All-Star

On Monday evening we got a call from the boys Baseball coach. He began the conversation by apologizing. He knew Nathaniel was "good enough to be on the All-Star Team", and even "deserved" to be, but the coaches had decided that they could not take him because he was only 6 years old.

Ron and I had decided to move Nathaniel up to the older league because we honestly were afraid he would hurt someone. He threw and hit too hard to play another year of t-ball! So anyway, that was a decision we made! When the coach called, I assured him that we would explain it to Nathaniel and it would be OK.

Then he said, "Ronnie made the team".

So our baseball season is NOT over yet!

It was a little tricky trying to explain it to the boys. I started with Nathaniel and tried to explain it how the coach had. There were tears.

All the while Ronnie was just sitting quietly waiting. So I said, "Nathaniel, you can't play this year, but you can cheer on your big brother because he made the All-Star Team!"

Ronnie was pretty excited, although tried to contain it for Nathaniel's sake! It was a good learning experience. Unfortunately, for Nathaniel the lesson was a little harder to take.

For all of us though - we will have a few more tournaments before our Baseball Season ends for this year!

Together With Jesus

My Devotional reading came today out of Psalm 5:3, Psalm 63:1 and Phil:4:13. Some of these verses may be familiar.

I've been feeling a little anxious lately. And there in the devotional I was reading, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, it was written in black and white.

"Anxiety stems from asking the wrong question: "If such and such happens, can I handle it?" The true question is not whether you can cope with whatever happens, but whether you and I (Jesus) together can handle anything that occurs. It is this you-and-I-together factor that gives you confidence to face the day cheerfully."

I want to face each day cheerfully! In order to do that, I must face each day with Jesus! Not just Jan, but Jan and Jesus! We have to be together.

We cannot dread a day that is vibrant with Jesus' presence!

(I like that - so true)

"Lord continue to teach me, show me how to work together and depend fully on you!"

Family Band

Ronnie on drums, Nathaniel (behind) with the song book), Eli with the harmonica and Maddie on piano!

Everybody has a part!

Final Sunday

Yesterday was my dad's final Sunday as a Pastor! He has retired from the United Methodist Church, after 32 years of Ministry! He will continue to teach at Indiana Wesleyan University, but the retirement from the Pastorate will allow him to write more too!

So yesterday he was honored for 11 years as Pastor of Van Buren UMC and 32 years since his Ordination!

Some of the family was able to be in attendance!

Pee Wee Champions!

I mentioned earlier that the boys were in their baseball tournament this week. Well, last night they had a double header against the undefeated yellow team. They had to win both games to get the 1st place trophy and the title of Pee Wee Champions!

Both Ronnie and Nathaniel were pretty pumped and ready to play!

The boys played so hard and won their first game! They beat the undefeated team and got a chance to play in the championship game. I was so proud. Both our boys did well. They whole team has improved so much. I remember the first practice. I had to take the boys because Ron had a meeting, there were kids on the team who couldn't catch and not many could throw with accuracy!

These boys have come so far. Here they are congratulating the yellow team and preparing to play them again in the championship game!

Here they are being congratulated by their coaches for winning the Championship Game! Yes, you read that correctly! Our boys team played 5 games in 4 days and WON the title, Pee Wee Champions!

I can't even begin to tell you how excited they were!

The coaches could barely get them still enough to applaud the 2nd place team as they received their trophies!

Then they got their own!

This big #25 had an awesome stop at short stop and a perfect throw to 1st for the 2nd out of the 3 up, 3 down final inning!

When I got to hug him after the trophies were handed out, he looked at me with those huge eyes and said, "mom, I get to keep this!". His first trophy! What an exciting time!

Equally excited was his big brother

(although not as equally outspoken about it).

His grin was only slightly smaller as he could barely contain himself!

Here they are:

The Pee Wee Champions!

and here they are being lead by Coaches Dave and Sean in one final,

"Go Blue Dragons!"

It was a long week: beginning with a tough loss and ending so wonderfully! Ron and I were both so proud of our boys! They learned so much this year, not only about baseball and improving those skills, but also about winning and loosing (cause there were losses) and about playing with a good attitude. Playing through tiredness and even some pain!

While we know they will not always be the 1st place Champions at what they do, we are happy for them as they celebrate this victory!

As they crawled into bed last night, very late, Ronnie's prayer went like this, "Jesus, thank you for helping us win against the undefeated yellow team and for being the 1st place Champions!"

So glad they can recognize Jesus gave them the ability and opportunity to win!

Busy Week

This week has turned out to be a very busy week.

We began Vacation Bible School on Monday morning. This year we couldn't get anyone in either of our churches to commit to leading the VBS, but several were willing to help out. We ended up joining with the community church and as it turns out had a great turn out for VBS. The week was titled, Bible Boot Camp and the theme was the Armor of God, taken from Ephesians 6:11. All 3 of the boys seemed to have a great time. Below they are pictured with some of their armor. Not all of it survived the entire week, but they have had fun being warriors all week too!

Nathaniel is the only one who still had an "intact" belt of truth, but you can't really see it!

I'm not sure how much fighting he can do, since he can't see!

They received t-shirts that they wrote the Bible verse on the back of. They of course made their helmets and shields. They also made book markers for their swords (Bible). And as I mentioned they had belts of truth! Then they also got flip flops that they decorated to represent the "shoes of the Gospel of Peace"!

Also this week we had Baseball Tournament!

The boys first game was on Tuesday night. It is a double elimination tournament. Our boys played tired and in my opinion they played like they had the game already won (they had beat this team 2 times in a double header last Friday). So...they lost! They were now in the losers bracket. But they played again Wednesday night - and won. Now they would play Thursday evening against the same team they lost to on Tuesday. Someone (not sure if it was a parent or coach) said "if you win you can have a water balloon fight against the coaches".

Whatever the motivation, they won!

So, now there are only 2 teams left. Our team and the yellow team. The yellow team has gone undefeated all season. We play them tonight at 6pm and since it is double elimination, if we win the 1st one, it will be a doubleheader! So it might just be a long night!

Either way, our boys (their whole team) have improved so much in the last 2 months. They have really come a long way.

So...our busy week is finally about to come to an end!

Sharing A Moment

Sometimes you just need a minute to bond with Daddy!

A Special Bond

There is something between these 2! Some kind of special bond between Maddie and her Grandpa Adkins! I"m not sure what it is, but it's there!

They just enjoy one another!

At the ball field

This spring we have spent several evenings at the ball park. The kids have loved it and it has been fun for all of us! Ronnie and Nathaniel have really improved and are enjoying playing a lot! They actually finished their regular season last Friday night, but begin tournament tonight. I'm not sure how long the tournament is, but we'll enjoy it while we can!

Here Ronnie and Nathaniel are playing their favorite spots.

Ronnie on 3rd and Nathaniel at SS.

They still make some mistakes, but they are having a lot of fun and really have improved so much!

Ronnie played catcher for one inning. I think that was enough for both him and his momma!

Here he is on 3rd!

Nathaniel has been catcher a couple of times and doesn't seem to mind it, although I still think he does much better at Short Stop!

On occasion, Ronnie has gotten to play 1st too!

After their doubleheader on Friday night the coaches bought pizza for the team. These guys have really bonded and had fun these past couple of months.

Ron has enjoyed helping out the coaches too.

Here he is entertaining all the boys!

Then of course Maddie and Eli are faithful followers of the games. OK, maybe followers isn't the best word. They like to go to the games, but it's not necessarily to follow what is happening on the field!

They love the social interaction!

Below Maddie ran to meet her buddy, Mr. Ralph - who of course scooped her up!

Eli has found his place with Ms Faye on more than one occasion, especially under that umbrella on those hot evenings!

Eli also takes it upon himself to keep Mr. Ralph company. Sorry if you were wanting to watch baseball.

At our last game, Maddie found this wonderful treasure to share with me - but then decided she wanted it back! Pretty cool!

Eli is ready for any foul balls!

Eli, Maddie, Mr. Ralph, Bradyn and Mr. Josh (at a moment when everyone is remotely still)

Maddie enjoys some time with Rhett

(and in the background you can see Eli with Ms Faye)

and Maddie with Kenzie, one of the coaches daughters!

Yes, we have enjoyed our ball park experience this spring and are gearing up for tournaments tonight!

"Momma, I scared!"

My little gal has been uttering that phrase, "Momma, I scared!" for nearly a week now. It began out of nowhere and seems to be intensifying. I'm told it is probably a phase she is going through, but it has been a little rough. When we ask why she is scared, her response is either, "I don't know", or "scared my room". When the feeling comes over her she wants to be picked up and wrap her arms and legs around me and bury her face in my neck and just hold on! It's strange to me because none of the boys went through this. She is not wanting to go up the stairs on her own (or even down the stairs most times), she doesn't want to walk on her own, but wants to be picked up so she can assume the aforementioned position. It is a little difficult because she really is getting too big to carry everywhere!

Just now, as I clicked on the blog to write a new post (not this one, but one I'll save for another time), I heard her calling from her bed, "Momma, I scared". I walked into her room without turning on a light and asked if she wanted me to rub her back. She rolled over and seem to instantly relax. Her breathing changed, and she grabbed onto her silky blanket and snuggled in.

I began rubbing her back and softly singing, "Jesus Loves Me". That's when an email I received this morning from a great friend came flooding to my mind. I had poured out my heart to this friend yesterday on some things I have been wrestling with. She reminded me that Jesus wants me to come to Him just like I want Maddie to come and pour out her heart to me!

Life can be scary, but Jesus is still on the throne! He knows our deepest pain and our scariest thoughts. Yet He wants us to come to Him with it and pour it out to Him. Then we can rest in the fact that He will take care of it. Maddie knew as soon as she heard my voice in her room that everything was OK. Jesus knows even before we come to Him and we can relax and know that He is in control and wants the absolute best for us!

Thank you Jesus for teaching me lessons through my children! Please help Maddie and I find our rest and comfort in YOU!

Happy Father's Day!

I took this picture this morning while Ron was doing some last minute preparing for his sermon!

We haven't had a true Sabbath in a few weeks, so we took advantage of a day to just relax and do nothing - together!
2 Ronnie's being lazy together

Queen Bee!

Happy Father's Day Ron to the best Daddy in the world!