GOD IS SO GOOD

We are HOME!!! We arrived here on Monday afternoon around 1pm! We have been non-stop since we have walked in the door! I never realized how dirty a house is after no one has lived in it for 7 months. We have restocked the frig and cabinets, washed all our clothes, started doing yard work, and only just begun the LONG process of cleaning the inside of the house from top to bottom! We are so glad to be here, and have been enjoying spending time with our family and friends. Not to mention, eating the BEST meals! Enough on home...I am going to blog about what I promised in the last one, COLUMBUS!

What an AMAZING experience! First off, we started off looking for a place to live and couldn't find one anywhere. After spending an entire off day searching and getting back the same answer of, "we won't do a 3 month lease" I was tired and frustrated! I was on the verge of Maggie and I coming home, and Levale sleeping on a couch, when sweet Kenna Shell called! She explained that another couple used to live with them, but had been called up, and they needed roommates. We moved in that day, actually, I moved us in that day! We had so much fun with them, (even though it was for a short time in AAA) and later got to spend the last month with them in the Big Leagues!This is me and Kenna at a John Michael Montgomery, Little Big Town & Phil Vasar concert. The guys were on a road trip, so Kenna and I chose this as one of our "Girls Night" activities! Even though it rained, and we left early, we had so much FUN!

After the Shells got promoted to the Big Leagues and moved out, the Sanches moved back in! For those of you who have FB or Myspace you have seen tons of pictures of little Charlee. She was my heart. She loved her Pa-Pa, and she knew she could get most anything she wanted from me! She is the most precious child. It was so fun to watch her grow and learn so many NEW things while living with her. Her sweet parents, Kylie and Brian taught us so much about marriage, raising a child, discipline, compromise, baseball, finances, and the list goes on, and on, and on. They have such a strong christian marriage, and are some of the most amazing people I have ever been around. We miss them already. They became some wonderful baseball friends, whom we will love and cherish forever! Like I said in an earlier blog, we are strong believers the Lord puts us in places to teach us different things. He put us living with Kylie and Brian to learn through them!

Kylie and Brian Sanches


Charlee loved the toothbrush! She would help Levale brush his teeth at night!

She also loved the suitcase. She would always help me pack, or should I say unpack while I was packing!


And lastly, her infamous "PRETTY FACE!" We loved it, and made her do it all the time for us. We had so much fun with them, and made so many wonderful memories!

Then there were the Bacsik's. Another amazing family! One of the most creative, beautiful, loving, patient, calm, always has a smile on her face, moms I have EVER met! Sue is such a breath of fresh air! I honestly don't think she could hurt a fly! Sue and Mike are known in my book as "Disney Mom and Dad." They were always planning fun things to do with their precious children Mary Grace and Jake, as well as coming up with ideas for us girls! Sue is such a woman of faith, and it shows in her everyday life. Being around Sue always made me want to be a better person, to not get frustrated with the small things, to be more patient and kind, and to always make the most of the situation you are in! Sue and Mike's beautiful little girl, Mary Grace, became one of my babies as well! She is the most imaginative child I have ever met, she is smart as a whip, and has the biggest heart of anyone I know (I thinks she gets that from her momma!). She never misses a beat. She would swim with me, and then on our "special treat" days (that's what I called them to her) she would get to ride to the game with me in her "big girl seat belt!" Then there is their ANGEL child, Jake. Jake is the BEST BABY EVER! Sue always joked that he was so high maintenance because he never made a peep. He would sleep through the entire game! We would all just take turns holding him because he was so sweet!

Mike, Sue, Mary Grace, and Jake Bacsik at the All-Star Break Bar-B-Que! One of our many activities!
MG with her "Cindy-Lou-Who's"! She is a doll!

Charlee loved Mary Grace, and MG was such a big helper with Charlee!

Sue and Baby Jake at Charlee's 1st Birthday Party!

Next there are the Schroder's, Tammy and Chris. They are so funny...always such a joy to be around! Tammy is precious! She is beautiful, caring, always willing to lend a helping hand, funny, smart, fun, easy to talk to, and would light up a room. She also has a HUGE heart, which is no surprise considering she is a pediatric nurse! She and Chris both are great with kids, and I know they are going to make amazing parents someday! Tammy and I did not have babies, so we always had fun together; laughing, joking, and dancing. They too are Christians, and I know the Lord put them in our life to teach us about Faith. Their faith in God, and his good, perfect, and pleasing will for their lives is astonishing! I learned so much from the two of them. I miss her dearly...she always knew how to make me laugh! Tammy and Chris at Chris's 30th Birthday Party!


Tammy and I got to go to the "Team Party" in Louisville, KY. We were the only wives there!!!

Tammy with Jake, MG, and Charlee. All the kids loved her. She was so good with them!

We made so many true, lifelong friends in baseball this year! Although, we are all in separate places for the off season, we keep in touch regularly, and we miss each other like crazy!

We were all very blessed to have a Christian Manager and Wife. Tim Foli, and his dear wife Ginette are two believers who spread the Word through this great game of baseball! Mrs. Ginette taught a couple's Bible Study and a Women's Bible Study. She is a true Woman of God. She knows the Bible, and is a wonderful teacher. She taught me more History on the Bible than I have learned my whole entire life! (And my parents have had me in church all my life!) She was such a blessing to all of us, especially us women. I can't wait to be with her again next year, so I can learn more!

Kristina, Tammy, Me, Charlee, Kylie, Betty Sue (my mother-in-law), Baby Jake, Ginette, Kerry, Sue, and Mary Grace

I know I continue to say it, but I truly believe we were blessed beyond belief this year! We made so many memories with so many AMAZING people! I will blog about DC in the next blog, so again, stay tuned! I will leave you with this...GOD IS SO GOOD, and he revealed himself to us in numerous ways this year!