Soccer's End

It's the time of year for soccer to be over and for me to take a nice deep breath and exhale slowly. I am so glad it's over.....for now. No more scurrying to practices and games and trying to get everything done beforehand. I love being at home, kids playing together in the back yard enjoying the fall weather without a care in the world. When they all come inside, their noses are pink and toes as well (where are your shoes)? Hot chocolate anyone? So yes, soccer is through and we now have our days and nights back to "less hectic." The girls did great and have improved a lot over the past several weeks. Josh went out with a bang, scoring 11 goals, giving big high fives, and most importantly, running through the tunnel. What kid doesn't love doing that? Now that the chaos is over for a season I am really enjoying the quiet. Isn't that what all of our church leaders are trying to tell us anyway? Slow down, SIMPLIFY. I find peace in being at home with my family while the world runs a hundred miles an hour around us. While I was driving home alone on Saturday from a soccer game I took some of the back roads that go through the older neighborhoods. I am usually in a hurry to get somewhere, but this time, I wasn't. The houses reminded me of simpler times when people didn't have so many places to be and things to do. Times when people actually knew and visited with their neighbors. I find myself craving times like these. I think these cravings come from wanting peace and quiet so that I can recognize the promptings of the Spirit more and try to live my life in harmony with what the Lord would have me do. I know that I cause a lot of the busy-ness for myself just by creating new things that I have to get done instead of being content with where I am. Too much "stuff" really just gives me more to organize, go through, and clean out and then it ends up going to the DI when all is said and done anyway. No wonder the happiest people on the earth are the ones who have practically nothing. It makes me want to move to a deserted plot of land in the middle of nowhere (okay, some trees, a stream, and a few choice neighbors would be nice, oh, and a small grocery store) and live the simple life. Anyway, as I drove through those neighborhoods, it was comforting to have one of those moments of clarity as I realized I needed to slow down and enjoy this time of life. So often I find myself thinking "when my kids are older, then I'll......." or "when I have more time to myself, then I'll......." Too often I pass up opportunities with my kids because "I've got to get this done really quickly," instead of taking a few minutes to make a memory that could have more of an impact on them than anything I've got to get done ever could. In the words of President Monson, "Enjoy the Journey!" So for me? Stop and laugh, stop and play, stop and love. In the end, what else matters?