June Highlights

I can't believe another month has come and gone and I haven't posted a single blog. The theme of June has continued to be baseball. After this weekend we added it up and we have watched 68 baseball games between our three boys. It's a good thing we all like it so much!!

Here are just a few of the memories June has left us with:

1. Chase attended the Jr. High Basketball Camp with about 35 other 7th grade boys and he made the tournament team. This team consisted of the 10 boys that the coach chose to play in a tournament at Evangel College. Chase played in 10 basketball games over three days and his team took 5th place overall. He was so proud of himself and so were we!

2. We made two trips to Harrison, AR where Chase and Garrett both played in baseball tournaments. Chase's team struggled during the 1st day of his tournament and rain cancelled the 2nd day.

This was Garrett's first out of state tournament and his team took 2nd place in their pool. Here is a picture of his team after their victory!

Garrett is on the far left of the bottom row.

(I don't know what was wrong with my camera --- I think there was sunscreen on the lens.)

3. Ethan started playing baseball and his team is undefeated!! He is the youngest boy on the team but that does not intimidate him in the least! He may be little but he is mighty!! He is so much fun to watch.

Here he is ready to field the ball at 3rd!

4. Chase attended church camp with his two friends, Matthew and Brice. This was a great time f spiritual growth for Chase and he is still talking about everything he learned during this week. I am so thankful that Matthew invited him to go, there has been a noticeable difference in my son ever since. I definitely think that he "Collided" with God during that week. (You'll have to ask Chase what that means!)

5. On Father's Day our entire family played a highly competitive game of baseball. It was a lot of fun and I hope that maybe we have started a new tradition that we will carry on for many years. Here is a picture of out team.

Did I forget to mention that we were the champions!!

6. I have decided to attend a small group bible study with some girlfriends this summer. I am so blessed to have so many girlfriends to study God's word with.

7. The hardest part of June has been our decision to leave our church where we have attended for many years. This decision has been like a dark cloud raining over the entire month of June. However, God has clearly shown us that He has closed the door of our service at that church and we know that when God closes one door He will be faithful to open another one.

That pretty much sums up our month of June. I can't wait to see what all God has for us in July!

Pier 39

Tonight we went to check out Pier 39. The walk there was as exciting as all the activity at the Pier. We continually got stopped by people and ended up donating $5.80 to various noble causes in the local San Francisco area. I told Chris we must have the word "Suckers" stamped on our forehead. We are learning to just keep walking even if it feels incredibly rude to do so. (I guess that's what you get for growing up in the Ozarks all your life --- who knew that in another city I would be too polite for my own good!!)

This is the entrance to Pier 39. It is really fun place to hang out, but being right by the bay it gets kind of chilly and very windy.My adorable Husband who put all the plans in action to take me along with him on this trip.

We ate Dinner why we were there and you could see Alcatraz from our table which was overlooking the bay.

I was hoping to finish the evening with a ride on a cable car to the Golden Gate Bridge but we ran out of time. All of the shopping can be a real distraction. I will just have to add this to my list of activities for tomorrow.

San Francisco or BUST!

After a total of 5 hours in an airplane we have finally made it to San Francisco. YEAH!! On the final leg of our flight I was able to take in God's handiwork from the height of 36,000 feet.

It was a beautiful sight!

This is definitely the biggest city I have ever been in and I find it to be completely exhilarating. Well, I do now that we have finally found our hotel!

Just catching up!

Wow, time just marches on and before you know it two weeks have past and you haven't posted a single blog. So much has happened in the past two weeks, some good -- some bad, but at the end of all I am left thankful for the wonderful life I have in Christ.

In order to catch up here is a list of my "Top 10 Moments" over the past couple of weeks:

1. Ethan has overcome his fears at baseball practice and is doing GREAT!
2. The Beth Moore bible study has been absolutely incredible.
3. Garrett has had perfect attendance this school year and will be awarded with a day field trip to Incredible Pizza and then an afternoon of play at the park. He is really excited!! It's great to see my kids learn that hard work and determination pays off.
4. Chase's team took "2nd" place in their baseball tournament in Branson over Mother's Day weekend. It was great to see so many people in my family come and support him. He literally had a whole cheering section during the championship game.
5. Ethan and I had a conversation about the meaning of Mother's Day. He thought that meant that I took care of everything because after all it is Mother's Day. When I explained to him that it really meant he was supposed to take extra special care of me on that day to show me how much he loves and appreciates me he asked this question, "Then when is kids day?" It was a really great glimpse into the mind of my 4 year old.
6. Chase finally completed his Science Fair project for this year and received an "A", YEAH!!
7. Garrett had Field Day at his school and enjoyed having his Dad with him the whole day.
8. Ethan had his Spring Program at preschool and with a little bribery he participated in every song. (I guess I should have also asked that he smile too.) We enjoyed an ice cream cone at Braum's afterwards for his accomplishment.
9. Chris was actually home for a week!! This is always a good thing, however it is something we are learning to treasure since he seems to be out of town more and more.
10. My trip to San Francisco with my husband is now only 2 days away and I am really excited!!

GO Tigers!

Chase had his first "AA" Baseball Tournament this past weekend in Nevada. It was a really fun weekend for the boys and the parents. The first couple of games were a little rough but we finished really strong on Sunday. We almost beat one of the top teams in "AA" Baseball for the State of Missouri with a final score of 8 to 6. This team actually won the whole tournament. Here are a few pictures of the weekend:

Chase & his Dad flipping the coin to start the ballgame.

Chase pitching.

Everyone always says that Chase's arms were really long --- I think this picture proves it!

Batter Up!

Chase ready at 3rd Base.

Chase and his buddy Matthew making claim on their beds at the Bunk House.

This is where all the ball players and our three wonderful coaches stayed Saturday night while the rest of the parents enjoyed a nice quiet evening in our hotel rooms. I know that I enjoyed a great girls night out with Sherry since both of our husbands happen to be coaches. The boys all had a great time and can't wait for another tournament in Nevada to do it all over again. However, I don't think that the coaches share the same sentiment. Something tells me, or should I say three somethings told me, it was a good thing that Sherry and I took advantage of the weekend while it lasted because they will not be doing that again this summer!

All in all it was a great weekend. I always love to watch Chase play baseball!!

Happy Birthday, Garrett!

Eight years old! I really don't know where all the time has gone with this guy. Garrett is one of the most kind and compassionate kids that I have ever met. He always thinks of himself last, unless you try to put him in and uncomfortable shirt or pair of socks and believe you me he knows which ones they are as soon as you pull them out of his drawer. (This must be something he inherited from his Aunt Meme, my Mom has shared similar childhood stories of her.) Garrett always has a hug and kiss for me and he still holds my hand when we walk into his school together. Everyday with Garrett is an adventure. He is such a risk taker and rarely does life bring a challenge to Garrett that he does not give it everything he's got. I can't really tell you anything that he has ever been too afraid to try. He brings so much joy and laughter into our family. I am so excited about all of the adventures that he still has ahead of him and I feel truly blessed to be right beside him through them all. Happy Birthday, Garrett! Mommy loves you so much!!

Happy Birthday, Chase!

Twelve years ago today was one of the four most exciting days of my life. I became a Mom and got to hold my baby after 9 months of anxiously waiting. I cannot believe how fast these 12 years have gone by. Every year with Chase continues to bring excitement and fun and I know that the next years of his life will bring more excitement and a lot more fun times. I am so proud of him and I can't wait to see all the ways he will completely amaze me this next year. I love you Chase, and I want to wish you a very Happy Birthday!

"1st" Baseball Practice

Ethan finally had his 1st Baseball Practice. I say finally because he has been anxiously waiting for his opportunity ever since his brother's started about 8 weeks ago. He put together his practice apparel and was quite proud of his accomplishment. After all don't you think he looks like a "real" baseball player, too? He is so funny! Once we got to practice he was so excited to take the field and warm up, which he did without hesitation. When practice started Ethan gave it his best. He looked so little out there with all of his other teammates (most of which are 6 and Ethan is only 4). I think after a few more practices he will get more comfortable and really enjoy it. I am so proud of my little guy and I can't wait to see this little superstar take the field!

One of My Worst Fears Realized

I am extremely queasy when it comes to my boys getting hurt. My immediate response almost every time without fail is to turn my back to them and say, "I can't look! CHRIS WHERE ARE YOU?" Chris has always asked me what I would do if something happened to one of the boys when he is out of town and I have always just prayed that I would never have to find out. Well Friday morning I found out. Garrett had been at a sleep over at his cousin, Caden's house and while playing basketball he managed to hit his head on a table and cut his left eye open. Thankfully I am blessed to have family so close by! Tonya came over and took care Chase and Ethan, while Tammy and I took Garrett to urgent care where we were met by my Mom. Garrett was so nervous and scared; not to mention totally mad at me for making him go. Once again Dr. Jess was working and came to the rescue. He took excellent care of Garrett and was able to glue his eye instead of stitches. When he told Garrett this great news you could visibly see him begin to calm down. His eye is healing up and I learned that I can do it --- when I have to!

Our "16th" Anniversary!

Wow, it has been 16 years since I said, "I do!", to my wonderful husband. I can't even imagine what my life would be like without Chris. We have shared so many wonderful moments together. He has truly been my best friend since my sophomore year in high school. He is the first person I want to talk to when I get good news, and when I get bad news he can still to this day wrap his arms around me and make me feel like everything will be OK. We have definitely had our share of tough times too, but I really believe our marriage is stronger because of them. I am so thankful to have such a godly man as my spouse. He is the spiritual leader of our family and we can all see Christ shining through Chris' life. I can't wait to see what the next 50 years will hold for us. I do know that whatever comes our way I am glad to go through it with this man by my side!

WEEK 3 UPDATE: Coach to 5k

Well, it is the end of week 3 and I am extremely frustrated. If this weather doesn't start cooperating I am going to scream!! Chris was out of town for this week and I only had certain windows of opportunity to run that I would not have any children with me. One of the reasons that I was so excited about this program was that I did not need to join a gym to do it. Well silly me didn't stop and think that the weather could be one of my biggest obstacles. So I am calling an official "do- over" for week 3 and I am going to try again. I will keep you posted!

My Easter Blessing

Well another Easter has come and gone. I truly love Easter and what it represents. I am so thankful to serve such a loving Savior. This year while I was singing in the cantata at church we came to a part where our pastor led the congregation in communion. My oldest son had been sitting with my Dad during the service until this portion of the service when my Dad assisted with administering the elements. I was looking at him from up in the choir wishing that I could be beside him during this special part of the service when I was truly blessed by what I saw. My son was partaking of communion like such a young man. I began to cry and thank the Lord not only for the relationship that I have with Him, but for the relationship that He has with my son. As a parent I can honestly say that it is my hearts greatest desire for my boys to grow up serving the Lord and following His direction in their lives. Sunday it was like I got to peak into the window of my son's soul and I was thrilled with what I saw.

"Play Ball!"

Well on April 3rd & 4th we kicked off our baseball season officially with 7 ballgames! Chase and Garrett both played in the Tune-Up Tournament at Cooper Sports Complex in Springfield.

Garrett's kicked the weekend off with two games on Friday night and his team WON both games! Then on Saturday he played two more games and they won one and lost one. They finished the tournament in 2nd place!! Garrett is the catcher on his team as you can see. He made a play at home plate and got the runner out and then in the same game he made a throw to second base and got a runner out. You could see him smiling from ear to ear even underneath his catcher's mask. He really does and amazing job.

Chase played all of his games on Saturday and his team did a really good job. Chase played mainly at 3rd base but he also played some short stop and pitched a couple of innings. They finished the tournament 1 and 2 and if we could play two of the games over again I really think we would have won. We will just chalk our errors up to beginning jitters. Chase did a great job in the field and at bat. Including a really amazing play at 3rd base where he quite literally made a rolling dive to catch the ball.

Even Ethan joined in on the fun. Could this be a glimpse into his future? Hang in there Ethan your team will start playing soon.

All in all it looks like we have a great baseball season ahead of us and I can't wait!

WEEK 2 UPDATE: Coach to 5k

Well, I said I would give a weekly update on my progress. I am already mid way through my second week of this program, but I waited until today to blog about it. I haven't exactly had the best attitude about it this week, however I have stayed true to my commitment and have already completed 2 of the 3 days. It is a great feeling when I am done but I can't exactly say that I look forward to it. I will keep pressing on and let you know how week 3 goes.

"When I Grow Up"

Last night Garrett performed in a 2nd grade musical at his school titled "When I Grow Up". The music teacher asked that he come dressed up like what he wants to be when he grows up. Garrett dressed up as a football player. I really wasn't too surprised by this considering that all my kids are aspiring to be professional athletes. His Grammy couldn't get over how much he looked like his Dad up there singing his little heart out! While I was having fun watching this program, I began to realize that with as fast as the days become weeks, and the weeks become months, and the months become years; he will become this grown up he sang about all too quickly. I need to be his encourager and his biggest supporter. I want to make sure that all my boys know that they can be whatever they want to be if they will work hard and always do their best. The sky really is the limit and I never want them to stop dreaming!!

Couch to 5k

Here is a picture of my new running shoes. Yes, Dad, I did say running shoes. I have always admired people who go out and run 3, 5 and 8 miles and even say they enjoy it. A couple of my friends have even done the whole marathon thing. It would have to be so empowering at the end of the race to have accomplished such a feat. Then of course there are all the other perks, like losing weight, getting in shape, stress relief . . . but where do I start.

Well, my sister, Tonya, had all the answers. She told me about “The Couch to 5k Running Plan" and how it is a great plan for new runners. So, we have decided to accept the challenge together and hold each other accountable to our goal along the way. Trust me; I am going to need that accountability!! I was even reluctant to share this new goal in fear that I would not see this to completion. Instead I am going to blog about this experience once a week as another way to keep myself focused on this goal. All right, I guess there is no time like the present to get started, so here I go!!!

Election Day

Well the election for next school year's PTA Board was held this morning and I was elected to be VP. I have waited many years to get more involved in my children's school and with Ethan being in preschool three mornings a week next year, it seemed liked a good time to step up my involvement. I am so excited about this opportunity, I just had to share it with you all!!

March 18th - A Day of Reflection

Well, another year has come and gone. I didn't know that it was possible but I think this year went by even faster than the last. In my daily routine it is often easy for me to get distracted by all the little things that irritate me instead of choosing to see all that I have to be thankful for. So on my birthday I decided to spend some time reflecting on my life in this present season and all the wonderful blessings that I have. Besides my relationship with the Lord, the four most important people in my life are my Husband and my three sons and I feel extremely honored that during this season of my life God has called me to be a stay at home mom to take care of these most precious treasures. In this time of reflection I have found a verse that I am going to memorize about complaining ("Do everything without complaining or arguing." Phillipians 2:14). Instead when I start to get frustrated I will remind myself of a verse I learned long ago but still packs quite a punch ("This is the day the Lord has made; let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it." Psalm 118:24). I am so excited about this new year in my life and I can't wait to see all of the blessings the Lord will bestow on me and my family through this next year!

Here are just a few pictures of my family at Rib Crib where we ate for dinner on my birthday.

Thanks for taking me out to eat boys --- it was a real treat not to have to cook!!

Birthday Lunch with Mom

My mom took me to Red Lobster today for a birthday lunch. It was really good and I totally enjoyed the time with her. I am so blessed to have all my family so close to me. I know that I often times take for granted that we are able to do things like this with each other.

Thanks for the great lunch, Mom!

SURPRISE!

While I was sitting at Garrett's basketball practice a complete SURPRISE walked in the door by the name of Stephanie Kurtz. I couldn't believe it! I had no idea that she was going to be in town and I wasn't expecting to see her at all. She had talked to Chris on Sunday and the plan to surprise me was born which they had pulled off without a hitch. Until I took Garrett to his Dad at Chase's baseball practice.

That is when I received my second SURPRISE! When I pulled into the parking lot I could see that Chris was bent over holding a shirt to his head. I went over to Stephanie's car and told her that I knew Chris was hurt and I didn't know if I could make myself walk over to see what exactly was wrong. After a few deep breaths I slowly made my way to within 10 feet of where he was standing and my fears were realized -- he was definitely hurt! He had been hit with a baseball bat right in the center of his forehead and was definitely going to need stitches. Stephanie took Garrett and Ethan to their Aunt Meme's house, Chase stayed at baseball practice in Coach Matt's care and Chris and I were off to urgent care.

A friend of ours is a doctor there and just happened to be working that night. He took great care of Chris and sent him on his way with a new "beauty mark" on his forehead in the form of 9 stitches. We then headed home where Stephanie was still waiting for our girls night out. The doctor did not want Chris to be alone in case of a concussion. So Stephanie, being the great friend that she is, agreed that we would just pick something up and bring it home so we could be with Chris. We had a great night eating Arby's, catching up with each other and watching the Biggest Loser. What a night!!

Birthday Dinner at Dad & Mom's

SCRUMPTIOUS! If I had to choose one word to describe the wonderful dinner that my Mom fixed for me and my family in honor of my birthday that would be it. She really out did herself fixing all of my personal favorites including her wonderful Coconut Cream Pie for dessert. It was a wonderful evening of dinner and conversation. It isn't very often that we actually have time to sit around a dinner table and take our time enjoying the moment. They (meaning my mom and sisters) also decided that even though it wasn't technically my birthday yet they would go ahead and let me open my gift. I am now the proud owner of a beautiful set of silver ware. (I must say that whoever picked it out has impeccable taste! LOL) I have had so much fun learning all the names of the serving pieces. I had no idea how deprived I had been all these years not having all these wonderful pieces in my silverware. I also received a special card from my Papa and Grandma with a very nice gift inside, and a phone call from my Grana who is in Texas right now. Thank you all for making this a very special evening. It is always good to feel loved!

"Take me out to the ballgame!"

Well, I now have not only one, not two, but three boys playing baseball this summer! Ethan and I went to a baseball meeting this morning so that he could be fitted for his uniform. He was so excited!! I am really glad that Chris and I agreed to let him play this year instead of making him wait another year. Ethan has spent every summer of his life watching one of his brothers play ball and I absolutely think that he has earned his own time out on the field. Once I knew for sure that Ethan would be playing ball too, I began to pray that God would work out all of their schedules. It was really important to me that at least one of their parents could be at their games cheering them on and with Chris' work schedule in the mix this looked like a giant request. Thankfully I serve a giant God!! I am happy to report that the boys all have their own night of the week to "Take me out to the ballgame!"

"I want to be a lion when I grow up!"

If you spend much time in my home you couldn't help but notice that my youngest son, Ethan, tends to spend more time on all fours than walking around on two feet; and more time speaking with a roar than speaking with words. This is something that we have tried to get him to stop doing because it totally sounds like he is going to hurt his throat and we have already had one black eye because of his feet getting out from underneath him which caused a chain of events that lead to a 1 on 1 battle with the carpet. The fact that he had a black eye lets you know who won the fight. We found this all to be a little frustrating to say the least until recently. . . Ethan was having a rather serious conversation with his dad when he made the following announcement, "Dad, when I grow up I want to be a lion!” Wow! I am a firm believer that you should let your kids dream as big as they want, and encourage them that they can be anything that they want if they put their mind to it and work hard. However, I don't feel like this particular scenario applies to my philosophy. Chris spent the next few minutes with Ethan explaining that God created him to be the very special little boy he is and he probably will not be able to become and lion, but if he uses his imagination he can be the biggest and bravest lion we have ever seen!

Challenging BUT REWARDING!!

Well, today my small group finished our bible study by Beth Moore on the book of Daniel. The study focused on living lives of integrity and words of prophecy. It was incredibly challenging but very rewarding. I have enjoyed really digging into the scripture; it is absolutely amazing how it all weaves together and applies to our lives today. I have also really enjoyed getting to know the ladies in the group. I am so thankful that they have dedicated their Friday mornings to this bible study. I am learning so much for them and I appreciate their friendships and the prayers. So as Beth Moore said in our final lesson, "May we go our ways like Daniels"!

Helping Grana

While my Grana is away on a warm vacation to Texas (I so wish I was with her!) we went down to check on her house and water her plants. While we were there we decided to move her office around for her. She needed to make room for a different filing cabinet that will make it a lot easier for her to get to all of her files. I think that we accomplished our goal, but the real test will be if it works for Grana! I am blogging about this because she said that while she was away she would check our blogs to keep up on what is going on here at home. This particular blog will quite literally do just that. I hope she likes it!

It can't be possible!

Last week I received a letter from the Ozark Jr. High School stating that Chase would be touring the facility on March 3rd and begin the scheduling process for next year. I paused while I read this and thought to myself "Are you kidding me! My son couldn't possibly be going into the 7th grade!" It has always seemed like Jr. High was an eternity away and now it is literally just around the corner. Where has all the time gone with my precious little boy who is now taller than his Grammy and wearing the same "size 11" shoe as his dad? He is growing into quite a young man and I am so proud of him. If you are reading this Chase, your mom and dad love you so much and we will always be here for you!!

Picky Eaters

Chase came home from school today and made a declaration that he is going to start eating healthier. You see, Chase is a very picky eater! So he proceeded to go to the refrigerator and see what I had for him to try. You see he eats lunch every day with a friend on his baseball team named Jack. Jack eats very healthy according to Chase, and according to Chase he has quite a bicep. (I think it is the bicep muscle that is motivating this sudden change in diet!) Anyway, he decides to first try carrots and then some red grapes. My poor child spent 10 minutes psyching himself up for his very first bites followed by another 5 minutes over the kitchen sink gagging in such a manner that you thought he might lose a lung. I told him he should be proud of himself for trying -- that is more than his father would ever be willing to do.

Little Builders

On Friday evening one of my girlfriends called and asked if me and the boys would like to go with her and her son to the "Build and Grow" at Lowes on Saturday. So Saturday morning I took Garrett and Ethan to Lowes. It was the coolest thing!! Each little builder gets their very own carpenter's apron, goggles, and a project to build. This time they could choose to make a Jewelry Box or a Valentine Mailbox. The boys both thought they were really big stuff when they had their very own hammer, nails, sand paper and blueprint of their project to build with. After they completed their project they each received a badge for their accomplishment that they will sew onto their carpenter's apron. I am so glad that Emily and Alex thought to invite us along!! This is something that Lowes does twice a month for FREE. The boys can't wait to go back on February 28th to make their own Race Car. I would highly recommend this to parents and children of all ages. Here is the link if you would like to check it out for yourself: https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/

Happy Valentine's Day

This morning at about 8:45 I received a very special delivery. Every year on Valentine's Day I receive a single long stemmed rose from my Dad. It always means so much to me!! But it is not the beautiful rose that I treasure most, it is the person that delivers the rose to me with a hug and a kiss along with the priceless reminder of how much he loves me. Thank you, Dad, for always making me feel so special and so loved. I am truly blessed to have you as my Dad!!!

A special "Thanks!" to my Mom

I do not know what I would do without my Mom. Tuesday nights are absolutely crazy for my family and when Chris is out of town it only adds to the craziness. But my mom always comes to my rescue! I am not the greatest person about asking for help, so when she calls and asks if she can fix us dinner and help get one of the boys to practice, it is so appreciated. It not only makes life easier for me but the boys really enjoy this time with their Pop and Grammy. Thank you Mom, your love and support means so much to me and my family.

Mommy's Little Helper

I have such a good little helper when it comes time to clean the house. Ethan is always ready to help in anyway that he can (or maybe I should say in anyway that Mommy will let him). He was right beside me as usual today when I began cleaning. I just had to snap a few pictures of all his hard work.




Isn't he just the most adorable little guy! Ethan is definately mommy's little helper and I will miss him so much when he goes to school. Thankfully he still has another year of preschool before I have to worry about that!!

Just For You, Grana!

This past Tuesday I was invited to my Mom's to have dinner in honor of my baby sister's 30th birthday. While I was visiting with my Grana we had her get on the computer and check out these blogs that everyone has been talking about. She really enjoyed catching up on everthing my sister had been blogging and that's when it hit me ... I need to get in on this too! I have never been great about picking up the phone and just catching up with family and friends. So here it is my online journal in which I will Savor Life's Moments We're Going to Miss.