Volleyball

Abby is half way through her volleyball season.

This has been both a wonderful and incredibly difficult year for her with volleyball.  

I'll start with the good:  She has really loved this team of girls.  Unlike last year, these girls all get along, they are all nice to each other, and they support each other with encouragement and positivity.  It has been so refreshing compared to the negativity and clicking she experienced in her team last year!  The team dynamics has only made this girl love the sport even more.

She has also really developed more as a player.  Her confidence on the court has grown.  She's not afraid to try and potentially make a mistake like she used to be.  Her serves are consistent and strong. Her timing with hitting and blocking the ball has gotten much better.  She feels like she provides value to the team.  

It has also been incredibly incredibly hard.  We believe in keeping the Sabbath Day holy.  To us that means that we do not participate in athletics on Sunday, go shopping or do other similar activities.  Sunday is a day of worship and rest.  It is a day to draw closer to God and to each other as a family.  Living up to our standards and beliefs in Northern Virginia with our kids being active in sports has been SO difficult, truly a battle.  There have been tears shed by both parents and children.  The majority of sporting games have been missed, and many championship games missed.  Many birthday parties not attended and countless of opportunities for our kids to explain what the Sabbath Day means to them.  

Even with the knowledge and faith that they are making the right decisions, it sure doesn't make it any easier.  This year it has been harder for Abby then it ever has been for McKenna.  And that's surprising.  We have been very blessed with McKenna to have found a coach who supports her in her beliefs.  Does he wish she would play on Sundays, yes!  But he never questions or puts pressure on her to make a different choice, even though every single game in on a Sunday!  In fact he bends over backwards to provide opportunities for her to play and develop as a player.  Do the girls on her team wish she could play on Sundays, yes!  But they never ask her to make an exception or tease her about not being there.  They do not shun her or make her feel guilty for not putting the team first.  They don't question her beliefs or ask her why.  What a blessing McKenna's team has been!  Even with these great people she has around her it's still been incredibly hard because of her sheer love of the game.  Her heart aches to be on the soccer field in games and she has shown great faith and a great love for her Heavenly Father by putting Him and His day first.  

And while Abby's team this year is such a better group of girls then last year and while her coach has said she respects our decision regarding Sundays, it has been anything but easy.   A big part of that is because unlike last year, most of her tournaments this year have been on Sundays.  Even ones that started out on Saturdays got rescheduled and became Sunday tournaments.  She has felt the coach's frustration with her taken out at practice as she's not been able to practice her natural position of middle.  She's had several very nice girls make comments that if they had a tournament on a Sunday they would support the team they took a spot on and play rather then "just go to church."  She loves the sport of volleyball, but I've heard her say multiple times, "only three more months and then I don't have to deal with this anymore."   In fact she has even said that if we were not moving this summer she would give up volleyball next year because it's just too hard to play club volleyball and keep the Sabbath Day holy at the same time.  

This has been a very hard thing for our girls.

Without a doubt it has made our children strong!  They have learned to continue to be obedient even when it would be so much easier not to be. They have learned to give up something they love for something of a greater eternal importance.  It has strengthened their relationships with Jesus Christ.  They could each tell you of personal blessings that have come to them because of their obedience in keeping the Sabbath Day holy.  It is hard experiences like this that shape their very character and I have been strengthened and blessed by seeing them live their faith.  

Now...on to some volleyball pictures of our amazing 6 foot daughter who plays middle!  

She's had a few mulit-day tournaments where she has stayed in hotels with the team...what fun!  But again, she leaves Saturday night while the team stays and plays again for medals on Sundays.  

I'm so grateful she has developed a love for volleyball.  I'm grateful she has gained confidence not only in the sport itself but more importantly in herself!  I'm grateful she has found something that she feels like is hers.  I'm grateful it's teaching her how to work hard at something to improve.  I'm grateful she is kind and an influence for good amongst her teammates.  I'm grateful that she has made the choice on her own to keep the Sabbath Day holy and that she doesn't regret that choice.  I'm also grateful that we are moving somewhere where the reasons why this year volleyball has been so hard hopefully will not be an issue anymore.  What a relief that would be!