Baseball Madness

I love baseball. Seriously, I love it. I'm not sure why since there really isn't all that much to it. I mean, you whack a ball with a stick and then run in a circle. Yet, I adore it. I've learned, however, that baseball season turns my life into rushed chaos. I'm actually having to cut down on t.v. time....do you know how much that hurts. I don't get around to watching Thursday's shows until Sunday. It's crazy. On weeks like this one, where I have five days of work for each of my two groups at church, my regular 8ish to 5ish job, and 8 baseball games, well it's just complete madness.

Blayne played in his first ever Select ball game on Sunday. He did so well and I was beaming with pride. I was really worried about the pressure because Blayne isn't real into pushing himself. He's laid back and quite alright with just gliding through. Perfectionist, he is not. When it came to crunch time though, he was an all star. In the last inning we were down by one. Blayne was up to bat with two outs. He got two strikes and then hit two fouls. Can you say PRESSURE. But the coach called time, gave him a little pep talk to take the edge off and up he went. He knocked it into left field and got the tying score home. That put us into overtime. In this league they load the bases and start you with one out in overtime innings. The other team scored one and then we were up. The first kid hit a single and brought in the tying run and then came the second batter. That nine year old child knocked the ball over the dang fence. It was astounding. Tonight Brayton played, he's six. He knocked in one triple, a homer, and two grand slams. My nephews are cool!

OK, enough baseball.....for now. I have to go get something done with my homework because Thursday will be here before I know it. :)

Random Junk

Alright, so I don't really have much to say. I figured, though, that you wouldn't mind meaningless chatter. :) We are storm tracking again tonight (by we, I mean me and the t.v.) Thunderstorms, tornado warnings, etc. etc. I think it's exciting, so long as they don't come too close. It's funny to me sometimes how I behave in these situations. I'm scared of tornadoes, of course, but when I hear the sirens start blaring, my first reaction is always to run outside and look around. Sometimes I wonder about me.

Baseball season is in full swing(pun intended.) I was supposed to be at a 6 o'clock game in Cleburne and then an 8 o'clock game in Midlothian, but lucky for my gas tank they were rained out. Blayne was asked to try out for a select team to play as a fill in until his rec team finishes the season and then he'll go 'full time' with them. Tonight was the first try out and since it was indoors, I went. Can I just say that I love that when he found out they'd asked him the first thing he wanted to do was call and tell me....I love that. He did great fielding the ball and especially in his hitting. His pitching, however, not so much. In his last couple of games he has been fantastic, but I think the pressure got to him tonight. He had a coach behind him, one out in front and about twenty people standing outside the net just staring at him as he tried to pitch. I couldn't do it with no one watching, so I'm not sure how those kids manage. He's left handed, so if he can develop his pitch, college scholarships are a real possibility. Ok, I know you probably don't care all that much about 9 year old baseball.

I am going to another taping of Beth Moore tomorrow. Can't wait. Don't be jealous, it isn't becoming. I am so looking forward to it. I am praying. It's gonna be great!

Did I mention my Sunday morning study is going very well? I think it very odd that I'm leading a ladies Bible study, but here I am doing just that. I am fearful each week that I will go in, sound like a dork and no one will speak. So far, however, there has been no lull in conversation. It's really been good. I help them, they help me, it's really weird, in a good way. I have been wondering, sometimes out loud, why my church doesn't have a women's ministry. Every time I mention it whomever I'm speaking with asks why I don't start it. Well, I think I'll quit mentioning it. ;) Ok, I'm done. Nighty night.

From The Ashes

Well, I was looking for the last song to add to my playlist...they didn't have it....I found this one and like it even better.

"From The Ashes"


My right hand holds matches,
my left holds my past,
I hope the wind catches,
and burns it down fast,
I'm gonna step into the fire,
with my failures and my shame,
and wave good-bye to yesterday,
as I dance among the flames,

so don't try to save me now,
let the walls of my world all burn down,
just stand back and wait till the smoke finally passes,
and I will rise,
from the ashes,
from the ashes,
from the ashes,

for all that I'm losing, much more will i gain,
the hard part is choosing,
to change what needs changed,
and my step will be much lighter,
with these demons off my chest,
I'm born a better spirit,
and lay the old to rest

so don't try to save me now,
let the walls of my world all burn down,
just stand back and wait till the smoke finally passes,
and i will rise
from the ashes,
from the ashes,
from the ashes,

and I'll walk away stronger,
I will be flyin,
higher and truer
than I've flown before,

my right hand holds matches,
my left holds my past,
i hope the wind catches,
and burns it down fast.


Isaiah 61:3
And provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Anyway

Martina McBride sang a song tonight on American Idol that I loved. Thought you might love it too!

"Anyway"
You can spend your whole life building something from nothing
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway
You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach and you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

Chorus:
God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway, I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy and it's hard to believe that tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway
You can love someone with all your heart, for all the right reasons, and in a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway, I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing a song you believe in that tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway, sing it anyway

I sing, I dream, I love, anyway

How Can You Not Know?

This is what the evening consisted of here in Texas, scary, destructive weather.




But, how do you look at a picture like that, tornado or not, and not be fully aware of the realness of God?






And, of course the chaos was followed by the ever recognizable picture of His unending faithfulness.

(Don't worry, crazy people took these pictures, I was the one cowering in the bathroom!)

At Bat

I'm afraid he got a little too much tee and not quite enough ball on this one!

Busy Weekend

Easter was busy but wonderful! Our service at church was amazing. My pastor quoted S.M. Lockridge's sermon "That's My King," the worship team sang "He Is" and this guy was there and is fantastic! Then I had lunch with some friends and then it was off to my sisters for some chaotic and chilly egg hunting. Twelve children in one house is just frightening. They had a blast, though, and at least it wasn't snowing like the day before!!






We went to the Ranger's opening day on Friday and I am most happy to report that they actually won!! Good times were had by all.

So, except for the seven kids I took to the hunt at my church on Saturday, in the pouring snow, that is about all for my weekend. (Don't worry, the hunt was moved into the gym) Who knew it could snow, in Texas, in April??? Well, it can and it did, big time!

Oh, and I almost forgot, but not quite....Baseball season has begun!!!! I am one happy baseball aunt. :)

The Shadow of His Cross

I just watched this video and, well, I loved it. These will be my two new, very specific prayers. First, that the cross will become dearer and dearer to me. That I will learn to look at each and every situation in my life through the shadow of His cross. Second, for His resurrection power to manifest in this relationship that is all but dead. I pray that He will continue to renew my mind until all I can focus on is His ever-present grace and mercy that course through every vein of my life. That I will, in reality, adopt the attitude of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:5) That I will remember that He didn't walk away from me just because I doubted Him, questioned Him, distrusted Him, betrayed Him. I ache for His presence, for His love and compassion, to envelop me then flow out onto every person I come into contact with. High and lofty goals, however, not too high for Him.

Ephesians 1:19-20

19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.

The Irony of it All

In my blog Saturday night I mentioned how excited I was to see where God would take me on this journey in the Believing God study. Remember? Well, I show up to class Sunday morning talking about how much I'm loving it. So, my friend, who leads our group, says how about I facilitate the study and hands me the leader's guide. What???? I have to laugh at the irony. Who would believe it. A month ago I wouldn't have fathomed that God would even consider using me to lead other women through a Bible study. But the real irony is the study. Me, facilitating a study entitled "BELIEVING GOD." That's good stuff.

Camo Girls

This picture cracked me up so much that I had to share it! I am late, gotta get to church.