Baseball Boy

Here are some highlights from Saturday's game in pictures. Love a kid in uniform!!!!

Isn't he CUTE?!?!?

In the dugout with the team

At bat

Made it to first base!

(Mom and Dad breathe a sigh of relief....)


Giving Mom "5" after scoring a run

Adoring fans

Won't it be funny a few years from now when we have 3 kids in sports?!?!?!?

Random Reflections

You know how we all go through dry spells in our spiritual life and/or in our relationships with other people? Where you don't feel like you have the time or the energy to put into making it as great as it could be? I've had a dry spell with my blog. Hopefully it's over and I'm ready to get back to it. Here's a bit of randomness to catch you up on the last few weeks:

First, a couple of major things. Right before Spring Break, the Director of Children's Ministries at our church resigned. She talked to me about taking the position, and I said, "No, thank you." The personnel committee asked me to consider it. I said, "No, thank you." I kept saying no, but I knew I couldn't wash my hands of it without talking to God about it. So I asked Him. He directed me to Luke 9:57-62. Go ahead and read it, but I'll summarize it for you. It's the story of when Jesus is walking to Jerusalem and he says to a man, "Follow Me." The man (basically) says, "Sure, I'll follow you, but first I have to go home and tend to my dying dad." Jesus comes across another man and commands, "Follow Me." And the guy says, "Sure thing. You go on ahead and I'm just going to run home to grab a few things and say goodbye......" Here's what the author or my devotional book says: "Our commitment to follow Him is more than a promise to do His will when our circumstances are right, or when His plans do not interfere with our own. It must first be to the person of Jesus Christ, even before a particular task. Total commitment.....does mean Christ must be in His rightful place for everything else in our lives to be in their rightful places." I shared this with my husband, and with his encouragement and blessing, I took the job. Now I am up to my ears in Vacation Bible School, but I am excited about what the future holds for our church and our children.

I had a CT scan last week. It's the first time I've been back to the Dallas hospital since November. I was dreading having it done, but it was already past time. So I put on a brave face and went. Let me just say, I am envious of people who have never had to drink that pre-test stuff. No matter what "flavor" you choose, it's awful! There's no point in rehashing the details of the scan. The combination of the terrible drink, the contrast injection, and the moving table always makes me nauseous, this time to the extreme. Skip ahead a few days......my oncologist's assistant called me last night to let me know that they don't see anything on the scan and I am ALL CLEAR!!! Those words lifted a heavy weight from my shoulders. I am so thankful for God's protection. I face a few more tests in the next few weeks--no big deal--and I see Dr. M next week. I am much more lighthearted about it now that I know all is well.

Goliath is playing baseball. This is our family's first experience with organized sports, so it's kind of a big deal. He is SO CUTE in his uniform!!! Of course, we WOULD be on the team that has to wear white pants. You moms of little boys, can I get some sympathy?!? Hubby is enjoying his undershirts being truly bright and white now because whatever goes in with the baseball pants is bleached!!! Anyway, I had really tried to talk Goliath into playing soccer. He is a lot like me in that he doesn't want to attract unwanted attention, and I thought if he played soccer he would be less likely to be singled out if it didn't go well. We "discussed" it at great length, and when it came down to it, He. Wanted. To. Play. BASEBALL. Okay then. So the first few games were rough, but now the team is kind of in the groove and they are actually doing OK. When you get a bunch of six-year-olds on the ballfield, it's really to everyone's advantage that they don't keep score. Goliath "made a score" (that's kindergartenese for "scored a run") last Saturday, and he hit a double at last night's game. His coach is impressed with his power hitting.

We think that Baby tried to give himself a haircut. Or else one of the brothers helped him. Our hairdresser was mortified when we took him in earlier this week.

Little Middle is definitely all boy in that he loves bugs, lizards, and all other things creepy-crawly. For his birthday, my in-laws gave him one of those caterpillar-to-butterfly kits. You get a couple of jars with live caterpillars in them and you get to watch them form their chrysalis, live in their cocoons, and transform into butterflies. Perfect gift for Little Middle! Last week the butterflies finally started emerging, and now we have a total of 8. Turns out butterflies only have a life span of 2-4 weeks (who knew?) and so we have tried to explain to him that we need to let them go soon. He's in no hurry, though, to free his pets. I cringe when I think of what it will be like if the butterflies perish at the hands of my son!

My Bible Study group met at my house this week. It was the day that we had 5 hair appointments and 2 dental cleanings, so the meal I prepared for my friends was a simple taco salad. For dessert, I made a new recipe, and it turned out so fabulous, I thought I would include it here. Girls, this is for you:

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 cans crescent rolls

3 packages cream cheese, softened

2 cups sugar, divided

1 1/2 T vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1 stick butter

Preheat oven to 350. Beat cream cheese 1 1/2 cups sugar and vanilla until creamy. Grease 9x13 pan. Cover bottom of pan with one can crescent rolls. Spread cream cheese mixture over rolls. Top with other can. Pour melted butter over top. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over butter. Bake for 35-40 minutes. YUM!

Now, a big shout out to my friend Lisa ("Horton, this is Who. I'm in Whoville. Can you hear me?" HA!). Your poor husband's crummy work hours worked out great for me! We had a blast with you guys! You are a precious lady and I am just delighted that you are in my life. Goliath rode home hunched over in the backseat because he was worried that someone might see his near-naked, mud-covered self!!! :) My boys and I are already looking forward to next time........

Tomorrow morning Hubby (who by the grace of God was spared having to travel to Los Angeles today) will come to preschool to admire Little Middle's and Baby's hard work in the annual Art Show. The kids are so proud that their stuff is on display--it's a hoot! This weekend my parents and my sister are driving up for Goliath's baseball game, followed by the elementary school's carnival on Saturday afternoon. Whew! I don't know how I'll manage it when all 3 boys are playing games and doing "stuff"!

This is long and I am done. Faithful readers......consider yourself caught up!

Grandad

Last Thursday morning, my Grandad went to heaven to be with Jesus.

Dear Grandad,

It was really hard to say goodbye to you yesterday! I miss you so much already, but I am so glad you are with Jesus.

You would have been pleased with the service. There were SO many people there--you really packed the place out! People came--most of whom I didn't even know--to pay their respects to you and share how you had touched their lives. It was so obvious that you made an impact just by living your day-to-day life. You weren't in the spotlight much. You weren't wealthy or famous or political. You just loved life and by being yourself, you made a difference.

You loved all of us, too, and here's the culmination of what you taught your family: After the graveside service, as people were leaving, your family had an impromptu singalong. We joined hands and stood in a big circle by your casket...did you hear us singing "Blessed Assurance?" I changed the words a bit to say "This is OUR story, this is OUR song, praising OUR Savior all the day long." That is the gift you gave us: Although we are sad because we don't have you here with us anymore, there was great rejoicing for all of us because we know exactly where you are. I told

Goliath that I'm not sad for Grandad at all; I'm only a little sad for myself.

What is it like in heaven? Do you have your own workshop in your mansion? Are your hands big and strong again? Are the Gaithers playing over loudspeakers all the time? Do you have the ultimate video camera? Did you hear Goliath praying for Gran last night? Are you hanging out with Jesus?

I am so proud of you! I promise that I will do my best to carry on your legacy and keep your memory alive for your great-grandsons. They will miss you, too. Thank you for knowing them and loving them, and investing part of yourself in them.

Know that there is an empty place here without you. You were a great man who lived a good life. You can not be replaced and I am holding tight to our memories. Yesterday was not so much "goodbye" as "see you later."

I love you.

Happy Birthday, Little Middle!

Dear Little Middle,

Today you are 4 years old. I love your birthday for a few reasons. One, now I can say that my boys are 6, 4, and 2...which makes me sounds slightly less crazy than when the three of you were 5, 3, and 2 (as you were mid-November to January). Any time I said that to someone, I had to endure the Look of Pity. There's something about being able to claim 2-year intervals between each of you that returns me to the realm of "normal" family planning...not nearly so much 'splainin' to do!

Another reason I love this day is simply to watch you be the star. In spite of my best intentions and hard work, you sometimes get overlooked. You are the middle child. You are not dominant like your older brother nor are you as demanding as your little brother. You are generally content to just BE. If you were more difficult maybe you'd garner more attention (although I'm grateful you're not). On this day, your birthday, it's all about you. Your eyes were wide when you came in the kitchen this morning and saw presents waiting at your place. We did the traditional birthday breakfast muffins--chocolate chip instead of blueberry--and you were nearly smirking as we sang to you.

You were so pleased to be the center of attention, yet you were still sweet and simple. You LOVE the presents we gave you...and who wouldn't totally dig a R2D2 gaming laptop? As the birthday boy, the dinner menu was totally up to you. English muffin pizzas and fruit salad made you happy. I love you because bigger is not always better to you.

I love you because you are your own person. I imagine it can't be easy being a second child. Even though Daddy and I try hard to help you carve out your own place, you are doing fine on your own. You have that great dance move and you make those crazy eyes that none of the rest of us can quite imitate. This last year especially you've made a ton of friends and, if what your teachers tell me is true, other kids fight over who gets to sit next to you. You spend very little time in your brother's shadow.

I love you because you are growing up right before my eyes, and I like what I see. You are not much of a TV watcher. You like superheroes, pirates, and Super Mario Brothers. If given the choice to read a book with me or go outside and collect bugs, you go with the creepy crawlies every time. You are a lovebug, though, and I think it will be a while before you're too cool to say, "I love you, Mom."

In case you didn't get the message today, or any other day, I am totally in love with you. On the day you were born (thankfully in a hospital after a close call in the grocery store) I was unaware how much you would stretch my heart out. I wasn't sure that having a second child would match the emotional intensity I had with my first. But the first time you looked at me with your giant blue eyes you captured me completely. I am a better person because I got to be your mommy. Happy Birthday, big four-year-old.

Love,

Mommy

Something I Never Thought I'd Hear Myself Say

"Please get your cowboy boots out of the dishwasher."

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like......Texas

The old saying goes, "If you don't like the weather in Texas, wait 24 hours and it will surely change."

On Saturday we went to the zoo and we were sweating.

Here's the scene in our backyard on Monday night:

And yesterday morning:

Snow Brothers

Snow Goliath

Snow Little Middle

Snow Baby with Snow Dog

Baby's Cute Snow-Frog Boots

Thought for the Day

We have been having revival at church this week. In some ways, the services are old-fashioned, and I've found that strangely familiar and comforting--a throwback to my childhood. Yet God has definitely been there, and continues to speak in new and fresh ways. Here's a thought that I picked up on that is worth contemplating:

God never calls us to do anything that He does not equip us to do.

Okay then.