Friend shoots are genius. Everyone should have one.
A couple of weeks ago, I got the opportunity to go to the Women's World Cup in Winnipeg, Canada. It was a trip of a lifetime, despite not having much to do in Winnie.
I traveled by plane, which took forevvvvvvver. Tanner, Haleigh and Courtney made a road trip of it and met me in "Canada's Gateway to the West". I honestly got chills every time I saw a little girl in a soccer jersey in the airport.
Now that is my dream. Making soccer accessible to girls everywhere. To change desires, cultures and societies. I want to be a part of that. I want to be a part of that movement. #SheBelieves
We couldn't tell if we were allowed to bring my camera into the stadium, so decided to bypass the thought and not risk it. Instead I just brought it with us as we explored the city.
Things I learned: Drake is from Winnipeg; Winnie the Pooh got it's name here; Winnipeg looks like a ghost town in most places; it's really close to the artic circle; you can always eat a bagel from Tim Horton's because it's everywhere; Minnesota is only an hour away; Canadians are not just our brothers up North- they have their own currency and may even speak French
I know some of those statements seem quite ignorant, but it was different having to live my head knowledge out. I tend to rope Canada in with the North (which can appear to be it's own nation...) I tend to forget that a lot of things make Canada different--like governing bodies and history. Despite all that, I spent the weekend humbled from the entitlement that comes with being an American.
Side Note: Could you imagine, studying the French and Indian War from a Canadian perspective?! MIND BLOWN. #nerd
My trip was roughly 3 days. It was all for the Friday match against Sweden in the bracket of death. We all wanted revenge on Pia...
On Friday, the day of the match, we decided to explore the city. The night before, everyone else tried to take the bus and got lost. They were not hopeful for the day's adventure's.
We ended up finding a jazz festival, coffee joint and explored what downtown had to offer. We then headed back so Courtney could put on her war paint.
This is the view from our hotel room. It was insane. // We were literally at the airport.
The day after the game, we went to this market some nice ladies on the bus told us about. We were blown away with the kindness of the locals.
It was a hodgepodge of different national foods, and a great place to hide from the muggy rain.
I wish I had more of the actual game, but am hoping our wanderings will suffice.
Last night I tagged along to a show at the Bijou. A soulful rockabilly of a chiaroscuro night. When the light meets the dark. When the uniting of a family long lost joins together. Where people of desperation cry out for their need of love. “Love -- it’s what I need,” behind fogged glasses and the flashing of lights. The cries of the people rejoice. They declare. It’s what they long for. It’s what they need in wholeness and in truth. Why do they want it so desperately?
Why is that a question of every age, every nationality? People hope in desperation, with puppy posters and peace signs. Declaring that love and acceptance will solve the issues of today and tomorrow. That the refinement of the earth comes down to one act: love.
Now, I certainly believe that our issue is that. To fully love and accept love. But only? That would be a lie. A lie and an issue of what the word actually means. To know love, the true master of the verb and the noun. That master that is fully love and fully peace. He's fully man and fully God.
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