Right Words at the Right Time

We had a scare this weekend at Chad's football game. He has gone almost 6 years without getting hurt playing football, until this last game. A play didn't go the right way and he got taken down with a helmet to the knee, his kicking leg. He was scared, we could see it in his face. He looked up in the stands and wanted Rich to come down to the sideline, that is not like him at all. His knee swelled up and looked like he may have done some real damage. All kinds of thoughts went through my mind like this may be it, the thing that happens to so many kids who play sports, one injury ends it all, so I can only imagine what Chad was going through. I opened my Bible Saturday night to Psalms because I have been studying David, one of Beth Moore's Bible study series, and felt like I could be encouraged by some of David's thoughts. I opened to
Psalm 121 and was so encouraged by these verses:
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
4He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
8The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore.
The best part of spending time in God's Word is when I feel like He is speaking directly to me. I was so encouraged by these words. We are praising the Lord that the swelling is almost completely gone and he may actually be able to play Friday night! I am so glad God is the keeper of our lives.

When Retail Stars Align

I have to say, my birthday weekend was fun. My mom and I went to The Leesburg Corner Outlets in VA where there is every outlet imaginable, and the stores have genuine, for real bargains. No distance is too far for a good outlet. These made the ones we have around here look pitiful. The highlight of the outing was the Coach purse my mom let me pick out for my birthday at the Coach outlet. I will be returning, trust me. Besides that, the ride there was lovely. Antique markets and adorable roadside stands selling pumpkins and mums. Go if you can.
Sunday, Rich and the boys were given tickets to the Eagles and Pittsburgh football game, so I had the day to myself. I spent the afternoon bargain hunting at our local stores. Boy did I find deals. Happen to walk into one deep discount store and find oodles of my favorite line of Anne Taylor items at deep discount. Also found a tux jacket, tie, and shoes for Garret's upcoming Homecoming date at HUGE discounts. I felt like looking over my shoulder when I left the store to see if someone would come running after me, I felt like I was taking these things for free.
Finally, the sweetest part was my friend Yonette and Carleigh bringing me delish confetti cake and singing to me last night.... they are good friends.

Bad is the New Good

Last weekend was a combination of bad and good.
Uncle Gary, Rich's uncle from Florida, orchestrated an elaborate plan to surprise us at Chad's football game Friday night, that was good.
We got to meet Uncle Gary's long-time friend Pam, that was good.
It was pouring rain at the game, that was bad.
Chad kicked a 40 yard field goal, in the rain, had 6 touchbacks, and punted a 54 yard punt, that was good.
Chad got pulled from quarterback for the second half of the game, I know I'm prejudiced, but he was doing just fine, that was bad.
Lauren totalled her car, hitting a 15-passenger van in the back, that was bad.
She and the other driver weren't hurt, that was good.
Uncle Gary happened to be sitting in the school parking lot watching the whole thing unfold, with Rich coming there to be with her, and got to witness what a good dad Rich is, that was good.
We got to have a heart to heart talk with Lauren about her future, what to do about a car, school, and what the next steps are for her, that was great.