• Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 78 other subscribers

  • “Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers” — Isaac Asimov

  • Recent Posts

  • Pages

  • Categories

  • Archives

  • Blog Stats

    • 197,146 hits

Soccer Chick Makes a Big Decision

Posted on May 20, 2009 by auburnchick

See if you can guess by this photo:

That, my friends, is Rollins College women’s soccer team.  Today, Chicky verbally committed to play there in 2010, her Freshman year.

I know it seems strange for a junior (almost a senior) in high school to commit so early, but that’s the name of the game in soccer.  Coaches try to fill their rosters two years in advance.

Chicky called the coach this afternoon.  Signing day won’t be until sometime next Spring.

I am thrilled beyond belief and trusting God to provide the difference between the scholarship she’ll be receiving and the remaining balance of tuition and boarding fees. He has, after all, brought us this far in what has often seemed a very long journey…one that’s not over yet.

I’m looking forward to buying out the bookstore and adorning myself in Rollins apparel:

Happy Dance time!

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

Posted on May 17, 2009 by auburnchick

We’re home after another nine hour drive.

Chicky’s team lost yesterday 0-1.  We outplayed the other team, but as any soccer fan knows, it only takes one goal to win.

The girls were disappointed, as was to be expected.  It was obvious to everyone watching that they were the better team.  I guess that the Lord had other plans for them.  Fortunately, Chicky didn’t come off the field crying like last year.  Maybe she had already done it before I got to the team’s bench.

As the game ended, I couldn’t help but reflect on lessons learned from this season.  Y’all have ridden this roller coaster ride with us, so you know the ups and downs we’ve been through.  I think one of the most important things we can walk away with is that Chicky figured out how much soccer means to her.  She truly loves the game, and she wants to play with others who love it as much as she does.  She had waffled for a while, leaving the team for a while to figure things out.  That is no longer the case.  She has a renewed fire in her heart, and it shows through her playing.

The other big lesson we all learned was balance.  Chicky needed balance in her life (as we all do), and drawing a line in the sand became very important way for us to keep her sanity in check (I might debate myself on that point).  You only get to be a teen once (can I hear a hallelujah from all the moms out there!).  Not that I believe in doing whatever you want, but you know what I mean.  If you’ve been reading my blog for very long, you definitely know what I mean.

We eased the sadness of the loss by a delicious dinner at Carrabbas.  We ate with Chicky’s best friend, who will be graduating from high school in a couple of weeks.  They’ve been teammates for six years and, thus, have grown up on the field together.  We shared a lot of laughs around the table last night as the families are quite close.  When you travel together as much as we have, you can’t help but consider each other extended family.  We’ll miss them next season.

Although the Mr. wanted to sleep in, I insisted that we get an early start home.  The kids wanted to get home in time for church, and I wanted to be able to watch the Survivor finale.  I would have much rather watched it online had that meant that Chicky would have been playing in the Finals; however, since that didn’t happen, I figured why not go on home.

The ride was uneventful.  We made far fewer stops this go-round, and I managed not to leave my purse any place either (I had left it at Chick fil A on the way down — which I quickly noticed and went back for).  I took the first shift of driving since the Mr. is not a morning person.

As I navigated the long, boring stretch of the Turnpike, I reminisced about the years I spent toting the kids back and forth to the grandparents’ from our home in Miami.  It was a solid nine-hour drive, and I always took the Turnpike because it was the safest route.  The Mr. had a demanding new job that he could not take time off from.  The kids were amazing in the car after getting out their angst about an hour into the trip.  They would always settle down, somehow understanding that they would be spoiled rotten at the end of the journey.  The worst part for me was the stretch between West Palm Beach and Orlando.

What a barren panorama!  There’s not much to break up the monotony, so I tried to hit it before lunch and a full stomach and, thus, the sleepies. The kids used to sing along to Christian songs on the tapes I played for them.  Now they listen to their iPods or watch movies on their laptops.  Rooster managed to read two of Brad Thor’s books.  His newest one is The Last Patriot.

Do not ask me why, but the Mr., who never, ever reads, went to the bookstore recently and picked up five of this author’s books.  As the kids asked in the car, “Daddy reads?”  To which we heehawed.

I read The Last Patriot last Thursday.  It was a fast read…only taking me about five hours to finish.  The chapters are short, and the topic is relevant to the terrorism threats the world faces today.  The author reminds me of Tom Clancy, without so many technical details.

Rooster flew through this book on the way down and quickly began the author’s first book, which the Mr. just happened to put in the car.  Halfway home today, Rooster had finished it as well.

All-in-all, the ride was quiet.  The Mr. likes to stop at hotels and use their bathrooms since they are so much cleaner than gas stations.  We’ve ceased to be embarrassed as he inquires about directions to local restaurants…his excuse for using their potties.  Today, we stopped at a Hilton, and look what was outside…

A horse-drawn carriage!  The horse’s name is Buddy, and he was a real sweetie, allowing me to give his nose a rub.  I’m such a sucker for animals.

So now we’re home.  Chicky has another tournament Memorial Day weekend.  I’m not even going to bother putting the suitcases away.  I’ll wash our clothes and re-pack them since I need my team t-shirts to wear in support of the girls.

It won’t be long before I’m singing, “On the Road Again…”

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

Another Adventure!

Posted on May 16, 2009 by auburnchick

Yesterday, we spent around nine hours in the car.  Chicky’s team is playing in the Final Four, and the hotel is in West Palm Beach.

Now, you know that we’re always traveling…have been for about six years running.  We’ve been in about every type of fast food and sit-down restaurant, gas station, and hotel.  I should be paid to critique them…that’s how much of a pro I am.

First off, we stopped at what is rated as the #1 Chick fil A franchise in Florida (according to my father-in-law).  I didn’t know this beforehand, as the first place I stopped was the restroom.  Before I got there, we were greeted by a manager, who welcomed us to the location.  He was walking the floor, speaking to the patrons.  Wow!

Folks, there were two tables in the ladies room.  One had an assortment of feminine products.  The other had flowers and other stuff that I can’t remember.  But, it was nice.  Clean.  Stocked with hand towels as well as an air dryer.

Then, as I sat and waited for the Mr. to bring our food to the table, another employee, dressed very professionally with a Chick fil A nametag, asked if I was waiting to place my order.  After telling her I was set, she walked away to assist another customer.

I watched as managers sporting long-sleeve, button-down shirts ran the cash register, assisted by crisp, polo-wearing employees.  All had sincere smiles on their faces.  It was apparent that they were working in an environment they truly enjoyed.

I commented to the manager who stopped by halfway through out meal how impressed I was, explaining how frequently we travel.  It’s called fast food for a reason…in and out…no frills.  He said that he tells his employees that the restaurant begins at the property line.

Good point.

We’ll make sure we visit that location the next time we’re in town.

Onward we went, to our final destination…a Hawthorn Suites that is so new it doesn’t come up on the GPS.

When we inserted the key, we were amazed to see this:

I’m sitting at the table below…blogging right now…flat screen above me…

Walking down the little hallway, we saw this:

And the bathroom…well, what can I say?  It plays a very important role in your get-away experience:

And look at the vanity!  NOBODY puts a vanity in their bathroom!  With a make-up mirror too!

Now, I know what you are thinking.  This must be costing me an arm and a leg.

Well, not quite.  I think I heard the Mr. say that we’re paying $95 per night.  I consider this a good rate considering the amenities.  I mean, there’s tile throughout…the lobby, the elevator.  It’s truly gorgeous!

Saturday morning loomed with nothing to do.  The girls don’t play until 5pm, so we had the entire day in front of us.

What does AuburnChick do when she has this much free time on her hands…in a new city…

See if you can guess from this picture…

You see, I feel like I have a responsibility to my readers (all three of you).  You know I travel, so you naturally expect me to find the best yarn stores around…just in case you might take a trip to the same location.  It was me, after all, who brought you those wonderful pictures from Las Vegas and New Orleans.

Thank goodness for the GPS on my phone.  I must have been a good girl because “she” didn’t cop an attitude this time…i.e. I made no u-turns.

The ladies at Just ImaginKnit were fabulous, as was the selection of yarn.  There was a group of ladies sitting at the table, and as they spoke with their New York accents, I was taken back to the time when I lived in Coral Springs…whose residents had migrated from up north.

Now, I consider it rude to spend time in a yarn store without making a purchase.  Especially since I’m not a “regular.”  If I had my own yarn store and could attend knit nights, then I wouldn’t feel obligated to get anything.

That’s a pretty lame justification, isn’t it?

Ok, ok.  I caved the beautiful color and feel of the yarn.   Hello, my name is AuburnChick, and I’m addicted to buying soft, hand-dyed yarn…especially if it comes in 100g sock weight…

As I left, I gazed upon the window lovingly one last time…

And then I hoofed it back to the hotel so Soccer Chick could get her sneakers out of the back of the car and do some warm-exercises in the parking lot with the team.

If you’re reading this before 5pm, please say a prayer for us…that Chicky would not be injured, and that she would use the talent that God has blessed her with to the best of her ability.

Filed under: Knitting, soccer | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Sunburned But Happy

Posted on April 20, 2009 by auburnchick

This morning when I got up and saw myself in the mirror, a very sunburned face was staring back at me.

Three days in the sun will do that to a person.

Now, now.  Don’t go wagging your finger at me.  I know I should have put on sunscreen, but I HATE the feeling of the stuff on my face.

Friday, after touring the college, we headed over to Melbourne, where Chicky’s team would be playing its first game.  I’m so glad I didn’t know at the time, but if they lost, they were out of the state playoffs.

I donned a pair of longer “mom” blue-jean shorts and headed out to watch, camera in hand.  The game was tight, both teams equally matched.  I could feel my legs burning, literally, as my stomach began churning with nervousness.  The team wound up coming on top, 1-0!

It would play on Sunday; whereas, the other team was sent home.

Sunday, my nervousness was present…ten-fold, as was the sunburn.  I was smart that morning and purchased sunscreen, which I applied liberally to my legs.  The funny thing was that I was wearing a pair of shorter “non-mom” shorts (as Chicky commented), so you could see a section of white, where the sun had not touched my skin the day before.  Below the line were my red legs.  Kind of embarrassing, but ok.  Whatever.  I sprayed down my arms, legs, and neck and began taking pictures as soon as the first whistle blew.

Once again, it was a tight game.  Our girls came out playing a very sloppy game. Even Chicky wasn’t quite “on,” much to our concern.  I don’t know if it was nerves or the heat.  The other team scored first, looking like the defending state champions that they were.

If the other team wound up on top at the end, they would certainly deserve it.

Now, I don’t know what happened during halftime, but when the ref blew the whistle for the second half to begin, our girls came out like nobody’s business.  You could tell…they had decided to play some soccer.

And that’s what the girls did.  They started playing like a team, patiently passing to each other and finally, finally, finally scoring a goal!!  It was beautiful!!!  The parents cheered loudly and unashamedly.

But, there was still a lot of game to play.

Time for the water break.  The game was tied.  We really didn’t want the game to go into overtime.  We had done that last year…on the same field…two games in a row.  Do you remember my posts about it?

Yeah…not something we were looking forward to.

Right after the water break, one of our girls knocked in a bullet of a goal!  We were jumping up and down like crazy fools.  I had a hard time taking pictures because I wanted to watch the game.

We still had 20 minutes to play, though!  Still lots of game time.

And then, with about six or seven minutes left, one of our girls shot a goal that should not have, under ordinary circumstances, gone into the net.

But it did.

And once again, the parents went ballistic.  You could have heard us holler from the West coast!

We counted down the minutes until the final whistle blew.

The game was over, and Chicky’s team is now headed to the Final Four.

We made the long, seven-hour drive home, pulling into the driveway around 10:15pm.  We headed straight to bed and woke up to begin a brand-new week…all of us sporting sunburned faces that told on us.

It’s a story I’m proud to share.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

Soccer Chick Visits Rollins College

Posted on April 18, 2009 by auburnchick

A few weeks ago, Soccer Chick received an email from the women’s coach at Rollins College.  He had seen her play in the last State Cup round and was very interested.  He asked her to visit the college so they could talk.

Because we were traveling to south Florida for the Round of 16, we decided it would be a good time to throw in a visit to the college.

Rollins College is located in Winter Park, Florida.  It’s on the outskirts of Orlando…about a six-hour drive from home.  We began our journey after school on Thursday.

Now, first off, I have to make a few comments about hotels.

You know you’re spoiled when you walk into a hotel room and start critiquing it.  How many plugs does it have for us to recharge our cell phones, camera batteries, and iPods?  This one did not have near enough.  Someone would run out of juice the next day, and a fierce battle began.  Thanks, Mr., for booking El Cheapo Hotel.  This hotel was apparently acquired by the hotel next door, as there were two very different buildings.  The hotel’s restaurant was located in the center, and the waitresses reminded me of those from the 70’s…short dresses, white pantyhose…

To their credit, our waitress was AMAZING!  We were in a hurry, although we were polite enough not to act like it, and were served within ten minutes.  We had eaten and paid in fewer than twenty.

The hotel we stayed in Friday night was much, much different.  It’s a Residence Inn.  Every room is a suite with a full kitchen, king-size bed, and living quarters…pull-out bed, comfy chair, and desk.  What a difference!  The Mr. is henceforth banned from making hotel reservations as the latter one was made by Soccer Chick’s team manager (a woman, no less).

Ok…back to the point of this post.  Chicky’s visit to the college.

We drove down Park Avenue, which runs straight into the college.  What a quaint area!  Park Avenue is a brick street, lined with shops and cafes.  You can do some serious shopping only blocks from the school!  There was a beautiful park across the street from the shops.  It reminded me of the times of old…lampposts, large, open grassy area…the perfect place for summer concerts.

Then, we saw the college entrance.  As we passed through, the first thing we saw was the soccer field, located on our left.

Can you believe it?  The soccer field!!!!  Soccer fields are usually stuck way in the back of schools with little signage to point the way.  Here it was, the central part of the school!!

Oh yeah, a very good first impression.

We drove around for awhile, looking for the athletic center.  The Mr. is directionally-challenged, so we went in circles.  We finally located the building and had him drop us off while he searched for parking.

We had a long meeting with the soccer coach.  I’ve gotta say that he did a great job…asking Chicky very specific questions about what she was looking for in a college, what she expected from her soccer career in college, and a host of other things she had probably not given much consideration to before.  And then he told us how he saw Chicky fitting into his program.  He made us feel like she was sought after for a very specific reason, and he made her feel wanted.  That was the best part.  I guess that’s what recruiting is about…making sure you’re a good fit.

The assistant coach, a very likable gal, took us around campus.  Here are some pictures I snapped along the way…

Lake Virginia - Rollins has several water sports that compete on this lake, which provides a scenic backdrop for many dorm buildings

The view from the top floor of one dorm building. You can see the high rises of Orlando in the distance.

We ate lunch at the main cafeteria.  Now, this was not your typical cafeteria food.  It was absolutely divine!  I ate Pasta Fagiole.  Chicky had some kind of fancy salad, while the guys ate some Italian concoction.  There was seafood, all kinds of meats, subs…you name it, it was there.

Several of the girls on the team ate lunch with us, so we got to pick their brains…ask pointed questions…and watch the overall dynamics.  They all seemed to genuinely like one another as well as the assistant coach, who was still with us.

After lunch, Chicky attended class with the team captain.  This was where I got nervous for her.  She tends to be very shy when meeting new people, which makes this recruiting process very difficult.  She clams up, so people don’t get to see her very vibrant personality.

While she was in class, we went to the bookstore.  I could totally see myself decked out in Rollins gear…sitting during a game and cheering her on.  I restrained myself.  She’s not there yet.

After class, Chicky attended a technical drills testing session.  Yay!  We got to sit in the stands and watch.

Here are some pictures of what it would (or will) look like from my seating, should she decide to play there…

Before we left, Chicky asked us to purchase a t-shirt for her from the bookstore.  Ahhh…me thinks this is a good sign.

Time will tell.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

On the Road Again

Posted on March 22, 2009 by auburnchick

No, I haven’t deserted my friends.

I apologize for the last two days of silence, but my schedule was a bit crazy.  I just could not seem to find time to blog!  Imagine that!

My weekend started on Friday afternoon.  The kids and I got home and threw weekend gear in a couple of suitcases.  We then headed out of town for Round 1 of State Cup playoffs.  I was so excited because it’s the first time that I’ve seen Soccer Chick play travel soccer since rejoining her former team.

While on the road, take a look at what we encountered:

As we passed the car, I got a close-up:

The fire was so intense that we could feel the heat as we slowly drove by.  We’re hoping everyone got out alive.

Soccer Chick’s team played two games on Saturday.  I thought it would be a good weekend to begin to tan the white legs that have mysteriously attached themselves to my body.

Boy was I wrong.

It was cold!  The wind gusts were strong and frequent.  The temperature was well below 70.  Brrr.

To make matters worse, I left all of my warm scarves and hats at home.  All I had were two hoodies.

Thank goodness for those!

Chicky’s team tied the first game, and we were nervous.  The top two teams of each bracket automatically advance to the Round of 16.  They came out and played much better for game #2, which they won.

Sunday was a repeat, weather-wise.  Windy and cold.  The sun played Hide-and-Seek with the clouds.  I still managed to get a little bit of sun on my cheeks.

It reminds me of the weekend when, upon stopping at a gas station after a weekend of soccering, a lady commented, “Daaaammmmnnnnn, you chicks got some suuuuunnnnn.”  Biker chick…redneck.  Too funny!

Anyhoo, Chicky’s team beat today’s opponent soundly…6-0.

A word about parents at soccer games…just because there was a rather annoying one at the game today.

Don’t coach your kid from the sidelines.  And don’t cheer when they knock down other players.  That’s a sure-fire way to tick of one certain Mama, if you know what I mean.  Especially when the player who took a tumble was said Mama’s child.  Grrr…

“You’ve got the wind, you’ve got the wind,” a cetain annoying gentleman kept telling his girls.

To which our girls answered with one goal after another…against the wind.

“Way to make the wind work for you”, I said, under my breath.  Well, maybe not quite under.

So, Chicky’s team is through to the next round.  Thank goodness because the team that comes in #3 was going to have to attend a playoff round the weekend of Chicky’s prom.  You know that’s not a battle I was ready to fight.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Getting Left Behind

Posted on March 15, 2009 by auburnchick

You guys know I’m the oober Soccer Mom.  I go to as many games as I can and would clone myself if I could so I could attend everything.

Too bad I can’t make a money tree grow in the backyard.

Lack of money led me to make the sacrifice of staying home while Chicky and the Mr. flew to a tournament in Las Vegas.  Do you remember how I bought myself a marvelous stash last year when I went to this tournament?

Yeah, I know.  It could have been this trip that led to my financial woes.  Well, not completely, but it certainly didn’t help.

Anyhow, on Thursday, I had to get up at the indecent hour of 4:30 to take them to the airport.  It would have been easier if I had been getting on the plane with them.  Rooster and I drowned our sorrows in Starbucks Frappuchinos and donuts.

The worst thing about getting left behind is not getting to watch Chicky play.

She’s amazing.

I think I’ve said this before.

Although teenagers can gab all day long on the phone to friends, talking to parents on the phone is an entirely different game.

Ugh.

Trying to pull details about her trip, the games, and other regular chit-chat was like trying to make Molly obey the “Stay” command.

Nearly impossible.

Add to that unwillingness was Chicky’s teenaged attitude from thousands of miles away.

Grrr…

When I pick her up from the airport tomorrow, I’ll give her a big hug before popping her on the rear.  Shame on her for tormenting me from afar.

Kids really know how to push your buttons.

Oh, and FYI, I’m not getting left behind next weekend.  We’ve got Round 1 of state playoffs.

I’d like to see her try to give me attitude face-to-face.

Stay tuned…

P.S.  Chicky’s team didn’t do too well at the tourney…oh well…such is the way with sports…

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

More Hat Sightings

Posted on February 4, 2009 by auburnchick

Well, I’ve sufficiently dried my eyes enough to go through the pictures from last night’s game.

Lookie, lookie at what I saw through the camera lens…

First, the trainer who attends the school’s sporting events:

Not to be outdone…the school’s athletic director:

And lastly, a local sports reporter who had set up to broadcast live from the field…what a great sport he was to place this hat upon his coiffed hair…

Now…here are a couple of photos from the game itself…grab a hanky…

The moment the girls realized they had lost the game

The moment the girls realized they had lost the game

Consoling one another after the game

Consoling one another after the game

Soccer Chick is faring okay today.  She’s already made plans for Friday night…the night the team would have played in the Regional Finals.

Life goes on.

Filed under: Knitting, soccer | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

How Do You Define Success?

Posted on February 3, 2009 by auburnchick

Please forgive me, but I’m feeling a bit melancholy right now.

I got home about 45 minutes ago from Soccer Chick’s game.  Her high school team played in the Regional Semi-finals.  To win would mean going to the Regional Finals.  A win there would mean a trip to the State Final Four.

Yeah, it was a big game.

Tonight’s opponent was the team we beat to win Districts.  Weird, eh?

Well, the top two teams from Districts got to move on to Regional playoffs, so they advanced, but we had home-field advantage.  They won their last game after playing two overtimes and then outscoring their opponent in PK’s (penalty kicks).  Not the fairest way to end a game, but it’s got to end sometime, and the kids can’t exactly run themselves to death.

So, we were facing a team we’d beaten twice this season and tied once.  The wins were close too, averaging less than two goals per win.

I had been a nervous wreck since last night.

I tried reminding myself that it’s only a game.  I tried calling to mind God’s Words that speak of peace.

Deep down inside, I really wanted this for the kids.

More importantly, I didn’t want Soccer Chick to get hurt.  My nerves are still fragile after all that she went through with her knee surgery.

The game was scoreless through the first half.  The second half was a carbon copy of its predecessor.  During regulation time, my heart nearly stopped as I watched, through the camera lens, as Soccer Chick took a brutal (and I do not exaggerate here) hit that took her and another player down.  She stayed down a few seconds but arose looking around with a question mark on her face.

The mom sitting in front of me kept repeating, “Soccer Chick is not okay.  Something is wrong with her.”

I carefully descended down the steps to the field, standing on the track as close as I could to her.  She looked at me and assured me that she was okay.

The other player stayed down for a while.  I felt so badly for Chicky.  She was stricken with pain in the knowledge that her play had injured the other girl.  I melted as I heard her apologize.

As I returned to my seat, I prayed and thanked the Lord that Soccer Chick was okay.

I watched as Soccer Chick crossed the field to talk to the player as she was assisted off the field.  She’s okay.  She had a bloody nose.  It would seem that Soccer Chick’s head  hit the other player’s nose.

And the game continued.

I watched Soccer Chick resume her play, never losing momentum despite the danger she had already placed herself in.

She was amazing.  I’m teary-eyed as I recall play after play where Soccer Chick came out of nowhere to take the ball away from an opposing player.  She passed to feet (soccer lingo for making passes that connect to same-team players), she headed balls that she shouldn’t have been able to reach.  She even megged a gal.  This is where you pass the ball between another player’s feet.  It’s cool, trust me…especially at full speed.

Soccer Chick wanted to win the game.  It was very clear in the way she played that she was playing to win.

The game ended in a tie.

Overtime.

Ten more minutes of near-goals, corner kicks, and throw-ins.

Tied.

A second overtime began.

A repeat of the first.

It ended in a tie.

PK’s.

Just what we didn’t want.

The opposing team has won all but one of its games that have gone into PK’s.

Five girls from each team sat and waited for their turn to kick the ball into the net.

I cringed as I saw Soccer Chick go up second, following one player from each team…players that made their shots.

She missed, kicking it high and hitting the crossbar.  She hung her head in disappointment.  My heart cried out for her.

This was so unlike her.  She faced a pressure that I can only imagine.  She’s 17 years old, for heaven’s sake.  Certainly not a World Cup player.

She wasn’t the only person on her team to miss.  Two others did.

Game over.

The other team won.

The stadium was quiet except for the other team’s wee contingent, which celebrated their hearts out.

Tears began to flow.

I eased to the field, uncertain of what to do.

All I wanted to do was hug Chicky.

We’ve been through this a few times, and I know she takes the losses personally each time.

How do you tell the girls that despite the score, they are a success?

Who defines success anyway?

The world says it’s the amount of money you earn, your grade point average, how you look, or the numbers on a scoreboard at the end of a game.

I beg to differ.

Success is watching a group of mismatched girls come together during a season to play like champions.

Success is never giving up, as evidenced by two overtime periods.  The game could have gone on all night.

Success is doing something so remarkable that half of the student body shows up for a game called soccer…in the South…where football and baseball rule.

Success is watching players shake hands with each other, graceful in defeat.

Success is the journey, seeing where you started and how far you’ve traveled.  To take even one step forward is success.

These girls dared to go farther than any local girls soccer team has ever gone.  They dared to dream beyond what many thought them capable of, including Your’s Truly.

This is how you define success.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

Something About This Game

Posted on January 24, 2009 by auburnchick

What is it about this…

That can make people wear silly hats like this (and no, it’s not me with the Mr., but it is the Big Seed Pom Pom Hat I made last year and that I’ve been getting people…in this case school district higher-ups who possess a good sense of humor…to model for pictures during the games, much to Soccer Chick’s chagrin)…

Something interesting has happened to Soccer Chick’s high school team this season.  They have evolved from a collection of individual players to a unit  with one mindset…to win.  And they’ve done this without the usual girl fights you observe in the school hallways or the mall, where competition is fierce for attention.

When I see them in their huddle before each game…

My heart is stirred in a profound way.

The game that I have watched Soccer Chick play since she was seven years old has bonded these girls together in a unique way.  For 90 minutes, the girls leave the stress of boy problems, class loads, and SAT exams off the field to focus on putting one small ball into a sometimes seemingly small net across the field.  It’s a job that one girl cannot do alone, and each player knows this.

And oh, the joy, when success is achieved…

This game, that turns ordinarily mild-mannered parents into screetching lunatics (err…I am perhaps speaking of myself here) has had the opposite affect on the girls.  Despite bad calls (depending on the perspective, of course), the girls have the grace to play on.

And so they did.

And here was the result (hint…we were the Home team)…

And how did the girls feel about the score?  Take a look for yourself…

District Champions - First Time Ever!

Even in the moment of celebration, as they were about to gather their belongings and rejoin their families, they stopped, when asked by Your’s Truly, and regrouped for the above photo.

Such lovely ladies.

The game has taught them well.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

« Previous Page — Next Page »
  • February 2026
    S M T W T F S
    1234567
    891011121314
    15161718192021
    22232425262728

  • Currently Reading

  • Books I’ve Read