basketball

One on One

| Laura Lee Bonde

Last week, the kids were at youth camp, and on Friday, we picked them up to bring them home to a surprise.

Since we arrived two months ago, I’ve been asking Scott for a basketball hoop for the kids. Well, I finally made that happen.

When we pulled up, I watched their faces. Nathan wasn’t looking out the window, but Carolyn saw, and her face said it all! She was SO surprised and pointed it out to Nathan, who loved it.

When we got inside, I laid down for a quick nap, and when I’d awoken (which was not even an hour later), Nathan’d already been out there shooting hoops!!

Later on, he went out a second time with Katie.

This hoop was one of the best decisions we’ve made!! Nathan’s been SO depressed, but now, he has an outlet!

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The perfect form!

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The baby’s getting so big!
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Katie, dribbling

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Right before the ball hit me, I snapped a picture.

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This is the biggest smile I could get out of Nathan, which saddened my heart.

God’s Play Date: 1/10/15

| Laura Lee Bonde

Lately, it seems like I’ve been attempting to make my own plans without checking with God, but it doesn’t look like I ever have to worry because God will move things around to get me right where He wants me to be. If I’m walking with Him closely every day, everywhere is a good place to be. On Saturday, my place was at the dump.God’s Play Date: 1/10/15

Lately, it seems like I’ve been attempting to make my own plans without checking with God, but it doesn’t look like I ever have to worry because God will move things around to get me right where He wants me to be. If I’m walking with Him closely every day, everywhere is a good place to be. On Saturday, my place was at the dump.

At first, I wasn’t going to go. I had tentative plans to do something else, which would’ve brought God glory, but it would’ve been some place else. At the last minute, those plans were changed, so I said, “Yes” to going to the dump. What a blessing!

At the dump, there were so many kids who wanted to play. I was helping out the team that was putting together a play-set, and before anything was bolted down, the kids started playing. They couldn’t even control themselves, nor did they want to. That’s how I want to be with God’s love: uncontrollable.

This one little girl grew attached to me. I would tell you her name, but I forgot to ask. In Spanish, she would ask me to play. In English, I would play with her. It was that simple, that pure…so much fun. She would get on the monkey bars (I think that’s what they’re called), but she wasn’t big enough to carry herself across, so I would hold onto her legs and walk under her until she reached the other side. She wanted to do this over and over again. She was so happy.

10614229_10203789417195502_4497315076419453854_n (2)Then, she pulled me along to go down the slide with her. She was so precious, was having so much fun. Near the end, she saw the basketball hoop and the basketball. She wanted to make a basket so badly, so I would lift her up and hold her there while she threw the ball up. We must’ve attempted this like ten times. She never made a basket because I just couldn’t lift her high enough, but it didn’t matter. We both laughed together so much. Laughter breaks down barriers, demolishes walls, reveals strongholds. Laughter can speak louder than words.

I’m so glad I went to the dump, but more than that, I’m so glad that my heart is usable by God. His love for this little girl was so strong that He had me there to play with her. We were each there for a specific reason. I hope each person received a revelation of God’s love for them and for those they served. He’s so amazing! I’m just excited to live!!