march madness stress

i think i'm getting myself all worked up over a game! don't get me wrong, i love sports, but are competitive tournies overrated? my brackets are better this year than they have been in the past few years, maybe ever. i picked 7 of 8 sweet sixteen wins and 3 of 4 elite eight games. so what's with the stress? the answer is simple, my competitive nature is starting to consume me. i'm in two pools, dominated by a male population, and i want to prove myself worthy! i like knowing i can outlast the guys, not from guessing, but because i know and love the game. the energy of march madness is amazing, but can become dangerously consuming.
second, there's the added stress of following the womens' bracket as well. my lady terps are in the elite eight again (last time they won the whole dang thing). they are a turnover laden team that relies are being a faster paced than the opponent, with a plan to wear the other team out. at this point in the tournie, i just don't know if maryland can out run any of the teams. but they pulled out a surprising defensive presence game plan win over vandy (fooling the experts and myself).
but is all this tv watching, standing calculation, strategy picking worth it? it's ruling my life right now and that has to stop. i've let this exciting time of the year cross from hobby to obsession. and that is dangerous. the stress, bragging rights, smack talk isn't worth it. i have to remember to keep my eye on the prize, not for a game, but for life.... my life. everything else is just detail.

the airline shuffle

i booked my flight to baltimore through continental airlines. my itinerary said northwest (i think one airline owns the other or they have the same parent company). due to delay/layover issues, i flew out of south bend with united airlines. and again this morning, delay/cancellation problems had me flying with a 4th airline - delta. :)

flight delays, God's timing

i woke up late this morning (not that this is any different from any other day, but that is for another post). my flight was scheduled for 8:00 and i had every intention of waking up a little after 6:00 to shower and finishing packing. unfortunately, i set my alarm for 7:00 am. i woke up in a panic when tim knocked on my door. i ran around like a chicken with my head cut off and snapped at amanda when she was trying to help me. this is not how the morning was suppose to go. tim and i left around 7:15/7:20. i didn't get to the airport in the required 30 minutes before take off. luckily (because of God alone) the flight was delayed. i was still able to check in. only to find out i would miss my connecting flight in detriot and that flight was the only one going to baltimore today. ugh! the airport service person was able to find me another flight on a different airline (again thanks to God's provisions). i'm now leaving at noon and will arrive in harrisburg (only 90 minutes from my dad's) at 4:30 this afternoon.
despite my sour mood and my blatant defiance of trust, God provided. not only did He provide an alternate flight to an airport close to my original destination, but He also gave me the following: a meal voucher on one of the flights, a $25 discount off my next flight, and extra time to go back home to fully wake up, shower, and pack the stuff i forgot. i instantly felt humbled when everything worked out. how awesome is our God!

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it's going to rain today

every year (except for 2002) for the past 28 years, it has rained. my poor sister! today is her birthday. the trend started a rainy friday morning in 1980. the only fluke (other than 2002) was the year it snowed. i wonder what the weather will be today; my guess is rain!

seester i love you! happy birthday. you are marvelous; what would i do without you?

litttle group family

i love my little group! we have such a good time together. like most families, there is the occasional conflict. but unlike most families, our small group talks it out. apologies are requested, forgiveness granted, and confessions made. i may be learning more from the interaction then the actual Bible lessons. i am so blessed to be a part of this particular dynamic. thank you to my little group members for your honesty, openness, love and most importantly for showing me how much God is alive in each and every one of you! i love you!!!!!

it's that time of year

i start anticipating this time of year around september/october the previous fall. that's right, march madness is approaching. aren't you excited? i know i am. i must admit i have followed the womens field more diligently than the mens this season. i know the ins and outs, the controversial technical issues, milestones, season ending injuries, etc. etc. maryland's athletic website is one my "favorites" on my web browser. i frequent the site many times a day, reading the same articles again and again (this includes womens and mens articles, womens lacrosse, and the occasional other winter/spring sports announcements). it's an addiction. one more game this season for my lady terps before the much anticipated acc tournament. if maryland can overcome hatchell and her pesky tarheels, they should be guaranteed a number one seed in the big dance. i haven't decided if i'm for or against that. the number one seeds have HUGE targets on their backs and everyone is gunning for them, from the number 16 seeds to the number 2s. and i can not forget the run to the championship two seasons ago was done out of a number 2 slot. i might prefer giving up a number one seed to the tarheels, lady vols, huskies, and scarlet knights. however, there's something be said for momentum brought on only by winning your conference tournie right before going into the big dance. are you excited now? well, you should be! this excitement of mine is to the point of considering getting cable to watch any and all games. (i'm trying to ignore the nagging feeling of stewardship!)
if i have convinced any of you to partake in this glorious culture, feel free to tune into maryland's first and second round games... i will be there LIVE!!!! (thanks dad)


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