Caleb's hockey

 Our son Caleb decided to join the local recreational league hockey this March. It has been fun to watch him compete in a sport again. He's played golf the past few years, but that is not a spectator sport! He was a little nervous to join, partly because he'd never played a real game. He could definitely ice skate, and he played lots of hockey in our garage (on roller blades) with his sisters.

He has done really well and enjoyed it a lot! He's made lots of goals and learned as he's played. We've also enjoyed seeing him indoors, instead of freezing in the wind, rain, or boiling in the sun (like in baseball!).

He's played the lower levels in his league, which are C and D. They had similar guys on two teams. The last night that they played this season with the D league was their championship, and they won! They even had an imitation Stanley Cup that they got to hold and skate around with. It's been fun to cheer with his girlfriend (now fiancée), our niece, and his sisters. We take a bag of blankets with us to the ice rink.

His first jersey was an old loaner that said "JIM" on the back, so that's what we called him when we cheered.

He got a New Jersey halfway through the season with our last name on it. It was spelled wrong, but he wore it anyway. 

The skates make him seem really tall!

Even if he has grown up, we're still his parents cheering him on!

Genesis 18:3-4
He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree."

Job 37:9-11
The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.

The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters his lightning through them.

JUCO... 2017

Some of my friends and diligent readers may have seen me post in the past about JUCO. JUCO means Junior College, and every year our town hosts the World Series. It is lots of fun to attend the games, see friends and watch some great baseball! We've attended every year since we were married, we've brought our babies, had date nights there, brought all the kids on Saturday (when there are 4 games), and love to cheer on our 'favorite' teams.

Cool fruit display carved by a man in our town...

For the 3rd year in a row, our son has gotten to be a batboy for one region, for at least one game. The teams play a double elimination tournament, and each team that Caleb has been batboy for has been out after 2 games! Such a bummer! We enjoy getting to know one of the teams a little bit, and we get to attend a BBQ sponsored by one of the local Lions Clubs.

A cool dedication at the beginning of one game...

When Bethany got cold, she put my sweatshirt over her head... :-D

 On Memorial Day, a veteran was flown in with the hospital helicopter...

 A nice view of the field during a game...

 Hubby and daughter kept score...

 A runner heading to home plate and another to 1st base!

 We enjoyed a date night to one game...

My youngest sat on my lap... loved it!

It was another fun year enjoying baseball... we'll go to some of our minor league games on that field later this summer!

Psalm 19:5
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

Psalm 119:32
I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Spring baseball mom checklist

I have been a baseball mom for many years. I have fine-tuned my bag of items that I bring to baseball games, to watch my son play ball. If you have any team gear or team colors, wear those of course. It is spring, and the weather can be unpredictable, so I like to be as prepared as possible.

Here is my unofficial list of what I pack for baseball games (may work for soccer or other sports too)

-Hoodie sweatshirt
-Light jacket or windbreaker
-Several fleece blankets
-Bleacher seat or crazy creek chair (an investment, but worth it!)
-Snacks for the kids (siblings) who may be with you
-Cell phone for texting and camera
-Socks if wearing sandals
-Water bottle (for each person)
-Cash for concession stand (I try to keep this to a minimum)
-Hat to keep out sun and tame hair in the wind
-Umbrella (keep out sun or rain)
-Tissues in pocket or purse
-Band-aids for trips and falls on concrete
-Sunglasses


Several of these items I store in my purse (tissues, band-aids, sunglasses, cell phone) and others I put into another bag, including hat, umbrella and blankets. Usually the weather changes throughout the season, beginning with cooler days in the start of the season, and ending with shorts and no blankets or jackets at the end of the season.

Four of us crowded under our old umbrella!

Depending on the time of the game (ours are usually at 5:15 or 7:30), I may or may not bring snacks. I try to make an easy dinner that we can eat before or after the game all together as a family. I like to make sandwiches, soup, spaghetti and salad, or wraps for dinner on those busy nights. I do as much prep work as I can before the 5:15 games, such as setting out the pans, making egg or tuna salad, making a green salad, setting the table, etc.,

Sometimes the chairs can double as an umbrella!

Of course, there are always times that things get forgotten. My girls will forget a water bottle, or the bleacher seats will get pulled out of the van. Sometimes we only have one or two blankets, sometimes the kids will sit on them. We have a picnic blanket that can be unzipped and helps keep out rain. But there are days that it really pours, and we just go back to the van.

Sometimes the kids will bring their own bags with toys, balls, coloring or activity books, a sweatshirt or jacket and notebook to write in. It helps the games go by faster when they get tired of sitting and cheering. The games can get long for little ones. I enjoy when grandparents come so that they can talk to and hold the kids.

I am ready for a great baseball season, I hope you are too! I may need my umbrella for games this week...

PLAY BALL!

 While it doesn't talk about baseball in the Bible, it does talk about running, which is part of baseball...

1 Corinthians 9:24
[ The Need for Self-Discipline ] Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Galatians 2:2
I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...

All-Star baseball 2015

Our son Caleb made the little league All-Star team for the third year in a row! My hubby volunteered to coach, so they were both really involved! We endured 3 weeks of practices, and then one week of tournament games. The boys worked hard, played hard and had a great time. They lost two games and were out of the tournament, the last game being a heart-breaker. They lost the game by ONE point. It was a big disappointment for the team. We had a team party with pizza, cupcakes and awards. It was a great season, and we are so proud of our boy!

 The cool jersey shirt!

 Up to bat, ready for a hit...

 Pitching lots of strikes...

 Watching the younger boys play in their championship game...

 What a great group of kids! They are all winners in my book!

1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Galatians 2:2
I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Caleb the JUCO bat boy... 2015

Every year our town hosts a college baseball tournament. Our baseball-loving boy has always wanted to be a bat boy for one of the teams. A few years ago, we learned that they like the bat boys to be 12-13 years old. So this was the first year that Caleb could be a bat boy. A friend of ours from church is involved with the local Lions club, and they sponsor a team every year. Part of their sponsorship is providing bat boys for the team. So we talked to our friend about it, and Caleb got in to be a bat boy on Memorial Day! He was SO excited, loved attending practices and being a bat boy for one game. He would have been the team's bat boy again, but we left town and didn't get to be there for the final games. They went to the championship game and lost! They won a few awards at the awards banquet, though. It was a great experience and he hopes to do it again next year!

 In the team's dugout, watching pre-game warm-ups...

 Inside the dugout...

 Bats and hats go in and on these shelves...

 His view from the dugout toward the plate...

 The team lined up, waiting for the pre-game show to be finished...

 There's my boy, doing his job!

The team celebrating a home run! We enjoyed attending a BBQ, learning some players' names and being able to cheer for them. It was a great game and they won!


Joshua 1:16
Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

2 Samuel 7:3
Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Caleb's All-Star summer baseball

Our 11 year-old son Caleb just finished his All-Star baseball season. This was his 2nd year being an All-Star and he learned a lot! Their team did very well, but did not make it to state this year (They did last year.) But they battled for it! They played 6 nights in a row, and lost to the same team twice. They were tough! Caleb had a great time being with older boys-- they were all 12 & under. He was the only "under" being 11. But he held his own and played very well!

 Showing off his uniform and his new white pants...

 Lining up for the national anthem...

 My boy got to pitch one half of a game, and he did awesome! He got to throw his knuckleball a few times, and really liked seeing batters swing at it. :-D I was pleased with that picture-- it's hard to catch his wind-up!

 His team warmed up every day for an hour and a half-- lots of good practice for him!

 After their final loss, they did get 2nd place pins. It was sad that baseball is over for a while... they really wanted to win and go to state!

 The final huddle, "Go Monument!"

The team all together one last time. I'm sure we'll see some of these boys around next year, maybe even this fall in fall ball! Their coaches were great!


1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God..

Faithful Friday

Instead of Thankful thursday this week, I am going to share my thankfulness on Friday...

Here are just some of the many ways God has shown his faithfulness to me...

#729- Thankful for the birth of my new niece Annalise born last Thursday morning!

#730- Rebekah put Mallory's hair into pin curls last week one afternoon, and it was cute and curly the next day!

 #732- For the pictures I got of my sister, her new baby and older boy from her and my parents!
#735- A new baby is such a miracle from God!

 #733- Had a lovely lunch with my friend Dionne and her boys Friday. They were looking for animals over the fence!

 #734- For finding and saving seeds from my four-o'clock plants! They look like lemons, I think!

#743- Our son Caleb pitched the first two innings of his baseball game this week. They won 13-6!

 #744- Joshua read a book to the kids in school to start the day.

#745- A snack snack during homeschool- Cheez-It Scrabble tiles! Fun and delicious!



Isaiah 49:15
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

Luke 1:44
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Luke 2:12
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”