The Yahoos Go Skiing

So this is how I approach most things in life:

I get an idea.

 

I get uber excited about the idea.

 

I commit myself and my entire family to it without thinking.

 

The time comes to execute and I get all stomach-tied-in-knots, ulcer burning, where's-the-Tums.

And that is exactly how things went down this last month over our family ski trip.

Our local 4H club was sponsoring it.  And before my common sense could say Emergency Room, I had signed us up and paid in full.

Then this weekend.

This weekend when the realities that I was going to be responsible for dressing 3 Yahoos into the appropriate attire before I voluntarily made them put death traps on both feet and push them down a 10% grade.

Let's just say that Saturday and Sunday Mama didn't sleep much.  Everytime I closed my eyes I kept seeing compound fractures and imprints of tree branches in a 8 year old's forehead and the look of sheer panic in their eyes.

And I kept telling myself The Honey that this trip was more about character development and less about developing their skill.  Because that is my go to pep talk before I do something semi-deadly.

And no lie, I really was thinking we would have a hard time working on skills because I have been skiing once before and I thought it was the absolute most terrifying near death experience I have ever voluntarily participated in  wasn't that easy.

And because I have these kids.  Like this one kid that is 9 going on 25 and thinks he knows everything because he went skiing one time 2 years ago and so now he should be a member of the ski patrol.  And then I have this new 7 year old that sees his older brother doing things and so he puts all these expectations on himself to do the same thing and do it better.  And when he doesn't he gets so down on himself and believes life is over.

And then I have this girl.

This girl that is just like me.

The one that can get all afraid of life and it's What If's and I Cant's that she misses so many opportunities.

And I swear she's just like me.  Because when I was her age and even today I talk myself out of taking life by the horns.  I talked myself out of playing ball and Junior Miss and mission trips and job opportunities because I was afraid of The Horrible What-If's and I Cant's.

And apparently I passed that life-altering disease right down to her.

Most of her life I have had to drag her through circumstances to show her that, as a great President once said,

We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

Well, that and low quantities of chocolate.

Anyway, so Sweet Yahoo had protested the entire time about going.  She didn't want to do it.  She didn't believe she COULD do it.  And I lied coached her and told her how great it was and how she would have a wonderful time.   But my gut said that the first time she saw the slope she would lock those knees and the flood gates would open and it would be a lost cause.

But like most of my life.....I was wrong.

Because Ninja listened and helped his brother and sister and Little Middle fell but kept getting up with a smile on his face.  And Sweet Yahoo.  She was beautiful and graceful.  I think she only fell twice all day.  Then once she had mastered the bunny slopes we tried talking her into going down a bigger one.  At first she cried and said no.  But then we ALL encouraged and cheered. 

And then The Honey.  Have I ever mentioned how incredible this man is? Like even though he is an excellent skiier he went through a ski lesson with me so I would feel more confident.  Or how he waits for me half way down the slope just to make sure I'm okay because he is....um...aware of my ability.  So the Honey in his big heart love for his baby girl said he would ski with her right between his legs.  And so she reluctantly agreed.  And there they went.   I hung back watching, crying, singing a new song in my heart for this little girl who is working one day at a time to rid herself of the disease of The What Ifs.



It looked a little something like this.  Only the kid was twice as large and had a ponytail.  This is the Honey with Ninja c.2009 on Ninja's first ski trip.

And when we made it back up off the ski lift we all cheered and jumped and hugged and kissed her.  ALL of us.....even Ninja!  And I have to say it is really hard to gather in a circle of 5 to love on each other when you have 5 foot skis on.  But we did.  Because we were that proud.

And then there was me.  A comedy of errors on skis.  I cannot tell you how horrible I am at this thing.  But how could I use that as an excuse when Sweet Yahoo just faced her impossible?  So I kept getting on the ski lift even though I would fall almost every time I got off.  And after 2 hours when I finally got it even the lady working the ski lift hugged me ;)  And I kept going down the big slope even though I knew I was going to hit a tree because I have a chronic case of the What If's and that was the surgery I needed to get rid of them.

I wasn't any better than I was the last time I went skiing.  Because I fell.  A lot.  But this time, as opposed to 10 years ago, I laughed.  And I kept getting up and trying again.  And it is apparent that these children have taught me how to loosen up and enjoy life.  That my worth is not wrapped up in if I master the black diamond.

I cannot thank the Lord enough for these children and this man. How he teaches me and coaches me through them.  How He has skiied life's black diamond for me so I don't have to.  How He wraps his arms around me and guides me down the slopes of this life.  How when I fall He teaches me the right way to get up.  Humbly and hungry for more of what He has to offer.