What I learned being a sports mom for 18 months straight

 It all started like a normal spring. But what started as a normal quickly grew into a whirlwind of sports craziness.

In March of 2015, all three boys played baseball. Timothy played tee ball and the big boys played kid pitch. Curtis was the assistant coach for both teams. Overall, it was a great season! But with three players on two different teams, it was for sure crazy!

During baseball season, in mid April, all four kids started summer league swimming. We were blessed in that there was a homeschool practice, allowing us to have less conflicts with our busy baseball schedule.

In June, during the height of busyness with swimming, Elizabeth started playing volleyball for a homeschool team.

The three big kids had an amazing swim season and went on to swim in the State Games of Texas, which was held in early August.

By the time swim season wrapped up, volleyball season was full steam ahead. Through the organization that did volleyball, we found out about basketball. Micah and Benjamin started going to skills clinics, decided to join the team, and began twice a week practices in October.

In September, Timothy began playing flag football.

Volleyball season came to an end and Elizabeth decided to also play basketball. Two weeks after her last volleyball game, she played in her first basketball game.

Never before had we played a winter sport like basketball. But we were loving the organization, the teams, the families and the coaches. The homeschool state tournament was at the end of February, and baseball started again the next week.

Then, we basically had a repeat, where swimming started during baseball season, and swimming went so well that we swim even after the regular season.

By July I was in full on meltdown mode. While the three big kids were at camp, I cancelled a trip to see my family in Oklahoma and took a much needed mental break.

Since mid July, we haven't done any sports, aside from the occasional basketball skills clinic. As I'm gearing up for Micah and Benjamin starting basketball and Elizabeth joining a club swim team, here's what I've learned.

• Just because there are 24 hours in a day doesn't mean I need to fill every waking hour.
• Saying no to something good is hard.
• Sometimes when you say no to a good thing it opens up the opportunity for a GREAT thing.
• Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.
• It's okay if Timothy doesn't play a sport this fall. He's okay with it, why am I struggling?!
• When you are doing sports non stop, something else in life suffers. It might be homeschooling. It might be the house. It might be your marriage. All the above were effected by the amount of sports we participated in.
• I need to take time for me. Time to exercise, to eat well, to rest. 
• It's easy to gain weight when your main focus is getting the kids from one event to another, homeschooling and church.
• Kids will watch and see where your priorities are. Make sure your priorities are the good things.
• I do my best when I'm busy. But I also need an occasional recharge. 
• Homeschooling CAN be done in the car! But it does take a lot of planning.
• Audibles, through Amazon, is a life saver, as are books on CD from the library.

I'm very, very thankful for the opportunities that my kids have had over the past 18 months. They have learned more than just sports. I am thankful for the coaches that poured into their lives, motivating and encouraging them. I truly believe my kids have stronger character because of sports. Our family will continue to participate in various sporting activities. I'm very excited to see them continue to grow as athletes and individuals. And I'm hopeful that I can take the lessons the I've learned and become an better sports mom.

Month of LOVE Day 10

I really love when my kids wear matching clothes.

Now that the boys are 9 (almost 10!), 8 and 6, I know my matching outfit days are numbered. So when they humor me, like in the picture above, I know it's because they love me. They know it's a fun thing for me. They know it makes my momma heart happy.

I really love the way these boys show their love for me.

Dear Daughters-in-law...

 Dear Daughters-in-law,

Tonight, three very sweet, very handsome little boys took me on a date.  Someday, a day that will probably come a lot sooner than I'm ready for, one of these handsome, sweet boys will take you on a date.  Tonight on my date, I thought about you.  As I watched the way my boys treated me, I saw glimmers of the young men they are becoming.  Even though my boys will change a lot in the next decade before they get to go on a date with you, I hope there are some things that don't change.

I hope that they open your car door, just like they opened my car door.

I hope that they open every possible door for you, tripping over themselves to be gentlemen.

I hope that they pay for your dinner, just like they "paid for" my dinner. (I'll let you in on a little secret.  They used my debit card, but truly thought they were buying my dinner.)

I hope that they tell you look pretty, like they told me I looked pretty after they asked me to dress up for our date.

I hope they dress up for your dates, just like they picked out "handsome" clothes for our date.

I will confess something to you, daughter-in-law.  I'm very nervous about the relationship that you and I will have.  As you will find out, my mother-in-law passed away after Curtis and I had been married for only 15 months.  So though I know a bit about navigating the waters of a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship, I don't know much.  Our relationship will be a lot of trial and error.  Please know that if I mess up, if I'm over bearing, if I over step in areas, that I'm trying.  Know that I love my son more than you can understand, at least till you have a son of your own.  Know that I've been praying for you since I found out I was going to have a son.

The Lord has blessed me with many woman who've had sons and are successfully navigating great relationships with their daughter-in-laws.  One piece of advice that I've repeatedly received is that I have to become the second most important woman in my sons' life.  I want your marriage to my son to be successful!  And for that to happen, I am fully aware that even though I've been the number one woman in their lives, that will change.  I want it to change.  But it's truly hard for me to imagine at this point.  The deep love that I have for my sons (as well as for Elizabeth!) is a very precious, special, but kinda mysterious thing.  Feel free to gently remind me of the position I meed to take if you see me struggling to hold on to that number one spot.

Also, though I think my boys are pretty awesome, and though I'm doing everything I can do raise them to be godly men, remember that they aren't perfect.  They're sinners and will need your grace and forgiveness.  Grace and forgiveness is an invaluable part of marriage.  If you both keep that in mind, you will be well on your way to a successful marriage.

Love,

Your hopefully not wicked, Mother-in-Law

Bluebonnets through the years

 2005

 2006

2007 

2008 

2009

2010 

2011 

2012 

 2013

2014

Happy birthday, Timothy!

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Co-op

This week we started our 5th year at Brazos Classical Academy, our homeschool co op.  There are many reasons I love our co op, and there are many reasons I sometimes hate our co op.  Despite the ups and downs, the extra work, the busyness it adds to our week, I think all the Krajcas feel ready to tackle another year of co op!!

 

For some reason, I don't have a picture of our very first day at BCA.  The year we started, 2009, I was pregnant with Timothy.  He's out little co op baby, and was even born on a Tuesday morning when we should have all been at co op!

 

 Year 2, 2010

 

 Year 3, 2011

 Year 4, 2012

 

Year 5, 2013

 

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. "

Colossians 2:2-3

Happy Birthday, Sweet girl!

Nine Years Old!!!

Every year, Elizabeth, when you turn a year older, your Daddy and I are simply amazed.  Amazed that we've all made it another year.  Amazed at how much you change in a year.  Amazed at your beauty. Amazed at your sweet, strong spirit.  Amazed that we've been blessed with you as our daughter!

Happy birthday, sweet girl!  We love you very much!  We couldn't be any prouder of the young lady that you're becoming.  We know that God has big things in store for your life, and we're thankful and humbled to be your parents.

Happy birthday, Micah!

 

Happy birthday, Mighty Micah!  We are so thankful to have you in our family, and to call you our son.  Every day, you make us so proud, bring us such joy, and show others your caring heart.  It is a delight to be your mommy.  May God richly bless and keep you as you continue to grown into a man who loves the Lord.

2012: Another Year with Mr. Right

 It's lame and cheesy and cliche... but it's also my blog, so I can be lame and cheesy when I say that Curtis is absolutely the love of my life, and my very best friend.  2012 could have ruined us.  But it didn't.  Just like unplanned pregnancies, the death of a parent, getting married too young, having children with major medical problems, financial woes, and depression didn't ruin us.  By the grace of God, and because my husband is a faithful, good man, we are stronger and more in love than ever!  I'm so thankful that he was by my side as we walked through the trials of 2012.  I'm also glad that he was by my side for....

 ...celebrating silly made up holidays like Valentine's day with a smile on his face, even though I make a way bigger deal out of that silly holiday than he would like.

...rejoicing in our children's birth and God's grace in giving them another year.

... physical challenges.  He knows how hard to push me, to help me achieve my goals, while encouraging when when I feel like a failure.

 ... worship.  I'm proud of the man of God that he is and the way he leads our family in worship.

 ... fun nights out!

 ... sunsets and sunrises.

 ... moments of family fun, like blowing our diets to eat donuts with our kids.

 ... dancing, something new we tried in 2012, and love doing together!

... celebrating special occasions with friends, and having moments to remember how far we've come.

 ... my first time away from all 4 kids.

... purchasing our second house, and making it into a home.

Here's to another fun filled year with the love of my life!