The Real Game

The Stadium The Salt Lake Real vs the LA Galaxy

Our view of the field from our seats. (Right in the middle!!)

The crazy Real supporters

The crazy LA supporters

David Beckham.... MMmmmmm!!!

Beckham warming up

Me.... waiting for the game to start and trying not to freeze!

For the month of March, the opportunity came up for me to attend a major league soccer game with my mom, sister and sister's friend. I, never having been a major soccer fan (other than just loving David Beckham, which had NOTHING to do with soccer), wasn't really interested. But, I figured that it was something new and different I've never experienced before and, having turned down the opportunity twice before this, decided to make a go of it.

When we arrived at the stadium, it seemed there were thousands of people in a sea of red, navy blue and gold and I felt very out of my element as people clustered around talking about famous soccer plays and dropping players names. But, I knew it was just part of the total experience, so I just smiled and nodded where appropriate.

We finally got into the stadium and found our seats and I was surprised at how big the stadium actually was. I didn't think it was going to be. I was also surprised at how COLD it was! Within minutes, we were freezing! Thank goodness we remembered our winter coats, hats, gloves and some blankets!

As the game started, I immediately recognized just how good the SL Real actually were. I was impressed. But, I was more excited that I was actually getting to witness David Beckham running around the field! By half time, however, I was beginning to think that the LA Galaxy were not doing so well. The Real were winning, 2-0.

The second half proved to be much of the same. The Real were definitely on their game, where the Galaxy were not. However, I DO have to note that the Galaxy scored one goal during the second half and I was the only one on the entire side of the stadium who stood up and screamed and yelled and jumped around for joy. Yes, I made a fool of myself in my elation, and got booed. I was booed at a major league soccer game. And when the drunk guy in front of me turned around and started singing the Real chant, I started chanting "LA Galaxy" right back at him. It's not that I'm an LA fan as much as I'm just a Beckham fan. Had Beckham been playing for someone else, I would have been cheering them. I don't think the hundreds of Real fans surrounding me knew that though as they booed and yelled at me. Of course, I was nonplussed by this and continued to cheer for Beckham throughout the rest of the game.

I need to say though, at this point, my mom leaned over to me and said, "If Galaxy wins, you cannot brag as we leave the stadium. You will get jumped." :) Turns out... she had nothing to fear. Real beat Galaxy 4-1.

My opinion: I don't think I'll be going again. Don't get me wrong, it was fun enough. But, unless Beckham is playing, I don't have much interest. And the only other time he'll be playing the Real again will be in LA.

So, March's new and different: It was fun, but won't be on the instant replay anytime soon!

Great Quote

So, I heard this quote the other day and it made me smile because I really feel like, given the things happening in my life right now, this is such a great inspiration.

"Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future only He can see."

I don't know who said it, but WOW! It's pretty great, eh? I have a lot of things going on in life right now (most of which, I can't or won't discuss here) that are really difficult. So, this really helped me to pull myself up by my bootstraps and get back on the horse. I know that everything is on the Lord's timing, it's just hard when you're hit with so many trials at once to remember that the blessings will come, just when the Lord has decided you are ready for those.

And if these trials are any indication, boy am I in for some great ones here pretty soon!! There is a silver lining!

1 Week Facebook Sober

I've been off of Facebook for a week as of tonight. It's been an interesting week.

I have had so many different people coming to me via email, blog comments, texts, etc. telling me how amazed they were that I have been strong enough to leave Facebook behind. They have said that they "wished [they] could be brave enough to do it" themselves. I'm actually blown away by those responses. I'm intrigued that those people don't think that they can do it themselves.

For those who are thinking of unplugging, let me shine a ray of hope for you...

I've been asked on a couple of different counts what I've been "filling the time spent on Facebook" with now that I've been gifted that extra time in my life. Well, I've used some time to blog, read more, spend time with my family, paint, sleep!, be more efficient and thorough at work, accomplish more at work, the list goes on. I've actually made plans to go out and see a friend of mine that I haven't seen in a long time because we kept up mainly on Facebook. This week, we are going to go see a movie... in person! And I'm going to lunch this week with another friend who I haven't seen for awhile, but it's been so long overdue! Face to face contact is going to be so much more rewarding.

It has been worth it to be off of Facebook.

Have I missed it? Sure, I'm not going to lie. But, no where near the extent that I had imagined and prepared myself to endure. There have been plenty of times where I have, without thinking about it first, gone online to get onto Facebook and realized that my instant go-to is no longer there. But, I only mourned that loss for a moment and I was quickly, and happily, back to doing whatever else I could to fill that gap of time.

Also, there was a day early on last week where I was worried about a friend of mine who was in the hospital and the only way that I've been able to keep in contact with him was through Facebook. I realized that day that I wouldn't be able to find out how he was doing any other way. So, I will admit, I had someone get online through her account and look him up for me to see if he was ok. However, in my defense, if I had had any other ways of checking up on this particular friend, I would have taken that avenue. I just didn't at the time.

So, to wrap it up, for those of you pondering whether or not you could actually delete Facebook and be FREE.... try it. You will be impressed at the amount of other things you are able to get done. You will be proud of yourself for having the willpower to overcome your addiction. And you will find yourself connecting with important people in your life that you have, even without realizing it, kept at arm's length because you didn't have to make an effort anymore.

It's been an interesting week. BUT, it's been a very rewarding one.