Soccer Dad

Okay, so Drew started soccer. He loves it. Actually, so does Timothy. Timothy is too young to play on the team, but Drew is on the 4-5 (also known as U-6) team. He loves to kick the ball and he is really good considering his age and size. We signed him up for the team. Back in Addis when we went to meet Drew for the first time, we saw a group of boys playing soccer. Although Drew was the one of the smallest boys there, the other boys let him play with them. He was fast for a kid his size. It seemed natural to let him join the soccer team as we told him how he played with the big kids in Ethiopia. There was only one problem, the season started and Drew's team did not have a coach. Guess who got reeled into coaching the team. I am now Daniel, the minister and soccer coach. I will be honest, I don't know much about soccer. I watch the world cup when it is on, but I have never played an organized game of soccer in my life. If it were basketball or football, that would be easy - but soccer. I must admit, I am liking it so far. I have not liked the organization of the league or the way some parents and coaches are so competitive they will not allow the kids to have fun playing soccer, but I have liked it overall. I love it when Drew and I kick the soccer ball around. I love how Timothy comes to the practices and says, "Daddy I made a goal." I like it when the kids don't want to leave because they are having too much fun. I love seeing Drew when he is so proud of himself. The first game he did not score, the second game he scored 3 goals, the third game he scored 5 goals. He is so proud of himself. I am proud of him, not because he scores so many goals, but because he is my son. Bottom line: he is Andrew Leulseged Blankenship - he is my son. That makes me proud.