3:39 a.m. - No, I shouldn't be up this early. Unfortunately, I fell to sleep too early, so I am waking up too early. Maybe I'll get a nap in today.
So yesterday, I had one of "those moments". I knew the ending of this week was going to be challenging, especially when all I really wanted to do was just be at the campground. Thursday night was officiating volleyball at Rock Island with a partner who was struggling after Education Day at the Storm game. Friday was taking the neighbor boy with me to help load hay into my mom's barn. Yesterday was officiating volleyball in the morning. Keep in mind, it all worked out. I did eventually get back to the camper after Thursday at Rock Island, after Friday at my mom's, and after yesterday at East Moline Christian. And keep in mind I did get some time each day to enjoy being out at the campground. But yesterday, in the midst of volleyball officiating, I just found myself quietly to myself chuckling. I know in my ocassional visits to church services and from ocassional messages from said pastors or priests, I often hear that God will give us no more than we can handle. But I find that ocassionally God has a way to run us right up the edge of the brink of what we can handle. Because yesterday - which was totally my own doing, as I accepted a volleyball assignment at East Moline Christian when I should have been at the campground or going on a hike or just making myself some breakfast on the Blackstone. But when I accepted that match months ago, I just figured it would be just another match of EM Christian volleyball - no big deal. And I figured it wouldn't be the last weekend that Loud Thunder would be open because it was only October 24. But God...he had other plans. Unbeknownst to me it was the last weekend for Loud Thunder, and yesterday was the finals of the Illinois Christian Association of Schools state tournament. Now keep in mind, there are only 12 teams in this association. But to the parents and players and staff, this is THE ending tournament of the season, and an opportunity to be crowned the STATE champion. So while I was supposed to be quietly enjoying a morning at the campground, I was in a small but packed gym of loud, excited fans, and my partner wasn't easy to work with. He's a good guy, but he wasn't able to run the fine line of officiating and acceptance of the situation. The situation didn't call for tight "call it by the book" officiating, and the situation needed to allow for small Christian school fun and excitement. So honestly it was good I was there, and I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I understood the situation. And God put me there to do a good job, understand the situation, and THEN get back to camping. Oh that silly God ran me right up to the very edge! And we did get through it, and it was good, and it paid well, and I went to Fareway after the game and got me some food and drink. But of course God wasn't finished, as I got a text from Amber to do something at the house before going to the campground, and YES, I had time to do that, so I did. BUT EVENTUALLY, BY GOD, he let me get to the campground, and it was wonderful. Amber and I had a chance just to be the two of us and talk, and the day was beautiful. And then we started a fire and I cooked up some hot dogs and had some Fareway potato salad and pea salad, (and I drank some beverages). And then we walked over to Deer Haven and talked with some friends. And then my mom came, and we had a nice visit with her, and she and I walked over to see some other friends. And then I fell to sleep too early because I was tired and had had a few beverages. It really, really was a wonderful day, and God did only give me what he knew I could handle, and it did all work out!
So what about today? Well, as you see I am up too early, but it is nice and quiet, and the coffee tastes good, and I am getting in this entry. And I still am in the camper, which indeed is a happy place for me. And while I'm not a big proponent of technology at the campground, I really do appreciate the Starlink that Amber purchased, because I do like to be able to write down my thoughts each morning in this blog.
I don't have to worry about the Bears game, as they already won on Thursday night (I did get to listen to that game after officiating.) And I'm not taking the camper home, so I'm not all that worried about doing the extra cleaning I normally would do if I was taking the camper back home. And I know that Amber is having some of the grandchildren over to go over to the church and do Trunk or Treat. I just need to get the camper over to West Lake Park to the campground and get it set up and give them some money. And then I'll likely spend a little time there before getting home to be home for supper. I doubt that I'll return to the campground, but maybe I'll go back tomorrow night.
I do know that hopefully next weekend will be more relaxing after what will be another long week, but it will be the end of October, and the holiday season can really kick in. And I know that volleyball officiating is OVER, and I can fully concentrate on basketball season. Also, I do get a little time off from officiating a whole lot. (Even though that ole God is going to try me again if I have to be a substitute bus route driver for a few weeks.) And back home, mom does have hay in her barn now for the winter, and the pool is winterized at my house, and the hot tub is in the basement and operational, and I only have a few other things to do to get the garage winter ready. And next weekend, I hope to have a nice camping weekend, as it's an extended weekend due to parent-teacher conferences. And I hope to get my car fixed over the weekend to see how that works out, even though that again will stress my cash flow situation.
Just keep swimming! Retirement is bound to get here someday.
OTHER THINGS
- Get mom's porch fixed
- Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
- Dec. 1 - 7:45 Hussain Moline
- Dec. 4 - 7:50 Dr. Blew dentist appt.
- Mar.. - Call TRS and get paperwork rolling - 1-877-927-5877
- Mar. 19-24 - trip to Kourtney in Florida
Fall Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule
10/26 - OPEN
10/27 - OPEN
10/28 - JHGBK at MerCo - with Clint Gingerich
10/29 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
10/30 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
11/1 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
11/2 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
11/3 - OPEN
11/4 - OPEN
11/5 - OPEN
11/6 - OPEN
11/7 - at Sherrard JH 8 a.m. - 2 games 8 and 9:10
11/8 - SUNDAY
11/9 - BOE meeting
11/10 - OPEN
11/11 - OPEN
11/12 - OPEN
11/13 - at Monmouth girls scrimmage
11/14 - OPEN
11/15 - SUNDAY
11/16 - at Sherrard JH BKB - 5:30 p.m. - Gabby Suarez
11/17 - at AlWood VGBK - 6 p.m. (I think) - Marcus, Tony
11/18 - OPEN
11/19 - at Sherrard JH BKB - 5:00 p.m. - Gabby Suarez
11/20 - at Monmouth boys scrimmage
11/21 - at Galesburg 6 p.m - Tony, Kraig
11/22 - SUNDAY
11/23 - BLOCKED - Marotta interview
11/24 - at MerCo 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
11/25 - at Wethersfield 2 p.m. - Marcus, Tony; at Orion 7 p.m. - Josh, Tony
11/26 - THANKSGIVING
11/27 - at Wethersfield 3:30 p.m. - Robbie, Tony; at Orion 7 p.m. - Josh, Tony
11/28 - at Galesburg 2:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony; at Orion 5:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony
11/29 - SUNDAY
11/30 - BLOCKED - night off
12/1 - at Wethersfield 5:30 - Marcus, Tony
12/2 - at United 6 p.m. - Marcus, Tony
12/3 - at MerCo 5:30 - Tony, Teel
12/4 - at Erie - 7 p.m. - Marcus, Dan Howard
12/5 - at Erie F/S 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. - Marcus and Michael Parsons
12/6 - SUNDAY
12/7 - at Sherrard 5:30 - Tony, Teel
12/8 - at Erie 7 p.m. - Berlin, Howard
12/9 - at United 6 p.m. - Marcus, Tony
12/10 - BLOCKED - night off
12/11 - at MonRose 5:30 - Marcus, Tony
12/12 - at ATown 11:30; at United 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony
12/13 - SUNDAY
12/14 - BOE Meeting
12/15 - at Wethersfield 5:30 - Tony, Marcus
12/16 - BLOCKED - XMAS PROGRAM
12/17 - at United 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
12/18 - at Sherrard 5:30 , Tony, Hu
12/19 - at ATown 2 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
at Sterling - 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
12/20 - 12/27 - BLOCKED - Christmas
12/28 - at Erie Warkins 5:30 - Josh, Tony
12/29 - at Erie Warkins 5:30 - Josh, Tony
12/30 - OPEN
12/31-1/2 - BLOCKED - New Year's
1/3 - SUNDAY
1/4 - at Riverdale 5:30 - Tony,Teel
1/5 - at West Central 6 p.m. - Tony, TBA
1/6 - OPEN
1/7 - at ROWVA 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
1/8 - at Knoxville 6 p.m - Tony, Marcus
1/9 - OPEN
1/10 - SUNDAY
1/11 - at Sherrard 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Josh
1/12 - at MerCo 5:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony
1/13 - at West Central 6 p.m. - Tony, TBA
1/14 - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF
1/15 - at ATown 6 p.m. - Tony, Robert McGinnes
1/16 - at Cuba 3:30 p.m. - Tony, Eric Geiger
1/17 - SUNDAY
1/18 - MLK Day - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF
1/19 - at Mercer County 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Scott Verstraete
1/20 - at AlWood 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
1/21 - at Riverdale 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
1/22 - at ROWVA 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
1/23 - at Fulton noon - Robbie, Tad
1/24 - SUNDAY
1/25 - at IESA/Rockridge - 6 p.m. ???
1/26 - at Riverdale - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Brad Steinhagen
1/27 - at MonRose - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Matt DeSutter
1/28 - OPEN
1/29 - OPEN
1/30 - at Alleman - 1:30 p.m. - Marcus, Josh????
1/31 - SUNDAY
2/1 - IESA BOYS SECTIONAL 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
2/2 - at West Central - 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
2/3 - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF
2/4 - at Rockridge - 5:30 - Tony, Verstraete
2/5 - at Princeton - 7 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
2/6 - at Rockridge - 1 p.m. - Tony, Verstraete
2/7 - SUNDAY
2/8 - BLOCKED - BOE Meeting
2/9 - Erie 7 p.m. - Marcus, Tony
2/10 - OPEN
2/11 - Alleman 7 p.m. - Marcus, Josh???
2/12 - OPEN
2/13 - IHSA Girls Regionals Begin
- ROWVA boys LTC 1 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
2/14 - SUNDAY
2/15 - ROWVA boys LTC 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
2/16 - OPEN
2/17 - OPEN
2/18 - OPEN
2/19 - at MonRose - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus
2/20 - OPEN
2/21 - SUNDAY
2/22 - IHSA Boys Regionals Begin