Letters

Not much new news around here. I am patiently waiting on my family to arrive on Saturday so I've been checking things off my "hostess with the most-est" check list.

This post is about "Letters" so let's get to it!

Dear shopping habit,
Why must you kick in full force when Jess leaves on the road? I mean it is smart of you, seeing that I don't have to hide any new purchases I might make as soon as I get home. But, really? I don't need any more clothes (said no woman ever). What I really mean is I don't need anymore clothes here. I am going to have a hard enough time making everything fit as of now. Please subside, I am begging ;) (not really though)

Dear mom, dad, Kim and Tom,
Thank you for all that y'all do. Seriously, I can't say it enough. Y'all are taking the reigns for us while we are in season and we really appreciate it. I hope y'all feel the love I'm sending all the way from Ohio.

Dear Mackinaw Island Fudge,
Please don't do the whole "a moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips" number on me. I am looking so forward to meeting you. Don't make me hate you.

Dear Humanity,
What is wrong with us? I can't turn on the news anymore without feeling devastated. I am so disappointed. Something has got to change.

Dear God,
I ask that you have mercy on us. Please be present in our lives and guide us all to live a life pleasing to you. Thank you for all of your blessings. I praise you for all of your glory.

Love,
E

8 days at a time....

I feel like our lives are generally lived by 8 day increments. In some rare occasions there are times we live them in 12 day increments but thankfully those are few and far between.

We are quickly grinding through the 2013 season and another 8 days has came and gone here in Toledo. Please forgive me for the lack of posts during my last "8 days" as some days are busier than others and then some are less than interesting. I don't want to bore you with every detail so here are a few of my favorite details of these last 8 days....

Donut Date in the Park

Sweet baby Faith

Just a few blessings that come with being in Baseball.

My Lovey

Even though I am sad that the past 8 days have flown by, I have a really good feeling that after All-Star break things will dramatically slow down. My parents are getting in soon and then we'll be heading out on our vacation.

I hope y'all's Monday wasn't too bitter and y'all are off to a good start!

Love,
E

What day is it?

This commercial literally had me laughing out loud!

Here is a little something to put a pep in yo step this Wednesday morning ;)

Love,
E

He's Backkkkkkk!

Jess got back around 2:45am Monday morning. Boy, oh boy was I happy to see him! He too was happy to be home and to see me of course ;)

Since Jess got home so early/late morning I let him sleep in and then made us lunch. We decided to get up early today and have a Donut Date at the park!

It doesn't take much for me to get him to the park anymore. The one near our house is full of deer so he is all for it when I ask if we can stop by there. We saw about 3 on our walk through the trails this time. Jess of course gets super serious and starts breathing hard. He then proceeds with "shhhh....Erica! Be quiet!" when I continue to talk without realizing that THERE ARE DEER IN THE HORIZON! How dare I not be so alert?! Bless his little heart, he's such a hunter! Can't even enjoy a nice walk in the park without sticking his invisible gun up to pretend like he is about to get him one. Women who are married to men who hunt know exactly what I am talking about. Jess has even started sticking his "invisible gun" up to shoot birds too. He's cray!

I am hoping this week doesn't fly by but I know it will and he will be back on the road before I know it. Lucky for me my parents are getting here during the next road trip so this time it won't seem like he's gone as long.

I hope y'alls week started off peachy!

Love,
E

Currently

Currently I am sitting at my kitchen table in Toledo scouring my brain over what to write in this post. I have my new "Hawaiian Breeze" candle lit that I got when I was back home last month, Remember the Titans on the TV and the lights dim.

I have so much to share I just don't know how to write it. It's a strange feeling. I usually always know how interpret what I'm thinking and feeling by writing it out. Is this writer's block that I am experiencing? Surely not?!

It probably has nothing to do with the lack of sleep that I am getting due to Jess being gone. I know, I know, I am a big chicken. I don't do well sleeping alone. I need another human in the house with me. I'm needy, what can i say?

Anywho I'm just going to continue typing and see what happens....

This week has been a long one. Jess is currently on the road which equals time for me to get my stuff together-back in order-back on track-organized,  or however you want to say it. I've been back and forth to Texas since the beginning of the season so this is the first time I have been in Toledo without Jess. Let's just say Toledo is a little less beautiful without my sugarplum. Don't tell him I said that though, his head will get as big as Mars and ain't nobody got time fo dat! Especially me ;)

I took advantage of the week and started getting things together for upcoming events that are on our calendar. 2 of my bestest friends are getting married in March and April of 2014 so I have been doing a little research on ideas and things for them!

My parents are visiting at the end of the month and we will then drive up to Mackinac Island for part of their trip. Me being the control freak that I am made a list of restaurants and activities that we can do while we are on the Island. I am really looking forward to them getting here to see all that I have planned!

I also spent some time with our Bible Study teacher one day. I met her at her Church because she is gearing up for their VBS next week and thought I could help a little bit. The theme they are doing for the VBS is so neat! I know the kids attending will enjoy it!

Other than running errands and getting Jess some more shirts that he likes I haven't really done much. I find that when I am alone for a long period of time I spend a lot of time reflecting on everything that my life entails. It is so easy to fall into the hustle and bustle of it all and not get a chance to enjoy what is going on around you. I just want to take a second to express how thankful I am for everything in my life. The good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. Having some time to be reminded just how blessed I am is a nice, scary feeling if you know what I mean? Life does have a way of passing you by, I hope I am doing a good job at soaking up every moment.

It won't be too much longer until my husband is back and I am so ready to see him! Or maybe I just want to go to sleep and not wake up 50 times during the night because I think someone is coming in our house and I am going to have to whoop their butt? It's at least one of those two.

I hope y'all had a fabulous week and are going to have an even more fabulous weekend celebrating y'alls Father's!

I am sending lots of love to my daddy this weekend! I hope he can feel it all the way down in Texas!

Love,
E

Grad Party!

It would seem a bit ridiculous to post about a Graduation gift and then not share about the actual party. Wouldn't it?? ;)

I arrived in Columbus around 5pm on Saturday. Once I was settled we spent the evening Graduation party hopping until a little after 8. When we returned back to Sumita's house we started prepping for the big bash! You know, writing lists, checking things off the list, getting the house in order and I don't know exactly how many cake balls there were but we dipped a lot of them before finally hitting the sack!

This large Gorilla was in the neighbor's yard at a party we attended. It was too funny not to get a picture with it. 

The next morning we went to church and then ran some errands before going back to the house to get ready for guests to start to arrive. Sumita and her family put on a very nice party and I don't think anything else could have been done to make it better.

Where the "sides" were served

Dessert table

Display of all Alyssa's accomplishments! There were so many!

What made this party so unique was that a Food Truck named Dan's Deli was parked in the drive way. There were about 7 things you could choose from on the menu and they would make it to your specifications! It was so neat and a great idea by Alyssa.

I chose the Veggie Pita with a side of Mac and Cheese and Fruit! Any time Mac and Cheese is on the table you can bet that it's makings way to my plate!

It was a fun filled party with tons of great food and a wonderful atmosphere. It was nice to see people we had met at Church a couple of years ago and catch up with them.

I am so grateful to Sumita and her family for opening up their doors for me and treating me just like family while Jess is on the road. I look forward to the next time I go down and spend time with them.

Cheers to Alyssa!

Love,
E

Graduation Gift

Today I am heading back to Columbus to attend one of our dear family friends daughter's graduation party. (that was a mouthful, lol)

We met this sweet family a couple of years ago when Jess was playing in Columbus. Sumita, (the mom) was my Bible Study teacher and hosted us at the end of the season when the team went into playoffs. This family is one of the most valued friendships we have and we are so thankful for all they have done and still do for us.

When we met them Alyssa, Sumita's daughter was just going to be a Sophomore in High School. A couple of days ago she graduated! Time has a way of flying by as I get older. I can't even believe she is on her way to College now!

After going back and forth on what kind of gift to get Alyssa I finally took to Pinterest and Google to get some more unique gift ideas. I brainstormed and did a combination of all the sugesstions I saw online and came up with this.

I didn't want to get her the same old song and dance of money or gift cards. I wanted to put some thought into it and I hope she loves this gift! I selected all bright colors so it would pop and bring happy thoughts while she is away from home and in her dorm.

I love giving gifts so this was a lot of fun for me!

I am off to pack now, it is slightly warmer in Columbus so I am excited to wear some fun summer clothes this weekend!

I hope y'all's Saturday has started off on the right foot! Happy weekend Y'all!

Love,
E

P.s.
Quick shout out to my parents on their 26th Wedding Anniversary today! I thank God everyday for blessing me with y'all as parents. Thank you for being such amazing role models for me and Emily. I hope I make you as proud as you make me. I love y'all!

Quick Trip

On Tuesday morning we headed to Columbus Ohio for a quick 2 day series! Since that is our old stompin' ground we love going back. Pretty much all of the wives and girlfriends make the trip down to Columbus since it's only about a 2 hour drive.

Usually when we go there we see our good friends the Lindsey's and some of Jess' old teammates. It's such a bittersweet thing but it's nice to reminisce about our time there, see our old apartment and eat at all of our fave places there.

I had only been back in Toledo for 24 hours before I had to repack myself and Jess so we could head out. As I write this post we are already back in Toledo! Yeah, it's been a pretty fast paced last couple of days and I'm hoping to sit down soon and write something you want to read about. I have a couple of topics already brewing!

For now I will leave y'all with a mini version of Letters. I hope y'all enjoy!

Dear Husband,
THANK YOU so much for my flowers. It was such a nice surprise to walk in to an apartment that had fresh flowers on the table. You are such a good man and I love you with every single fiber of my being.

Dear Mom,
Hang in there. I know some days seem absolutely hellacious but you are doing the best you can and that's all that matters. I know grandma appreciates everything you are doing for her.

Dear house in Austin,
You are officially no longer ours. We really loved you and know that you will make your new owner just as happy as you made us. It wasn't you, it was us. We just prefer the views of open pastures and 1 or 2 stop lights in the town we reside in. Things are better this way ;)

Dear God,
Please be with our dear friend's Hannah and Jade tomorrow. Please guide the doctor's through Jade's surgery and please give both Jade and Hannah peace during this critical time. Please do your will for them and see them through. Thank you for already guiding them in the right direction.

Dear Readers,
Thank you for reading!

Happy Hump Day!

Love,
E