There are very few things I enjoy more on a fall Saturday afternoon than tailgating with friends before a college football game. Living in Annapolis, this usually means tailgating before Navy games with our Annapolis friends. So when Navy traveled to South Bend to play Notre Dame today, we decided to “tailgate” at our house to watch the game with many of these same friends. I had it all planned out.
I should have known better. Last night, both of my kids were sick; high fever, upset stomach, thankfully (according to the pediatrician) just a virus and not the flu.

When I told my oldest son that our party was cancelled, he was disappointed and I spent the next several minutes sitting with him on the couch trying to find the “good side” of our altered plans. It was a great “life lesson” moment and I didn’t even realize it. I think he finally understood me when I said, “Well, at least the game is in South Bend and we can still watch it on TV. If the game was in Maryland and you were sick, we wouldn’t be able to go.”

In life’s disappointments, there are always blessings if you are willing and able to see them. Instead of spending today cooking, baking, cleaning up the house, and running last minute errands, I sat on the couch snuggled with my boys, windows slightly open enjoying the breeze. Not a bad way to spend a fall Saturday afternoon.