The challenges of a coach

Saturday saw the last of my swimmers leaving for their home countries for the final camps before they compete at the Beijing Olympics. This brings together the total of 8 swimmers from different African countries and 3 swimmers I worked closely with (them and their coach) that will be representing South Africa. This leaves me with mixed emotions. Different feelings are running through my head and heart. These are most often positive and negative ones. These include:

• Having wished them well as I saw them for the last time ever (as some of them from the African countries won’t be returning) and others till after the Olympics
• Knowing that everything I could have done was done BUT was it enough?!
• Knowing there is nothing else I can do to improve their preparation. As they now enter into the FUNNY phase, we scientists and coaches refer to as The TAPER!!! Now it is just up to their bodies to respond and recover. They need the rest.
• Trusting that I have allowed for enough rest for those coming off big volume and those not that the stimulus I am still providing to them with the programs has incorporated enough rest so that they don’t go into the event feeling tired. Rest is such an important aspect of performance and cannot be neglected and is not less important that good volume of training. One soothing thought is that as a top world re-known Australian recovery specialist says – Work hard + rest well = Best performance – and that even God the creator of all worked on this principle. He worked hard at creating the earth (as you know that is no small feat) and then on the Seventh Day he RESTED!!!
• Realising that I will not be there for them during the final lead up to probably the most important event of their lives. But having faith that I have prepared them well, imparted knowledge, confidence and the Knowing what to do on them that they will be successful. And letting them have the realisation that even though I am not their with them, that my heart is there with them and every stroke they take.
• Hoping / desiring / wishing for contact with them just to hear that all is going well and everything is on track according to plan.
• Finally the only thing left to do is commit their lives, the last 15-20 days of preparation (whilst on training camp with the national teams and coaches for their respective countries) and their performances at the games to the Lord, that that if it is his will and he is satisfied with what has been done and what they stand for, their will reach and even surpass the desired and potential achievements there are destined for.

 

Race well Guys!

God Bless

SB

 

So who's plant has been Mauled the worst???

So the other day we got back home after Pizza @ the Leenstra's to find that the body corporate of our complex was not satisfied with the state of our small front Garden bed, which we are supposed to look after and have not - OOPS! So the decided to do somethign about it and made it differently. One of the things they did was palnt a lonesome evergreen planty thingy (no idea what it is called). But obviously they did not like the longer leaves and decided to make it look like the poor plant has just joined the US Army - short back, no sides and Flat top.

After Robyn stopped laughing her head off we realised it looked like time for a competition, time to show the leenstra's that it is not only their plant that looks kie a war veteran. So here it is Competition Time!!!

Check out our before and after photo's of our poor plant (thanks though to the Body Corporate for trying to do soemthing about our garden bed).



This is what these plants usually look like!

And this is what ours looks like now!

So if you scroll down to the bottom of my blog you can vote for whose plant came of second best!

You can view the Leenstra's Plant on http://www.lia.leenstra.blogspot.com/

Farewell Kelli

Today we say Farewell to Kelli Zlateff as she heads back to Ohio in the US this week. Kelli has been part of Ambassadors in Sport over the last number of months here in Pretoria, SA. Kelli has been part of our cell at Eastside and it has been really cool to see her passion for the Lord, her dedication to the Amabassadors soccer ministry and her outlook on life and love for others. It was highlighted to me with her trip to Zambia with some soccer girls over the month of June and her feedback that showed her excitement for what God was doing through their ministery in Zambia was amazing.

 

We really wish her well and prayer for abundant blessings when she moves home and also gets married in November as she starts the next chapter of her life in serving God. It is through people like Kelli and organisations such as Ambassadors in Sport that people passionate for sport can see the splendour of God.

God Bless Kel on your new adventures.

The Balls

Pizza @ the Leenstra's

Pizza @ the Leenstra's - that sounds like a song. No that is 'Breakfast @ tiffany's'. Anyways, we planned a "Kuier" with the Leenstra's last night seeing that we have not had cell for a while due to the school holidays. So Pizza's it was. After much deliberation, negotiation, coercion, renegotiation, should it be thick or thin base, the order was made! Romans pizza it was (cause there is only just one pizza place where you can buy 1 get 1 free - like in the infomercials!).

Off the hunters in the repsective families went to go an get the kill and bring home the bacon & perporoni & Cheese for alex! It is amazing how the Leenstra's after only 13 months of being here are already part of this country. We walked right in, No Order number (not like Rob's and I who have been living here all our lives and no one at Romans knows us), passed the 2 large boxes straight to Scott (no questions asked), we paid and left. Man guys, I think Romans in Montana are going to miss you guys! Do think their pizza sales will drop in around 5 weeks time.

Anyway's the pizza was great - even the piece I just had for breakfast - and we had a great evening catching up checking out possible houses for when they move back home AND my blogging best friend, Lia, showed me a cool trick for the blog - Feedjit, i think it is called. Now i too can check out who and from where is checkign out THE BALLS. So big brother is watching!

SB

What a last 14 days

The last 2 weeks have been good. The challenge of one car is still there but I must admit I think I am starting to enjoy the chauffer driven lifestyle as Rob's drops me off and picks me up from work. And Rob's is alot more economical on petrol which is especially helpful with the R10 per liter mark being reached.

 

Holiday club was an absolute blessing to Rob's and I saw her excited, motivated and absoluting thriving on her involvement there. I realised that working with young kids is an absolute passion for Rob's and something she needs to pursue further.

 

This last weekend saw us having not one but yes two weddings on the same day within 6km of one another. Man we felt like we were in the scene for the wedding crashers. It was however two very awesome weddings and we wish both couples namely Jana & Nico and Marna & Martin, all the best as they start the next exciting chapters in their lives as married couples. May their love for one another grow from strength to strength and may it blossom as they grow closer to the Lord.

 

We also heard the Scott & Lia and the two awesome little ones will be returning to the states (no not the Free States) in 6 weeks times. They have really become part of our church, cell and lives over the 13 months they have been here. This brings closure to there time here in SA and we really wish them well with their planning to return home and we will miss them. At least they can say that they made a baby in afrrica, something not many Americans can say.

 

anyways, all good and so we keep on bouncing, sometimes backwards but mostly forwards.

SB

Games Xplosion @ Eastside

Today starts the annual Holiday club for grades 0-7 at our church (Eastside Community Church). This is an annual thing and is a week long event hosting children from the commuinity, getting to know stories about the Lord and his grace.

Rob's is leading the grades 1-3 this year and she is so excited and nervous at the same time. It is amazing for me how dedicated she is when she puts her mind to something. I kwow her ideas are briliant and the kids are going to enjoy every minute of it.

Prayer is that the Lord guides each of the leaders as they share and spedn time with these kids.

Steven

Honeymoon in Mauritius

What an awesome time. The whole time was just awesome. The people were so hospitable and friendly, with the staff of Le Cannonier (North west part of the island) beign so professional. We were so impressed.

We had an unbelievable time and were able eat, dive (our favorite past time) and be merry. It is definitely like in the post cards. The sunsets, beaches and particularly the coral reefs were just awe inspiring.

We were so blessed to be able to go on this holiday. Just see the pics as to how amazing it was.

Challenges & Grace

So as some of you might know we (unwillingly) decided to donate Robyn's car to a worthy cause for the socioeconomic upliftment of one or two maybe of SA's thieves. Along with this 'donation' however comes various challenges like the use of one vehicle between us. This I must confess is a challenge BUT God shows the way and it has led to me having more quiet time.

Along with this he has provided all the time. Robyn is really been blessed in her work having a good steady client stream and being able to do what she loves. So even in a challenge like this God does provide.

It seems as though the transaction with the Insurance company will be completed by the end of the week and they will be paying out next week.

So to the individual or individuals whom now have exclusive use of Robyn's vehicle, we hope it gives you many wonderful km's.

1.5 Unbelievable!

1.5 years. Sounds so cool. On sunday the 15th of June (2 days ago) we were officially married 1.5 years. What a journey so far. It is amazing how blessed we have been along the way. So much has happened in our lives and we haver moved so far in our relationship with one another and with God.

I dont even know where to start reflectign on everything, bu thopefully in the next few days / weeks we can reflect on just soem of the thigns that has happened in our lives.

So for a start take a look at our Wedding page of where it all began. Check out www.ourwedpage.co.za/robynandsteven and start the journey with us.

SB

Man this is Cool

I have always wondered what and how I would have a blog, well it is up an running.

This page is really about us, "The Balls", yip the balls and we are all about bouncing. We really hope that with this blog we will be abel to share the happenings in our lives and share with everyone the amazing things that we have been blessed with and how we try and use these gifts on a daily basis.

Join us on our journey through life as we tackle challenges head on and look to God for guidance.

God Bless