I love writing, and have often thought it'd be fun to publish a book.  Then, of course, I remind myself that I can't expect to be good enough to see my name in print if the only time I ever write anything more than a status update on Facebook is when I put together our quarterly newsletters.  So, here's my attempt to get back into the habit of writing.

Dan and I have been wrestling with some heavy theological issues lately.  It's brought me back to my theological roots and given me a hunger to read good books and follow good bloggers.  For the past few years, I've spent more time on cooking and language learning sites than I care to admit.  There's nothing wrong with those things.  I need to prepare meals for my family and I need to learn Wolof to serve the Lord in Senegal.  But my appetite for the Word is not fed on www.allrecipes.com.  I don't learn to treasure Jesus more following Benny the Irish Polyglot.  (Obviously, I endorse both of these sites for the purpose they set out to do).  So, I'd like to spend more of my free moments throughout the day digging deeper into the Scriptures and following faithful expositors and thinkers who will help me cultivate a greater passion for Jesus and the lost.  And, in the process, I pray, by the grace of God, to be able to do that for whatever small readership I may have.  I hope you'll join me!

I don't know what I'm going to do with myself now that the World Cup is over! It was a constant thrill almost from day one. I became a serious fanatic almost overnight! I'd never been into football (as the rest of the world calls it), and didn't watch the first few games b/c I was simply indifferent. Then, almost by accident, we turned on the TV one night during a match, and it was all over. I get the impression there might be others like me who were swept off their feet in the frenzy of excitement surrounding this WC.

The fact that it was held in Africa not only held an attraction for me personally as an "afrophile" (my own word, but I believe it should be added to Webster's dictionary!), but I think also for a lot of people, simply b/c it was hosted with such passion for the game that was contagious. From the African commentators explaining the matches play by play to the African spectators filling the stadiums almost to capacity game after game, there was something electric about the whole month, and I'm sad to see it end.

A few amusing thoughts (in no particular order) about the WC as a whole and tonight's finale in particular:
1. Spaniards have such unusual names. So many of them don't even "sound Mexican" - to use an expression I heard growing up in SoCal, where "Mexican" is the only Spanish reference point for the majority of Americans.
2. The Senegalese post-game show was quite amusing. Regarding the victors, one commentator said, "Maybe now they'll open up their borders to Africans even more after winning the WC on African soil." Hilarious!
3. I want to figure out how to see the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony, both of which I missed - the first by indifference, and the second by accident. If anyone (especially living abroad) knows how I could do that, please illuminate me.
4. Whenever I watched a match (and I watched most of them, since Isabella was really nice and let me!), I HAD to cheer for one of the teams playing. I couldn't be indifferent. There's nothing indifferent about my personality. Even if I had no vested interest in the match, I made myself choose, and I shouted and sat at the edge of my seat from the moment I did. It was so much funner that way!
5. The toughest games to choose between opponents were when:
a. USA played against Ghana - That was tough, but I had to stick with Africa. It was their continent, it was their Cup, it was their time to shine. Sadly, despite their victory over USA, they were eliminated due to a dirty Uruguayan hand. :(
b. Latin American countries against one another - Uruguay vs. Honduras? I don't know! Either way, "my people" win!

I doubt I will ever relive such a month again in my life. When will the WC ever be played again in Africa while I'm a stay-at-home mom with a flexible schedule - and baby? Having the games play at reasonable hours for us made it so easy to stay tuned. The next cup in Brasil will require getting up super early to watch some matches, and by then I may not have the same freedom. Anyways, we'll see. If Senegal (and Colombia!) qualify (along with the USA, of course!), I may have to make an effort to at least watch those matches.

Anyways, I'm thankful for the privilege of watching history making moments, especially tonight as Spain won its first World Cup ever. They were my last hope - after every African and Latin American team had been eliminated, the only people left to cheer for were my European ancestors! :) Viva España!