If you are at all interested in watching Erin playing soccer, you will have an opportunity on Saturday!!!

The big game is coming up! Saturday, Erin's team will begin competition in the national tournament. 32 teams will battle to go to Alabama. Houghton will compete against Indiana Wesleyan University (ranked #8) at 2:00 at IWU's campus. Mark and I are planning to go. We won't be able to make it to Alabama if they make it that far, but we can at least try to make it to this one. For many of you, you have heard me talk about Erin and soccer, but have never had a chance to watch her play. Evidentally, the game will be televised via the IWU website. Here is the link:
http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10&StartGameDay=11/19/2010&EndGameDay=12/2/2010&tab=3#WSO_anchor
(I think!) If you can't get it that way, then just go to www.indwes.edu and click on athletics and then find women's soccer and eventually you will find it. Erin was told that there is no cost to this telecast. If they make it to Alabama, you can watch her live but it will cost $10.00/game or $25.00/for the whole tournament.

If you do chose to watch Saturday, she is #10 and is a midfielder.

Here is a link to an exciting game in the qualifying tournament (Erin scored the winning goal):
http://athletics.houghton.edu/news/2010/11/13/WSOC_1113100650.aspx?path=wsoc





I took these pictures from the Houghton Website. I believe the copyright belongs to Mike Wise. His website with all the pictures from the Houghton Games is: http://mikewise07.smugmug.com/Houghton-College-Soccer/2010Women

I hate it when God works on me with 2x4's. I recently found myself in a position that lead me to some serious assumptions. Before I knew it, I began assuming that my assumptions were right and all of a sudden, my "mama bear" instincts kicked in. God, very quickly, revealed to me some serious character flaws. I really do hate be humbled. The only good thing is that I refuse (at least for now) to make any assumptions anymore. Never assume anything. There are way too many times when things appear one way simply because we can't see the whole picture. And to make things worse, our own biases nearly always will cause us to see things in the wrong light.

As for life around here.., it is pretty crazy. I have watched unjustness occur, or at least my perception of unjust actions towards one of my kids. Thus.. the mama bear. I have battled wills with teenagers and head strong kindergartners; trying to figure out what is the best response to help train my kids. And now I am struggling with some things that are going on in our community. Serious things that have shook me at my core. Fear has begun to set in and despite my knowledge and faith in God... I'm finding myself looking around every corner and wondering about the worst things that could happen. Oh.. I know about trusting in God. But right now I am feeling uneasiness; once again shaking my thoughts about blogging.

As for the health of my kids. They are doing great. Ri's surgery has been moved to January. Erin's surgery is December 22. This one is for her shoulder. We jsut found out that her knees are not in good shape. The MRI report indicates some "relatively complicated" things. It isn't a simple fix and will require at least 6 months recovery. She is facing 4 months after her shoulder surgery. The doctor has only seen the report; not the actual films from it.. so he can't really make an accurate diagnosis just yet. We will know more as soon as we can get her back home again. In the meantime, she is in a lot of pain, but playing through intense games. Houghton just became the AMC Conference Champions and have advanced to the top 32 teams competing for the National Title. The teams all compete this Saturday. If they win, they will be in the sweet 16. That begins November 29th in Alabama. Erin wants to make it to the nationals badly. I am just praying that her body holds out. She is in some serious pain.

Emily just met with an advisor at BBC regarding an apprenticeship/intern program at Skyview. For the first time in her life, I think Emily knows... for sure...what her call is. She is consumed by camping. God took her experience at Skyview to change her from the inside out. Her thoughts are focused completely on camp. So.. she is planning on taking 18 credits this next semester so that she can begin at Skyview in the fall of next year. She will spend a year as an intern and then will finish her senior year online. She will graduate with a focus on camp ministry and will seek a position in a camp. She is so excited that she can hardly stand it. It is an answer to prayer. Far more then I ever realized. As I sit and type this, I realize that during the summer... when I was praying fervantly... I had prayed about Emily having an opportunity to stay at Skyview and that God would miraculously provide in ways that I couldn't imagine. I honestly didn't think...at the time... that God would answer a prayer about finances. I couldn't imagine any scholarships available nor any other way of Emily being able to meet the finances for school. But I kept praying about. And... to my complete shock.. he has answered it in ways far beyond anything I ever dreamt! By being an intern, Emily instantly removes room and board. And by taking online courses her senior year, she will not have to pay for room and board and the cost of online is much less expensive then course on campus.

So.. when I speak of the fear I spoke of above... all I need to do is remember how God answers prayer and it is in that moment that I am filled with peace. I just wish I could remember that continually!

For the first time in a very long time, we had our entire family back together. It was wonderful! It was kind of a last minute thing. We decided to have Erin's surgery in Ohio rather then New York. Because of that, we had to get her to Ohio to have a doctor evaluate her so that we could schedule an appointment. Instead of us traveling to New York and back twice in 3 days, Emily offered to go get Erin and come home as well. It was a blessing. Emily has made it back to Ohio 3 times in the past 3 weeks. It was quite a sacrifice for her to make the long trip again. We were very grateful!

After seeing the doctor for her shoulder, we saw a different doctor for her knees. It ends up that she may need surgery on both of them. We will know more on Thursday. I am not sure the dates for any of this. Ri's just got changed to January 5th. Erin's will be during Christmas break.

There is much of our life that I haven't shared. I guess I have slacked off quite purposely; not being able to pull the plug though. Part of me wants to stop my blog and part of me just can't imagine it. For now, that is the part that is winning. But, I have seemed to be a little more reserved about posting.

But... for now.. I will continue to post. If I do quit the blog, I will let you all know. Bri and Sherri... Of course I will keep you on!! I am thrilled you are following.

So.. what is new? Well, Sam had a wonderful soccer season. He played both varsity and JV. He is really looking forward to playing his senior year next year. We just attended his banquet. We are very proud of our son! He had some difficult things happen today and he has shown himself to be quite a man in the way he is handling them. I have recently been in awe of how much he is growing up and what a fine young man he is. I am amazed at his strength and determination. He is treasurer of his class, on student council, involved in soccer, marching band - a section leader, jazz band, pep band, youth group, and is in the top 10% of his class. To top it off, he is an absolute amazing big brother.