Good Morning!

Good morning!

Fresh spinach, kale and lettuce from our garden, the best!! 

Our baseball weekend

Oren likes to come into the bathroom stall with me. We use the bathroom often at baseball fields, not because we have some sort of a problem but because we are there, A LOT. So, he comes in with me yesterday and decides to crawl under the door and go out, while I am peeing. Chubby toddler hands, swiping all acrossed the dirty bathroom floor. I hurry out!  Okay Oren, let's wash your hands! "I don't yike it" is his reply! He makes me laugh a lot and he is a stubborn little thing sometimes. He loves the concession stands. He cheers for the Dirt Brothers and the 10 U. The baseball fields are his second home.

We got to Target yesterday between games and Hazel decides she HAS to get shoes. She is one of those "shoe girls" -- she is trying on funky, super cute, impractical sandles. We buy some. Last night at the game in Yakima, in the pouring down rain she tells me she may be developing blisters on her feet. (side note, Target took them back today, pretty cool. We will find something more practical)

The game last night was WET. Pouring and it began to feel cold. Oren found every puddle he could and soaked his shoes and the bottom of his pants. Giggling most of the time! The umpire turned back between innings and said "who is that giggling?! Well, keep it up!!" Hazel had so much fun with Brooke, Maddie, Vivian, Lely, Emma. But once she was really wet she was begging for a movie in the car.

I love baseball. I love watching these boys work. I love good sportsmanship. I enjoy the parents. The kids have a blast! The only thing I wish is that I could be two places at once. Willem played in the Puyallup/Tacoma area this weekend, Merit in Yakima.

It is time to shout out some baseball pants, get some reading in and relax. Tomorrow is Monday already. These are the days.

I am mom

I LOVE being their mom!

I am so thankful for my sisters! For the moms they are and how much they remind me of our mom.

A letter from my mom...

Oren Paul

Willem, just last night, pitching at his game

I am so thankful!

Who I miss, what I miss

I keep getting a lump in my throat.
And I am thankful it is sunny because I will be wearing my sunglasses all day, till 11 p.m. tonight. And tomorrow too.

Emotions run high. Part of that may be because our kitchen sink is completely plugged and the breakfast dishes sit dirty on the counter. Vance has the Snake, the Draino ...

Our elementary school principal, Mrs. Mason, was buying a flat of petunias today. She was behind us in the checkout line. She told me they were for her mom and that her mom plants them every year. My mom did too.

Hazel made a darling Mother's Day gift at school. And wrote about me. She wanted to give it to me early. (The boys tell me they have something special too.)
I got a lump in my throat and was glad I was wearing my shades and gave Hazel a big smile and hug when I opened her hand print butterfly! And the beautiful finger print necklace.

We bought a sno cone maker today. Oh is this purchase ever a hit! This is a "toy" or "appliance" that we would have begged our mom for as kids too! In fact,  Lesha brought one over to my dads a summer or two ago and made all the kids sno cones! They were a hit.

Some year soon, I need a mother's day with my sisters and my grandma.

My mom was my biggest fan. There is this fabulous thing about moms; they often encourage, support and believe in you in such a genuine, present way. And that unconditional, true love from a person you totally trust, it is beautiful.  And maybe today, this Mother's Day Eve, THAT is what I miss most.

But everything about my mom is WHO I miss the most.

When friends gather...

When friends gather, when we pray, when we plan, when we love each other, blessings occur. They happen in the ways we hope they may happen and so often we are blessed in additional ways! Redeemed Treasures was a fundraiser to get a boy here, from China, an orphan. The Badgley's will foster him for 3 weeks. The hope and prayer is that Dougie will find his forever family and home while he is introduced to all of the people Marianne and Alan love here in Moses Lake.

Marianne had the fundraiser here. She invited people who knew their story and who knew what they are raising funds for. Her heart for orphans is special and wonderful. Being able to help this cause in a small way was humbling!

$2,222 was raised! Praise God!

I got to work with wonderful women through this! The set up was as fun as the day of the sale. It was a success!

These are the days...

These boys are baseball players. They have the right amount of intensity, I believe. They love the game. They practice good sportsmanship. They make us proud.

He misses Merit, Will and Hazel a lot when they are away. His favorite things to do during the day right now are meet dad for lunch, go for a stroller ride, play with trucks, play with water and watch Curious George!

Willem and Hazel decided to make a habitat for this little friend

She is such a critter lover! 

Baseball and more baseball!

This weekend was packed full of fun! A baseball tournament in Spokane for Willem, one for Merit in Othello. We had gorgeous weather! Matt and Brenda visited and caught 4 games! 

This little guy did well for the most part. He rode in the stroller some, played a lot and made friends. A little rude talk (grrrr) a lot of giggling and laughter, some yummy snacks and some cheering made for a fun tourney.

Merit pitching

Both Merit and Willem are #7. They are ballers. They work hard, they want to get better and they love the game.

Great Memories made!

Baseball

Carter at short, Miggy at second

Watching 13 year olds play baseball is pretty awesome. 

Carter

Ev at first, Leo pitching

 Merit and Migs

Merit pitching

Love this team

Willem played in Pullman today. Moses Lake won!! 

Merit in Moses Lake, they lost both games but fought hard.