Water and Wii

I have a confession to make. I skipped my soccer game to go to a bbq. (Though, responsibly, I did tell my team I wouldn't be there.)

And after such an intense week of work, being at Doug and Andrea's tonight was immensely theraputic. Those who came work for LPA as well, but they're in an entirely different department -- so I hardly see or hang out with these fun people.

After great grilled food, a spontaneous waterfight broke out. The ladies were severely (and sadly) at a disadvantage... puny water guns vs. large buckets and a 3-ft deep pool.

Why is it the guys often end up with the better weapons?!? Seriously stragetic flaw on the girls' part. (In our defense, though, we would have totally caught the guys by surprise in the first place if we hadn't been betrayed by one of the kids.)

In any case, after holding our own quite well despite a number of soaks from the buckets, I watched as Chris tossed Jenny into the pool. Before I knew it, he was turning on me... and I gave him a good run for it by resisting the plunge -- but, ultimately, shared Jenny's fate in the pool.

I've actually always wanted to be tossed into a pool -- and tonight finally marks a first! Surprising, I realize, at 23... but, sadly, I don't have brothers and all my male cousins are significantly younger. And Chris pretty much is Jenny's older brother, so I'm glad I reaped the benefits as well. : )

(Sidenote: Not expecting to fight me so long at the edge of the pool, Chris left himself defensively vulnerable -- and ended up in the pool as well.)

Once dry in borrowed clothes and inside again, we played Wii tennis and boxing. Again... so fun. I've tried all sorts of games on Wii, but never boxing before tonight.

I am so blessed to have such great people in my life~ fun-loving and hospitable Doug and Andrea and their 4 amazing (and incredibly well-behaved) children... older brother-like and big tease Chris and his very blunt (honest) and competitive wife Jami... happy-go-lucky, fashion-saavy, and kind John and his very smart PhD lawyer wife Kari... the great 20s-30s girls (who I'm sure I've described in previous posts). All people who love God and love others -- and are just fun to be around. They care. They share. They tease. They play. I'm blessed.

PS. In the past 2 weeks, I came to the realization (with the help of some verbalized observations from Sarah) that I really am connected here. I can just rest in enjoying being with people instead of feeling like I should be doing more to find more people I don't know so I can be connected. I'm not lonely. I have a diverse group of people I can invest in and spend time with. That doesn't mean I'll stop asking God to keep my eyes open to new opportunities to pour into the lives of others, but I can stop telling myself I'm not doing enough.