My husband is in Seattle this weekend for an Upward training. Upward is a national Christian sports league for kids. Dan coaches Jordan in basketball and I coach Caitlin (and next year Lauren) in cheerleading. This year Dan was basketball commissioner. He spent his whole Saturday at the the gym for eight weeks, and you'd think he would be glad it's over but he misses it. The first time we watched the promotional DVD about the program Dan got chills when he heard the term "recreation ministry." I'm praying he can take an even more active role. His basketball team was named the Lions, so the parents made him a t-shirt and a mug with the team picture under the title "Daniel and the Lion's Den." Very cute. My team was named the Daisies and one of my cheerleaders actually named her puppy Daisy.

The program is amazing. The lights go off, music blares "welcome to the big game," the disco ball flashes, then each kid gets to run through an inflatable tunnel as their names are announced. The players get equal playing time, the cheerleaders cheer for both sides, every participant earns a star based on their strength for the day, and at the beginning level no score is kept. Besides that, the players have a devotion and memory verse learning time at practices and a testimony is given to the parents during half time. At the end of the season an awards ceremony is held. We rock the place with a worship band, there are lots of prizes, and then a guest performer. The first year Dan was called up to dribble basketballs with the guiness book of world record holder for basketball spinning, and last year I got called up to ride on the shoulders of a unicyclist. I didn't post that picture, because I'm wearing a dorky balloon helmet. (And because Caitlin's picture is a lot cuter.) Tons of people have gotten saved through this ministry. I'm so blessed to be a part of it and that my kids can grow up playing in such an encouraging atmosphere.