Take me out to the Ball Game!

Baseball is teaching me some life lessons!

So, it is not a secret that I grew up in a family of all girls (poor Dad).  We played piano, were in musicals, in band, in theater, and did swim team……

I married a man that is one of four boys.   They played sports, ran in the woods, played sports, played, sports, etc.

So, the life that I have now is VERY different!  

We are a baseball family!  Slick plays 2^nd base, and Mr. D is a catcher.

Lessons I am learning from baseball:

·       The leaders are important!  I am talking about the coaches and the kids!

·       Playing catch is as not easy as it looks.  

·       Practice does matter.

·       Game days you wear a uniform, not an outfit.

·       The Umpire (not the referee) can also be called “Blue”

·       There are about 1,000 terms that people use that I may never understand (“pitch to hit”, “down the line”, “2 up/2 down”, “2 away”)   But, I am trying and learning.

·       Every person on the team counts.   Baseball is as much as a team sport as an individual sport.  

·       What you say in the stands matters.   We need to remember it is a game.

·       It is good to win and lose.  It teaches lesson that cannot be learned any other way.

Even if you have showered and fixed your hair, you will leave games with orange dirt in your hair, teeth, ears, (players and fans) and if you are playing in your underwear. 

Time to laugh!

So, I am ashamed to admit that having fun is not always on the top of my "to-do" list.

My list is full of work stuff, house stuff, family stuff, not anything fun.  I don't say....make sure and laugh today.

This hit me when my youngest said, "Let's play hide and seek."  My first thought was.....I just sat down.....

Then I looked at his sad eyes as I hesitated and I  said yes.  THEN I got one of my favorite smiles.....

Then next 20-30 minutes were us finding each other in the same spots we always hide in (we really need to become more creative!)

Then it ending when some cuddle time reading one of his favorite books.

You know what I missed out on when I said Yes to a game of hide and seek?

folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, and just sitting on the couch.

When I put that in perspective it should be really easy to say Yes to that.   Fun is one thing that keeps a family together.  It is in the laughter and the games that you build relationships with each other.

Watch this video with someone you love....and have fun laughing.....

I have not blogged for a long time….but this time of my life I see so much stress in people lives (AKA my own life).....

My heart says, "Enjoy each moment….they vanish like a blink of an eye."  But, I am tired......

THEN- I sat at lunch last Sunday with a family of young kids, a retired man, and my oldest son. The retired man looked at us and said, "You are living life now.  Enjoy it. You are working, you are tired, you are overwhelmed.  This is the life."

WHAT?

Then he said, "I am retired, I have to think of things to do each day.  I am not ‘needed' at games, at school, etc.  I have done that.  I miss it so much.  Please enjoy this time you are in now.  It is overwhelming, you are tired, but you know you are loved and needed."

*PAUSE GAME*

I realize that as life happens we tend to ignore it.  We just do it.  We take our kids here and there and are annoyed about how busy our days are……but what else are our days supposed to be?  

I have a busy life with a busy family.  It annoys me.  I'll be honest.

This man let me look at it by a different perspective.

This is my life and I would not want it any other way.  I love my husband more that words can say.  I miss a night with him without anything to do……

but…..I also love the life that we have created.  I love the nights at the baseball fields, the night of homework, the stress of where are my baseball cleats, the mornings that I wake up thinking…"Can I take a nap today?"……

But, this is my life.  I really would not want it any other way.  I do what I can to make it suitable.  We have crock pot meals, random what is in the pantry meals, cereal night, and drive through night……that is just ok.  It does not need to look like  http://www.pinterest.com…..it just needs to look like my family.

May is crazy.  A family life in May is NUTS.  I also was on a work conference and we are taking an anniversary trip that I planned thought this would be a great time before summer (WHAT?!?!?)…….Don't' even think about finals, teacher appreciation week, Mother's Day, Promotion Sunday is around the corner….then VBS!!!!!

I hope my life stays crazy.  I am thankful that a family needs me, that my calling needs me, that my husband needs me.  I will take a nap when I am 70-- right before I remind people my current age/life stage that this time is crazy busy so very special.  Don't miss out.....

Time is flying by….or slowing down…..what is it?

Time is such an odd trick on us.   In one moment you feel like times is slowly ticking by and then you blink and a year has gone by.

I can apply this to all aspects of my life family, work, friends, and school.

Family:

Mr. and I have been married over 13 years.   How did that happen?  I was under 21 when we started dating….hahah.   Then the life that we have built is going by so fast.  We have been in our home over 10 years, we have 2 kids who are gaining independence and our family life seems like it is just going by at lightning speed. I will not even begin to describe how fast my children's lives are going by....

Work:

I have been at my new church for over 6 months.   Some days it feels like I have been there for years and some days I feel like it is my first week.  But in the overview of life….I have been working at churches for over 6 years…..how is that?   My years as a teacher do not seem that far away, yet the group I taught when we moved here ….they will be Seniors this year…..and I taught them in 1^st grade.   So, time is passing by!

Friends:

My college friends that I text/talk with on a daily basis now….have been my friends for over  19 years.   HOW IS THAT?

My “new” group of friends that we found when we moved to the burbs in 2002….have been a part of our lives for over 10 years.

School:

This is where I feel like time is just a ticking by.   I am going part time so I have seen several groups of friends graduate, and many are away at their internships, and I am still chugging along taking classes.   I  know my timing is right for my calling, my family, and all of the people involved in my life.

The point:

My first night in United Methodist History there are about 30 people sitting in a room.   The common thread is Perkins School of Theology and a required class for ordination.   As the class introductions went on it was oh, do you know…YES…..and again, and again, and again.   The moments in our lives are very connected and the people in our lives are a

part of our story.  It became comical towards the end of class of how connected our lives really are!

Perspective:   Enjoy your time.  Love the people who are around you.  If you don’t love them at least be civil, they will most likely be a part of your life again.

Be real!

 *This one has Mom in it a lot….if you are a Dad reading this feel free to exchange Mom for Dad.  

So, for many Mommies today is a day full of emotions.   It is the 1^st day of ____________.

Here is the thing that I want to let all of us know…..whatever emotion that you are feeling is just fine!

·       To the Mom that has been crying all weekend and having a really hard time letting your kiddo walk into the school walls….I get it.

·       To the Mom that set her alarm early so there was NO WAY that the kids would be late on the 1^st day.  Then had a skip to her step on the way to school…..I get it.

·       To the Mom that slept in her “grown” kids room last night because it was so empty now that they are away at college…..I am sure one day I will get it!

·       To the Mom that is fine with summer, fine with school, and totally does not get why people care so much…..I get it!

·       To the Mom that will cry in about 2 weeks in the carpool line as she says good bye for the day…..I get it.

·       To the Mom that followed the school bus and hid behind a bush to see your kid walk into school…..I get it and know many women who have done it. 

Let yourself be you.   Don’t feel bad if you are not crying when you drop off your kid at school AND don’t hide it if you are.   The crying Mom (let’s call her Mom C) and the dancing Mom (let’s call her Mom D) are BOTH good Moms!   They just respond differently to their children going back to school.   I am sure some days Mom C is a happy when Mom D is sad.   The fact remains that they both love their children. 

So, today…..be who you are.   Be real.   It is so much easier!

If you need some words today to pray for your kids….this is my favorite back to school prayer:

Dear Gracious and Loving God,

As my children leave for school,

I pray that you will keep them in your care.

Send your Spirit to open their minds

to all that is true and beautiful and good.

Help them to see the gifts and talents

you have given them and to use them well.

Help them to grow in knowledge and wisdom.

Help them to be kind to others

and lead others be kind to them.

Give their teachers patience and understanding

and help them teach what is just and true.

Send your angels to guide and guard my children

and to keep them from all harm.

Open their young hearts to your presence

and enfold them in your peace and protection.

Hold them in the palm of your hand

and bring them home safely at day's end.

Amen.

Ouch!

Well, I woke up on Monday morning and could not move my left shoulder.

It is not how I planned to start my week.

Not only could I not move it but I was in crazy pain.

I also had to ask for help.  This is not an easy thing for me.

Mr had to help me get dressed, do my hair, and luckily I was able to do my own make up with one hand.  Who knows how I would look like if Dan did it!

Ross helping Rachel dress up

I am writing this just waiting for PT.....ouch!  I also don't look like this.....

After seeing the doctor and now and staring PT, it look like this can be fixed with some PT!  YIPPIE!

I am rambling....but the PERSPECTIVE:

Well, This week is crazy busy......like super busy.  I have zero time to stop life and be in pain.

So, I just kept going.....and had to keep asking for help......

I even had to ask the doctor to help me with my sweater.

This has made me slow down.   It has also reminded me that as much as Mr. and I have our highs and lows.....I am super glad that he is willing/able to slow down and help me get dressed!

So, I am still in pain, but it is better and I am sure in a few weeks it will just be a memory.

PERSPECTIVE:  To slow down and ask for help does more than make sure that I am dressed appropriate for work.   It humbles me.   It reminds me that slowing down is never a part of my calendar, but can be so important to me.   It brings a time to stop, a time to reflect, a time to just breath.

So, as the crazy lives of back to school begins take some time  to stop and enjoy the moments.

Staycation 2013

So, our stay-cation had been very nice.  It started with me thinking seriously about going to a hotel alone and having some "me" time.....but I counted to ten, drove around the block and came back home for the family.

We have not dipped our feet in the sand or ocean water. 

We have not look out on snow covered mountains. 

We have had some family time that involved worshiping as a family, painting the house, book reading, siting around a fire telling horrible  "scary stories", laser tagging, fishing, ATVing, ping ponging, etc.  

We are (like most families) always going.  We are usually spilt to make sure Slick gets here or Mr. D gets there.  Or someone has to work late, etc. 

It has been nice to just be a family of four.  Together.  

I miss the together time.  A new school year is about to start and when the bell rings it is almost like a starting gun/race to Christmas begins.  

This week has reminded me that we are a good team, far from perfect, but when we are together it is good.  

It might have been a little awkward at first but now that the week is over I will call it a success.

Perspective:  Don't forget how powerful it is to "fall in love" with your family again.  It helps you remember the good in all of the members and makes you stronger as a whole!  

This picture is a perfect symbol of my life.  And I love it (most of the time)!