Wordless Wednesday - Did Someone Say Futbol?

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Tuesday's Tanzania

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While Andrew and I were in Ksiwani, we got to meet the village futbol team, a group Andrew had coached when he lived there.  As a soccer mom, I also quickly noticed the challenges this team faces on a daily basis.

First, the condition of their one and only soccer ball - because it has a hole in the interior, the boys are forced to rip open the outer skin each day to inflate the ball and then re-sew it.  This happens each and every day before practice.


Futbol is very popular in Tanzania (as it is throughout Africa), and in our travels we saw many futbol fields with regulation goals, made of metal.  So, I quickly noticed the goals of the Ksiwani field - large tree branches lashed together and easily knocked over with simply a strongly kicked ball or by scrambling players playing off a corner kick. 

I'm happy to report that plans are underway to help the Ksiwani team.  My goalie daughter and her college women's soccer team are putting together a fundraiser to raise monies to build regulation goals and provide the team with practice balls and jerseys.  As soon as the details are finalized, I'll share them here so you can help out if you'd like.

MONDAY REFLECTIONS

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FOR TODAY, March 30, 2009

Outside my window...a sunny spring day has begun, a beautiful new start to the week....what is the quote that comes to mind? "Hope springs eternal..."

I am thinking...of what a wonderful weekend I had and the busy weeks ahead.

From the learning room..."The Artist's Life" continues to inspire and challenge.

From the kitchen...I think I should dive in to my favorite "green cookbook" tonight - believe it may be the only night that both Hannah and I will be home for dinner this week so I think I should fix something special.

I am wearing..."lazy" pj's after a busy, long weekend and Hannah with a day off from school today.

I am creating...the Mimi necklace this morning :-) and new earrings for Spring Break.

I am going...to state soccer trials this weekend (congrats, Hannah!) and then a whirlwind spring break trip.

I am reading..."The Artist's Way," a growing to-do list as we prepare for our trip, and lots of maps.

I am hoping...Andrew is okay and is feeling better soon - his closest and dearest PC friend left yesterday, giving up her post early to return to the states.

I am hearing...Michelle Featherstone "I'm There, Too"

Around the house..."get ready for spring break" week.

One of my favorite things...will be picking up the newly released Slumdog Millionaire dvd tomorrow.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
filing taxes (whew!); getting our "road music" set; writing Andrew a letter and emailing his friends to encourage cards, letters.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...congrats, ladies, on your 2nd place tournament win!

Victory...By the Light of a Harvest Moon!

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Tournament play began last night ~ an exciting match-up with Mt. Vernon under a beautiful October harvest moon. Congratulations, ladies, for a game well-played (4-1) and for moving on to challenge your next opponents!

And, from The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday's Box Scores:

Marysville 4, Mount Vernon 1

MV (4-11-2) — Goal: Boutin. Saves: McBride 14.

MARY (7-6-4) — Goals: C.Rogers 2, Westbrook, Spears. Saves: Zacharias 2, Clarridge 1. Halftime: 2-1.

"Kick-Off" to the 2008-2009 Soccer Season!

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It was a steamy weekend for the Ohio Cup Tournament, but our ladies "kicked" off a successful season despite 90+ temps and "don't tell me the humidity!" -- how DO they keep running in that heat? WOW!!! What a weekend! 5 games for each team - yep, 10 games of incredible, non-stop soccer action! You can see more pics at my Flickr site (see the link over in the left column).

Just a preview of what is to come - a winning season, indeed! Each of our teams took second in their divisions ~ CONGRATULATIONS, ladies! You are off to a great start!

(So how did I keep cool in between these sweltering games??....read my next post about what's coming for fall colors!! LOL!!)

Memorial Day Weekend "Pictorama"

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It's been a great weekend ~ a wonderful "kick-off" to summer, celebrated with family and friends, and captured, of course, in pictures...

First ~ the Starburst Soccer Tournament - great job, ladies! And congratulations on an awesome spring season this year - first place in your division - WOW! :-)

Today, we caught a matinee of the latest Indiana Jones' movie - what can I say...I AM a Harrison Ford fan so yes, it was good - aliens or no aliens.... :-)

And finally, no Memorial Day weekend is complete without a family cookout ~ naturally! SO glad the weather held out so we could enjoy a very special one, especially since Andrew will be leaving for Africa in less than two weeks. It will be a long time before we do this again.