Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Little Things

As you might remember, the head of a company survived
9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was
His turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her
Alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike
Because of an auto accident.

One of them
Missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take
Time to change.

One's
Car wouldn't start.

One couldn't
Get a taxi.


The one that struck me was the man
Who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,
Took the various means to get to work
But before he got there, he developed
a blister on his foot.

He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today..


Now when I am
--Stuck in traffic ,
--Miss an elevator,
--Turn back to answer a ringing telephone ...
--All the little things that annoy me.

I think to myself, this is exactly where
God wants me to be at this very moment..


Next time your morning seems to be
Going wrong ,

You can't seem to find the car keys,
You hit every traffic light,
Don't get mad or frustrated;
It May be just that
God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you
With all those annoying little things
And may you remember their possible purpose.

A M E N



Monday, September 26, 2011

Winter Sport

This year, as mentioned before, we have had the pleasure of entertaining the new notion of winter sports for the boys.
Ben has loved soccer, there are no other words to say about it. He has grown so much in the last 12 weeks. His skills in all areas of the game have improved 10 fold and we now have an awesome little striker in our midsts.
He has learnt some awesome ball skills and foot control. I am so looking forward to when the back garden is finally finished and all flat, cause I can see he will be out there with a ball practising quite happily.

Alex, even though he didn't want to play soccer, sadly changed his mind after about week 4, unfortunately by then it was too late for him to join in! Next year for certain, as he too has gained some lovely little ball skills from joining in with Ben's team at practice each week.

Ben's team throughout the season has grown too and in fact they went on to win their division.

This last weekend the soccer season had finished, however most of the team signed themselves up for Jambo Soccer.
This is an all day of soccer games. Every team was represented by a country. To find out more about Jambo Soccer then check out their website.
Ben's team was Croatia, we even went so far as to get a Croatian flag to wave at the parade. It looked so cool, on the biggest wooden stick Steve could find in the garage.

However, it was a very long day, with lots of fast 6 a side soccer games lasting 10 mins each way with a 2 min break at half time.
Sadly the boys struggled with the pace of the games and lost every single one they played in. They never actually scored a single goal!
By the last game they had all had enough but were not quite ready to give up.
Unfortunately some bright spark decided to do the final results in an odd way.
The top 4 teams fought it out for 1st and 2nd. The winners got gold and the next team silver.
However this is where it got funny.....3rd and 4th walked away with nothing but the bottom 2 teams (5th & 6th place) got to play each other for the bowl prize?
So we had to play one more game.
We lost, no surprise there, although this time the team only beat us by 1-0 rather than the 3-0 from the previous game.
However what was ultimately surprising was the fact we walked away with a medal! Yea that is right, we got medals and certificates, bronze as they called it?! How? we are not exactly sure and do not understand why at all!

We, all the adults, logically thought that 3rd and 4th would fight it out for the bowl trophy and bronze medals and that the bottom teams would just get smiled at and told "well done for trying your best" and "better luck next time" but no.
Even now, 48 hours later, I am still trying to work out how we managed to come dead last, bottom of the bottom, with absolutely no goals to our name and still walk away with a medal etc.
If you understand all this and know why it happened this way then pray please let me know.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Celine Dion

Many years ago (like maybe 6yrs), Steve brought me the dvd of Celine Dion's "A New Day" Las Vegas Show.
This is a 2 disc set. On one disc you have the whole show & song selection and on the other you have the back stage pass (the whole show from behind the scenes) and Show secrets.

Now everynow and then I get the whim to watch this dvd, or more to the point, put it on whilst doing something else in the house and having the volume up loud so I can sing to it whilst working.
Last week I put the disc on to listen to the show one evening, Ben got into it really well. He loved watching her dance and sing, he loved all the Cirque de Soleil dancers and even all the flying stuff up on wires.

Then he had the pleasure of watching how everything happened from behind the scenes. He is now hooked.

It is his dvd of choice to put on in the evenings. On the way to school he will even ask me if we can maybe watch the disc when we get home, after doing homework of course!

He is slowly learning the songs and will happily sing along to it all.
Luckily for him she is one of my favorite singers, so he has no worries about getting to know her work as mummy has several cd's of her music.

When ever he hears people talking on the radio about concerts he now asks me who I would like to see in concert? Adele, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars? He always manages to come back to Celine and ask if I want to see her, yes I always say, he then agrees and says 'ok mummy but could I come too?'

Sunday, September 11, 2011

10 Years

Yes, it is sadly already 10 years since 9/11
Man has life gone past so fast, well to us in a different country, maybe not so fast for the people who have lived through it.

I know everyone will be remembering where and what they were doing on the fateful day in 2001. I was, as mentioned a few years ago, in Hong Kong at the very beginning of our 6 week holiday to England. It definitely put a cloud over the whole time away from home. It possessed the whole holiday and gave us a different look on things.
September holds so many special days for this family and some of our most vivid memories are also around this month.

To all in America, I wish you well on this day. A little prayer goes out to you and your family. I hope you have moved forward and that life is easier as each day goes by. I don't want it to get easier that you forget, but that you are able to live with your heart and breath a little easier.

Tomorrow is a new beginning. A day to make new friends, new choices and a new ways to achieve old dreams. Live, laugh and love.