basketball, soccer, no compromise and self-control

This has been a full week of sports for us.

AJ is in a basketball tournament that is in York...about a 45 minute drive for us.

He has been doing a great job, and his team is undefeated!

Today was the semi-finals, and he was mvp of the game!
He had 20 points and 12 boards.

We are so proud of him.
Not just because he is a beast on the court (in a good way)
but because he is self-controlled, and growing into a very godly young man.

With the win today, his team moves into the finals which will be played tomorrow (Sunday) morning at 10:15am.
We will be at church.
We decided when we were starting our marriage, that church would be a priority for us.
We won't back down from that.
Basketball is important, and AJ works really hard and plays very well.
But God is more important.

I heard adam explain it to AJ.
He told him that he had missed many games for the same reason when he was growing up.
He told him a lot of kids wouldn't understand, but that's ok.
God will always come first no matter what.
I loved hearing it,

Because it meant I didn't have to say it..
haha...just kidding, but I loved it because it reminded me that my husband has godly parents that decided that same thing when he was a kid.
They decided that church and God would come first.
(thank you so much! your commitment has benefited more than just you! it is being passed down from generation to generation!)
Adam lived it when he was growing up and he is now teaching it while he is raising his own boys.
And AJ said... "I know Dad. And I'm ok with it."
(I think it was harder on us than on him!!)

Prioritizing. Not compromising.
It's so important to teach that to our kids early on. The truth is? God is our life.
Period.
I want our kids to see parents that won't compromise...even when it might be easier to.
We won't compromise with sports over church
We won't compromise with lying over truth
We won't compromise with divorce over marriage.

They are seeing that it's possible in a world of broken promises, unfaithfulness,
and giving up when it's easier to just give up..

that they can stay faithful!

So that's what we will do.
Our feelings tell us it would make our son happy to let him skip and play the game.
God's Word (the basis of our lives) tells us that God will bless him more than we ever could!
Obedience always brings blessings!

ok.
enough on that soap box.

Ry had a soccer game at 2, and scored 6 goals.
My boys are so gifted, and I am really thankful!

Ry's team is called the hooligans, and this is one of his buddies from the team

Ry also makes me so proud.
He played a team today that was a really...um
rough team
(that's the nicest word I could think of)
I watched as the boys from the other team pushed, elbowed and kicked Riley.
even when he wasn't in the play sometimes!
But he showed great self-control.
He didn't push back
He didn't say a word.
He lived the verse that he memorized 2 years ago...

"I discipline my body, like an athlete. Training it to do what it should"


I am so thankful.


Now I have to go and figure out what's for dinner...

we have to leave for AJ's soccer game!