Strike 3!!

Strike 3. Last out of the Inning. Way to go Tristan!

PS - Videos of Tori to come.

I'm Glad You Came

I love when the boy sings. Even if I miss part of it. And its a bad video. 

Ups and Downs.

Life has ups and downs. This is about as obvious as the fact that the sky is blue and the grass is green. But sometimes I appreciate it more. The process of it all. This is one of those weeks.

I had a couple of nights I was just in a funk. And all I wanted was sweat pants, flavored coffee, and good show that Todd and I could cuddle up to. Granted I did not want to talk to him because I was crabby, and lets be real, not so nice when I am crabby. But I wanted him there. And I think for the first time in too long, even in my funk, I could recognize how awesome it is that he is just there. All the time. Even when I dont think I need him or want him there. Still there. He doesn't read my blog...but if he did...I would tell him how awesome that is.

And we got a new president. Wait, no we didn't. I was hoping we would but we didn't. And quite frankly, sorry my Democratic pro-Obama friends, I don't like him. And I was bummed. But I took enough time to step back and appreciate my dislike. Or rather my ability to dislike. To have been a part of the process, to live in a country as great as the one I live in, and to remember that it is neither Godly nor mature to just jump on a bashing band wagon. So I dont have to like him. Or be excited about the decision we made as a country. But I remain, proud to be a part of this great nation.

There were also some awesome ups this weekend! Tristan pitched an AMAZING game on Tuesday night. A game that took place in absolutely amazing cool temperaturs...so cool that I got to wear my favorite sweater and sip on a delicious salted caramel mocha latte while watching it (delivered to the bleachers by Todd - um I mentioned he rocks right?) And I got to take some pictures of one of my favorite families. I had coffee with my daughter before school one day. I loaded new songs on my phone and went for a beautiful run around the bayou...and I am headed out tonight on a road trip with my sis to help my cousin celebrate a quarter of a century! And I don't feel guilty because my families weekend is filled with super fun stuff too - hayrides/bonfires, birthday parties, baseball games, etc!

Happy Friday! Make your day be full of ups and downs and may you cherish the ride!

A Baseball Life by Tristan Maddex

Tristan was given an assignment in class to write about something he currently does or likes and imagine it "BIGGER". This is what he wrote:

 I started baseball when I was about three. Now I play for the Little League and I'm the star pitcher for my team. We are the Hurricanes. I am going to be pitcher for my middle school. In my high school I am going to lead out team to 14 wins and 6 losses. Then I'll play there for 2 or 3 years and be what everyone goes to the game for. My parents will be so proud of me. I'll be the best pitcher in the history of pitchers. I'll have curveballs, sinkers, change ups and probably booger balls to!! I'll make all the other teams look awful and we'll look stupendous. Then I'll be accept by the Tampa Bay Rays before I even get to the minors! I'll be a legend!!! I'll be everything the Rays need. I'll probably start as a back up pitcher but then the pitcher might brake his leg and I'll go in and get 3 strike outs in a row. I'll finally be starter pitcher and I'll lead my team to victory against the New York Yankees in the World seireis. And all be everywhere. I'll be a ZILLIONAIR!!!!! I'll be the world's best pitcher and always be remembered. 

Tristan Maddex - 4th Grade

(All punctuation, misspellings, and grammatical errors are his)

Twins, Dog Sitting & Celebrating a Decade

Little stuff first... Tori has a new friend named Kelly and she is an answer to prayer. She had previously managed to find the most religiously diverse group of friends humanly possible...literally Mormon, Jewish, Catholic, atheist...you name it. And I LOVE that. I love that she has gotten all these perspectives on belief systems that are not ours. But I also prayed that God would give her a friend at school that also believed what she believed. And then our church got a new pastor. And he had a daughter. And she lives close by, attends the same school, even rides the same bus. Her name is Kelly. And they have been inseparable...constantly sleeping over at one house or the other, going to football games together, the beach, etc. And shopping. Apparently "matching/coordinating" is still cool in 7th grade. After a visit to the new H & M at a local mall they came home with these (please excuse the disheveled Tori)!

My parents got a dog. And I like dogs so I think this is great. Her name is Macy and she is the female version of the dog we grew up with, in fact I have mistakenly called her Chipper multiple times. Oops! Anyway she came to stay with us a week...and Max, who is crazy, was so excited. I mean way too excited. My little 8 lb psychodog scared sweet Macy to death when she first got here but within hours they were friends. And Tori had a new friend too as Macy spent most of her weekend with us on Tori's bed or at her heels.

So amidst the baseball and school projects and work schedules and general juggling we hit a major milestone...my boy turned 10. I repeat, my baby is a decade old. And he is turning into the neatest little guy. He is witty and funny. He is sweet and gentle. He is generous and helpful. He is athletic and intelligent. He is creative and artistic. And he has the best laugh. Its been a good decade. I can't wait to see what the next decade brings.

On the Pinke side of our family we celebrate decades with a all boys/all girls trip...a tradition that started with my mom's 50th. So when Tori turned 10 the girls went to St.Augustine. In discussing where Tristan would go the boys opted to stay close to home but do some "guy" things. So Tristan's weekend of fun included Firehouse Subs (his favorite), shooting various guns at a range in Lakeland, Wing House, cleaning guns at my brother's house where they spent the night (after kicking Taylor out - sorry Taylor), and a day long fishing trip. The fishing trip was a bit of a bust since the fish weren't biting much but they did come home with a few grouper filets and some grunt, all frozen for a future fish fry. And yes, the picture below of Tristan, is with an assault rifle that appears bigger than him. My brother built it and Tristan was REALLY excited to use it.

Racing Thoughts

It's been awhile since I wrote but it has be BUSY. I feel like I barely have time to catch my breath these days much less write a legible post with pictures.

So pictures and a real post to come...soon...here's the racing thought version of what's happening here:

Coworker out of town, covering both our cases, baseball/softball 4 nights this week, company the 5th, gotta pick up the dog we are watching, crap I should consider meals, clean uniforms?, working on it, clean scrubs would be good too, you're working late TONIGHT?, oy, where did I put that permission slip, my baby is 10!!, new carpet looks great now if I could just finish the bathroom, deliver those gifts, coffee please, out? what?, I REALLY need to get to the grocery store, you need your uniform clean again? didnt i just wash it? did someone feed the dog, you have five minutes to be out the door, is this game ever going to end, toris catching, nerves frying, tristans pitching, eek, oh my gosh its 11 already, good lord my bed is comfy.

This weekend on the other hand is the first in awhile that is slow. So pics of current baseball/softball season, birthday boy and home improvements are on their way!

Worship Team

There are moments in life that are etched across our mind, never to be forgotten. Often they are large moments, milestones, in which we remember every detail - the sights, the smells, the company we were keeping at the moment. We all have them - the feeling of a diploma or degree in your hand for the first time, the moment you saw your soon to be spouse only an aisle's walk away from the rest of your life, the second your children looked you in the eyes for the very first time....

But sometimes the moments are less big. And no one else around you even knows it's a moment. Those might be the best kind.

Tori is part of the worship team at church for the first time this year. And honestly I was kind of annoyed by it at first. It meant weekly practices, one more thing on an already overly busy calendar and more songs to hear on repeat in my house.

But then I went to watch her. And she was so....I want to say present. In that moment I saw this young woman who is being deeply influenced by strong Christian women around her, who is embracing her faith as a way of life, and who was worshiping with her whole heart this God she clearly loves deeply.

Sometimes as a mom, and one with OCD tendencies, I get caught up in the day to day. The packing lunches, doing laundry, getting kids delivered to various activities, etc routine. And I recognize my kids achievements and I love on them no matter who they are or what they did that day. But sometimes I miss the big stuff. I miss that beyond that little girl who cares what others think about her and is constantly bickering with her little brother, there is this amazing young woman blossoming and growing and trying to find her way.

I am thankful. Thankful that I have amazing kids. That God is using them. That God is constantly reminding me to see the big picture. That he is working in my children's lives and spirits and molding them - both through Todd and I but also in spite of Todd and I. I am truly blessed.