As most of you know, in college I was very involved with the music department. In fact, it was then and there that I discovered my love for music/singing. I joined as many singing groups as I could, and it made for some wonderful memories and friendships. But for the past three years I've been pretty much music deprived. Of course I sing along with the radio, and sing in a wedding every now and then, but I haven't been a part of any sort of "organized group," and man do I miss it! It's like a void in my life. I guess I haven't taken the initiative and auditioned for anything because I figure we're only here for a few months, so who would really want me?
When Brian and I came back to Charlotte this past fall, our church started a new service, a contemporary one. We like both services, but have been going to the contemporary since our Sunday School class meets during the traditional service. With the new service being in place, they also hired an associate minister of music to lead worship. He seems incredibly talented, and does a great job directing the "praise team." So I thought, I know most of these songs, and I STRONGLY desire to be a part of a worship group/choir, so why don't I just ask to see if they'll let me in. Of course the doubts start flooding my mind: do they really need anyone? Will they let me in even though I'll probably have to leave in 3 months? Am I even good enough?
Well, I decided to "bite the bullet." Why is it so hard to do that sometimes? I guess it's the fear of the unknown, or the fear of rejection. In any case, I made up my mind to audition, and set up a time to do so (which was today at 3:20pm). Well, of course I wake up this morning with a nasty cold - stopped up nose, scratchy voice, the whole bit! I sound like a man when I talk. But I went and auditioned anyway. I think I didn't trust myself to, "do it another time" for fear that I would never make time, and accidently (or should I say lazily) let it fall by the wayside until it was too late.
Turns out they really need altos! All the women in the group are sopranos. So half of them have to sing alto whether they like it or not. The minister of music seemed to be excited about my interest in joining, and said he'd work to fit me in by January. Yay! For those of you who know the booger story, thank goodness there were none of those this time. He had me sing Amazing Grace in several different keys and that was it. No running through scales to see how high or low I could go. And I'm thankful because I am not fond of scales.
I'm really glad I "bit the bullet." I think God gives us such strong desires to worship Him in particular ways for a reason. I think my longing/desire to worhsip Him through song is from Him. So I have to believe He's going to provide opportunities, and pray I have the courage to take advantage of them.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
I joined Facebook.com today! I don't really know how it works yet. I have a lot to learn, but I know I'm in the "Clemson"network." So if anyone wants to be my "friend," you can find me there.
It's a pretty cool concept really, this facebook thing. I've already found a ton of old friends from college and high school with whom I had lost contact.
Thanks for talking me into joining Melissa!
It's a pretty cool concept really, this facebook thing. I've already found a ton of old friends from college and high school with whom I had lost contact.
Thanks for talking me into joining Melissa!
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Bo-Boo
Ever had a complete stranger call you a weird name?
I was in downtown Charlotte a few days ago, at a convention I had to attend for work. When I left, I headed straight for my car in a near by parking lot. As I'm making my way through it, I walk through an empty parking space that a man driving a van was trying to back into. Of course I didn't see him at first, so he had to wait on me to get out of the way before he could start backing up again. I realized (a little too late) that I had put him out. As I walked by the driver side, I noticed he had his window rolled down so I yelled, " Sorry about that!" To which he replied, "That's ok Bo-Boo," and then promptly turned his head back around so he could watch where he was going.
Meanwhile I'm thinking . . . What?!! Who calls a complete stranger Bo-Boo? It seems a little odd, but if I'm honest, after that split second of shock, I kind of liked the endearing remark. I giggled to myself as I walked the rest of the way to my car. I think it kind of made me feel special, or cared for, or something . . . and by a stranger at that! Maybe I didn't understand him correctly, but now I like this story too much to believe otherwise.
I was in downtown Charlotte a few days ago, at a convention I had to attend for work. When I left, I headed straight for my car in a near by parking lot. As I'm making my way through it, I walk through an empty parking space that a man driving a van was trying to back into. Of course I didn't see him at first, so he had to wait on me to get out of the way before he could start backing up again. I realized (a little too late) that I had put him out. As I walked by the driver side, I noticed he had his window rolled down so I yelled, " Sorry about that!" To which he replied, "That's ok Bo-Boo," and then promptly turned his head back around so he could watch where he was going.
Meanwhile I'm thinking . . . What?!! Who calls a complete stranger Bo-Boo? It seems a little odd, but if I'm honest, after that split second of shock, I kind of liked the endearing remark. I giggled to myself as I walked the rest of the way to my car. I think it kind of made me feel special, or cared for, or something . . . and by a stranger at that! Maybe I didn't understand him correctly, but now I like this story too much to believe otherwise.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Nothin' much
There hasn't been too much going on in the Adams household lately, so there's not much to write about at the moment. Brian and I had a good Thanksgiving. On Thursday we went down to Spring Island, SC where my parents have bought a lot, and walked/ran in the annual Thanksgiving "Early Bird Chase" (5k). Mom and I walked it, while Brian decided at the last minute to run it. Probably not the smartest idea considering he hasn't run over 1 mile in years. You can imagine how sore he was after running 3.2! I have to give him credit though, he came in 4th place! Of course there were only about 35 people participating, but hey 4th place is still pretty good. He wasn't happy about the 15 year old kid that won first and beat him by a mile that's for sure. I think his quote from the weekend (when asked about the race) was, "Stupid kid." Oh the competitive side surfaces so unexpectedly sometimes doesn't it?
On Friday we went up to Charlotte to have our normal Thanksgiving meal with the whole family. We usually get together on the weekend because that's when everyone can make it. Here are a two fun pictures I took:
My little cousins climbing the tree just outside my aunt's house.
Mom working hard in the kitchen - what a face!
In other news, Brian is still unsure about what team he will play for when the season rolls around in the spring. He and/or his agent have talked with several teams, some are interested, others are not. What we're trying to remember is that if God wants Brian in baseball, then he will provide an opportunity with the right team. God has only one team in mind for Brian, and we have to wait patiently on Him to show us who that is. Please keep us in your prayers in that regard.
As the Christmas season begins I'm getting so excited. I love all the decorations, the lights, the holiday movies, the spirit of giving, the music, and of course it's all because of the most wonderful thing . . . Jesus' birth. Speaking of which, I really want to go see that movie "The Nativity." I saw the previews for it a couple of weeks ago and it looks good. I'm not sure when it's coming out, but if anyone sees it before I do, let me know how it is.
Guess I had more to write about than I thought . . .
On Friday we went up to Charlotte to have our normal Thanksgiving meal with the whole family. We usually get together on the weekend because that's when everyone can make it. Here are a two fun pictures I took:
My little cousins climbing the tree just outside my aunt's house.
Mom working hard in the kitchen - what a face!In other news, Brian is still unsure about what team he will play for when the season rolls around in the spring. He and/or his agent have talked with several teams, some are interested, others are not. What we're trying to remember is that if God wants Brian in baseball, then he will provide an opportunity with the right team. God has only one team in mind for Brian, and we have to wait patiently on Him to show us who that is. Please keep us in your prayers in that regard.
As the Christmas season begins I'm getting so excited. I love all the decorations, the lights, the holiday movies, the spirit of giving, the music, and of course it's all because of the most wonderful thing . . . Jesus' birth. Speaking of which, I really want to go see that movie "The Nativity." I saw the previews for it a couple of weeks ago and it looks good. I'm not sure when it's coming out, but if anyone sees it before I do, let me know how it is.
Guess I had more to write about than I thought . . .
Monday, November 20, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!
Like most people, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! It helps that it's during my favorite time of year - Autumn! I always have much to be thankful for too.
When my family gets together for the big meal, all of the women are assigned a dish or two to bring. I usually get put in charge of the macaroni and cheese. I like almost any kind of mac and cheese because it's one of my favorite foods. I usually prefer the creamy kind over the cassarole kind, but a few years ago my mom found a great recipe that you make in a crock pot. We all love it, so that's the recipe I use every Thanksgiving. Here it is:
Ingredients:
8 oz. elbow macaroni noodles
8-12 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated (don't use the pre-shredded kind you can buy in the bag, it's too dried out)
1 stick of margarine
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 can evaporated milk
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Add margarine to hot noodles. When melted, add other ingredients to noodles, and stir together. Cook in crock pot on low heat for 3 hours.
I'm also going to make a pumpkin cheesecake this year. I've never attempted to make a cheesecake, but I thought I'd give it a try. The recipe I found sounded really good! I'll let you know how it turns out, and share the recipe if it's as tasty as it sounds.
When my family gets together for the big meal, all of the women are assigned a dish or two to bring. I usually get put in charge of the macaroni and cheese. I like almost any kind of mac and cheese because it's one of my favorite foods. I usually prefer the creamy kind over the cassarole kind, but a few years ago my mom found a great recipe that you make in a crock pot. We all love it, so that's the recipe I use every Thanksgiving. Here it is:
Ingredients:
8 oz. elbow macaroni noodles
8-12 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated (don't use the pre-shredded kind you can buy in the bag, it's too dried out)
1 stick of margarine
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 can evaporated milk
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Add margarine to hot noodles. When melted, add other ingredients to noodles, and stir together. Cook in crock pot on low heat for 3 hours.
I'm also going to make a pumpkin cheesecake this year. I've never attempted to make a cheesecake, but I thought I'd give it a try. The recipe I found sounded really good! I'll let you know how it turns out, and share the recipe if it's as tasty as it sounds.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Conference
We had a great mini vacation in Carefree, Arizona! Although we did stay pretty busy with all the conference activities. Brian and I learned a lot, and we felt so rejuvenated spiritually, that we've decided we're going to make an effort to attend every year. The main speaker was Joe Stowell, a pastor from Chicago, and he was outstanding. I highly recommend hearing him if you ever get the opportunity. He's written several books, one of which is called, "Radical Reliance." Brian has been reading it and says is very good. I didn't get a chance to take a lot of pictures, but here's one of a really cool cactus that was on the resort!
Here are some highlights from the conference:
1.) Hearing/Watching a comedian/magician who was supposedly voted "the world's best." I thought he was definitely right up there with the best!
2.) Getting to know other Christian professional baseball players and their wives.
3.) Getting to hang out with old friends we hadn't seen in a while.
4.) Learning new things about God, and myself.
5.) Two guys that Brian talked to at the juvenile prison accepted Jesus as their Savior!
6.) I'm sure I really would have liked the talent show and "time of sharing." Brian said it was great, but I had to miss it because of some stomach trouble. I don't know if I had a virus or food poisoning, but it wasn't fun. Hopefully I won't have to miss it next year!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The Latest
Last weekend we had a big birthday bash for my mother-in-law and father-in-law. Their birthdays are only a couple of weeks apart, and they both turned 60 this year! (Marilyn, I know you'll want to thank me later for announcing your age to the world)
So in honor of their 60th birthdays, the children (and children's spouses) threw them a surprise party complete with bbq, balloons, and close friends. As usual, I forgot my camera so I have no pictures to share, so you'll have to take my word for it that we had a great time. And believe it or not, they were quite surprised. No one accidently spilled the beans beforehand.
Unfortunately, some of us caught some viruses over the weekend and haven't exactly felt up to par this week. I got some sort of nasty throat deal while Wava (my sister-in-law) has had a stomach virus! Ugh. Anyway, I'm feeling better today thanks to some antibiotics. And it's a good thing since Brian and I are flying to Phoenix, Arizona tomorrow for a 5 day conference! I'd hate to be feeling bad during that!
I'm really excited about this conference. It's put on by PAO (Professional Athletes Outreach). I don't know a lot about it because I've never been. I do know that we'll be learning about what it means to be a Christian while also being a professional athlete, finances, the Bible, and there's even praise and worship time too I think. The resort where the conference is held looks pretty sweet too. You can check it out at www.carefree-resort.com Brian and I were put in contact with a wonderful man who likes to sponsor one couple every year. So we are fortunate enough to go for free! What a blessing!
So in honor of their 60th birthdays, the children (and children's spouses) threw them a surprise party complete with bbq, balloons, and close friends. As usual, I forgot my camera so I have no pictures to share, so you'll have to take my word for it that we had a great time. And believe it or not, they were quite surprised. No one accidently spilled the beans beforehand.
Unfortunately, some of us caught some viruses over the weekend and haven't exactly felt up to par this week. I got some sort of nasty throat deal while Wava (my sister-in-law) has had a stomach virus! Ugh. Anyway, I'm feeling better today thanks to some antibiotics. And it's a good thing since Brian and I are flying to Phoenix, Arizona tomorrow for a 5 day conference! I'd hate to be feeling bad during that!
I'm really excited about this conference. It's put on by PAO (Professional Athletes Outreach). I don't know a lot about it because I've never been. I do know that we'll be learning about what it means to be a Christian while also being a professional athlete, finances, the Bible, and there's even praise and worship time too I think. The resort where the conference is held looks pretty sweet too. You can check it out at www.carefree-resort.com Brian and I were put in contact with a wonderful man who likes to sponsor one couple every year. So we are fortunate enough to go for free! What a blessing!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
My creative husband
I have to give Brian credit . . . he can be pretty creative, or maybe descriptive is a better word. For instance, earlier today he told me that my breath smelled like mothballs. If I smelled someone's breath, and it wasn't good, I don't think mothballs would be the first thing to come to mind. Another time he told me I had "hot nursing home breath." That one really made me laugh. In my defense, both of these times I was sick with a cold.
Anyway, these descriptions of my breath made me think about all the different names Brian has come up with for me over the past few years. They are very weird, don't make any sense, and are numerous. Believe it or not, NONE of them have any hidden meaning, or inside jokes attached. They're just names Brian decided to call me one day. My top 3 are:
1. Oopmaloompa
2. Winifred T.
3. Bubby
Your guess is as good as mine as to how he came up with these. It kind of makes me wonder what sort of names he's going to come up with for our children! Which by the way, he's adament about bringing back old names like Earl, Cecil, Herbert, Herman, etc. No offense to anyone who has those names, but I'm hoping we can go in a different direction.
Anyway, these descriptions of my breath made me think about all the different names Brian has come up with for me over the past few years. They are very weird, don't make any sense, and are numerous. Believe it or not, NONE of them have any hidden meaning, or inside jokes attached. They're just names Brian decided to call me one day. My top 3 are:
1. Oopmaloompa
2. Winifred T.
3. Bubby
Your guess is as good as mine as to how he came up with these. It kind of makes me wonder what sort of names he's going to come up with for our children! Which by the way, he's adament about bringing back old names like Earl, Cecil, Herbert, Herman, etc. No offense to anyone who has those names, but I'm hoping we can go in a different direction.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Go Tigers!
How 'bout them Tigers!!!! The town of Clemson was thumpin' and hoppin' as usual last Saturday when the Tigers played Georgia Tech. ESPN Game Day was there since it was going to be such a big game. And BIG it was! Clemson beat Georgia Tech 31-7. Brian and I won't be able to go to any more games this year, so we're glad we got to see such a good one. Our tickets were so close to the field too. It was awesome! We even saw Kirk Herbstreet walking on the side lines!
I have to say, there's just no other place on earth like Clemson, SC, especially on game day. It's a beautiful place with gorgeous scenery and rich traditions. And on game day it's absolutely exhilarating. The excitement is contagious. People are tailgating everywhere you look, students are socializing, alumni are catching up, and the school spirit is beyond belief. Sometimes I wish we had season tickets, but even if we did we wouldn't be able to go to many of the games. I have to admit that to me, watching the game is only completely enjoyable when that "fall chill" is in the air. There's nothing appealing to me about going to a game where you sweat profusely all day. Brian would probably disagree. He loves to see the Tigers play any time.
Anyway, back on the subject. I'm thinking . . . Clemson Tigers . . . 2007 ACC Champions! Who's with me?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Galations 2:20
There hasn't been too much going on in the Adams family lately. Therefore, I thought I'd change it up a little bit and write about what's going on in my spiritual life.
The Bible tells us to write God's Word on our heart - or something like that. I admit, I haven't made a strong effort to memorize verses of the Bible. In fact, I probably only have a few memorized in their entirety. I knew that the Bible said something about "writing God's Word on your heart," but I had no idea what the exact verse said, or where I could find it. So I had to look it up. The one I was looking for was Proverbs 7:1-3 which says,". . . Keep my commands within you . . . bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart."
So the other day I was thinking that my New Year's resolution should be to memorize at least two verses of the Bible per month. And then the Holy Spirit reminded me that I don't need it to be the "new year" before I start.
Here's the verse that popped out at me, and therefore the one I've decided to memorize, and apply for the next two weeks: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal.2:20
This verse reminds me that I should not live for myself, or my own selfish desires, but to live my life in constant surrender to Christ, who loves us beyond comprehension.
I received this quote in an email the other day, and thought it complimented that verse well: “The secret of true discipleship is to bear the cross... to deny any right that self has to rule over us. Death to self – such is to be the Christian’s watchword. The surrender to Christ is to be so entire, the surrender to live for those around us so complete, that self is never allowed to come down from the cross to which it has been nailed, but is always kept in the place of death.”
Sometimes when I continually run into verses, quotes, stories, etc. that have a similar message, I realize God is telling me something. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate priorities, or re-examine my heart. In any case, I'm thankful we have a Creator who teaches us, and gently reminds us of what will truly make us happy - a life surrendered to Him.
The Bible tells us to write God's Word on our heart - or something like that. I admit, I haven't made a strong effort to memorize verses of the Bible. In fact, I probably only have a few memorized in their entirety. I knew that the Bible said something about "writing God's Word on your heart," but I had no idea what the exact verse said, or where I could find it. So I had to look it up. The one I was looking for was Proverbs 7:1-3 which says,". . . Keep my commands within you . . . bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart."
So the other day I was thinking that my New Year's resolution should be to memorize at least two verses of the Bible per month. And then the Holy Spirit reminded me that I don't need it to be the "new year" before I start.
Here's the verse that popped out at me, and therefore the one I've decided to memorize, and apply for the next two weeks: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal.2:20
This verse reminds me that I should not live for myself, or my own selfish desires, but to live my life in constant surrender to Christ, who loves us beyond comprehension.
I received this quote in an email the other day, and thought it complimented that verse well: “The secret of true discipleship is to bear the cross... to deny any right that self has to rule over us. Death to self – such is to be the Christian’s watchword. The surrender to Christ is to be so entire, the surrender to live for those around us so complete, that self is never allowed to come down from the cross to which it has been nailed, but is always kept in the place of death.”
Sometimes when I continually run into verses, quotes, stories, etc. that have a similar message, I realize God is telling me something. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate priorities, or re-examine my heart. In any case, I'm thankful we have a Creator who teaches us, and gently reminds us of what will truly make us happy - a life surrendered to Him.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Another "MEM"
MEM stands for most embarrassing moment, and I've had one recently. As many of you know, I started working again as the Director of Communications for a particular company (which I won't mention on my blog because I just don't like giving out too much information in case some sort of predator reads it and want to find me). Anyway, a few days ago my boss, coworkers, and I had to meet with the CEO of another very well known company (of which I also won't mention the name). Needless to say it was a "please make a good impression on this man" type of situation.
Well, I get the honor of sitting next to this gentleman. I found him to be extremely nice, and a very strong Christian also. As we are eating lunch, and making conversation with him, my stomach begins to make weird, loud noises. I don't recall ever hearing my stomach make such sounds before. But of course in a small, quiet room, sitting with a man my boss wants to impress, my stomach rises to the occasion and I have no power to stop it. Eventually the growl trails off, and it doesn't happen again. Whew.
To my dismay, that wasn't the end of my embarrassement. After lunch the gentleman preceeded to tell us a few stories about his life and business. I caught myself smiling several times especially at the end of the meeting when I shook his hand, and thanked him for coming. I head for the restroom, and as I'm washing my hands I look in the mirror only to find a big piece of black pepper stuck in the middle of my teeth!
All I can say is, at least I didn't have bad gas, or a big booger on my nose (which has happened before, but I'll leave that story for another time). Those might be the only things that would have been more embarrassing.
Well, I get the honor of sitting next to this gentleman. I found him to be extremely nice, and a very strong Christian also. As we are eating lunch, and making conversation with him, my stomach begins to make weird, loud noises. I don't recall ever hearing my stomach make such sounds before. But of course in a small, quiet room, sitting with a man my boss wants to impress, my stomach rises to the occasion and I have no power to stop it. Eventually the growl trails off, and it doesn't happen again. Whew.
To my dismay, that wasn't the end of my embarrassement. After lunch the gentleman preceeded to tell us a few stories about his life and business. I caught myself smiling several times especially at the end of the meeting when I shook his hand, and thanked him for coming. I head for the restroom, and as I'm washing my hands I look in the mirror only to find a big piece of black pepper stuck in the middle of my teeth!
All I can say is, at least I didn't have bad gas, or a big booger on my nose (which has happened before, but I'll leave that story for another time). Those might be the only things that would have been more embarrassing.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
It's been way too long . . .
since I've written on this blog!! I've officially broken my own personal blogging rule: never go a week without writing an entry! So for that, I apologize. I do have an excuse though. . .
For the past 2 weeks Brian and I have been very busy, and without internet at our apartment! After driving down from Fargo, we immediately started looking for places to live in Charlotte. After some debate, we decided not to buy a house, and are currently living in an apartment. I like it a lot. It's not quite as big as the apartment we lived in last off season, but it certainly smells better! We moved in last week, and then I left to go down to Edisto for a long weekend with my college girlfriends: Katie, Melissa, and Shannon.
We get together every year, and as usual, it was such a wonderful time! We talked for hours on end. I miss being in those girls' daily lives so much. I even got emotional one day just thinking about how much I've missed them, and how good it was to be with them again.
I got back from Edisto on Sunday, and started work on Monday. I'm the Director of Communications for the owner of two different companies, which is the same position I had last off season. Although, I think I'm going to enjoy it more this time around. My responsibilities have changed a little, and it's also nice to come back to something familiar.
So yesterday was my first day back, which kind of stunk because Brian wasn't working, and it was his birthday! We celebrated after I got home though. Jerry and Marilyn took Brian and I, along with Darren and Wava, to an italian restaurant here in Charlotte called Maggiano's. It was very good, but we all walked out of there way too full! I gave Brian a Carolina Panthers sweat shirt for his birthday. I like it a lot more than the jersey he wants. He says he just wants it to wear around the house on game days, but I have a feeling he's going to wear it in public. Athletic jerseys are just dorky and unfashionable (if that's a word) if you ask me. But I'll love him just the same!
For the past 2 weeks Brian and I have been very busy, and without internet at our apartment! After driving down from Fargo, we immediately started looking for places to live in Charlotte. After some debate, we decided not to buy a house, and are currently living in an apartment. I like it a lot. It's not quite as big as the apartment we lived in last off season, but it certainly smells better! We moved in last week, and then I left to go down to Edisto for a long weekend with my college girlfriends: Katie, Melissa, and Shannon.
We get together every year, and as usual, it was such a wonderful time! We talked for hours on end. I miss being in those girls' daily lives so much. I even got emotional one day just thinking about how much I've missed them, and how good it was to be with them again.
I got back from Edisto on Sunday, and started work on Monday. I'm the Director of Communications for the owner of two different companies, which is the same position I had last off season. Although, I think I'm going to enjoy it more this time around. My responsibilities have changed a little, and it's also nice to come back to something familiar.
So yesterday was my first day back, which kind of stunk because Brian wasn't working, and it was his birthday! We celebrated after I got home though. Jerry and Marilyn took Brian and I, along with Darren and Wava, to an italian restaurant here in Charlotte called Maggiano's. It was very good, but we all walked out of there way too full! I gave Brian a Carolina Panthers sweat shirt for his birthday. I like it a lot more than the jersey he wants. He says he just wants it to wear around the house on game days, but I have a feeling he's going to wear it in public. Athletic jerseys are just dorky and unfashionable (if that's a word) if you ask me. But I'll love him just the same!
Monday, September 18, 2006
Redhawks are Northern League Champions!
Wooooooooooo Hooooooooooo!!!! The Redhawks won the Northern League Championship last night! I hope Brian's not on the bottom of that pile!
Brian pitched really well in Game #2 of the championship series, and got the win, but he didn't get to pitch in the final game last night. But that's ok. The starting pitcher for last night's game, Mark Michael, did a fantastic job pitching all nine innings. He was on a roll to say the least. We won it 1 to 0, and it seems like we've been partying ever since! The owner threw a party last night at a fun club appropriately named "Playmakers," and then we had another (more formal) dinner today.
All the festivities are over now, and many players have already begun their journey home. Brian and I will start driving back on Tuesday. I've got so much packing to do tomorrow. Yikes! I haven't even started yet. In any case, come Tuesday morning we'll have to say good bye to our dearly loved host family, and hit the road. As I've said before, I look forward to coming home, but it's sad leaving the people we've come to know and love in Fargo. Fish, you don't qualify. Just kidding! We'll definitley miss you Fish!
Since the season is now officially over for Brian there won't be as much baseball talk in my blog entries. I guess I'll have to get more creative and discuss other issues in our lives. Pretty soon I'm going to have to blog about my husband's addiction to Fantasy Football. It's unbelievable. Can a get an amen from any other wives out there?
Anyhow, back to the recently won championship, I've got lots of pictures of the on-field celebration that I'll try to email or post soon.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
The Final Round
Wow! The Redhawks pulled out a victory in game 5 to win the first round of the play-offs. This was certainly cause for celebration considering they lost the first two games of the series, and therefore had to come back and win the last three in order to advance into the final round of the play-offs. But they did it! And to top it all off, Brian pitched 4 scoreless innings! It was quite an exciting game. One of the best I've seen. Everyone was on the edge of their seats the entire time because the score was so close. The Redhawks won it in the bottom of the 9th inning with a final score of 3-2.
The final round of the play-offs start tomorrow down in Gary, Indiana. They play two games there, and the rest are played here in Fargo.
Go Hawks!
The final round of the play-offs start tomorrow down in Gary, Indiana. They play two games there, and the rest are played here in Fargo.
Go Hawks!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Top 5 Reasons I Like Fargo
Baseball has forced Brian and I to live in many different cities. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. For instance, Portland, Maine was very cool. It's probably not somewhere I'd want to live permanently, but it was so neat to experience it nonetheless. Huntsville, Alabama was awesome too. I could definitely live there! I loved the family atmosphere, the low crime rate, and living so close to the Tennessee River and the mountains. It had great restaurants too.
Anyway, in light of us leaving Fargo in two weeks I thought I'd share the top 5 reasons I think this city is a cool place to live.
1.) You can live in the country, own lots of land, and still only be 10 minutes from downtown.
2.) The summer weather is outstanding! Very little humidity, and there's usually a breeze. Temperatures can get up to 100, but it averages in the 80's during the summer.
3.) They like country music! I didn't think cities this far north would be into it.
4.) The people up here are very friendly, and they love pro baseball. The stadium where Brian plays sells out quite frequently with 5000 people in attendance.
5.) There are a ton of lakes around! In Columbia, if you say, "I'm going to the lake," everyone knows you're going to Lake Murray. When people say that up here, I have no idea which one they're going to! I love playing in the water: water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, etc., especially in a lake.
So there you have it. Fargo is great, but I'm glad we're coming home soon because winter is just around the corner, and they have harsh ones!
Anyway, in light of us leaving Fargo in two weeks I thought I'd share the top 5 reasons I think this city is a cool place to live.
1.) You can live in the country, own lots of land, and still only be 10 minutes from downtown.
2.) The summer weather is outstanding! Very little humidity, and there's usually a breeze. Temperatures can get up to 100, but it averages in the 80's during the summer.
3.) They like country music! I didn't think cities this far north would be into it.
4.) The people up here are very friendly, and they love pro baseball. The stadium where Brian plays sells out quite frequently with 5000 people in attendance.
5.) There are a ton of lakes around! In Columbia, if you say, "I'm going to the lake," everyone knows you're going to Lake Murray. When people say that up here, I have no idea which one they're going to! I love playing in the water: water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, etc., especially in a lake.
So there you have it. Fargo is great, but I'm glad we're coming home soon because winter is just around the corner, and they have harsh ones!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Busy Busy
Inevitably every year as the baseball season comes to a close, our schedule for the fall starts filling up like mad. I almost get stressed out thinking about all the things we're going to do, yet they're always really fun things. For instance, we'll be headed to some Clemson football games, we'll be getting together with family, and I'll be going to Edisto for a girls weekend with my college girlfriends too! Our schedule is so packed already that I think there's only one weekend in October that's even free. I guess when you're gone for half the year, you have to pack everything in during the other half when you're home. I'm thankful that Brian's a baseball player and not a football player. I feel sorry for professional football players and their wives because their season is in the winter. That means they're away from home during the holidays and sometimes have to play on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years! That would stink.
Only 3 weeks before the season is over and we start heading home. It's always a bittersweet time. We look forward to going home, but it's hard leaving the friends we've made up here too, especially when you have no idea if you'll ever see them again. We could be back in Fargo next season, or we could be somewhere else. Only God knows the plans He has for us. Sometimes I think it sure would be nice if we knew what they were. But obviously not knowing is part of His plan for now. We'll know when we're supposed to know. In the meantime, I'm sure we'll stay so busy that the off season will fly by!
Only 3 weeks before the season is over and we start heading home. It's always a bittersweet time. We look forward to going home, but it's hard leaving the friends we've made up here too, especially when you have no idea if you'll ever see them again. We could be back in Fargo next season, or we could be somewhere else. Only God knows the plans He has for us. Sometimes I think it sure would be nice if we knew what they were. But obviously not knowing is part of His plan for now. We'll know when we're supposed to know. In the meantime, I'm sure we'll stay so busy that the off season will fly by!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
And a Good Time Was Had By All
Beach week was great! It flew by in a hurry, and before I knew it it was time to go home. Many of us played in the water more this year than in the last few. My little cousins are now old enough and brave enough to ride some pretty big waves, so we had a blast together.
Here are a few pictures from the week. If there's one thing our family loves to do, it's making strange faces (as you'll see in the last few pictures). For those of you who don't know my family I feel like I should let you know that they don't really look like that all the time. Sorry I couldn't post more pictures. My mom takes pictures at the highest resolution, so it takes a long time to download them to the blog.
Family, I enjoyed the beach week and can't wait to see you at Thanksgiving!
Thursday, August 10, 2006
"Beach Week"
A relaxing week at the beach is only two days away! Every year, since before I was even born, my family has taken a week long vacation to the beach. When I say family, I mean everyone on my mom's side: parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins, EVERYONE! It is absolutely so much fun that I look forward to it every year. The only bad part is that Brian is never able to go because of baseball. So I end up missing him during that week and wishing he were there to share in all the fun. One day he'll be able to come though!
I fly to Columbia on Friday (tomorrow), and we leave for the beach Saturday morning. I've already gotten my "base tan" so I don't get fried on the first day. (My host family has a pool that Brian and I have found quite enjoyable!) I looked at the weather forcast for the beaches of SC, and unfortunately we may not have much sunshine. Every day they're calling for scattered thunderstorms, but I'm sure we'll get some nice sunny weather at some point! In any case, it will be nice just to be with my family that I haven't seen in 5 months!
Every year at the beach is different, but there are some things that we always seem to do. Maybe because of tradition, but mostly because they're fun. For instance, if there's a thunderstorm, we love to go out on the covered porch and watch it as comes in, or goes out across the ocean. There's also always a golf outing, a good card game, and crabbing (one of my personal favorites). I love it when we catch really big ones! One year we caught so many that we kept them and made crab dip. I don't think we'll do that again because shelling all of those crabs was tedious! Anyway, of course we do the standard beach activites like riding waves, searching for sharks teeth, and going out to eat for good seafood too. When I was little we would always go to a small waterpark. I think my favorite one closed down a few years ago. I'm going to check on that when I'm down there this year, because if it's open, I'll be trying to talk some people into going with me!
On a completely different subject, I've neglected to give the Redhawks trainer, Jake Fish, or "Fish" as we call him, proper credit in previous entries. He's done a great job helping Brian recover from his strained biceps tendon. So Fish, here's to you buddy! No more leaving you out on my blog entries.
I fly to Columbia on Friday (tomorrow), and we leave for the beach Saturday morning. I've already gotten my "base tan" so I don't get fried on the first day. (My host family has a pool that Brian and I have found quite enjoyable!) I looked at the weather forcast for the beaches of SC, and unfortunately we may not have much sunshine. Every day they're calling for scattered thunderstorms, but I'm sure we'll get some nice sunny weather at some point! In any case, it will be nice just to be with my family that I haven't seen in 5 months!
Every year at the beach is different, but there are some things that we always seem to do. Maybe because of tradition, but mostly because they're fun. For instance, if there's a thunderstorm, we love to go out on the covered porch and watch it as comes in, or goes out across the ocean. There's also always a golf outing, a good card game, and crabbing (one of my personal favorites). I love it when we catch really big ones! One year we caught so many that we kept them and made crab dip. I don't think we'll do that again because shelling all of those crabs was tedious! Anyway, of course we do the standard beach activites like riding waves, searching for sharks teeth, and going out to eat for good seafood too. When I was little we would always go to a small waterpark. I think my favorite one closed down a few years ago. I'm going to check on that when I'm down there this year, because if it's open, I'll be trying to talk some people into going with me!
On a completely different subject, I've neglected to give the Redhawks trainer, Jake Fish, or "Fish" as we call him, proper credit in previous entries. He's done a great job helping Brian recover from his strained biceps tendon. So Fish, here's to you buddy! No more leaving you out on my blog entries.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
No more chemo!
For those of you who didn't know, my "little host brother," Joey, was diagnosed with cancer 4 years ago. After a hard fought battle, he is now cancer free and done with all of his chemotherapy!! Apparently the doctors and nurses throw a party for the kids when they're done with treatment. It was complete with pizza and an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen! Brian didn't get to attend the party yesterday because the team is playing in Winnipeg this weekend, but I got to go. From what I've been able to observe over the past two summers, Joey has been extremely brave and courageous. I'm so proud of him, and I know that his parents are too. The party was well deserved!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
MRI
Brian had an MRI done yesterday on his shoulder. If you recall, about a month ago a doctor performed an ultrasound to see what was causing the pain in his shoulder. At that time the doctor determined Brian had a strained bicep tendon. So Brian didn't pitch for about a week and it felt a lot better. However, it began hurting again about two weeks ago, so back to the doctor he went. We got the results back from the MRI today, and thankfully they were negative. That means there's no major injury. The doctor thinks that same tendon is still strained or irritated. So Brian will be getting "a-stim" treatment. I have no idea what that is, but it's some form of therapy. Thankfully, Brian hasn't thrown in about 8 days so that should aid in his recovery time. The trainer says he can start throwing again soon. I'm glad he'll start pitching again soon because it's kind of boring for me to watch a lot of baseball games when Brian isn't playing. That's about all from Fargo!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
The Best and Worst of All Star Game 2006
Brian and I had a great time in Kansas City last week! We got to do a lot of fun things and enjoyed meeting a lot of other players. However, we both would have enjoyed the game itself a lot more if Brian had pitched better. He had a bad game, but that's the way it goes sometimes. We're trying not to dwell on it, trusting that God's plan hasn't been thwarted. There were a lot of activities planned for the players to do within only two days. In an effort to share some of our experiences over the all star break I've come up with two lists, "The Best" and "The Worst" of All Star Game 2006. Here it is:
THE BEST
1.) Going to all the festivites: The All Star Luncheon, the Celebrity Game (played by former famous baseball players), the Home Run Derby, and the post game party at Dave and Busters where I played skee ball all night (my favorite game).
2.) Staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Kansas City where the view from our room was incredible. They also have the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in!
3.) Listening to Brian as he told me what it was like meeting his favorite childhood baseball hero, George Brett. Brian said he was so nervous that when he handed George some baseball cards to sign, his hands were trembling.
4.)Meeting and getting to hang out with players from other teams. Most guys were extremely nice and fun to talk with.
5.) The food was great! We even found time to go eat at one of our favorite restaurants, Stix, that just happened to be across the street from the baseball stadium. Brian absolutely loved the breakfast buffet served at the hotel too. It normally cost $18 per person, but it was free since he was an all star!
THE WORST
1.) Sweating it out every day because it was 103 degrees with high humidity.
2.) Having to watch my husband work so hard and be so excited about the opportunities pitching well in this game could afford him, and yet pitch poorly. Heart wrenching. I wish I could just heap all the pain he experiences on myself so he wouldn't have to go through it. I hurt at the very core of my being when I see Brian so devestated. And as I'm tempted to ask God why, I'm reminded of James 1:2-4 which says, "Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything." I guess the saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is biblical!
3.) Mapquest giving me incorrect directions to the hotel (partly due to construction), and therefore aimlessly driving around an extrememly complex system of interstates and highways throughout Kansas City, desprately hoping I'd find the right exit. Obviously, I was a little later getting to the hotel than I had planned.
4.) Sitting beside an 8 year old girl at the All Star luncheon who made me jump a foot out of my seat when she suddenly sneezed all over my left arm. Gross! I literally felt the spray all the way from my shoulder down to my hand. And of course I was sitting at a table with the owner and vice president of the Redhawks so I couldn't be unprofessional and wipe my arm down with sanitizer.
I think I've taken up all the memory with the photos I posted on other entries. So I'll have to email the pictures from the all star break.
THE BEST
1.) Going to all the festivites: The All Star Luncheon, the Celebrity Game (played by former famous baseball players), the Home Run Derby, and the post game party at Dave and Busters where I played skee ball all night (my favorite game).
2.) Staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Kansas City where the view from our room was incredible. They also have the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in!
3.) Listening to Brian as he told me what it was like meeting his favorite childhood baseball hero, George Brett. Brian said he was so nervous that when he handed George some baseball cards to sign, his hands were trembling.
4.)Meeting and getting to hang out with players from other teams. Most guys were extremely nice and fun to talk with.
5.) The food was great! We even found time to go eat at one of our favorite restaurants, Stix, that just happened to be across the street from the baseball stadium. Brian absolutely loved the breakfast buffet served at the hotel too. It normally cost $18 per person, but it was free since he was an all star!
THE WORST
1.) Sweating it out every day because it was 103 degrees with high humidity.
2.) Having to watch my husband work so hard and be so excited about the opportunities pitching well in this game could afford him, and yet pitch poorly. Heart wrenching. I wish I could just heap all the pain he experiences on myself so he wouldn't have to go through it. I hurt at the very core of my being when I see Brian so devestated. And as I'm tempted to ask God why, I'm reminded of James 1:2-4 which says, "Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything." I guess the saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is biblical!
3.) Mapquest giving me incorrect directions to the hotel (partly due to construction), and therefore aimlessly driving around an extrememly complex system of interstates and highways throughout Kansas City, desprately hoping I'd find the right exit. Obviously, I was a little later getting to the hotel than I had planned.
4.) Sitting beside an 8 year old girl at the All Star luncheon who made me jump a foot out of my seat when she suddenly sneezed all over my left arm. Gross! I literally felt the spray all the way from my shoulder down to my hand. And of course I was sitting at a table with the owner and vice president of the Redhawks so I couldn't be unprofessional and wipe my arm down with sanitizer.
I think I've taken up all the memory with the photos I posted on other entries. So I'll have to email the pictures from the all star break.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
All Star
I tried to get these pictures side by side so you could see Brian "in motion," but it didn't work. Oh well, it was a cool idea.
Just wanted to let you guys know that Brian made the 2006 Northern League All Star team! We're pretty excited about it. The game will be played this Tuesday, July 18, in Kansas City. Nine pitchers were selected, so each one will get to pitch one inning. I hope I can figure out a way to get down there and see Brian pitch. It will be quite an expensive trip for only 2 days, and I'll have to drive by myself. I think it would be worth it though!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
I thought I would be the first one to get an ultrasound!
Well, he beat me to it. Between Brian and I, I thought for sure I'd be the first one to get an ultrasound. After all, I'm the one who will eventually carry the babies. Nevertheless, I will have to settle for second place. At least when I have an ultrasound it will be more interesting because we'll be looking at our baby.
I should explain why Brian got to get an ultrasound first. A couple of weeks ago he started experiencing pain in his shoulder when he pitched. After a while it wasn't getting better so he finally told his coaches, and they sent him to the doctor last Thursday. In order to see what was going on in Brian's shoulder the doctor performed an ultrasound. I got to watch as he explained what we were looking at. It was quite fascinating! The good news is, his injury is nothing serious. Please excuse my feeble attempt to explain the diagnosis. Apparently, Brian almost pulled a ligament out of a groove, but didn't (thankfully). If he had, the doctor said we'd be looking at something much worse. With therapy and rest it should only take him a few days to recover which is great news! We'd certainly appreciate your prayers regarding his recovery.
I'm thankful that we have things like ultrasounds that allow us to look into our own bodies. It's just fascinating.
I should explain why Brian got to get an ultrasound first. A couple of weeks ago he started experiencing pain in his shoulder when he pitched. After a while it wasn't getting better so he finally told his coaches, and they sent him to the doctor last Thursday. In order to see what was going on in Brian's shoulder the doctor performed an ultrasound. I got to watch as he explained what we were looking at. It was quite fascinating! The good news is, his injury is nothing serious. Please excuse my feeble attempt to explain the diagnosis. Apparently, Brian almost pulled a ligament out of a groove, but didn't (thankfully). If he had, the doctor said we'd be looking at something much worse. With therapy and rest it should only take him a few days to recover which is great news! We'd certainly appreciate your prayers regarding his recovery.
I'm thankful that we have things like ultrasounds that allow us to look into our own bodies. It's just fascinating.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Home Alone
Home Alone is one of my favorite movies, but actually staying home alone is not something I'm fond of doing. Today and tonight, I am home alone. Brian is in Canada for a week, and our host family went somewhere for a reunion and won't be back until tomorrow. So I'm all by my lonesome.
I remember thoroughly enjoying staying at home by myself when I was a teenager. Maybe because it was a little taste of sweet freedom. But some time during my college years I developed a severe aversion to staying by myself. When you have great roommates like I did, and now a wonderful husband, who would rather be by themselves? Inevitably when I'm alone, I end up staying up too late (1:30am last night). It's probably because I unconciously don't want to turn off all the lights, curl up in a cold bed all by myself, and wonder if the noise I just heard was someone breaking into the house. I know what all you mothers out there are thinking, "Oh just wait, after you have kids you'll love it when you actually get a day to yourself." Well, I'm sure I'll agree once I have children.
Even now there are some perks to being alone. For example, in my case, I have the car all to myself. Therefore, I can be on my own schedule. I can also go rent all the "chick flicks" I want. In fact, I did just that on Thursday. I rented The Family Stone, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. The last road trip Brian went on I rented Pride and Prejudice. I loved it by the way!
The good thing about tonight is that while my host family is gone, they left their two German Shepherds here with me. So I've got some companionship, and a security system all in one! The whole neighborhood will wake up if those two hear someone come in at night. Especially this big guy, he hears everything!
I remember thoroughly enjoying staying at home by myself when I was a teenager. Maybe because it was a little taste of sweet freedom. But some time during my college years I developed a severe aversion to staying by myself. When you have great roommates like I did, and now a wonderful husband, who would rather be by themselves? Inevitably when I'm alone, I end up staying up too late (1:30am last night). It's probably because I unconciously don't want to turn off all the lights, curl up in a cold bed all by myself, and wonder if the noise I just heard was someone breaking into the house. I know what all you mothers out there are thinking, "Oh just wait, after you have kids you'll love it when you actually get a day to yourself." Well, I'm sure I'll agree once I have children.
Even now there are some perks to being alone. For example, in my case, I have the car all to myself. Therefore, I can be on my own schedule. I can also go rent all the "chick flicks" I want. In fact, I did just that on Thursday. I rented The Family Stone, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. The last road trip Brian went on I rented Pride and Prejudice. I loved it by the way!
The good thing about tonight is that while my host family is gone, they left their two German Shepherds here with me. So I've got some companionship, and a security system all in one! The whole neighborhood will wake up if those two hear someone come in at night. Especially this big guy, he hears everything!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Congratulations!
Congratulations to our good friends Paul and Meredith Stewart who just had their 2nd little girl, Raleigh Elizabeth Stewart on June 14th. Raleigh was 19 inches long, and weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces. We're so excited about their newest addition to the family!
We met Paul and Meredith during spring training of 2003. Brian and Paul were both playing for the Red Sox at the time, but after spring training Brian was sent to play for the double A team while Paul was sent to the triple A team. However, the next season (2004) they both pitched in double A for the Brewers. Paul and Meredith became some of our dearest friends that season and we've remained close ever since.
In other exciting news our friend, Chris Barnwell, made his Major League debut last week with the Milwuakee Brewers! He's gotten one hit in 3 at bats, so his batting average is .333, which is great! Brian called him the other day to say congratulations, and all of his family was in town to see him play. How exciting?!! I hope that gets to be Brian one day!
Happy Birthday Kari! Kari Joachim, our host mom, will be the big 42 tomorrow! She's probably not happy that I announced her age on my blog, but she definietly doesn't look 42! I made one of her favorite cakes for her today, coconut cake. It's my family's recipe that is absolutely outstanding! I made it for their family last year and they liked it so much that Kari made two more. She took one to work, and the other to her Mom. She says that it's now the most requested cake in Fargo!
We met Paul and Meredith during spring training of 2003. Brian and Paul were both playing for the Red Sox at the time, but after spring training Brian was sent to play for the double A team while Paul was sent to the triple A team. However, the next season (2004) they both pitched in double A for the Brewers. Paul and Meredith became some of our dearest friends that season and we've remained close ever since.
In other exciting news our friend, Chris Barnwell, made his Major League debut last week with the Milwuakee Brewers! He's gotten one hit in 3 at bats, so his batting average is .333, which is great! Brian called him the other day to say congratulations, and all of his family was in town to see him play. How exciting?!! I hope that gets to be Brian one day!
Happy Birthday Kari! Kari Joachim, our host mom, will be the big 42 tomorrow! She's probably not happy that I announced her age on my blog, but she definietly doesn't look 42! I made one of her favorite cakes for her today, coconut cake. It's my family's recipe that is absolutely outstanding! I made it for their family last year and they liked it so much that Kari made two more. She took one to work, and the other to her Mom. She says that it's now the most requested cake in Fargo!
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Pictures
Here are some pictures I took recently.
Brian making his daily walk to the bullpen.
Loosening up in the bullpen.
Newman Outdoor Field at night. That's Brian warming up on the mound.
My friend Kim and I. Kim is the fiance of Brandon Culp, another Redhawks' pitcher.
Playing golf on our off day!
Brian making his daily walk to the bullpen.
Loosening up in the bullpen.
Newman Outdoor Field at night. That's Brian warming up on the mound.
My friend Kim and I. Kim is the fiance of Brandon Culp, another Redhawks' pitcher.
Playing golf on our off day!
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Oops
I have a correction to make. The chicken salad recipe actually calls for 1 and 1/2 cups of mayo. I thought it only called for 1 cup. I only used about 3/4 cup because I didn't have 4 cups of chicken, so really you could use as much or as little as you like!
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Baseball, Golf, and Chicken Salad
I felt like I should update my blog today since it's been about a week since I wrote the last entry. There's nothing extremely special or out of the ordinary for me to share, so I thought I'd just fill you in on the little details of our week.
Brian is pitching great! His ERA is 1.00! He's pitched the last 3 games in a row, so his arm is tired. The pitching coach is hoping he can throw another inning today, but I'm not sure that would be wise. I think a little recovery time is needed.
We have an off day on Thursday, and like every off day, Brian wants to play golf. I can't blame him since the Redhawks players and wives are allowed to play for free at two of the local courses. Golf is not my favorite activity, but my game is getting better, I think. I still swing and miss sometimes, and I only play 9 holes. After that, I've had enough. Brian would probably try to play 36 if I were up for it! Anyway, hopefully we'll get to go out on a date too. Dinner and a movie sure would be nice. I'm thankful just to have some quality time with my hubby, and get a break from watching baseball. We have to capitalize on these off days. They are few and far between!
Brian and I ate chicken salad sandwiches for lunch today. I got the recipe from Southern Living magazine. I love trying new recipes and finding a keeper! It's not the best I've ever tasted, but it was definitely good. If you're interested, the recipe is below:
4 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped (I just used canned chicken for time's sake)
1 cup dried cranberries
3 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mayo (I used light Miracle Whip)
1/3 cup honey
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Be sure to stir the last 4 ingredients together first, then combine that mixture with the rest of the ingredients.
Brian is pitching great! His ERA is 1.00! He's pitched the last 3 games in a row, so his arm is tired. The pitching coach is hoping he can throw another inning today, but I'm not sure that would be wise. I think a little recovery time is needed.
We have an off day on Thursday, and like every off day, Brian wants to play golf. I can't blame him since the Redhawks players and wives are allowed to play for free at two of the local courses. Golf is not my favorite activity, but my game is getting better, I think. I still swing and miss sometimes, and I only play 9 holes. After that, I've had enough. Brian would probably try to play 36 if I were up for it! Anyway, hopefully we'll get to go out on a date too. Dinner and a movie sure would be nice. I'm thankful just to have some quality time with my hubby, and get a break from watching baseball. We have to capitalize on these off days. They are few and far between!
Brian and I ate chicken salad sandwiches for lunch today. I got the recipe from Southern Living magazine. I love trying new recipes and finding a keeper! It's not the best I've ever tasted, but it was definitely good. If you're interested, the recipe is below:
4 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped (I just used canned chicken for time's sake)
1 cup dried cranberries
3 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mayo (I used light Miracle Whip)
1/3 cup honey
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Be sure to stir the last 4 ingredients together first, then combine that mixture with the rest of the ingredients.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
The Latest
In the house we currently live in there are 6 people, two dogs, and now, a hamster. If you read my previous blog entry, you know that the latest addition was the result of Josh's good behavior in school. The little rodent known as Frisky is really very cute, except for his devilish red eyes. They kind of freak me out.
Anyway, the poor hamster has been tormented ever since he was purchased for $6.99 at Petco. Josh is so excited about the little guy that he constantly shakes his cage, or takes him out and puts him in a box and carries him around the house. Just this morning Josh brought Frisky downstairs in a box and asked Brian to hold the box open while he showed Frisky his new card trick.
On a different subject, Brian has a new "most embarassing moment." Last night I was talking to my friends, Kim and Julia, after the baseball game. They are both wives of other players. Brian knows Kim, but had never met Julia. He walks up to the three of us, says hello to Kim, and immediately says to Julia, "you must be Kim's mom." Ha! I thought I was going to die! Kim and I quickly corrected him and told him that she was his teammate's wife. Julia just smiled and shook Brian's hand. I felt so bad for him because I knew he was embarassed. I tried to comfort him by letting him know that we've all done something like that before!
Anyway, the poor hamster has been tormented ever since he was purchased for $6.99 at Petco. Josh is so excited about the little guy that he constantly shakes his cage, or takes him out and puts him in a box and carries him around the house. Just this morning Josh brought Frisky downstairs in a box and asked Brian to hold the box open while he showed Frisky his new card trick.
On a different subject, Brian has a new "most embarassing moment." Last night I was talking to my friends, Kim and Julia, after the baseball game. They are both wives of other players. Brian knows Kim, but had never met Julia. He walks up to the three of us, says hello to Kim, and immediately says to Julia, "you must be Kim's mom." Ha! I thought I was going to die! Kim and I quickly corrected him and told him that she was his teammate's wife. Julia just smiled and shook Brian's hand. I felt so bad for him because I knew he was embarassed. I tried to comfort him by letting him know that we've all done something like that before!
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Our Host Family
This summer, as well as last summer, Brian and I have lived with a host family, the Joachims (pronounced Yo-kims). We were a little apprehensive last year about living with a host family because we'd never done it before, but I am so glad we decided to anyway. The Joachims are wonderful! They are gracious enough to let us have the basement all to ourselves which includes a bedroom, bathroom, and den with a big screen tv! Their two boys, Joey (12) and Josh (9 I think), provide quite a bit of entertainment for us too. With the boys and the two German Shepherds (Griz and Roni) around, there never seems to be a dull moment! Anyway, thought you might enjoy some pictures of the family so you can put faces with names. Most of these pictures were taken by Kari when they went down to Florida to watch some Red Sox spring training games. Tim and Joey are huge Red Sox fans.
In other exciting news, Josh is getting some hamsters soon thanks to his good behavior in school these last few weeks. Tim and Kari were actually hoping he'd screw up so that they didn't have to buy the rodents, but unfortunately, as Josh said last night, "his good behavior has been up and running."
Also, Brian is coming home tonight (3am) from a long road trip in Canada. I'm so excited to see him. Thankfully these long road trips don't occur too often. Enjoy the rest of the pictures!
Tim
Joey and Kari
Roni and Griz
Even Griz is a Red Sox fan.
Josh and Joey
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Winnipeg
Brian and I are in one of the most diverse cities I've ever been in, Winnipeg, Canada. You walk down the street and it looks like every person is from a different country. Even so, there's very little to do here, and it's not what I would call a pleasant place to be. It resembles New York in filth. Thankfully, Brian's team only played two games against the Winnipeg Goldeyes, so we'll be headed elsewhere tomorrow. (Brian will be flying to Edmonton, Canada to play a series against the "Cracker Cats," while I'll be driving back to Fargo, North Dakota.)
Despite the lack of entertainment, and cleanliness, there is one thing I look forward to when we come up here . . . the singing of the Canadian national anthem. I love it! I think it's so beautiful. I rarely make it a point to be on time to Brian's games, especially since he's not a starting pitcher, but when we're in Winnipeg, you better bet I'm there in time to hear the Canadian national anthem. I think it bothers Brian. He says he's just kidding when he picks on me about "where my allegiance lies," but I think he really is a little bothered. He has nothing to worry about. I much prefer the States in every way, except for when it comes to national anthems. You can decide for yourself and listen to the Canadian national anthem at http://www.singforcanada.ca/anthem.html , or to hear it with lyrics go to www.xav.com/scripts/search/test/binaries/Oh_Canada.mp3.
Despite the lack of entertainment, and cleanliness, there is one thing I look forward to when we come up here . . . the singing of the Canadian national anthem. I love it! I think it's so beautiful. I rarely make it a point to be on time to Brian's games, especially since he's not a starting pitcher, but when we're in Winnipeg, you better bet I'm there in time to hear the Canadian national anthem. I think it bothers Brian. He says he's just kidding when he picks on me about "where my allegiance lies," but I think he really is a little bothered. He has nothing to worry about. I much prefer the States in every way, except for when it comes to national anthems. You can decide for yourself and listen to the Canadian national anthem at http://www.singforcanada.ca/anthem.html , or to hear it with lyrics go to www.xav.com/scripts/search/test/binaries/Oh_Canada.mp3.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Blog Title
I figured I should explain the title of my blog, "Wandering in the Desert," a little more than the description at the top of the page. It didn't occur to me that some readers would find it funny, but my aunt emailed me today and said she had to chuckle when she read it. When I take it out of context, it does sound really funny, and random. But there is a much deeper meaning . . .
I should give a little background first. I began to realize the similarities between our lives in professional baseball, and those of the Israelites, about 2 months ago. The Chicago Cubs had just released Brian and I was talking with my cousin, Terri, venting my frustration. She asked me, "Lindsay, do you and Brian ever feel like the Israelites, wandering through the desert?" I thought, yes! That's exactly how we feel. It's like we're laboring through a dry, hot desert hoping to get to the promised land soon.
Before I go any further, let me clarify a few things. Brian and I have absolutely loved the experiences God has afforded us through professional baseball. We get to travel all over the country, see new places, meet wonderful people that enrich our lives, and make some incredible memories! So when I refer to our journey through baseball as "wandering in the desert," I mean it strictly from a professional standpoint.
To begin, let me briefly explain the Israelites journey to the promised land. Please excuse this inadequate summarization, but for time's sake, I must be brief.
Ok, so God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and promised to lead them to "a good land - with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees . . . a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing," aka the "promised land." From what I understand, as the Israelites traveled, they were rather stubborn, foolish, outright rebellious, and constantly doubting God's promises (much like we do sometimes). So God allowed them wander around in the desert for forty years as He taught them lesson after lesson. He also did it to test their hearts. Moses tells the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:2 that, "God led you all the way in the desert these 40 years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart." Eventually, after a lot of teaching and disciplining, God held up his end of the deal and deliverd them into the promised land.
So, here Brian and I are on this exciting, yet unexpectedly emotionally difficult journey through professional baseball. At times Brian and I wonder if he will ever get to realize his dream of pitching in the major leagues, or if our earthly promised land is something totally different and unexpected. Whatever the case may be, I am thankful for the lessons God teaches us along the way. I know He is preparing us for something. We've certainly had our weak moments when we've questioned and doubted God's plan, just as the Israelites did. But God has proven Himself to be faithful, and He is worthy of our trust no matter what our circumstance.
Unfortunately, baseball is a deceptive, immoral, and selfish business. Sounds harsh, I know. It's the greatest game on earth, and yet the more I learn about the way it is run, the more disappointed I am. However, none of that really matters because while people will always fall short, myself included, God and His plan for our lives remains perfect. I never want to be ok with the fact that professional baseball has some very unethical practices. But I also never want to be bitter about what happens to us as a result, because it is actually God who directs our path, not the people in baseball. Every time something disappointing happens I feel like God asks me, "Lindsay, how will you respond?" In times of crisis, I hear these questions - What will I choose to believe? What will my attitude be? Will it reflect my faith in the Lord? I realize that it must, and that it is quite possible that God is allowing this crisis "in order to test me, and see what is in my heart."
So as Brian and I wander through the desert, greeted by trials and spiritual battles, I cling to Moses' words of encouragement to the Israelites. He said, "The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you . . . before your very eyes . . . in the desert."
I should give a little background first. I began to realize the similarities between our lives in professional baseball, and those of the Israelites, about 2 months ago. The Chicago Cubs had just released Brian and I was talking with my cousin, Terri, venting my frustration. She asked me, "Lindsay, do you and Brian ever feel like the Israelites, wandering through the desert?" I thought, yes! That's exactly how we feel. It's like we're laboring through a dry, hot desert hoping to get to the promised land soon.
Before I go any further, let me clarify a few things. Brian and I have absolutely loved the experiences God has afforded us through professional baseball. We get to travel all over the country, see new places, meet wonderful people that enrich our lives, and make some incredible memories! So when I refer to our journey through baseball as "wandering in the desert," I mean it strictly from a professional standpoint.
To begin, let me briefly explain the Israelites journey to the promised land. Please excuse this inadequate summarization, but for time's sake, I must be brief.
Ok, so God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and promised to lead them to "a good land - with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees . . . a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing," aka the "promised land." From what I understand, as the Israelites traveled, they were rather stubborn, foolish, outright rebellious, and constantly doubting God's promises (much like we do sometimes). So God allowed them wander around in the desert for forty years as He taught them lesson after lesson. He also did it to test their hearts. Moses tells the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:2 that, "God led you all the way in the desert these 40 years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart." Eventually, after a lot of teaching and disciplining, God held up his end of the deal and deliverd them into the promised land.
So, here Brian and I are on this exciting, yet unexpectedly emotionally difficult journey through professional baseball. At times Brian and I wonder if he will ever get to realize his dream of pitching in the major leagues, or if our earthly promised land is something totally different and unexpected. Whatever the case may be, I am thankful for the lessons God teaches us along the way. I know He is preparing us for something. We've certainly had our weak moments when we've questioned and doubted God's plan, just as the Israelites did. But God has proven Himself to be faithful, and He is worthy of our trust no matter what our circumstance.
Unfortunately, baseball is a deceptive, immoral, and selfish business. Sounds harsh, I know. It's the greatest game on earth, and yet the more I learn about the way it is run, the more disappointed I am. However, none of that really matters because while people will always fall short, myself included, God and His plan for our lives remains perfect. I never want to be ok with the fact that professional baseball has some very unethical practices. But I also never want to be bitter about what happens to us as a result, because it is actually God who directs our path, not the people in baseball. Every time something disappointing happens I feel like God asks me, "Lindsay, how will you respond?" In times of crisis, I hear these questions - What will I choose to believe? What will my attitude be? Will it reflect my faith in the Lord? I realize that it must, and that it is quite possible that God is allowing this crisis "in order to test me, and see what is in my heart."
So as Brian and I wander through the desert, greeted by trials and spiritual battles, I cling to Moses' words of encouragement to the Israelites. He said, "The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you . . . before your very eyes . . . in the desert."
Friday, May 12, 2006
I'm officially a blogger!
Well, I've decided to jump on the bandwagon and become a blogger. My friend Melissa suggested I set up a "blog" long ago when I hardly knew what blogs were. After much thought, and with the addition of our new laptop, I figured this would be a good thing. It will be a good thing for many reasons which are listed below:
1.) I love reading my friends' blogs. It makes me feel like I'm a part of their daily lives. I keep in touch with most of my friends and family, but I miss not knowing what happens on a daily basis, even if it seems trivial.
2.) Therefore, blogs are a great way to keep family and friends updated on the latest happenings in my life, even if it is just my daily activities. My mom especially likes to know how we're doing all the time so I think she'll enjoy reading it.
3.) I find myself quite bored at work some days and "blogging" will be a good time killer.
I'm sure I'll think of more reasons later. As they come to me, I'll share them with you.
Anyway, today is my second day of work. I am working at the baseball field where Brian plays. I had this same job last year, but this year they gave me a raise! I'm the front office receptionist. The job is quite easy once you learn everyone's names and all the promotions going on. They even feed me dinner every night for free! Of course it's usually ballpark concession food which we all know is VERY healthy. I wasn't going to eat here tonight because I am planning on going home instead of staying to watch the game (since Brian isn't going to pitch). But around six o'clock I got really hungry and decided to go ahead and get something to eat. Usually I try to keep it as healthy as possible, but tonight I was a rebel. Tonight I was craving a hot dog, so I got one, and a box of popcorn (the good buttery and salty kind). Not only that, but I had a "Tab" soft drink. Does anybody remember Tab? I have no idea why it exists because it tastes exactly like Coke, and it's even made by the Coca-Cola company! In any case, the drink wasn't even diet, which I actually prefer. So, it was an all around rebellious and abnormal dinner for me tonight, but it sure was good.
Brian pitched last night for one inning, the ninth. It was so cold! I had to come inside for a while and go back out when the ninth inning started. He did well, but walked one batter. It was so cold and the wind was blowing so hard that I'm thankful he only walked one. I'm sure he couldn't feel his hands at all. As I said before, he's not supposed to pitch tonight so I don't think I'll try to brave the cold tonight. On tomorrow's entry I'll expand on the reason for naming my blog, "Wandering in the Desert."
1.) I love reading my friends' blogs. It makes me feel like I'm a part of their daily lives. I keep in touch with most of my friends and family, but I miss not knowing what happens on a daily basis, even if it seems trivial.
2.) Therefore, blogs are a great way to keep family and friends updated on the latest happenings in my life, even if it is just my daily activities. My mom especially likes to know how we're doing all the time so I think she'll enjoy reading it.
3.) I find myself quite bored at work some days and "blogging" will be a good time killer.
I'm sure I'll think of more reasons later. As they come to me, I'll share them with you.
Anyway, today is my second day of work. I am working at the baseball field where Brian plays. I had this same job last year, but this year they gave me a raise! I'm the front office receptionist. The job is quite easy once you learn everyone's names and all the promotions going on. They even feed me dinner every night for free! Of course it's usually ballpark concession food which we all know is VERY healthy. I wasn't going to eat here tonight because I am planning on going home instead of staying to watch the game (since Brian isn't going to pitch). But around six o'clock I got really hungry and decided to go ahead and get something to eat. Usually I try to keep it as healthy as possible, but tonight I was a rebel. Tonight I was craving a hot dog, so I got one, and a box of popcorn (the good buttery and salty kind). Not only that, but I had a "Tab" soft drink. Does anybody remember Tab? I have no idea why it exists because it tastes exactly like Coke, and it's even made by the Coca-Cola company! In any case, the drink wasn't even diet, which I actually prefer. So, it was an all around rebellious and abnormal dinner for me tonight, but it sure was good.
Brian pitched last night for one inning, the ninth. It was so cold! I had to come inside for a while and go back out when the ninth inning started. He did well, but walked one batter. It was so cold and the wind was blowing so hard that I'm thankful he only walked one. I'm sure he couldn't feel his hands at all. As I said before, he's not supposed to pitch tonight so I don't think I'll try to brave the cold tonight. On tomorrow's entry I'll expand on the reason for naming my blog, "Wandering in the Desert."
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