Soccer!

Our soccer season started last week!  This year, due to the opposite scheduling of preschool soccer (Monday/Wednesday evenings right over dinner) and kindergarten soccer (Tuesday/Thursday evenings right over dinner) we made the decision NOT to have soccer EVERY weeknight, and instead decided to try signing up Colton for the kindergarten team with Summer.  We weren't sure how it would go, as they can be competitive with each other, and he is quite a bit younger, but we figured we'd at least give it a try as he would have more fun playing than sitting on the sideline.  If it didn't work out, we would pull him and sign him up the following season.  While the jury is still out as to how the season will go for him, he surprised me and totally held his own in both speed and ball control at their first practice.  He learned so much in his sports camp this past year and it shows.  It is so fun to watch how much fun he has playing!  Summer has been looking forward to playing soccer again ever since her season ended last year.  Both kids are excited that Paul is helping coach their team, and I love that soccer night is a family night (Larkyn and I are the super fans!).  Here are this year's Tommerdahl soccer studs ;)

I'll post more pictures after they get their team shirts and have their first game :)

Mother's Day and Cousin Teddy's Baby Dedication

I had an amazing Mother's Day weekend!  I absolutely loved the pastor's sermon this morning on Psalm 127.

 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to^[a] those he loves.

³ Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents in court.

He made two great points:

1. From Psalm 127:1-2 (see above): No matter how hard you try, you will not be truly successful or fulfilled without God.  That includes all aspects of life, but he specifically mentioned being a parent/mom.  He can take all your anxiety of trying to do life and give you rest.  Awesome.  I pray God works through me despite my weaknesses and gives me wisdom and energy to train up my kids to love Him!
2. From Psalm 127:3-5 (see above): Children should be viewed as a blessing and told so.  It is easy to view them as a bother in the midst of life's tasks, but the Bible says they are a blessing.  The Psalmist makes the analogy above that children are like arrows.  Arrows have to be formed and sharpened.  It takes work.  They are not ready to shoot right away.  (That is the phase we are currently in).  As parents we, with God's help, will sharpen them, teach them, and shoot them in the right direction.  Children are not ultimately a sword to be held onto, but rather an arrow to be let go of.  Pointing arrows/children aimlessly or in the wrong direction can be painful and wasteful, but shooting an "on fire for God" flaming arrow straight into God's plan for them can cause great harm to the enemy (Satan's kingdom) and bring great glory to God.  In this way, blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them (children).  I pray that God would help Paul and I to train our arrows (kids) to be on fire for God and bring great glory to Him.  I also pray that God would remind me to see them as a blessing on the tough days :).

I just love getting filled up with the Word of God and being challenged and encouraged in my job!  What a blessing for Mother's Day.  Seriously.

The kids and Paul made me feel really special on Saturday with a wonderful mother's day breakfast in bed! 

We then went to Como Zoo and had a great family day, with beautiful weather and my favorites around me.

On Sunday we went to Auntie Kristin and Uncle Eric's church for cousin Teddy's baby dedication. 

After naps, the kids helped pick out the rest of our garden plants and as a family we got everything all planted!  We finished off the evening with a family picnic. Perfect.

Although these last two pictures aren't from the weekend, I wanted to share them as they represent my current favorite Mommy moment - when all three kids squish in close, cuddle up with their blankies, and read with me.  I am in total Mommy heaven in these moments.  Thank you Paul for randomly catching a few of these in picture form so I can always remember these moments.

I am truly blessed, three times over.  Thank you, Lord, for letting me be Mommy to these three!  And a shout out thank you to Paul's and my amazing moms for all their love, support, prayers, care, help, and more!  They are amazing moms and super grandmas :). 

Summer Sparks Awards Night

Summer's last night of AWANA was on Wednesday.  She has done an amazing job of working through her first year book, book review, extra credit cards, and many bonus verses this year.  MY favorite part of AWANA is all the Bible verses she is hiding in her heart and watching them come back to her mind in times of application.  HER favorite part of AWANA is game time :).  I also loved watching her invite almost all of the girls from her class to AWANA as well as many neighbors and friends outside of school.  She brought a friend to AWANA with her more nights than she didn't, and I absolutely love her heart for wanting her friends to hear about Jesus.  I also loved the bonus of being her leader this year, as it meant I got extra time with her as, even though I know it is good, I truly miss her when she is at school all day :).  Anyway, here are some pictures of Summer at her awards night.  I am so proud of her!

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