Wordless Wednesday: Hangin Around

Welcome Home

The first night of hockey practice at our rink a few weeks ago felt good. I quickly scanned the chaos as I walked through the large doors. A group of parents who probably hadn't seen each other since March were catching up. A few of the older, now much taller, Bantams were horsing around and teasing each other. Three hockey dads, whose kids are new to our league were conversing, probably dissing the program they left. A steady line of traffic was in and out at the Skate Shop, getting new socks, new mouth guards, skates sharpened, and looking through a large box of equipment, hoping to find pants or shoulder pads that fit better than the ones currently tossed beside their worn out hockey bags. One hockey mom, with her now walking toddler, was opening up the snack bar ready to brew the first of many, many pots of coffee this season.

Looking around gave me a small jolt of excitement but that small jolt failed in comparison to the feeling I got on Sunday morning. It was the first game and it was a home game. As I climbed the bleachers, with Rylee by my side, I felt a wave of pure happiness rush through my heart. I am not sure if it was the excitement of watching the kids play again. Or the anticipation of seeing how this group of kids play as a team under a new head coach. Or seeing new faces scattered among faces that I have known for years and years. Or just that I LOVE HOCKEY so much but it was definite happiness. And it felt great to be among these people, at this rink, watching these kids play hockey.

A fellow hockey mom must have been feeling it too because I heard her say "it's like we're back at our second home". So true! ........and there is absolutely no place else I'd rather be.

Wordless Wednesday: Archery with the Girls