I Confess....

That I am totally, utterly, completely, 100% sucked in to the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

It happens every 4 years, and it shouldn't surprise me...but it did. Going into this year's Olympics, I figured that I'd just pay close attention to the men's hockey tournament, but oh was I wrong about myself! I found myself engrossed from the very beginning, including the amazing opening ceremonies' interpretation of 1000 years of Russian history.

I'm just amazed at the dedication that Olympic athletes exhibit, even more than the athleticism on display. The commitment made by Olympians to compete at the pinnacle of their sport once every four years is admirable...to say that it impresses me is an understatement. They train and sacrifice time, money, and relationships (arguably). I'm not sure that I'd be willing to do some of these things in order to compete in the Olympics.

I loved watching a 40 year old Norwegian destroy his competition in the 10k bi-athlon.

I'm probably going to stay up late tonight to watch the 15k bi-athlon tonight....thanks bank holidays!

I was up at 6:00am this past Saturday to watch Team USA's men's hockey team play the Russians in one of the most exciting hockey games that I've seen. Katy was a big fan of my choice of a Saturday morning alarm...ha!

I've become very familiar with the Pampers (good timing for diaper purchases for us!), Coca-Cola, Home Depot, McDonald's, and other various commercials that air regularly on broadcasts.

I'm hopelessly addicted to watching curling. This may be due to the fact that it seems simple enough that I think I could compete at an Olympic level curling...very unlikely. Also, it's one of the few events that Team USA is a decided underdog. We're 2-7 as I write this.  The Swedish and Canadian teams are very impressive.

I'm intrigued by the fact that Team USA's bobsled has been redesigned by a BMW engineer, and has been a closely guarded secret.

The Olympics may generally be a good thing for economies in their locations, but they also tend to open parts of the world that may not normally be open to the international community...such is the case with Sochi, Russia.  There are stories of human rights issues, animal cruelty, and bribery in these Olympics. History will be the judge of the effect of the Olympics on Sochi and Russia in a broader sense.

Then there's the 60 degree temperatures, Bob Costas's grotesque eye issue, Vladimir Putin's selfie with Canadian athlete, and a myriad of other content and character stories designed to draw me further in to the 2014 Sochi games...like a really need that!

One more week to go, and it will be full of news, events, heartbreak, triumph and late nights & early mornings...ski jumping, nordic combine, medal rounds of hockey, and women's singles figure skating just to name a few. Katy will be glad for me to quit chanting Rus-si-a! I kinda like their chant.  Maybe we'll get some good name ideas for our baby girl inspired by an Olympian

So.....I confess....I'm addicted to the Olympics!

Strollers and Onesies and Bottles...Oh My.

This weekend we conquered, or at least started the process of conquering, our baby registry.  Getting that started has been on the top of our baby list for the last couple of weeks.  Don't get me wrong, registering for anything is so much fun!  This particular registry just required more research and more preparation that I would have ever anticipated.

Adam has spent weeks doing online research in an attempt to figure out all of the safety recommendations, the different types of products, and what we can even fit in our apartment.  I compiled quite a few "must-have" registry lists into one five page list to try to keep us from missing things that we need.  It also turned into googling items that I have never heard of and had (or have) no idea what purpose they serve.  While we would never ask our friends and family to buy us present at all and do not expect or want people to go overboard, the registry is helping us to organize.  We now have a better grasp of what is a necessity, what people suggest, and what is a luxury when it comes to taking care of a baby.

If you haven't had the opportunity to register for anything in your life, I would recommend that you do it!  It is so much fun, no matter what the occasion!  On your next birthday or celebration or Tuesday, go to your favorite store and ask them to register.  They give you a little zappy scanner gun and you can go to town.  Rather than being overwhelmed, you'll most likely find yourself zapping everything in sight that looks fun or handy or different.  Do it.

This time around, for our first child, Adam and I decided to register at Target, Babies-R-Us, and Pottery Barn Kids.  Target and Babies-R-Us are the two main registries, while Pottery Barn only has a few of the luxury items that we liked.  We started at Babies-R-Us on Saturday morning.  When we first arrived, there was no one else there.  We got the prime Expectant Mother parking (an awesome perk of pregnancy) and sat down with an associate to begin our registry.   Our best move of the entire experience was starting fairly early in the morning.  The longer we were there, the more couples came in to join us.  As we walked down the aisles, we overheard more and more arguments over strollers or outfits or bedding than I expected.  With the sheer volume of stuff, I should have been more prepared.  We tackled our glider first, then knocked off the other bigger items that we planned on choosing from Babies-R-Us.  That made it much easier to enjoy zapping all of the smaller things, once the bigger things were off our backs.  There's no way to know what type of product our little girl will prefer, so we tried to get a variety of things.  After nearly two hours, we had to take a break for lunch and so, we took a quick Chick-Fil-A break, then headed back to finish up.  One more hour at Babies-R-Us, and we came to the realization that we had done the best we could and would have to do whatever was left online.  Thank goodness for the internet!  We can updated and change anything on any registry at any time from home.

On Sunday, we hit both Pottery Barn Kids and Target.  The experience was fairly similar at both of these places.  However, Pottery Barn Kids has a much larger selection online than they do in store.  So, basically, while we were there, we started the registry and left the store with a list of things we would have to add online.  Our Target trip was to fill in the holes of the things we hadn't registered for at Babies-R-Us or Pottery Barn; and to register for those things we just wanted from Target.  Honestly, I don't know what we did in life before Target.

Those of you who have kids will laugh at me after I admit to this, but maybe those of you who don't will share in my surprise; I had no idea how much paraphernalia that one little baby needs.  You can't just get a crib sheet, you have to get several; three bottles won't do it, you need 4oz, 8oz, etc, etc; it goes on and on.  This was just the planning part.  We haven't actually gotten any of the stuff we need yet.  It's a blessing that pregnancy lasts for forty weeks; how else would we get all of it done?

It's been such an exciting weekend; things are started to happen.  We have made it to the fun part.  Instead of just biding our time between doctor's appointments, we have made it to the part where we get to start planning, making decisions, and putting it all together for our little girl.  We have seventeen weeks left; at some moments that feels like forever, at others, it feels unbelievably soon.  Right now, I think we have a good handle on what we should be working on right now.  Are we ready for her?  Not even close...but can you really ever be completely ready?

The Purge

This year, instead of spring cleaning (or possibly in addition to spring cleaning), Adam and I have gone through a material purge since New Years'.  Yes, part of it is by necessity.  Adam, Scout, and I live in a one bedroom apartment that does have an extra mini-room they market as an office.  Based on the tight living space, our purge has been imperative before we start acquiring what seems like an unbelievably overwhelming amount of baby paraphernalia.

Those of you that know me, know that I do have an organizational streak.  Some may even argue that it's more than just a streak.  So, the prospect of going through the entire apartment (daunting that it may have been) was not entirely unwelcome.  I systematically went through each room of our apartment.  We took more than a few trips to Goodwill to donate and sadly, almost as many trips to the dumpster.  I know that throwing things away can make baby Jesus cry, but not everything can be salvaged, repurposed, or donated.  Each time we identified something we could get rid of, it felt like a tiny weight was lifted.  Room by room, that feeling grew stronger.  

Then, I stepped back to look around.  At this point, we had devoted fragments of the entire month of January to this project.  I was feeling good, thinking we were making some headway.  As I looked around, I realized something.  If I hadn't know better, I wouldn't even be able to tell that we had purged ourselves of anything.  Our apartment is still cluttered and full; "lived in," could be an understatement.  Yes, we'd managed to empty out our small extra space in order to fill it up in the coming months with baby things and we cleaned out one of our very few kitchen cabinets to devote it to the same purpose.  So, perhaps it was worth it...at least I'll claim it as a success.  Right now, the purge had to happen and I was as ruthless as I could manage.  It was cleansing and provided the jumping off point that we needed for a fresh start with our growing family.  Honestly, I feel good about it as a whole.  I would recommend a purge to start any new stage in life or just whenever you feel weighted down.

The whole attempt has reminded me, however, that we have so much more than we need.  While we have our struggles, financial and otherwise, and it can feel like they deeper than those of our friends, we are incredibly lucky.  I am all too often guilty of coveting the things, the space, and the time that others appear to have in spades, while overlooking all that I have been given.  Take the time to do a purge of your own; separate out what you are willing to get rid of and then step back to see all that you have left.  Be thankful for each thing, but don't put too much value in the things.  Look past the cheesiness of my suggestions and embrace it!

It's a...

This is the story of the most recent way that our lives were changed, once again...

This past week, believe it or not, we reached the halfway point in this pregnancy.  In some ways, pregnancy seems to be chock full of decisions, more than it is consistently full of anything else.  Sure, pregnancy is also characterized by many other, somewhat less pleasant, symptoms, but right now at this particular moment, the decisions seem to be in considerable abundance, with no end in sight.  Our most recent success regarding this growing list of decisions happened this past Tuesday.

Over the past several months, we have been conflicted over whether or not to find out our baby's gender.  No one believes me when I say this, but it is honestly the truth; we had absolutely no preference as far as the baby's gender goes.  That's why it made it so difficult to decide.  The time to act on that decision came at our latest appointment, on Tuesday.  Because it was the appointment that included our 20 week ultrasound, Adam and I both had to take a little time off of work in the afternoon.  That way, we were able to leave for the appointment together.  Upon our arrival, we realized that we had the last appointments of the day with both our ultrasound tech and our doctor, so we had some time in the waiting room.  As always, we were given insights into our future while we waited; there were other families, of all shapes and sizes, including those farther along in their pregnancies and those who already have small children in tow.  Even in spite of the sense of anticipation that hangs over all waiting rooms, it's always interesting, and mostly entertaining, to watch the others waiting.  This particular day, my fellow waiting room occupants didn't disappoint.  Through their seemingly mundane and unremarkable strategies to get through their own time waiting, they unknowingly helped to calm my nerves and pass the time.  While I can't honestly say that the time flew, we did get through the time we were asked to wait and my name was called.

We followed the ultrasound tech back to the last room on the left and followed suit as she introduced herself.  Immediately following the introductions, I blurted out that we would like for her to write down the gender of the baby instead of telling us during the appointment.  She willingly complied and played along throughout the appointment, having us turn our heads away from the screen whenever there was even a slight possibility that our surprise might be spoiled.

I hate to shatter the illusion, but pregnancy so far has not exactly matched up with what is shown in the movies.  I'm not sure I glow, have avoided gaining weight in areas other than my lower abdomen, or have been as ladylike about the symptoms as the women that so angelically depict pregnancy on the big screen.  However, overall, the experience of the ultrasound actually did seem to be like it is in the movies.  The gel, the black and white screen, and the semi-dark room were all exactly what I anticipated.  I did not anticipate how emotional it would be that the black and white pictures were of our baby.  Immediately, there it was; moving around, healthy (as far as they can tell).  Yes, we had seen the baby at our very first appointment on an ultrasound, but at that point, it resembled more of a bean of some sort than a baby.  This time, undeniably, it is a baby.  The ultrasound tech spent at least thirty minutes taking different measurements, looking at different angles, and throughout the entire time, she narrated what she was seeing.  We took a tour around our baby; we saw feet, arms, hands, a face, a beating heart, kidneys, the lenses of the eyes, and the parts of the brain.  Unbelievable!  It's hard to even describe the amazement and excitement each time we were introduced to a new angle or discovered something new.  Adam continually commented on the craziness of it all, while he oohed and ahhed at all of the new views. We were both amazed at how much had happened in the 12 weeks since the baby was about the size of a kidney bean.

There were a few moments during which the ultrasound tech was forced to take a different approach in order to be able to see certain things.  The conclusion was reached that baby is doing very well and there is nothing at all to worry about at this point!

I know everyone says this, but the baby was being adorable.  The hands were consistently moving, at times crossed in front of the face and waving at us or blocking our ability to see the face.  The legs crossed and uncrossed.  It was hard not to imagine a personality to go hand in hand with these images.  As the ultrasound continued, we realized just how difficult it would be to have seen all of this and not open that enticing envelope containing the gender.  We were overwhelmed by the desire to learn as much as we could about this new little person, our child.

As the ultrasound appointment drew to a close, we were given a printed picture, a CD containing several pictures as well as a video of the baby's heart, and the sealed envelope containing the gender.  We walked out to the next waiting room, arguing good-naturedly about who would hold our ultrasound souvenirs.  We waited as the waiting room around us slowly emptied.  We closed down the doctor's office that day.  Both of us tried to read as we waited and both of us were constantly drawn back to staring at our baby's new picture.  Our hearts had already been melted from the beginning, but this was a new level of love.  One that brought us even closer to the level of love that we can't even foresee before the birth of our child.

Eventually, we were startled out of our reverie and called back to see the doctor.  That particular day, the doctor that I usually see had a family emergency and so, we saw a different doctor.  This was originally a source of anxiety for me, but that anxiety was unfounded.  The doctor was extremely helpful, patient with our questions, and just as friendly as my regular doctor.  In the end, seeing someone different was a good idea, just in case someone else in the medical group ends up being there at the actual birth.  This doctor's visit was comfortably ordinary, as far as the last few months go, with the exception of the ultrasound.  The doctor did go over the radiologist's report which was also thankfully, mostly uneventful.  After the doctor finished, we left the office.

It was extremely cold outside that day (one of the cold days this winter, as opposed to the whiplash giving warm days interspersed between polar vortexes).  As has become our tradition, we sat in the car in the parking lot of the doctor's office and called both sets of our parents to share the news that things are going well and baby seems to be healthy.  Then, we shared our plan to find out the gender.  Yep, we had a plan.  It did not involve waiting much longer to open that sealed envelope.

Our next stop was Maggiano's.  We walked in and requested a booth.  With giant smiles plastered on our faces, we blurted out to the waitress our plan; open the envelope at dinner and celebrate!  We tried our best, but the longest we could wait was immediately after we ordered dinner.  With one last look at the ultrasound picture and one more reassurance to each other that we honestly had no idea whether it was a boy or girl, we brought out the envelope.  Adam opened the envelope and I pulled out the piece of paper.  The ultrasound tech had folder the paper into fourths, so there was absolutely no way we could see the gender through the envelope.  So, I had to unfold the paper.  As the tension built, my heart pounded, and Adam was nearly giddy.  I opened the paper to find one word written in all capital letters: GIRL.  She is a girl!  We were and continue to be ecstatic!  We smiled and laughed and celebrated in the booth.  Our waitress brought us a card signed by many of the Maggiano's employees that said, "Congratulations on your baby girl!" and a dessert after our meal with pink candles.  Adam told most of the people around us about our news and as we were leaving the restaurant, he turned around to shout, "we're having a little girl!"

We decided to keep our news to ourselves for a few more minutes and instead of calling our families immediately, we went shopping!  We bought an adorable outfit for our little girl and a stuffed elephant.  On our way home, we called Adam's parents and brother.  Then, when we got back to the apartment, we Facetimed with my parents and then, my brother.

It's amazing what a difference, what a life changing experience, it was to see the ultrasound and find out that she is a girl.  I have no regrets about how we decided to experience that.  I'm thankful that we opened our envelope on our terms and celebrated!  I'm overwhelmingly grateful that the baby seems to be healthy.  I am thrilled to have seen her and to have learned more about her.  It's indescribable what it means to be to be able to use "she" or "her" instead of "it," what it means to have a sneak peek into what we are anticipating.  We are going to have a daughter.  We don't know what she'll look like, her fears, her likes, her dislikes, her passions, her pet peeves, her aspirations, her dreams, her strengths, or her weaknesses, but we have had our first real glimpse. We could not be more excited to experience life with her.  We're having a baby girl!

Tackling Youth Football in America

This weekend, I engaged in a emergent, cultural phenomenon (thanks to Netflix, Video OnDemand, and the internet) accurately described as "binge watching".  Recently, I've binge-watched The Tudors, Arrested Development, Modern Family and Breaking Bad.  However, my stomach turned, brain churned, and heart broke as I watched the train wreck that is Friday Night Tykes (FNT).

Although the Esquire Network tries to convince viewers that FNT is a "docuseries", I'm pretty sure that it's a reality show.  It follows the coaches, players, and some families of 5 teams of 9 year olds...the Outlaws, Jr. Broncos, Colts, Rockets and the Predators (my personal favorite)...in the Texas Youth Football Association in San Antonio

Ask Katy.  For whatever reason, I couldn't change the channel.  Maybe it was the drama, or the football-crazed coaches, or the desire for the children to walk away from the practices, or how badly I wanted some coaches to lose.  No matter the reason, I couldn't turn away or change the channel, which fed directly into the Esquire Network's wish for ratings.  However, I did take away a few things:

1. The majority of the coaches featured in the series want to win above all else.  They may say that they care about the health of their players and want them to have fun, but their actions are contradictory.
2. My favorite person in the show is....J Boogie.  He spent the offseason with his aunt in Indianapolis, spending most of his time at the swimming pool.  My heart ached for him as he left his first practice of the season crying, because his coach made him run the entire practice.  Later the coach admitted that he didn't watch him run or know how much he ran.
3. There was no demonstration of proper tackling techniques.  Coaches encouraged their players to hit the other players hard, and to quit crying when they were hurt.  At one point a boy most likely suffered a concussion on a tackle in practice, and the solution was to pour water on his head.
4. It is not ok to curse at children.
5. These are children.
6. "Emotions are a female trait."  Seriously?!?!?!
7. People are crazy.  The coach of one team cried after a week 1 loss, because it was the most important day of his life....this guy has a family!
8. Youth football has a perception problem.

I realize that this is a small snapshot of what is happening throughout America in youth football leagues, and is most likely not happening on every practice field and game.  However this is part of the perception of football in America.

• There is a case in the courts between the NFL and former players resulting from the long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopothy (CTE).   The case is a long way from being settled, and may result in over $1 billion in damages from the NFL.
•  Youth football participation is on the decline in America.  Although the NFL and youth football believe that it is due to the decline in the economy, and not related to TBIs and other related injuries, I believe that there is a correlation and would have a difficult time allowing a young child to play full-contact football.
• The NFL is concerned about the portrayal of youth football contained in FNT.  They may project the idea that it is because of the actions of the coaches and parents, but injuries to children are prevalent in the series, as well.
• Youth football leaders have felt the need to speak out on the perception created by the show, while carefully refraining from mentioning concussions, TBIs or CTE.  Also, the TYFA president felt the need to let those of us outside of the great state of Texas that we just may not understand that his league's games are like an NFL game...c'mon buddy...you're talking about 9 year olds.
• TBIs and youth football are impacting our country to the point that state legislatures are passing laws outlining procedures and practices to ensure the safety of our youth.  See how your state has legislated to protect youth football players.

As a lifelong baseball fan, the current situation in which football in America finds itself is eerily similar to the fanaticism that surrounded the MLB's rise in popularity in the 90's.  Baseball's participation crisis is the result of steroid-fueled home run records.  Football's participations crisis is a result of the number of and science behind concussions, naturally present in the game...along with a myriad of other head and neck injuries.

Major League Baseball is still wading through the aftermath of the steroid era's bloated records and muscle bound hysteria crash, resulting in the RBI program and other outreach efforts.  The long-term effects of the "concussion" era of football may be similar to the effects on its players' bodies and minds, not truly felt until much later, but for now there's the Heads Up program.

I am an avid sports fan, football included.  I root for the Vols and Titans with as much passion as anyone.  Yes, in higher levels, if we are going to continue to embrace football, we need to concentrate on teaching the correct ways to tackle, helpful tips to avoid injury, and accept the idea that injuries can and will continue to happen, even with new precautionary measures and marketing campaigns.  However, the hesitations outlined here are in relation to young children, who are still growing, developing, and are not as capable of safely participating in an activity like full contact football and with full knowledge of the cumulative effects on their bodies.

Blog of a Blog

This weekend my friend, Andrew, let me contribute to his blog about youth ministry.  I answered the question "Why Should the Church Invest in Youth?"  So, I thought that perhaps all of you, my newly faithful readers, would like to be included...below you'll find my contribution and then, a link to what promises to be an interesting forum about youth ministry for those of you so inclined.

Why Should the Church Invest in Youth?

            All too often, it can feel as if the church overlooks a lack of investment in youth.  We tell them to enjoy this time with few responsibilities, while simultaneously saying to prepare for life as an adult.  I agree with that advice, but I do maintain that it is a disservice to our youth; to foster a belief that what they do today doesn’t matter.  Being a teenager should not be a get out of jail free card.  Youth do matter today, not only because of what they will become, but because of who they are today.  To me, this is the foundation of why the church should, and must, invest in youth.

            No matter how long ago it was, we can all look back on our years as a youth, probably with at least some amount of nostalgia.  As teenagers, we struggled both within ourselves and with those around us, for what we deemed to be freedoms, our beliefs, our friends, and most of all, to define ourselves.  During those tumultuous years, we developed the core of our being.  The foundation was laid during childhood; as youth we began to make our own decisions.   A great deal of soul searching can be done within the church, as long as there are people willing to invest in youth, to be there for them, help them struggle with doubts and questions, and encourage their spiritual development.  Without that investment, we are missing out on being a part of the process of growing up, which is imperative within the church family, as in any family.  Youth are not more important than any other ministry in the church, but it is crucial that they be just as important.

            As today’s youth are growing up, they are developing passions and looking for a way to make tangible differences in their world.  Yes, we, as believers, are called to encourage the relationship between our youth and their Lord; just as Jesus tells Peter in John 21:15-19.  However, it doesn’t end there.  We are also called to foster their ability to become disciples, not just believers.  Youth are a part of the church of today, not just the church of tomorrow.  Youth are making a difference in our churches, our communities, and our world right now.  When we, as a church, invest in our youth and set high expectations for them, they will meet or exceed them.  I have seen it.  As Paul so eloquently puts it in his first letter to Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity,” (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV).  The church is called to invest in our youth.  So, invest in their ability to be what they are called to be.

http://youthministryconversations.blogspot.com/

Take A Hike

Yesterday, +Katy King and I took our first hike of 2014.

After a delicious breakfast at the new Bojangles in Hendersonville (It's Bo Time!), which I'm so pumped about and will probably blog about later, we ventured out to Bledsoe Creek State Park in Gallatin.  Yes...Gallatin has a state park, and it's great!  The park was home to various Native American tribes and an abundance of wildlife.  It's also one of the few parks in the middle Tennessee area that allows dogs on trails.  So, obviously, we love it, because we can take Scout.

We arrived at the park and were welcomed by several deer that were sunbathing as we parked.  We've been to Bledsoe Creek several times, and this was our first encounter with any wildlife, which we took as a good omen.  If you squint, you may just be able to make out one of the deer....or "wildlifes" or a "wildlife" as we may, or may not refer to random wildlife.  For instance, "Hey! Katy, there's a wildlife!"  So...here's a wildlife.

We began our hike along the Shoreline Trail.  This trail is the main reason that we enjoy hiking at Bledsoe Creek, because it takes you along Old Hickory Lake's shore.  The weather had been so cold, recently, that a layer of ice had formed on most of the water near the shore.  Sometimes, Katy and I can't help indulging our inner child.  We quickly searched some rocks and sticks to see what, if anything, would break the ice.  No suitable rocks were found.  The first of several pieces of wood merely skidded along the ice.  I could only imagine Snoopy skating perfect figure 8's along the ice pulling Katy and myself behind him.  We picked up some hulking pieces of wood, tossed them high into the air, and they crashed through the ice.  Our curiosity had been satisfied, and we continued our hike.  We kept walking through the woods for another 15 minutes or so, and found a bench to sit on, while looking out on the water.  Scout was very curious about the bank of the water.  We were interested in keeping our over zealous, super hiker dog out of the frigid lake, but it made for a good photo:

We pulled Scout away from the water's edge, and began the return hike to the car.  It's these moments that I love hiking with Katy and Scout.  We talk about life, God, nature, and laugh at Scout rummaging through the random matter on the forest floor.  On this particular hike, we talked about baby names (we've made some progress on this front...no spoilers though), cribs, strollers, whether or not we should learn the gender in a few weeks, and other baby stuff.  We have a lot of decisions to make, and much to anticipate in the coming months, but together we will journey onward playing, talking and holding hands or paws.

So....here's some encouragement:

Get outside, breathe some fresh air, revel in the splendor of God's nature, and be refreshed!

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,

places to play in and pray in,

where nature may heal and

give strength to body and soul."

- John Muir