What do we know?

Tonight Alexa began a new activity. It was the first activity she has ever done drop-off style all alone. She has done drop-off style events, even overnight camp away, however; she always had at least one friend with her. This time, the venue was new, the people were new, we didn't know anyone. It was a new experience - for both of us! Afterwards, we had to run some errands and we ran into a 'friend'. Anyway, I was telling her where we had just come from. Her response was "wow, your kids are involved in a lot of things." I often tell my kids that sometimes it is not the words you say but how you say them. This 'friend' said this in a condescending, judgemental sort of way.
As a whole, most of my kids are not involved in much as far as the listing goes. But, when you are one of four, the miles / time involved really adds up. Owen is a gymnast. It is part of his identity. At the height of the season, he spends almost as much time with the guys at the gym as he does his dad. What started as a 45 minute commitment once a week as grown into much, much more. That is what happens; you commit to a sport, you increase in skill and level, obviously over the course of time, the money as well as time increases as well. He has been enrolled in one gym class or another for the past 9 years. That is a long, long time. Through the years, we have discussed if the time, money, effort Owen puts into the gym is worth it. I continually come up with "yes", it is, for so many reasons. Reasons he would probably not appreciate me listing publicly! Last year, Owen hurt his shoulder. It has increasingly become more and more painful. His coach suggested we go ahead and get it checked out. He has done damage to his rotator cuff, something that take time and a lot of therapy to correct. This shoulder injury has been tough. He has been down, he has been disconnected, he has been full of melancholy. I don't know what the Lord has in his future, I don't know if gymnastics may or may not play a role. I just know that, for now, that is where he is supposed to be.
Wondering why I am dwelling on this? I just watched Sara Groves video for the song "I Saw What I Saw." I have watched this video nearly a million times. Okay, not really a million, but definitely 10 - 15 times. Tonight, I as she was singing and I was watching the video, I was so completely broken. The sweet faces, the words on the screen, all of it. Tonight, was just overwhelming. Then, I started wondering, I wonder if anyone ever questioned her mother's motives - asking if she had too many voice lessons, too many piano lessons, too many guitar lessons, etc. How effective would she be traveling the world, singing of God's grace and abundance and bring an awareness like only a person of her stature can? I don't know if any of my children will ever use their gifts and talents for the Lord on a grand "change the world" mass scale. However, it is my prayer that they each have a platform in which they are able to use their gifts and talents as a tool to share the gospel. Those platforms look as different as each of my individual children - none greater or less than the other - just different. So, unless I ask you to continually drive my children to their events, pay for my children's events, or ask your opinion of said events, please, please keep your opinions to yourself!