It has been a week full of soccer and Jesus for us. Big Kick Soccer Camp is what our church does every summer in place of a traditional Vacation Bible School, and we coached and directed and participated in various ways. The week was full of fun - yet also full of memories. Honestly, I love when that happens. Sure, I cry sometimes, but I wouldn't trade the opportunity to remember Katie for anything. Katie loved Big Kick! As a camper, she loved to hang with her friends as well as the older girls who coached her. She loved the evening they served watermelon for snack, and she loved the ice cream at the end of the week. She loved the sunshine and rolling up her sleeves to get more of it. When she was old enough to volunteer as a coach, she absolutely loved the kids she led. Big Kick was one of her favorite weeks of the year. I would love for you to read Matt's story and how he met Katie at soccer camp several years ago. My first year as a Big Kick soccer coach I was paired up with Katie. This humble, sweet, cute, little 11 year old-ish girl and me, 30 something guy out to coach 4 years old’s. Now keep in mind, I’ve played the game for 30 years, and I’ve previously coached little kids soccer, so I didn’t have any worries. Katie, on the other hand, had never really coached, however she understood the game and was eager to help. So the first day Katie and I meet, and we get our kids and off we go. Before you know it, day one was over and, in my head, a real sense of accomplishment. No kids got hurt, we had some fun and worked as hard as a 4-year-old was willing to. Day two. Just as smooth as day one. The kids are happy, no one got hurt and everyone having a good time. Off we go; another successful day at Big Kick. Then comes day three, based off the first two days everything seemed normal to me. It’s nice outside, and the kids are having fun chasing a soccer ball. Things are good and, frankly, to this point I kind of drove the practices with Katie’s help. And in my opinion she and I had this all under control. Then came snack time... Katie and I were walking back with our kids and their snacks, she looked at me and said, “you know we are supposed to be having 'God time' after snack, right?” Apparently, I didn’t read the cliff notes and she surely saw the terrified look on my face, that I had failed as a Big Kick coach. I mean for me I didn’t want to discuss God aloud, not to mention effectively to anyone including a 4-year-old. I had just barely gotten involved in church and am learning about God myself. Katie looks at me and says, "I’ll take care of God time, you just coach soccer." I immediately made a deal with an 11 year old. I love that Matt shared this story with us. It leads me to remember so much of who Katie was. Enthusiastic. Kind. Patient. Full of love. Full of life. And full of God. Chad and I both paused several times this week as we thought about our girl at soccer camp. We have learned to walk - sometimes run - toward the places and events that flood us with those memories. Is it hard? Absolutely. But it draws me close to Katie. And Katie draws me close to God. And that is totally worth the hard.
3 Comments
Erin Gress
6/8/2019 10:58:53 pm
"I'll take care of God time"!So Katie!Beautiful pictures,and I can still hear her voice and see her smile!💜
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Joyce
6/11/2019 07:49:58 am
💜
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Carolyn
6/19/2019 08:21:03 am
Love reading these moments and memories of Katie's life. So thankful for your honesty. You have your memories and yes they make you cry but I would rather cry and have a memory!💕
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