Saunders Stories

I have had several people tell me I should have more kids because I don’t get sick when I am pregnant, and that I need to bring more souls into a loving home with the advantage of the gospel.  Then there are those who are shocked at the amount of children I do have.  Sure, I could have more, we could live in a smaller house, in a less expensive community.  We can afford the kids just fine.  Then there are those that point out just about how much one kid puts you out until they are out of college–yikes!  Sure, I could probably do it physically, I am only 33, and people are now having kids in their 40’s!  I already have stretch marks galore, what’s a few more?  I absolutely love babies, as most of you know, I can’t get enough of them.  I love all children, especially my own, it is very fun to see how they come out with both Jeremy and me in them–a true miracle, and testament that God exists.

However, perhaps the people who urge me to have a gaggle of children have not gone through the teenage years, or have any of their children go astray from the gospel, or exercise their own free will and struggle in this life?  It’s a hard thing to be a parent.  I can’t handle the emotional strength it takes to raise four, much less any more!  It’s a hard thing to care for someone with every fiber of your being and to want them to be safe, to will them to seek good choices and to want to be happy, and do the things that bring that happiness and peace.

I don’t claim to be close to being like our Father in Heaven, but I think I know why He loves us so unconditionally even though we are retards most of the time.  We are His children.  I love my children just like He loves us.  I can’t explain it.  Even when they make questionable choices, I still love them, I love them even more…is that weird?  It is heart breaking and gut wrenching to see them struggle. We can only teach them what is right, and silently pray that they will choose happiness in the end.  It is a tough world out there, but I am glad God is on my side.

Filed under: Mamamia on August 19th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

This soccer tournament has been a roller coaster ride of emotions.  Going into the semi-finals in first place, we had the advantage and were supposed to play the fourth place team.  However, this is the worst tournament we have been to in terms of organization, so all night long, we kept checking the website and for sure, we were playing the fourth place team.  Well, 20 minutes before our game was about to start, we found out we were playing Snohomish United (the team we beat the day before).  It is never good to play the same team in two days, especially if you already beat them, they are out for blood! (Our girls have a bad track record with those situations!)

Down 0-2 at the half, we thought it was a lost cause, but parents kept cheering!  Somehow, once again, they came out in the second half ready to fight.  Michelle chased a ball down, headered the ball, and volleyed it in…GOAL!!!!!  That got the whole team excited, and then our defensive mid shot a blast from past the 18 that soared in…GOAL!!!!  So, it was a brand new ball game with us tied 2-2.  We had the momentum going, Michelle was playing some great ball, making great passes, our girls kept shooting, but their goalie was pretty good!  Any other goalie, we would have scored on some of those!  Time was running out.

In any regular tourney, you would have a 5 minute overtime,  which I have no doubt we would have won. The other team was falling apart, they were spent, and we were just getting going!  It went straight to Penalty Kicks however.  So nerve-wracking.  Michelle, who has, indisputably one of the best shots on the team, you could tell was totally nervous.  It went wide, and she was heartbroken.  Two teammates ran out to console her.  I know she felt it was her fault they lost (another girl on our team also missed her shot), but the team kept telling her that if she hadn’t scored that awesome goal in the game, they wouldn’t even be doing PK’s.  It didn’t console her any!  Too much stress for me as a parent, much less her, as an 11-year old player!

All in all, it was a lot of ups, and a few downs, but these girls, who have only been together three months are playing the state’s top teams who have been a team for more than a year and whooping butt.  I can’t wait for the regular season, I think they are playing in a division that they are going to kick some serious can in!

GO RANGERS!

On a funny note, Jeremy offered to pay Michelle a dollar for every foul called on her, $5 for every goal, and $10 for every game winning goal.  So he owes her: $5 in foul calls, $10 for a game winning goal, and another $5!

Filed under: Chelle-belle on August 17th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

In their game against Synergy, Michelle’s team controlled the ball the entire time.  They could not finish, scoring only one point early on.  With a few minutes on the clock, Synergy put one through, they were offsides, but ref did not call it.  Although the game ended in a tie, it was bittersweet because they dominated the offense in that game, and should have won. Michelle was getting thrashed, check out the blood dripping when she got a cleat to the shin!

WFC Rangers 1 Synergy 1

Going into the last game in preliminary play, Rangers needed a win to ensure a slot in the semi’s.  Snohomish came out on fire, first to the ball, winning every ball.  They scored off a corner, and we were down 1-0.  Whatever Coach Mary told the girls was magic, they came back the second half and dominated.  It was crazy!  We were just looking for a tie at this point, but after the first one went in, our girls decided they could win, and they did.  So bittersweet for Snohomish who dominated in the first half, but could not finish themselves.  Once again, Ranger girls find themselves in first place going into the semi-finals.  Perhaps third tournament is the charm, and this time, they will finish this tourney with a gold medal!

The cutest soccer fan you’ll ever come across

WFC Rangers 3 Snohomish United 1

Filed under: Chelle-belle on August 16th, 2008 | No Comments »

Okay, if you are sick of soccer, turn away now.  I warned you!

Today we headed down to Snohomish for Michelle’s final tournament of the summer.  Playing back to back tournies isn’t a great idea, but they were the only times the whole team was available, and even at that, we still have one major defender missing right now!

It was a scorcher of a day, mid 80’s.  Stagnate. Did I say scorching yet?  Michelle came out on fire.  The ref had her number, he only called three fouls the entire game, and all on her (come on ref, she could not have been the only girl out there pushing!).  The last one he called was horrible, the girl actually checked her to the ground, ref picked her up, asked if she was okay, and then called the foul on her.  He didn’t even look at his line refs who called it for her!

However, that did not stop her from scoring the game winning goal off an amazing send by her teammate.  She outsprinted everyone, even her own teammate to blast it in the net. About time!  She has been shooting like crazy, and just barely missing.  One had to go in.  She just really wanted it today!

She came out exhausted and dehydrated, she had given this game her all!  Good thing we don’t play again until tomorrow!  REST.HYDRATE.CARBS.SLEEP.REPEAT!!!!

Soccer fan…chillin’ under the shade with his hubba bubba tape

WFC Rangers 2, MVP Marauders 0

Filed under: Chelle-belle on August 14th, 2008 | No Comments »

So it’s been 11 years since we have had TV.  Every four years, I wish we did because of the Summer Olympics.  I love watching all the events!  From crazy badminton to table tennis to gymnastics, it’s all fun to watch!  We have been trying to watch some of it online, but it’s not the same.  As I was watching some of my favorite events…

Swimming

Volleyball

Diving

Track…

I started to feel like a fat blob.  Look at all these dedicated athletes, how disciplined they are and how good they look!  We are created in Heavenly Father’s image, and these athletes really show how truly beautiful this creation is!  I have complete admiration for their awesome muscles!  This summer has been bad in way of exercise (none due to injury) and eating (there is just no motivation).  Watching these athletes inspires me to be a little better at how I treat my body.  Although I can’t run right now, I can surely do some strength training, and eat better.  Back to the yoga! Namaste, anyone?

Filed under: Random Thoughts on August 12th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

In the Semi-Finals today, our girls played against the team we beat on Friday.  I knew the team was out for revenge, and in the end, they outplayed our girls with their experience as a team, making some wonderful plays.  Our girls could not clear the ball, and when we did, we could not finish.  Once again the golden goal eluded Michelle as she had a breakaway and kicked it to the goalie, and then another shot banged off the corner post, at least she is shooting more.  Down 4-0, our girls did not give up, and in the second half, came back fighting til the end.  Michelle really woke up and was fighting for every ball and winning them.  We got one goal in and controlled the ball in the last 15 minutes, and that was victory in itself.

They played some of the toughest teams in the state and showed they can play with the best.  They were one of only three Ranger teams that even reached the semi-finals.  We are so proud of these girls and how far they have come in such little time.  I can’t even begin to imagine what they will be like a year from now.  They are learning from these tournaments at a fast rate and it’s not over…we have another tournament in four days (!) and then regular season play begins in just three weeks! Can anyone say Soccer Freak?

Filed under: Chelle-belle, Movies That Move on August 10th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

The 411:  Harbor FC is currently ranked 5th in Washington State. They are big.  They are mean.  They lost to the first team we beat. Needing a win to stay in the tournament, they were out for blood.  We needed a tie to be seeded first place entering the semi-finals.

The story:  It was the most exciting and gut-wrenching game I had ever witnessed!  They dominated the first part of the game.  Slowly…our girls woke up and had some amazing shots that went just over the top (let’s blame it on the windy day).  Michelle almost had a goal, once again it eluded her, as she went for the score and the goalie actually grabbed her leg and pulled it out of the way!  Maybe she will get one in the semi’s!  She’s been threatening all weekend! Girls were getting fouled left and right, on both sides, no calls from the ref.  With about five minutes to go he finally calls a foul on us right in front of the goal.  Harbor takes the penalty kick…and just as we thought it was going in, the crossbar must have moved down for us, the ball slammed off the cross bar…SAVED!    One minute to go in the game, Harbor gets a breakaway…and sent it into the goal, but, alas their girl was totally offsides.  It ended in a tie and so we advance to the semi’s as the top seed!  Hey, it’s deja vu, this happened in their first tournament earlier this summer.  I can’t believe this ride the girls are on.  They are outplaying all these top teams, it’s a thing of beauty!

The score:  WFC Rangers 0 Harbor FC 0

Do I need to remind you our girls have been a team for two months!  AMAAAAAZING!

Filed under: Chelle-belle on August 9th, 2008 | No Comments »

7:00 AM.

Pouring, dumping rain.

WFC Rangers 3  Washington Premier FC 0

Once again, our girls dominated this game, and took so many shots that just didn’t go in.  It was slick, it was wet, it was cold, but they were the tougher team.  Michelle had two assists, one of which was a beauty, slicing the defense.  Once again, she almost scored herself, but each time is getting shoved from behind, maybe third time will be the charm.

Soccer is definitely a contact sport

Another awesome header

Fighting for position

It’s my ball!

Filed under: Chelle-belle on August 9th, 2008 | No Comments »

The Rimland Cup is a highly competitive all-girls tourney.  That means only teams with winning records and state cup titles, etc… may enter.  However, because our club is hosting, Michelle’s Ranger team, although new, was entered.  YIKES! I was very nervous going in.  You want the girls challenged, but not creamed.  I didn’t know if this was the best situation to put them in.  They will be playing against teams who have played together for at least a year, they are a team as of two months ago, and have had a total of four practices where all members of the team were present (go figure, everyone in Bellingham goes on vacation during the summer months).

The first team they face have been playing up an age bracket–and winning.  I feared for our girls and was nervous as heck in the beginning…all for nothing!  Our girls dominated this game and was up 2-0 within the first fifteen minutes!  It was amazing how well they played together, and how quick to the ball they were!  It was glorious and so much fun to watch!

Michelle had to play against this girl the entire game, it was David vs. Goliath!

Excuse me, that’s my ball…

So I’ll take it, thank you!

Michelle had some awesome headers

In the end, our #10 outplayed, outhustled, and outmuscled the long-legged giant.

Game One: WFC Rangers 3 Emerald City FC 1

Filed under: Chelle-belle on August 8th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

What has our little fish (and subsequently his mama fish) been up to for the last month straight?  Every morning…

Shower up

A lot of splashing (he is definitely the teeniest in his class)

Front crawl (reach and pull)

Back crawl (chop off those ears!)

Dive and retrieve (where’s our fish?)

Water safety 101

Report card time

Aidan is very comfortable in the water.  He graduated from Preschool VI to Youth III, and hated the cold pool, but by the end of the month, it didn’t phase him.  The only thing he had left to pass was endurance on the front crawl (but doesn’t everybody…heck, I just learned that at 33.  He’s doing fantastic for 6 years of age.)  I am sure glad my kids all know how to swim, it is a great life skill, and strength builder.

Filed under: Aidyboy on August 7th, 2008 | 1 Comment »