Seasons...

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Seasons!  Yesterday Truett played his last baseball game as a member of a Carrigan team.  He played in three tournaments in All Stars, giving it his all every time.  He played so well behind the plate in one game, that the coach from the opposing team came over and congratulated both him and our coaches on his performance.  Wow.  And to think when he started catching in Rookies it was only because he wanted to play the infield!  As catcher, he played every inning of every game in All Stars.  His team would have most certainly been in trouble without him as Truett was the wall blocking home plate.  I was so proud of his heart.  He finished his Carrigan career with 3 RBIs, a triple and a run scored of his own, as well as another aggressive game behind the plate.  We finished 5th...just out of the finals, but I am so thankful that Truett did his job well.  He is glad baseball is over to make way for some low pressure summer fun! As this season comes to an end, I am thankful for all of the character growth he has experienced, the wonderful friends I have made (and will miss!), and the hours spent as a baseball mom.  Carrigan Park has been a blessing to us and will be greatly missed as we move up to Rotary Sportsplex and the next age division.  So I have washed my last Carrigan uniform...good bye baseball season!

And another season comes to pass...

Since Bradlee was about 8, she has been asking about going on a mission trip. Obviously, that was a desire that needed to be placed on hold.  Last year she began asking again so we looked for mission opportunities. Even though God closed several doors, He opened one that was such an amazingly perfect fit that it could only be attributed to Him.  A friend once told me that having children was like having pieces of your heart running around outside of your body.  So a piece of my heart got on an airplane to go to Haiti this morning.  As I write this, my girl is on the mission field, following the plan God has laid for her.  We dropped her team off at the airport at 5:30 this morning where they were full of hope and excitement for their adventure, covered in prayer by their friends and family.  Riding home I was thinking of all of the planning that resulted in a quick goodbye on an airport curb.  I was thinking about her safety, even though I trusted God with everything, knowing He loves her more than I.  I thought about all she will learn this week.  And then I thought what a big step she had just taken towards adulthood.  It is hard not to be sad when I think of my children growing up, but I remember, this is what our job is!  We are to raise them up in Christ, teach them His word, equip them with all they need to do great things.  We aren't raising them to stay at home forever being children.  They are to be productive adults, good people, ideally living with an eternal perspective. I pray we have done our job, through the grace of God, to equip her to do what she needs to do this week.  I am so proud of my girl and all that God has in store for her!

Toothless grins and Homeruns...

It seems that every time a milestone passes in our lives, no matter how big or small, I am prompted to write at least a little about it. After 2 years of T-Ball starting in 2004, Truett moved to playing baseball at Carrigan Park in Spring of 2006.    I was reading in Truett's scrapbook a memory that was long ago, yet seems like yesterday: "Our rookie season ended with a grand finale.  We played in the city tournament and had a great time.  Truett's team played very well.  The fourth game we played was against the team that had beaten us in the regular season and had finished first in our league. At this point, the tournament took second place to all other events, because during this game, TRUETT HIT A HOMERUN.  Anything else was just a bonus."   Now he is beginning his final season at Carrigan, one I face with mixed emotions. My son is no longer a toothless little boy but a tall 12 year old young man.  Last night, however, he achieved a long time goal:  he hit a ball out of the park.  His first at bat of the season, in his home park.  It wasn't a make it around the bases as little rookies committed error after error for an in the park home run, but rather a long, soaring hit that landed solidly on the other side of the fence.  One hit by a handsome 12 year old.  One thing that hasn't changed, though, is the winning smile stretching across his face.  That grin of shock and surprise as he rounded second and realized it was truly OVER THE FENCE was just as priceless as that toothless grin that crossed homeplate to the arms of a screaming mother in the dugout.  Now, last night I was still screaming, but I didn't scoop him up in my arms like I did all those years ago.  I subdued myself to a substantial high five and a hug.  I am blessed with a son that loves his family.  He is not embarrassed when I hug him, and he still hugs me every day and kisses me good night.  I hope he never outgrows that.  So, Truett will finish his final year at Carrigan, anxious to earn the "Iron Man" award, an award reserved for players that complete all six years (2 rookie, 2 minor, 2 major) at the park.  What happens after that, we're not sure.  What I do know, is that my oldest son has started his season off with a bang.  And everything after this, is just a bonus.

Memories!

Our story is a story of God ordained meetings and occurences.  It's a lot longer than I can post here at this time, but in honor of Valentine's Day, I will give an overview :)

Spring 1989, I was dating a Resident Advisor at Liberty University, where I was a student.  It was Youth Ministry focus week, and I attended a seminar with him in another class.  I was often being introduced to the guys in his dorm, so when a couple of fellas came up after the seminar, I didn't think much of it.  I remember the introduction, but nothing about the guys.  One of them whispered in hia ear and he laughed.  I asked what was said and he said he'd tell me later.  After we left, he said "That was one of my guys.  He said 'Please tell me that girl is your sister.' "  I thought it was funny.  Later that night, the "guy", Ben, went to the RA's dorm room and told him "One of these days, you're going to be without that girl.  And I'm going to take her out."  My guy thought that was funny, too.  Those are the only details I remember about our first meeting.  I couldn't have picked Ben out of a lineup if my life depended on it.  I guess you could say I was a loyal girlfriend, only having eyes for the guy I was with, but in reality, I'm just kind of oblivious that way.  I'm not really good about remembering people if I don't make a conscious effort!

Months pass...we are now in August.  My fella had gone home for the summer, and we weren't really serious to begin with.  It was no surprise to either of us when we decided to stop dating.  I was working at Winn Dixie, where I had been working since high school.  Several times people in the store would tell me that a guy had been asking about me.  They would describe him and I would be clueless as to who it was.  One evening I was working in the office and this guy comes in the store.  He asks one of our cashiers a question (a dumb question, I might add) and thankfully, the cashier he asked was busy, so she referred him to me, the bookkeeper working up in the "box."  The question?  "How do you make pink icing?"  I had to come down out of the office to help this poor fellow.  We went to the baking aisle and I handed him a bottle of red food coloring.  I explained that you add the red food coloring to white icing and that will make it pink.  I walked away.  He then asks "So, you just dump the whole bottle in?"  I remember thinking: "This guy is seriously domestically challenged."  "No, you add a little bit at a time until you get the color you want."  He tells me some ridiculous story about making a cake for a friend, wanting it to be as embarrassing and feminine as possible.  I smiled and walked away.  He calls again "Can I ask you another question?"  I at this point really just wanted to get back to work.  I turned and responded "Sure.  What is it?"  "Do you have a boyfriend?"  "Uh...no."  "Would you like to go out sometime?"  Keep in mind I had worked at this store for 4.5 years.  I had been asked out by a variety of interesting and not-so-interesting people who shopped there.  I had NEVER, EVER said yes to ANY of them.  So, why did I say yes this time?  Call it God.  I felt safe, secure, and confident that this guy was a good one.  Obviously, that guy was Ben.  Even funnier, he did not realize that the girl he met on campus that was dating his RA and the girl in the grocery store were the same person.  At least his taste was consistent!  And, he had to write a check for the food coloring.  I think it was 97 cents.  I still have the bottle, because, after all, Ben is a VERY smart guy.  His little story was all just to get my phone number.  It turns out, I was the one that wasn't very bright...it took me YEARS to figure out it was just a very creative pickup line!

There is more to our love story than that, but this was the beginning.  We got married in May of 1991...7 children and 20 years later, here we are.  I am thankful to God for the man he brought into my life all of those years ago.  Thankful for my children.  And thankful for red food coloring :)