More Baseball (Champions...Finally)

The boys attended Walker Valley's baseball camp a few weeks ago. Other than getting up at 7:00 am, it was fantastic. The boys love it. They learn so much from Coach Joe and Coach Mike. Ethan looked forward to the daily scrimmages. He is so competitive. The highlight of the week for Tyler was the sliding practice on the last day. Joe lays out a tarp and they put water on it (a slip and slide) for the boys to practice sliding.

We left the day after camp and drove to Knoxville for another tournament for Ethan's team. It seems so long since the last tournament. Ethan hit three home runs (in the park) and played great defense. He is playing third base this year and his reflexes are great. His team won the tournament and were the champions. It has been a long road to get to this point with this team, but it was worth it. They boys were so excited. We have two more weekends of baseball....

Memorial Day

My amazing husband took the boys to South Carolina to visit grandparents and I went to Nashville for a girls' weekend with my sister. I had an amazing time with her. She is beautiful! We went shopping and ate out at some great restaurants. We waited out some of the rain watching movies in her condo.





The highlight of the trip was the Daughtry concert on Sunday night. Lifehouse opened for them and they were amazing. Daughtry was great. He had Kelly Clarkson and the lead singer from 3 Doors Down sing with him. My sister, Jessica, was suprised at how heavy Daughtry was. I felt like I was at a real rock concert. It was a great evening.

Graduation

Being a high school teacher, I attend every graduation ceremony in full uniform. I love it! It is so great to see the students walk across the stage to receive a diploma. It is amazing to watch them mature from young freshman to seniors ready to conquer the world. I honestly love my students and feel so blessed to have the chance to play a role in their lives.






Walker Valley is such a great school and I have made several dear friends during my time here. These are two ladies that are so dear to me. These are two powerful women who are successful at all they do. Donna is my mentor and partner in crime. We have so much fun together. She has been my biggest supporter this year in taking over as department chair. She is my dear friend.



Cheryl is my go to person if I'm happy and when I'm in tears. (Teaching will do that to you.) She is always willing to listen and give advice. She is such a beautiful person who lives out joy. I feel like I can accomplish anything at WV with Cheryl in my corner. Thank you for everything.

Family Weekend

Last weekend Chris' parents came to visit us. Ethan had a baseball tournament in Oak Ridge. He played one game and then the tournament was rained out. It was disappointing, but I was glad his grandparents had the chance to see him play at least one game.


His team won in the final inning, in the rain. Ethan had an in the park home run and a triple to tie the game. He played a great third base. It was a good weekend even though it rained. We saw the Caldwell's off on Sunday after some quick rides on the motorcycle driven by Papa.

They Get Me Every Time

I showed up today to get Tyler from preschool and waiting on me was the packet full of spring pictures. I totally forgot about spring pictures and sent Tyler to school that day in a t-shirt and converse tennis shoes. There goes my "Mom of the Year" award.

I promised myself that I would not purchase the package. The photographer puts all these pictures in an envelope and charges you $40 for the package. If you only buy one sheet, it is $15. Come on, who's going to buy just one sheet. It is such a better deal to get the package. I walked out of the school reciting "I will not buy the package!" (What hurts the most is that you know they will just be thrown away or recycled if you don't buy them.)

I arrived home and looked at the pictures with Chris and I am shamed to admit that we are buying the entire package. When I saw the pictures of Tyler, I couldn't help it. The pictures are so Ty. Tyler always wears converse tennis shoes. He calls them Chucks. He is begging for the red ones now, but I am firmly saying no. He is always in a t-shirt and begs to wear athletic shorts to school. Notice the silly bands on his arm. In other words, with everything that should be wrong with this picture, it so fits Ty. He is his own quirky self. There is no one else like him. He will never be an average kid. If you know Ty, you know this is true. I love him for it!

Easter

Ethan and Tyler begged to wear ties for Easter. I am not a huge fan of the little ties or the clip on ties, but I gave in to their pleas. Ethan's tie was real and I had to spend most of the morning showing him how to tie it. Tyler's was a cute clip on and I cringed when I bought it. Tyler was so excited to go to Belk's and pick it out. So, sorry Jessie, I know you are going to hate their outfits, but it has to be better than the sweater vests of years past. (My sister hates my Easter outfits for the boys.)

We had a busy morning getting ready. We had to be at church at 7:30 so the boys could get ready for choir. They sang in both morning services and were exhausted by the end of the morning. We finally left church around 1:20. We spent the afternoon relaxing and getting ready for the busy week to come.

Tyler's Turn

We tend to focus so much on Ethan and his baseball career (yes, he is only 8) that Tyler gets overlooked. But now, it is Tyler's turn. Tyler is playing t-ball again this year. He seems more into it and is not playing in the dirt. He told me before the game that he needed to wear a belt with his pants because that is what the real baseball players did.

He played really well. He played the pitcher's mound and left field. He loved every minute!

Spring Break So Far

This week is our spring break. We are chilling at home and enjoying the down time. I started celebrating the time off by having a class party on Friday for Pi Day. My students brought in some great food. Pi day (March 14, 3/14, 3.14...) is one of the few perks of being a a math teacher and a true dork. I wore my Pi sweatshirt that Chris got me for Christmas. Now the students really think I am a dork. Oh well...

On Sunday I took the boys to the circus and then to a new cupcake store on the North Shore. We had a great day!

On Monday, Ethan decided to play basketball with my Volvo parked under the hoop. The ball hit the rim and ricocheted off the rim and crashed into the sunroof. The inside of my car was covered in glass. Poor Ethan cried and felt so bad. Fortunately, God brought to my mind my past mistakes and I was able to take Ethan in my arms and not scold him but console him. (Remember the two wrecked cars in the driveway, Dad? You never got mad at me. Thank you. Mom did watch me back out of the driveway for weeks afterward though.)

On Tuesday, I was excited about going to Target when I walked out of the house and found this. Yes, that is Tyler on the Envoy! He did not get my comfort. Tyler did not understand why he couldn't play on top of the vehicles. I can't wait to see what happens with the rest of our week.

Stingers Time Again

Baseball season is in full swing again. Ethan had his first tournament this weekend. He is playing for the select travel team, the Stingers, again. Most of the kids are back with a few additions. The team picked up some good, new players in the off season. It should be fun this year.

We played in Chattanooga at a new $12 million baseball and softball complex. It is amazing! The stands were shaded with awnings which will be great in the summer, but not so great when it is 40 degrees outside.

We played on Saturday at 9:30 am. It was cold! We lost and the boys were discouraged. Ethan played left center and second base. He did great and had several put outs. He hit one double.

The second game was a little closer, but still not a win. Ethan played first base and he did a good job for a position he has never played. He had several put outs and even an unassisted double play. He had three doubles during that game. His hitting has improved so much this year.

The highlight of the series was Sunday morning at 9:30 am. Ethan's team won the game in the bottom of the 6th inning. It was an exciting and tense game. Ethan played first again and caught four balls for outs. Ethan got on base every at bat. (I have to give a shout out to my girlfriend, Nicole, for the awesome pictures! Thanks)

We lost the fourth game, but left knowing we had a great weekend and a lot to look forward to this season. I know it sounds kind of boastful, but baseball is really Ethan's sport. He struggles with football and basketball and hates singing in the choir, but my little guy really shines when he steps on the baseball field. I asked him if he gets nervous before a game and his response was "Why? I love it!" He even asked if he could play baseball in the backyard when we got home from the tournament.

Self Reflection

I usually use this space to share stories and events about my family, but I feel led to post something personal. Sometimes I read other peoples blogs or facebook pages and start feeling less than a successful person. I think we all fall into a trap of posting the best or funniest moments from our lives and we often hide the struggles we face day to day. I'm not saying we need to air our dirty laundry online or even be 'debbie downers', but I wanted everyone to know that I struggle.



I was raised in an amazing Christian home and I would not trade it for anything. I came to know Christ as a child and have seen the Spirit move and direct my life and that of my family. As an adult, I have attended a wide variety of churches from those that do admit to supressing the work of the Holy Spirit to those that seem to go into a state of chaos. I have felt comfortable in neither. I love my church now, but still struggle with the inner question of who is the Holy Spirit and what is His role in my life? I know that the Spirit lives in me, but sometimes I don't see His fruit. (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience (Ok, this is the big one) Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faith and Self-Control) If He abides in me, then shouldn't these gifts be the outward evidence to those around me?



Friday morning my friend and youth pastor, Clark, gave me a book entitled "Forgotten God, Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit" by Francis Chan. It is written by a man who grew up baptist. He has no religious affiliation and does not seem to want to promote 'his side,' just find the truth from the Bible. I am 50 pages into the book and highly suggest it. I am seeking the truth. If you have ever looked at "those Pentecostals" and wondered why they act that way or judged the "non spirit-filled" and look at them as less than you, I would suggest this book. It simply searches for the truth of who the Holy Spirit is and what his role in our lives should be on a daily basis. Please join me on this journey. My only motive is to become more like Christ.