Football

Caleb started flag football last night.  He is very excited.  So am I.  He is learning listening skills, routine and control while running and exercising.  It is great.  Practice was at the youth football field at the park where we used to live when we first moved to Lebanon.  It was packed.  There was no where to park.  Cars and minivans lined the streets and filled neighbors' yards.  All levels of players where at this particular location.  All the leagues players from rookie flag football to 200 lbs high school linemen with pads and cleats, cheerleaders and, of course, parents  were there.  It was a site to see.

Like most nights, Matt and I had several things planned.  We had to figure out how to juggle the schedule to get everyone where they needed to be on time.  The plan was for Matt to take Caleb to practice while I had the other 3 at a different meeting.  Then we were to meet half way through practice and switch.  I would finish out practice with Caleb and Matt was taking the younger ones to his meeting.  The plan worked in theory.  I problem was that practice was at the park.

Within the 60 seconds that it took us to switch kids and locations, Rebekah unbuckled her seat belt, got out of the van and headed somewhere.  Matt didn't look for her until he got out to the road due to the fact he was trying to navigate through all the people and cars.  By the time he called me to tell me to start looking for her, she had been out of the van wondering around for 3-5 minutes.  I was scared!

Remember, the place was packed.  There was no way we could have started yelling for her.  She would have never heard us.  We don't know if she headed for the playground or the cheerleaders which were in completely opposite directions.  We couldn't just look for a little girl as many siblings of the players were roaming around. I didn't even know where to start.  It was a very overwhelming and hallow feeling.

Only by the grace of God did I spot her.  God showed me right where she was in the midst of hundreds of people before Matt even got the van back through the mess of vehicles.  I am so glad HE did. Not only could she have been kidnapped, abused, or simply lost.  When I found her she was literally oblivious to her surroundings as she walked straight in the middle of a line of scrimmage of high school boys with pads.  She almost got pummeled.

So, Caleb had a good practice and Rebekah is home safely.  Her bottom is quite red still but she is sleeping in her own bed and that is a good thing.  Thank you God.