Windy Last Soccer Game

Shodo Art and Calligraphy

The wind constantly blew during MJ's last high school varsity soccer game this afternoon. It was about 75 degrees F. but seemed much cooler with wind gusts up to 40 mph. The girls played a San Antonio team, and MJ's team won 1-0. It looked hard to play with the wind sending the ball in unexpected directions and distances.

Our children have played 23 years of soccer, as our eldest child DC started playing when he was 6 years old. This was the last soccer game with our children playing. I guess CB and I are getting tastes of the "last" things with our youngest child and the "empty nest" looming ahead. MJ will go to college this coming fall.

Only in Texas. . . .

I'll be driving to San Antonio tomorrow, and somewhere around there is this spot, though I've never seen it. I am going with my friend MB to hear Ronald Rolheiser speak on Augustine for the Christian Mysticism course.

Tonight is another soccer game, and it'll be cold--yes, especially for us way down here in south Texas! We'll be sitting on metal bleachers with the wind blowing, and it'll be in the low 50s F. That's a shock for us, especially since there was a record high temperature of 86 degrees F. just a few days ago.
~~~~~
MJ's team lost 3-1, but MJ assisted for her team's one goal.

High School Soccer

Soccer season started tonight here. We were lucky that today there was a record high temperature of 86 degrees F. today, so it was comfortable out in the wind on the metal bleachers. It's supposed to be much colder for Friday night's game. You never know what it'll be like in south Texas.

It was an exciting game, because MJ's high school varsity team won 3-1 over a San Antonio team. And MJ scored two goals and assisted with the third one! This is surprising to us, because she always played a defensive position until this year, which really means that 13 out of 14 years of soccer playing has had her playing on defense.

Cold, rainy soccer tournament!

When it's cold in south Texas, we all complain more than anyone else. We're not used to it!

Today it is only 46 degrees F. outside and raining. The school district here is having a soccer tournament today and tomorrow, which is an annual tradition for starting "official" soccer season. (Soccer season in TX must NOT conflict with football!) Unfortunately, the weather is expected to deteriorate as the day goes on.

MJ and her fellow Ray HS soccer players have played two games so far, and there is one more to go. They barely won the first game and were slaughtered by the El Paso team. It's yucky outside, and I've been sitting in the car to watch, even though I can't see too well. (None of the few other mothers are outside, either.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~
They won the third game! But it had dropped to 43 degrees F. by the early afternoon!

HOT in Texas!

I felt sweat dripping down my face when I hung sheets out on the clothesline. It is how I anticipate feeling when I watch daughter MJ's soccer game at 2 o'clock, which will last for about two hours. It will be around 87 degrees but will FEEL like 95 degrees! At least, I won't be running around like the girls playing soccer--If I tried, I'd probably have a heart attack or at least I'd collapse!

Today I facilitated the fifth and final Sunday School lesson on "God, Consciousness, and the Cosmos." We watched a dvd ordered from The View From the Center of the Universe, which I now have watched twice and probably would like to see several more times. You can also download it to your computer, and I would urge you to do so!

With Fr. David gone, attendance at church today was sparse. I heard that there were only 15 in the earliest one, but that's always a small service. I was glad I was there and felt blessed during the Eucharist.

Soccer in San Antonio

Though this is a random picture and is not of MJ, her high school has these colors. Not connected to high school, except for the players' ages, there is an Express soccer game in San Antonio tomorrow morning.

Since husband CB is very busy working on Habitat for Humanity houses on Fridays and Saturdays, plus remodeling the house next door, he is not going with us. So MJ and I decided we could spend the night with friends and then go to the game in the morning. She is staying with good friends she made at Laity Lodge Youth Camp this summer when they all served on Crew (unpaid "slave" labor). And I am going to stay with BK, someone Katherine E. knows--we were all at the Two Year Spiritual Formation Academy together. BK and her husband TK welcomed me to their home once a week while I was taking so many classes at Oblate School of Theology. I haven't seen them for over a year, so it will be wonderful to see them again. BK is a retired Methodist Deacon and a spiritual director.

Two Days of Soccer

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com
by Mark A. Hicks, illustrator.

MJ and I returned from Austin late this afternoon, driving through sunshine, cloudy skies, and sometimes rain. It was better driving than Friday night when we made our way north to Austin with heavy spells of rain. And while it rained a lot in Corpus Christi while we were gone, there were mostly cloudy skies with sun peaking through for the soccer games. The storms circulating around the area brought wind and cooler temperatures, so it was pleasant to watch the girls run around. Also, better for the players, instead of blazing sun!

MJ joined the Express Girls team this season. Some of the girls have played together on this team for the past two years. MJ was pleased to find that the girls are friendly, as she had feared some from other high schools might be threatening. No worries--everyone was very nice, including the parents.

The girls won their first game (at 7:30 am!) yesterday 2-1 and then tied their second afternoon game. Today's 7:30 game was lost 1-0, which meant that the Express Girls did not get into the play-offs. That relieved me, so we could come home, instead of staying until Monday.

MJ and I felt fortunate to have DC and AA's apartment to stay in, while they were gone. It felt homey and there was even computer access. Best of all for MJ was the washing machine, so her uniform (and SOCKS) could be washed.

I will always remember AE's pungent socks at a soccer tournament in New Jersey in the early 1990's. She left the sweaty socks to dry on top of the air conditioner while we went out to eat dinner, and when we returned and opened the door, we were overwhelmed by a memorable odor! That is why easy access to a washing machine is a blessing.

Soccer Tournament

MJ and I are going to Austin today for the Labor Day Soccer Tournament there. Luckily, it is being held at fields in south Austin, pretty near DC and AA's apartment (their picture is below). So we get to see them before they leave to celebrate their first anniversary, and they are letting MJ and me stay in their apartment while they're gone. Husband (and dad) CB is staying home with the two dogs and cat, so that he can keep on remodeling the house next door and sing in church on Sunday.

Enjoy your long Labor Day weekend!