text:
After missing the Major League Soccer playoffs for three consecutive seasons, the Columbus Crew is happy to be on the receiving end of scathing attacks from opposition coaches. It means that it's finally being taken seriously again.
After last weekend's scoreless tie at Toronto FC, the TFC coach John Carver said that Columbus came "to spoil the game [and]... to take their
time." Schmid's bemused response? "I watched the Toronto-D.C. game [Wednesday] night," he told Michael Arace, "and Toronto was bunkered down pretty good. Maybe Mr. Carver understands how the
momentum of games can change."
"The majority of coaches attempt to win with defense," writes Arace. "Those who succeed are criticized more harshly because, well, they're beating
everyone else. At its best, the Crew has the greater share of possession, moves in a smooth transition through the midfield and strikes with ferocity. At its worst, it adapts and finds a way to get
a point, as it did in Toronto." One of the ironies of Carver's comments, he adds, is that the Crew is ranked among the top goal-scoring teams in MLS.


text:
What a fun day we had here in Zimpeto, Mozambique! Everything went so smoothly and I am really grateful for that as I was still trying to get my head around it, ten days after returning from the US!
35 outfits, 35 presents, 35 drinks, one big bicycle, one tricycle, three soccer balls, three dvds, a tonka truck and a reindeer headband = a successful, joyful Christmas! It's hard to tell whether the presents or the massive chicken dinner that follows is the most popular part of the day! You can look at the photos and try and decide!
The world over, kids love video games!
Neto is all smiles in a sea of boys and their presents!
Jerome and the rest of the boys love the chips and sweets!
Shelton is enjoying one of the dolphin toys I found at a thrift store in the US for .25 cents each! Score!
Room Three Pumpkins, the youngest bunch! They LOVE that there are skateboards on their new clothes!
No one would blame you if you started humming, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" when you see this! Click on it to see a larger photo with Pai, in black in the center, missing his teeth.
Silly boys, tricks are for kids!
That's a lot of chicken!!!
(Obviously, that's for the whole center, not just my boys!)
Sam is doing his best to eat all of his!
I hope you all have enjoyed a Christmas as lovely as mine has been (although much cooler I hope!), giving away love and blessings to those who appreciate it so much!
A special Thank You to Rock Harbor Church in Costa Mesa, California for helping sponsor our Christmas celebration this year! We appreciate all of you who give sacrificially to help provide for these precious boys. May God bless you richly in return!

subset: commoncrawl