Imperfect Living

We had the neat opportunity this afternoon to attend a season-end celebration for Champ Sports, the youth sports league where our kids have played football & soccer for the past 4 years. The wonderful thing about Champ is that it is equal parts sports & ministry outreach. The focus is on fun, sports, and Christ--a winning combination if you ask me!

So this afternoon we were able to head to a Charlotte Bobcats basketball game where the coaches & players from this season had special access to the courts before the game. The kids (and grown-ups) got to try shooting baskets & there were lots of free prizes including t-shirts, bags, & key-chains. My parents were kind enough to babysit the younger two kids, so Jeff & I were able to spend some time with just Jack & Sophie. We all had a wonderful time! Jack especially enjoyed the fun as he was one of the kids selected from our group to go on the court to be a "high-fiver" or "National Anthem Buddy." For Jack, this event was just the start of many little fun things planned over the next few days to celebrate his upcoming birthday!

Jack excited about the festivities!

Daddy & Sophie

Jeff getting to participate in a coaches shoot-out

Jack getting to shoot the ball on the court before the game.

It was lots of fun for the kids to just get to be out there on the court & feel big!

After the pre-game festivities we had a little time to kill before the game started. A group of us walked to a nearby restaurant for pizza before the game. The restaurant had little balls of pizza dough for the kids to play with while we were waiting on our food...sort of like play-dough...

Yes, I'm posting this on my blog...yes, this is my son with a piece of pizza dough stuck to his nose...yes, he is pretending it is a booger...yes, he is very proud of it!

Watching & waiting to see the kids go out on the court!

Jack (blue shirt) & his friend Corban (yellow shirt) waiting to take the court for the singing of the National Anthem

National Anthem Buddies

Jack & Corban standing in front of the players while the National Anthem was being sung (by our church vocal ensemble!) Don't they look so small compared to those HUGE basketball players! The kids took their job very seriously & were so sweet & respectful with their hands on their hearts. :-)