last home game.  How does a school cancel a game 45 minutes before kick-off?"  Our Athletic Director/Head coach of lots of teams/gym teacher/friend of mine did not seem incredibly happy about it.  Shortly after the call, the refs showed up.  It seemed like a pretty junky time  My boys were already dressed and warming up when they heard the news.  

Instead of just calling it a day,  The AD/coach/friend, (named Ernie) decided to give my boys the home game promised them,(only their 2nd of the season) and quickly a high school team was assembled from the kids who were still at school for the boys and girls basketball meeting (Its a small school- all the athletes pretty much play everything)  Penny's were brought out, the  high school team's positions were decided, and, about the time the game was scheduled to start, the ref blew the whistle (yes, the real ones we had paid to be there anyway).  To even the match, the high schoolers could only use their left foot to pass or shoot and a foul was called if they broke this rule.  (and many were barefoot… though they didn’t hardly notice.  They go barefoot a lot here)  The refs were quite hilarious, blowing their whistles every few minutes for the use of a left foot.  Off-sides were called against the high schoolers with amazing frequency as well.  To keep the entertainment value up, Joel played for the high school side, along with the previously mentioned Ernie, and Isaac, my fellow coach to the middle school boys played for our side.   The game was full of quite a show made by the high school boys in their attempt to prove they were trying their hardest (constant yelling at the ref for his preferential treatment of the younger kids, yelling at each other, taking turns at who was the "coach", ripping their shirts off after a goal so they could get yellow carded-- all in jest and more than a tad entertaining… when the ref pulled out the yellow cards for the celebration the small crowd we had accumulated went wild in support of the yellow cards – including some moms of the high schoolers)  As for the middle school boys, they played at their top form.  They were really on their game and showing the high school they could play.  Overall, the score ended up a 4-3 with the younger team winning and with everyone happy with the afternoon.  I was really proud of everyone, the high school for being such good sports and the middle school for trying so hard.

As if that wasn't enough, we had  our couple's bible study tonight-- at our house.  We all ran home from the game to find  Esther's amazing work.  The house was clean, the huge pile of clothes clean, and food food food.  For dinner tonight we served 14 adults curried chicken, rice, beans, pineapple and watermelon, carrot sticks and cucumbers with ranch.  For the 9 kids, when I got home I made some mac and cheese from our stash of cheese powder.  After dinner and dessert (an amazing cake brought by my sweet sweet friend Sharon) the kids went to the rooms to play and watch some Despicable Me 2 while the adults had our study and prayer time.  2 of the "kids" are actually teenagers who help every week watch the littler kids and are such a huge blessing.  My 2 are excited to see them every week and look forward to bible study nights.  

On top of all of that, we talked about Midterms today in the staff meeting.  MIDTERMS!  Its that time, already!  we still have 4 weeks but, whew, this school year is flying by!

If you made it to the end of this post, thank you for your diligence.  Next time I'll try to write something shorter :)