A look inside: MANDATE

Friday, July 27, 2007

MANDATE

Webster's dictionary defines the word mandate as an authoritative command.

So, if I gave birth to you, and you are female, you are mandated to play volleyball from the age of 5 until after your college graduation. You are required to go to summer volleyball camps, and practice with me in the back yard daily, and you WILL watch my high school highlight videos with enthusiasm!

OK, not really. But I have looked forward to this day for a long time now: my daughter is old enough to play volleyball. Her league starts this September, but she attended a summer volleyball camp this last week. It was a momentous occasion, watching my daughter walk into the same gym that I once played in, her water bottle in hand, knee pads around the ankles, perfect outfit (handpicked by me), perfect ponytail, complete with a ribbon tied in a bow. When I picked her up, I watched the last half hour of practice. They were working on overhand serves, and poor Sarah was not getting it, and she was not having fun. As we were walking out of the gym, I excitedly asked her, "how was it?" Sarah gave me a not so excited reply, "it was ok". I told her when we get home I would help her work on her serve. And she sweetly said, "no thanks mom, I'm kinda tired of volleyball"..... The words took my breath away, I was speechless, not believing the words that came from my daughter's mouth. How can this be? She's supposed to LOVE it, we're supposed to spend countless hours playing in the back yard together, we're supposed to hang our state championship medals on the wall, side by side. There's so much I can teach her, so much knowledge and love of the game to pass on. What will I do if she doesn't want to play volleyball?!!!! So I counted to ten, took three cleansing breaths, and calmed down. I have stopped asking Sarah if she wants to practice with me, and after much prayer and fasting (kidding), I have come to accept that volleyball may not be my daughter's favorite sport. In fact, she may decide (deep breath) that she doesn't want to play at all....and that's ok.

There's always Olivia.

In all seriousness, I love watching each of my kids develop into their own, unique person. And I see how God has gifted each child differently. They each have different characteristics, strengths and weaknesses. It's a joy to watch them grow. In fact Daniel just reminded me today, that he will have his driver's license in 5.6 years. So yes, time is flying by, and I just want to enjoy them now, while they still want me around....regardless of whether they play sports or not!

Oh, high school volleyball! Such good memories!

Look at you Shauna! It's no wonder Duane fell head over heels for you! 13 years later, I don't think we've changed that much do you?

7 comments:

Michelle said...: Your daughter looks so much like you! I love the 90's pictures. :-) BTW... I am a friend of Angela's, I read your blog from time to time. I have been enjoying your thoughts.; July 27, 2007 at 7:24 PM
Anonymous said...: What in the world?! What a scary picture of me...that was back in the day of frizzy hair and enormously thick eyebrows! That was before I learned to pluck them...I cracked up when I read this and almost called you, but it was too late. Thanks for the fun post...Go Crusaders!; July 27, 2007 at 9:55 PM
LizzyG said...: OH Shauna! There are many more pictures where that came from! I just went through my memory box from high school and middle school and found a ton of hillarious pictures, especially of Darrin and Duane! What good times! And by the way, I didn't have thick eyebrows like you...I had a bushy monobrow!! I couldn't believe some of the pictures, how could we not have realized how bad it was?; July 28, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Anonymous said...: Hands off boys she's all Mine.; July 29, 2007 at 9:46 PM
LizzyG said...: Is that you Duane...Duane Carl...aka DCD? Yes,I remember your middle name! and I remember Darrin's is Lonny. There's a whole lot more I remember too, all the way back to 6th grade! I've been showing Jon all of my old SA pics and memorabilia, it's been so fun looking back. And yes, Shauna is all yours, and what a beauty she is. I love that picture of her!; July 29, 2007 at 10:28 PM
Anonymous said...: Very cute!; July 30, 2007 at 4:13 PM
Sharon said...: I am so happy that I happened upon this blogspot today, via dear Becca! It was so fun and touching to read through some of your posts! I can totally relate to the volleyball gene...oh I wished my daughters would receive it! But alas! I have (gulp) a full-fledged soccer daughter....remember those soccer girls in the locker room during v-ball season? I know.

Anyway, thanks for letting me snoop around your blog, I think I just may have to come back! : ); August 1, 2007 at 12:08 AM

Words to Remember

"Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had. Let them not promise themselves more honor or pleasure in the world than Christ had. Let each live a life of labor and self-denial as his Master, and make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him toil, and do all the good he can, and then he will be a complete disciple."
~Matthew Henry,
English Pastor 1662-1714

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
~Martin Luther King

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
~Jim Elliot

"I am a missionary, heart and soul. God Himself had an only Son, and He was a missionary and a physician. A poor, poor imitation I am, or wish to be, but in this service I hope to live. In it I wish to die. I still prefer poverty and missions service to riches and ease. This is my choice."
~David Livingstone

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same. "
~C.S. Lewis

"I want Thy plan, O God, for my life. May I be happy and contented whether in the homeland or on the foreign field; whether married or alone, in happiness or sorrow, health or sickness, prosperity or adversity - I want Thy plan, O God, for my life."
~Oswald J. Smith

songs with meaning

If you hear one of these songs playing while visiting my blog, here is why it is so special to me:

I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman: I would listen to this song as a young teenager and dream about finding a love like this song describes. Guess what? God gave more then I ever dreamed.

Any Song by Keith Green!!! I first heard Keith Green as a young child and knew all his songs by heart. As a teenager, I loved his music because he is so honest and authentic. I also read his autobiography when I was in my teens. He is one of my all-time heroes! I remember my friends laughing at me when they were in my car, wondering why I would be listening to songs from the 70's. Yes, the music is cheesy, but the lyrics are simply amazing!

How Could I Ask For More by Cindy Morgan: My senior year of high school I was on homecoming court with four other girls, who were all good friends of mine. We all picked this song to be played during our ceremony. I still love this song!

Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart: The song Jon and I danced to at our wedding. I smile every time I hear it.

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me: This song was played at Brian Ditchen's memorial service. Brian was Jon's cousin who he grew up with, and who I went to school with, and he was a dear friend. He passed away in March of 2004 in a tragic plane accident, he was only 28. It shook the core of our faith. The only comfort came from knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, who Brian lived his life for: Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated believer, and we can't wait to see him again. Every time we would hear this song, it touched us deeply, it still does. Heaven has become very real to us.

The Scientist by Coldplay: My younger brother, Ben, sang and played this song on the piano at my brother Jeremy's memorial service. Jeremy passed away suddenly in September of 2004, he was only 31. Once again our faith was shaken (see next song)....

Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day: Whenever I hear this song I am reminded of my brother Jeremy...."To everyone who's lost someone they loved, long before it was their time, you feel like the days you had were not enough, when you said goodbye....cry out to Jesus" I am reminded to turn to God in the midst of my pain and loss, and it's OK to go to Him with my questions

We Will Dance by Steven Curtis Chapman: My current love song. It so beautifully describes mine and Jon's relationship.

I'm Not Cool by Scott Krippane: This is Daniel's song.Not in a mean way. He absolutely loves this song and sings along with it every time. The funny thing is, it describes him perfectly.

She's a Dancer by Phil Keaggy: This is Sarah's song! It so sweetly reminds me of Sarah...."she's a dancer, she loves to dance, she's a singer, she loves to sing, she's a lady, walkin' round in mama's shoes, standin' tall in mama's shoes" Sarah has also been caught singing into the bathroom mirror. And when she was younger she put on many "dance performances" for us in our living room.

Olivia by Phil Keaggy: Obviously Olivia's song! I've sang this song to her since she was a tiny newborn. She knows the words and sings along now. Whenever I put this song on, she stops what she's doing and gets a big smile on her face, and says "my song!"

Beautiful by Bethany Dillon: OK I'm 32 now. And sometimes when I look in the mirror, the depression creeps in. I don't look like I did ten years ago, I don't see a beautiful young woman looking back at me. And that can get you down sometimes. This song reminds me that true beauty is who I am in God's eyes. I could be perfect in every way on the outside and yet not be beautiful in the eyes of God, and when it's all said and done, my life would have been lived only for myself. I want to be beautiful in God's eyes, I want Him to look inside my heart and smile, and most importantly, be pleased.

Who Am I?, The Voice of Truth, and Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns: All three of these songs are very special to Jon. These are three of his all-time favorites. These songs brought him close to God when he was going through a hard time in his life.

I Am by Nicole Nordeman: The first time I heard this song was at a Women of Faith conference. She played it live on the piano. It was so beautiful and moved me so deeply. God is truly my "I Am", He has been my one firm anchor through every season of my life.