Craziness and Baseball

Last night was our only game of baseball this week.  Friday nights are a little rough around here.  The boys are usually beat after a long week of school, plus this week the older 2 had both been sick and were still recovering.  I attribute all of that to the way they played!  Both pitched again, but neither did great! Nathaniel pitched the 1st and 2nd innings.  He had 4 strike outs, 2 walks and 5 hits.  On offense he had a Home Run in the 2nd and a single later in the game.

Ronnie pitched the 5th inning.  He was scheduled to pitch again in the 6th but that inning wasn't played because the other team was too far ahead!  So in the 5th Ronnie had 2 strike outs, 4 walks, and 2 hits!  Ronnie batted a single in the game and a walk that ended up scoring!

So they didn't do too bad, but they have done better.  Their fielding was not that great either.  They were a little down on themselves, especially since Pap and Grandma had driven 2 hours to see them play and they didn't do their best!  You'll just have to come back for another game, Pap and Grandma!

The highlight of the game actually came about 30 minutes before the game.  Coach Daddy was warming up another pitcher, by catching for him.  The pitch came in, hit the front of the plate and popped up to hit him right in the nose.  Broken Nose!  

After some time of cleaning him up, icing and packing him full of gauze, he proceeded to coach through the game.  He should have iced a little while longer because he was still bleeding 4 hours later when we got home.  He is sore and bruised some today and you can see the stitches from the ball on his nose, but it doesn't compare to the injury he had 15 years ago (according to his mom 15 years and 48 days ago).  During that accident he was playing college ball when the lights went out.  He had shattered his orbital and fractured his face bones and nose.  It was major and a major miracle that he can see (20/20) today and really has had no major lasting problems from it.  The doctors were intending to allow all the swelling to go down and then remove his eye, but before that surgery could happen the bones began to "mesh back together".  It was God, only GOD!  

So we are thankful that this injury last night compared only in that it was a broken nose.  It could have been so much worse.  

Maddie said "Daddy looks like a walrus" because he had gauze sticking out of both nostrils during the game.  He's tough!
I am so thankful that it wasn't worse.

He started out the morning in Wilmore at 5am and returned home for a game in which he broke his nose before the game even started!

Jesus is watching out for our family and we are thankful!  

I'm praying there will be no more injuries this season!

HOME

Ron made it home!  Yes it is a day earlier than normal and we are so thankful.

The boys have a baseball game tonight that he wanted to be here for!  

It has been a LONG week on our end and Maddie and I are so glad to have Daddy home. 

The boys will be excited to see him after school

Thank you for your prayers for our family this week!  We appreciate them so much!

A Speaking and Singing Part

Nearly a month ago the boys school put on a Spring Musical, "Camp Wallaballa".  (Sorry I'm so late with pictures and an update).  

Several 

months ago Ronnie came home and said, "I have a part".   He was super excited! 

Let me stop right there and tell you Ronnie is probably the most shy of all 4 of my kids - but he was so excited about this part!  It wasn't a big part, but it did come with a solo!

I got a little nervous when he really didn't want me to practice with him much.  He was learning his lines and he would be prepared!

So the night of the big program came!  

All three boys were in the program, but only Ronnie had a speaking/solo part.  Nathaniel and Eli were in the chorus!  I had been hearing the songs as Eli practiced everywhere he went.  He was even teaching Maddie the songs, so much so that she sang them the night of the program with them (from her seat with me).

The gist of the play was a group of kids who were going to Camp Wallaballa.  Their bus broke down and they had to trust that the Lord would take care of them and not be afraid!

Ronnie knew every one of his lines - perfectly!  He did great!  It was obvious he was prepared.  Then the  moment of the solo came.  I got nervous - he didn't show his nerves!  He did GREAT!

He had only a couple of lines by himself then two other kids joined him.  It was great!  I was so proud!

So...Ronnie's debut performance was this spring.  Who knows how many more musical/play/performances he will be in, but I was so proud of the time he took, the dedication he put towards it and how great he did!

Building

Eli has been on a "building" kick lately.  Whether it's forts or bridges or tunnels, he has been building.  He gets pretty extravagant with the Lincoln Logs and army men!  Then he wants pictures taken so that whoever isn't around (Daddy, grandparents, or anyone he can think of) can see the finished project!

 Usually with the forts and army men a rubber band war follows where all the army men get shot off their post!  Fun stuff for little boys!

This is a tunnel.  Daddy it's for you!

and a tower too!

I figure I better document this now, because when he gets big and is an architect or something, we'll need to know where he started!

Not Part of the Plan

Today was suppose to be a fun filled day with the kids.  All 3 boys had earned a Ft. Wayne Tin Caps ticket with their reading this spring.  They were a little disappointed that Daddy wouldn't get to go, but I got an extra ticket for Maddie and I so we could join them to see the Tin Caps!  

We actually went as a family last year on Maddie's birthday.  In case you forgot about that, you can see the day in pictures here.

Well today didn't end (or begin) quite like we had envisioned!

First some background.  Nathaniel had to be picked up from school on Monday with a fever and a headache.  Tuesday he didn't go either.  No fever, just the headache.  So last night they were all outside playing for a bit and I had everything ready for the Tin Caps today.  When I got them all cleaned up and in bed I thought we were good to go for this morning.

I woke up this morning to Nathaniel burning up!  So I knew the day would be a little off.  Then Ronnie started complaining of a headache!

This afternoon I took them in and they are both battling sinus infections. The doctor said that the crazy allergy season is to blame.  Nathaniel usually has allergy issues, but this is a first for Ronnie.  So we have some meds and hopefully they will both be back to their normal selves in a day or two.  

In the meantime there were a lot of tears today about missing the Tin Caps!

Eli came to me at about 11 and just had tears streaming down his face.  I grabbed him and asked what was wrong. 

"I wanted to go to the game."

"I know you did bud, but I told you hours ago that we weren't going, why are you crying now?"

"Well I was trying to stay busy and not think about it and now I am thinking about it"

Oh, I love that kid!

Nathaniel's response - "Mom, I read xxx number (I can't remember how many) of minutes to go to the game, why can't I go?"

I wish things were easy.  I wish I didn't have to have disappointed kids!

I am thankful that we know what is going on now and I'm thankful that it is not more serious!

We are just laying low today and this evening.  I had to cancel Youth for tonight because, it was just me anyway, with Ron gone!  Not sure why it pours around here the weeks that he is gone!  I do know we're ready for Daddy to come home!

Friends

Yesterday, Cathy and I were suppose to take her granddaughter, Reese and Maddie out for a picnic and some fun in the park.  Plans changed when Nathaniel was home from school for the day.  Cathy invited Maddie to come over to her house to play with Reese.

They made cookies together.

They even "made" frosting!

and decorated some (wow, that's a guilty face)

These 2 are a year apart, and they sure have fun together!

Buddies!

Sticky

On Sunday we had a guest speaker at our Ney Church.  We were celebrating the "Christian Home" week and had kicked it off the week before with a time of fellowship and Ice Cream and Ron and I handed out a week of devotions to be used as a family.  (On a side  note, I enjoyed writing these.  Ron took 3 and I took 3 and it was neat to see how the Lord used them to work together.  Fun for me to do).

So then on Sunday we had Anne Lowe come.  Anne is a friend from Ligonier, Indiana.  She has read a  book, "Sticky Faith" and attended a conference put on by the authors.  She and her husband, Nate, are passionate about leading young men and women to a personal relationship with Jesus and helping them to continue in that faith.

So Anne came and spoke at Ney and really did a fabulous job.  She really needed more time and I could have continued to listen, but she briefly spoke about what Sticky Faith is and how we can have kids who have a dynamic faith that "sticks" long term.

"Research shows that almost half of graduating high school seniors struggle deeply with their faith."

So what can we, as a church, and we, as parents, do to insure our children have a faith that sticks with them?

You can get a copy of Sticky Faith here.

Anne shared from the book how we must become a sticky faith family.
We must:
1 - Expose our children to real life examples of trusting God
2 - Make time and space for faith conversations (around the dinner table, at bedtime, just make a time)
3 - Share Faith Stories
4 - Honor Family Rituals
5 -Serve Together

There was so much more to what she shared and I am ready to start the book.  It was challenging in so many ways!  Statistically 2 of my 4 will drop away from their walk with the Lord by the time they are adults. I'm NOT good with that.  I want to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen!

So what about you...does your family practice Sticky Faith?  Are you doing things today that will ensure they are walking with Jesus in the years to come?  Will their faith STICK?

It's that time of year

It's that time of year again when the grass needs mowed!  Ron has already mowed a couple of times.  He did it again on Saturday in the hopes that it would hold off until he gets home next weekend!

The Lord provided a riding mower for us this year and it has cut Ron's time down pretty significantly, not to mention his aching body :)

After Daddy was done on Saturday Eli asked to try it out!

He has a few years before he is ready to tackle this job on his own!

Next Nathaniel wanted to try it out.  Pretty sure that was a tighter fit for Daddy and if you could see his face, he took it pretty serious!

Then Ronnie, because around here it's "monkey see, monkey do".  

He's learning the push mower too, so it won't be long before Daddy has some help!

Then the "little monkey" wanted a turn!  

Let's just say it will be a LONG while before she will be getting keys to anything!

It turned into a parade around the yard - pretty sure our neighbors think we're crazy!

But it's that time of year and we're just Happy to be OUTSIDE!

Wilmore Week #16

Wilmore Week is once again underway!  

Ron took off this afternoon after making a yummy Mother's Day dinner (steak, potatoes and salad and some chocolate ice cream).

Ron will have a little bit of a shorter week, as he wants to get back for the boys baseball game on Friday evening!  

On the home front we already have a lot planned for this week.  Tin Caps Game, Dentist appointments, Youth Group, Discipleship, Picnic with friends and more! 

We appreciate so many of you who keep all of us in your prayers on these long weeks while we are separated!

Happy Mother's Day

The reason I celebrate today!

I love these 4!

What a privileged I have, Mommy to the best 4 kids in all the world!