Sunday afternoon Garrett had a game. It was, we believe a miracle, that he could play at all. Why? Because he woke up Saturday morning and was unable to put any weight at all on his left foot. None. When he tried he almost cried. He actually got around the house on Saturday sitting on a skateboard. He did nothing to his foot that would have caused so much pain.
So Saturday morning we laid hands on him and rebuked, in Jesus' name, what we felt was a demonic attack. This wasn't the first thing that has happened in our house to our family in this way over the last month but that's a blog for another day.
Garrett missed his game 2 weekends ago because of damage to the ligaments in his wrist from soccer practice. He missed his game last weekend because of the bad hot dogs that he ate. He was super concerned about missing his 3 game in a row.
So we laid hands on him and prayed. We prayed throughout the day. I reminded him this was a faith walk and that we had to believe that God would heal his foot.
He woke up Sunday and felt better but didn't feel like he could play. His game didn't start until 5:30 that afternoon. As the day went on God continued to heal his foot.
As we drove to the game he complained of soreness in the foot. I told him we needed to praise God that he even had the chance to play after the pain he had yesterday and he said, "Dad, I've been doing that all day!"
At game time he felt no pain. NONE!
He started the game and played really well, although he didn't think so, and played with no pain. God had answered our prayers.
I filmed most of the game. We've been told by a friend to film as much as possible just in case Garrett's dream to be a pro in Brasil doesn't happen in the next 2-4 years. If not then we plan on sending in game film to coaches in the states in hopes of getting a full scholarship and then go to the pros.
So I made a little movie to show his sisters and Pops. I called Garrett in to check it out before I posted it. He did not like the idea at all because he said no one would want to watch a defensive player who, in his mind, didn't play well at all.
I said, "Are you kidding? Pops will love every minute of it." And he said, "True."
So thanks to Pops I'm allowed to share the following video of our future pro. I'm sure everyone will figure it out but he's number 4 in the white uniform.
He almost scored three times which is rare for a zagueiro (defender) to do in one game.
No matter what he says, we think he played great. Are we biased? A little bit but so what?
His team won the game, 3-1. They are in the semi-finals of three tournaments. Garrett is really excited.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Weekend-Post 2......The Boys
Dear Winnie and Ans,
Friday night was about Carys.
Saturday was definitely the day for the little guys.
First Anderson had a game. It was an amistoso and we had to go back to the place of Stephen's crime. That's right, the place where he made the little kid cry. Tough emotions to go back there but God gave us the strength to go in because, after all, we didn't make the boy cry. Stephen did.
Anyway, Anderson had a great time.
His team won 5-3 and he made the last goal.
Hey who's that super cool couple celebrating and filming? Oh, it's just us.
Here is his team.
And here are the melhores momentos of his game. The video is loaded with good stuff. Almost goals by Anderson, a visit from Tuck from Wonder Pets, a very sweaty headed 4 year old, a goal celebration by Anderson of a goal that another kid made (a kid that Anderson never played with before) and the awesome, awkward, "I am super excited but don't know you that well but want to hug you but, again, don't know you enough to give you the full hug" post celebration. An awesome goal by our favorite 8 year old (with his right foot!) followed by the finger pointing dedication to his mom which was then followed by his practiced comemoração. A little mid game, post score smile and an excited coach talking to your brother after the game.
After the game Anderson had his class party. Full of parents and dressed up kids. Anderson initially went as a storm trooper. We told him to just go as a soccer player and keep his game uniform on. He said he would be too embarrassed. He walked in and every boy was either an Inter or gremio player. His storm trooper costume was off in about 30 seconds.
We had a great time talking with the parents and Anderson's teacher. Anderson and Gi played like crazy outside and got soaked with sweat.
No pictures of that party. Sorry.
We left that party and went to Viamão to a party that Quigs was invited too. It was a super nice neighborhood that we didn't even know existed but it took about 45 minutes to get there. It was for Bernardo and the boys had a blast.
Three people like Giu were there along with two more people manning a trampoline and inflated slide.
We spent most of the time talking to Benjamin's parents. They were super nice and we got to know more about their jobs. They are both horse vets. I wasn't expecting finding two horse vets in the middle of our big city.
Here is a blurry post party shot.
And one of just the balloon warriors in front of Bernardo's house. You have to love Gi's hat.
We got home close to 9:00 that night and the sweaty, dirty boys hopped right in bed. We did too.
Friday night was about Carys.
Saturday was definitely the day for the little guys.
First Anderson had a game. It was an amistoso and we had to go back to the place of Stephen's crime. That's right, the place where he made the little kid cry. Tough emotions to go back there but God gave us the strength to go in because, after all, we didn't make the boy cry. Stephen did.
Anyway, Anderson had a great time.
His team won 5-3 and he made the last goal.
Hey who's that super cool couple celebrating and filming? Oh, it's just us.
Here is his team.
And here are the melhores momentos of his game. The video is loaded with good stuff. Almost goals by Anderson, a visit from Tuck from Wonder Pets, a very sweaty headed 4 year old, a goal celebration by Anderson of a goal that another kid made (a kid that Anderson never played with before) and the awesome, awkward, "I am super excited but don't know you that well but want to hug you but, again, don't know you enough to give you the full hug" post celebration. An awesome goal by our favorite 8 year old (with his right foot!) followed by the finger pointing dedication to his mom which was then followed by his practiced comemoração. A little mid game, post score smile and an excited coach talking to your brother after the game.
After the game Anderson had his class party. Full of parents and dressed up kids. Anderson initially went as a storm trooper. We told him to just go as a soccer player and keep his game uniform on. He said he would be too embarrassed. He walked in and every boy was either an Inter or gremio player. His storm trooper costume was off in about 30 seconds.
We had a great time talking with the parents and Anderson's teacher. Anderson and Gi played like crazy outside and got soaked with sweat.
No pictures of that party. Sorry.
We left that party and went to Viamão to a party that Quigs was invited too. It was a super nice neighborhood that we didn't even know existed but it took about 45 minutes to get there. It was for Bernardo and the boys had a blast.
Three people like Giu were there along with two more people manning a trampoline and inflated slide.
We spent most of the time talking to Benjamin's parents. They were super nice and we got to know more about their jobs. They are both horse vets. I wasn't expecting finding two horse vets in the middle of our big city.
Here is a blurry post party shot.
We got home close to 9:00 that night and the sweaty, dirty boys hopped right in bed. We did too.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Weekend-Post 1
We had a very busy and good weekend. We are going to break it down over the next few days.
We realize that only a couple of girls in Texas will really care about all the details. We apologize to the rest of you.
On Friday night Carys' class had a party. They chose a Halloween theme. Everyone dressed up.
That's our little Sponge Bob on the far left.
My girlfriend volunteered this year to be a room mother so we got to go early to set stuff up. This was after my girlfriend worked all day to make cookies and cupcakes for the party.
Everything you see below was made or designed by her. Carys helped a lot and decorated the giant cookies herself.
She did a great job, as usual, with everything.
There were about 10 mom/dad couples there as well.
We all had fun and my girlfriend and I made some new friends. God also blessed us with some possible future English students for our school. Nice, unexpected surprise.
So even though we got in bed at 1:00 a.m. (we normally are out by 10:00) it was worth it to see Carys having such a good time.
One last pic of Vivi with her best buds.
We realize that only a couple of girls in Texas will really care about all the details. We apologize to the rest of you.
On Friday night Carys' class had a party. They chose a Halloween theme. Everyone dressed up.
That's our little Sponge Bob on the far left.
My girlfriend volunteered this year to be a room mother so we got to go early to set stuff up. This was after my girlfriend worked all day to make cookies and cupcakes for the party.
Everything you see below was made or designed by her. Carys helped a lot and decorated the giant cookies herself.
She did a great job, as usual, with everything.
There were about 10 mom/dad couples there as well.
We all had fun and my girlfriend and I made some new friends. God also blessed us with some possible future English students for our school. Nice, unexpected surprise.
So even though we got in bed at 1:00 a.m. (we normally are out by 10:00) it was worth it to see Carys having such a good time.
One last pic of Vivi with her best buds.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Everybody “Act Medium”
by Charles R. Swindoll
by Charles R. Swindoll
We love, because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19
1 John 4:19
The children worked long and hard on their little cardboard shack. It was to be a special spot---a clubhouse, where they could meet together, play, and have fun. Since a clubhouse has to have rules, they came up with three:
1. Nobody act big.
2. Nobody act small.
3. Everybody act medium.
Not bad theology!
In different words, God says the very same thing: "regard one another as more important than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3).
Just "act medium." Believable. Honest, human, thoughtful, and down-to-earth.
In different words, God says the very same thing: "regard one another as more important than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3).
Just "act medium." Believable. Honest, human, thoughtful, and down-to-earth.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Nature Girl
If you've followed this blog over the years or if you know our family very well you know about Carys.
She isn't afraid of anything. She loves to laugh and she loves animals.
When she was little she wanted to either be a vet or a cowgirl. I overheard her tell my girlfriend the other day that she still wanted to be a vet. Although I'm a little sad that she doesn't want to be a cowgirl anymore I know she would make a great vet.
A few days ago Garrett and I were leaving our apartment when something caught our eye on the street.
We noticed a bird flopping around on the street. It could fly in short bursts but it was obvious something was wrong. Another bird was hanging out beside. It looked to me like he was trying to protect the struggling bird.
I immediately did a 360 and buzzed our apartment and asked for Carys. In about 30 seconds she was out on the street in her pajamas trying to catch the hurt bird.
She, of course, succeeded, and so we had a bird in a cardboard box in our house the entire day.
She gave the little guy some food and water and he stayed in the box with no problem.
The problem seemed to be a busted wing.
We had a conversation about how to help the bird. We didn't have the money to take the bird to the vet so I decided that we needed to take him to a little bamboo forest close to our house. Carys reluctantly agreed.
For the next couple of days we went to feed the bird and give him water. He didn't move from the spot we put him in.
On the third day he was gone. Maybe God provided a miraculous healing. That's what we were hoping for instead of death by a cat.
Carys is really good with animals. She loves all of them and they love her.
See how this bird actually posed for the picture with Carys? Very cool. Told you they love her.
So, in about 10 years, get your pets ready to visit the best vet around. Unless of course she changes her mind and decides to be a cowgirl and, knowing Carys, that could definitely happen.
She isn't afraid of anything. She loves to laugh and she loves animals.
When she was little she wanted to either be a vet or a cowgirl. I overheard her tell my girlfriend the other day that she still wanted to be a vet. Although I'm a little sad that she doesn't want to be a cowgirl anymore I know she would make a great vet.
A few days ago Garrett and I were leaving our apartment when something caught our eye on the street.
We noticed a bird flopping around on the street. It could fly in short bursts but it was obvious something was wrong. Another bird was hanging out beside. It looked to me like he was trying to protect the struggling bird.
I immediately did a 360 and buzzed our apartment and asked for Carys. In about 30 seconds she was out on the street in her pajamas trying to catch the hurt bird.
She, of course, succeeded, and so we had a bird in a cardboard box in our house the entire day.
She gave the little guy some food and water and he stayed in the box with no problem.
The problem seemed to be a busted wing.
We had a conversation about how to help the bird. We didn't have the money to take the bird to the vet so I decided that we needed to take him to a little bamboo forest close to our house. Carys reluctantly agreed.
For the next couple of days we went to feed the bird and give him water. He didn't move from the spot we put him in.
On the third day he was gone. Maybe God provided a miraculous healing. That's what we were hoping for instead of death by a cat.
Carys is really good with animals. She loves all of them and they love her.
See how this bird actually posed for the picture with Carys? Very cool. Told you they love her.
So, in about 10 years, get your pets ready to visit the best vet around. Unless of course she changes her mind and decides to be a cowgirl and, knowing Carys, that could definitely happen.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Junior Filmmaker
Hey girls,
You guys know of Gi's LOVE of everything Cars and Cars 2. Especially those videos on You Tube.
Well the other day he asked if he could borrow the camera to make his own video.
Below is what he made. Completely alone. We knew you would love this 5 minute movie complete with his commentary.
You guys know of Gi's LOVE of everything Cars and Cars 2. Especially those videos on You Tube.
Well the other day he asked if he could borrow the camera to make his own video.
Below is what he made. Completely alone. We knew you would love this 5 minute movie complete with his commentary.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Oktoberfest
Over 100 years ago lots of German and Italian immigrants came to our state to start new lives. Their influence is still strongly felt and is present in lots of things throughout our city.
One of the things that the Germans brought, and I love, is Oktoberfest. This is celebrated throughout our state and some other states in Southern Brasil where German influence is strong as well. I love it because our family has German roots and I've always been intrigued by our name and would love to know more about our old world family history.
At the end of our street is an Oktoberfest every year and we love to go and experience everything. This year it was this past Sunday.
We weren't sure if it was going to happen this year because all day Saturday Benay and Garrett looked like this:
Bad hot dogs got both of them. They were in bed most of the day on Saturday but thankfully God healed them enough to be able to go to Oktoberfest on Sunday. Benay said she felt like she was running at 65-70% and Garrett said 90% but they both wanted to get out of the house. So we went and they just sat. We knew Garrett wasn't near 100% when we saw him sitting watching his friends play soccer. Sitting and watching. He NEVER does that.
Anyway, we experienced the German festival again and we had fun.
We enjoyed hanging out with some super heros.
We enjoyed some German food....
...and some espetinhos.
We enjoyed listening to the German band.
We enjoyed watching the German dancers.
We enjoyed watching the guys and girls fastest beer drinking competition. Here are the guys seeing who can finish drinking a meter of beer, from long flasks, the fastest. Two guys quit before they could finished.
How do you even measure a meter of beer?
We enjoyed watching Anderson, surprise, play soccer. He's in the number 8 Kaká jersey.
We enjoyed some popsicles.
We enjoyed sitting and taking it all in.
And B, you know we ate some Bretzels. Here's mom with her faking a "yummy Bretzel" smiling face while having a stomach ache. I ate one, maybe two, just for you.
Here's a short video of some of the sights and sounds around the music/dancers. At the end you can see the official flask cleaner doing his thing before the beer drinking competition. I guess hygiene is super important before you give yourself a beer buzz.
A common theme throughout the day was, "You know who would love this?" and another person would say, "Pops."
Maybe some day Pops you can come here in October and get in touch with your German roots. May not be as good as your trip to Germany but we know you'd love it.
Ein Prosit Pops!
One of the things that the Germans brought, and I love, is Oktoberfest. This is celebrated throughout our state and some other states in Southern Brasil where German influence is strong as well. I love it because our family has German roots and I've always been intrigued by our name and would love to know more about our old world family history.
At the end of our street is an Oktoberfest every year and we love to go and experience everything. This year it was this past Sunday.
We weren't sure if it was going to happen this year because all day Saturday Benay and Garrett looked like this:
Bad hot dogs got both of them. They were in bed most of the day on Saturday but thankfully God healed them enough to be able to go to Oktoberfest on Sunday. Benay said she felt like she was running at 65-70% and Garrett said 90% but they both wanted to get out of the house. So we went and they just sat. We knew Garrett wasn't near 100% when we saw him sitting watching his friends play soccer. Sitting and watching. He NEVER does that.
Anyway, we experienced the German festival again and we had fun.
We enjoyed hanging out with some super heros.
We enjoyed some German food....
We enjoyed watching Anderson, surprise, play soccer. He's in the number 8 Kaká jersey.
We enjoyed sitting and taking it all in.
A common theme throughout the day was, "You know who would love this?" and another person would say, "Pops."
Maybe some day Pops you can come here in October and get in touch with your German roots. May not be as good as your trip to Germany but we know you'd love it.
Ein Prosit Pops!
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