sweet sixteen.

Boys Volleyball season just wrapped up last night for our family.  

Todd's team had a remarkable end of season run and finished in the top 16 teams in the state - losing the last match prior to going to State.  It was a tough one - but it is hard not to still be excited about what this team accomplished.  Nobody expected them to make it so far...they did.

They have the most amazing coach ever.  What Todd has accomplished in his time at this school with a relatively newer Boys Volleyball program is remarkable.  He has truly transformed and built a strong program - I am SO proud of him.

I will never forget his first season coaching boys and the very first game - it was so hard to watch.  Painful for this volleyball girl actually. :)  I don't think a single boy actually "passed" the ball, it was random dinks and hits all over the place.  Well that season alone, they grew so much and it has only built so much stronger each year.  A program truly transformed, and so many young boys wanting to play volleyball now.  The technique and skill level the boys have now is just amazing and his team is one to watch out for each year.

We are so proud of our team and our Coach! :)

freeing myself.

It's pretty known by most people that know me that I am not a super tech savvy individual.  That doesn't mean I don't think technological advances are great, I do.  But, I do believe not all of them are really the best for us.
About 5 months ago, my regular old NON-smartphone went dark on me.  I had to get a new phone and they just don't make many simple phones anymore.  So, I reluctantly crossed over into the dark side and joined the super connected smartphone world. lol.  And I probably had at least a dozen people say "you'll love it once you have one" - I was still reluctant.  So, here is the truth - I loved it for about one or two months.
The first months, I liked being able to access things but nothing was habitual yet, so I rarely picked it up.  That was my very intention, not to have a phone in my hands often - because that drives me crazy.
A few months in, I started having it near me more and found myself grabbing it for no good reason.  I don't need to check the junk in my email that many times, or connect myself to the internet world, or see what's new on Pinterest, etc... you get the idea.  It was really starting to bother me.  Then one day Quinn and I were playing and she said "Do you need to work on your phone first mama?".  That was the last straw I needed, it was awful to hear, but I was so grateful for it.

My new goal - that phone is rarely if ever in my hands.
It will stay planted firmly on the counter.
Remember when you had one house phone, one answering machine and you got back to people when you could?
I didn't have many - but I pretty much deleted every app that I found myself clicking regularly that there really was no need to.  Deleting those apps felt so good!!
I became FREE.
It was only 5 months, but it was too much of my time already.
I immediately felt relief.
My goodness it feels good to let go.
It is also the #1 reason I am not on Facebook - it is freeing to not be so connected - to not have one more thing pulling you away from the most important thing - Living - in the moment and at all times - living simply.

Being super connected - it's for some people - it's definitely not for me.

They are worth every extra little second I get to enjoy just being with them.  So many more smiles I see and moments I don't miss when I'm not looking down at a screen.

all things simple and sweet.