Sorry for my absence.

It’s World Cup time, which is by far my very favorite holiday sporting event. In fact, probably the reason I’m actually remembering to blog today is because there are no games. 🙂 Don’t get me wrong, I’m not just plunked in front of my television all day every day, but ESPN is on in the background as I get my daily work done. To be fair, I’m doing as little work as possible so that I can watch as much soccer as possible.

I’ve already made a note to myself to prepare accordingly and take June off completely from work in 2018. It’s better that way.

And if this doesn’t give you goosebumps and make you ready to cheer for the US of A on Tuesday (at 3:30pm EDT, so go ahead and clear your schedule because I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN), I’m concerned about your patriotism. 🙂

RIGHT? Amazing.

Speaking of amazing, forgive me for screaming on your computer screen, but VANDERBILT BASEBALL WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

I can’t even. I cried. I yelled. It’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced. And because you know me, you will appreciate what happens at the 1:00 mark of this video. I get very nervous, y’all. VERY. NERVOUS.

But we won. And these boys will forever be the first team to win a men’s national championship at Vanderbilt.

And oh my gracious did you see that Brian Miller proposed to my intern Megan Bonds ON THE FIELD after they won!?!? It was adorable and made me teary and happy and cheery and all of the above at the same time.

Because I need to have a productive day instead of crying the day away, I can’t get into telling you how much some of those boys have grown to mean to me and how when they leave this week for far off cities where they have been drafted I will become just a messy puddle of tears because I will miss them far more than they will miss me and it is always hard to love people that you know aren’t in your town to stay. (In my life to stay? Yes. In my town? Unfortunately not.)

(I run-on sentence when I emote. Forgive me.)

So the joy of them winning is only tainted a tiny bit by the truth that the season has ended and they now leave Nashville.

But overall, SO MUCH EXCITEMENT.

Earlier this week, a friend texted and said, “this is kind of your dream sports week, huh?” and BOY WAS HE RIGHT.

To make something not visibly spiritual into something overly spiritual, I experience God in sports. I know that may sound crazy, but I do. I find such joy and release and heart feels when I’m watching (or playing) sports. Maybe it’s the competition or the cheering or the athletic abilities on display, I don’t know. I just know that I feel like a good version of me when I get to watch sports I love and cheer for teams I love. So it has honestly felt like quite a gift from the Lord to have such fun sporting events to watch and care about these last few weeks as the World Cup began and the Vandy boys headed out to Omaha to attempt to bring home a trophy proving they are what I already knew- the best.

Here are my hopes for the World Cup:

I hope the USA keeps playing well and, beyond reason, I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN.

I am also cheering for:

• Brazil because they are the host country and I think they look fun
• France because they have the best haircuts of the World Cup
• Argentina because I want Messi to have a big win

But again- my truest heart lies with the USMNT… even if Michael Bradley doesn’t seem quite on his game and Jozy Altidore is injured, Tim Howard is a BEAST and Clint Dempsey plays to win every time he steps on the pitch.

Those are my thoughts. Your turn!

Do you have a favorite player or team for the World Cup?

Did you watch Vandy win it all on Wednesday night?