Baseball and The Booster

Kidlet Three's summer baseball league

played in a tournament

this past weekend.

 

After five breath-taking games,

they made it to the championship game.

The grounds crew chalked the school's

initials into the batter's circle before

the Big Game.

The Husband is the self-appointed

Booster Club for each team that the

Kidlets have been involved with.

For baseball, check out this video of

a common Booster scene.  Kidlet Three

is in the video warming up to bat (#12).

 On Sunday, the Rockets team played

three baseball games in HOT weather.

The games were played one right after the

other.  Between two of the games. Booster

 and I went into the dugout with the tunes to get

the boys jazzed up for their next game.  They all

got a little camera shy when I stepped in....

 Out of 16 teams, Kidlet Three's team WON first place!

Here is Kidlet getting his trophy from the coach. 

A great group of guys that play some amazing baseball.

So proud of them!

The Mouse

I must be having fun because time is flying by.  Isn't there a saying that time flies when you are having fun?  It has been a few weeks since I have posted and I guess it is because time flew by.

Before I post about The Mouse, you just have to see this picture of Grandbaby C.  Kidlet One went back to work last Friday.  Favorite-Son-In-Law and Baby C drove Kidlet One to work on that first morning.  Baby C decided to bless her momma by smiling this big smile as she left the car and walked into work.  Baby C...you did good!

There is so much happening in my life.  And I feel bad that this post is about The Mouse, when there are much more important things to write about.

But there are just some stories that need to be told and I guess I feel this is one of them.

I work in an old building.  There are delivery trucks that come and go into the building and apparently mice like to run in and out when the garage doors are up for the delivery trucks (or at least that is how I like to think mice get in the building).

Several years ago I stored a beautiful Ghirardelli chocolate candy bar in my desk for that special day when I was going to need it.  Well, a mouse got in my desk drawer and nibbled on the corner of my foil-wrapped piece of heaven.  Others in the office checked their desk drawers and, they too, found evidence of that PMSing mouse.  All of us with chocolate stashes had been vandalized.  After a call to the maintenance people, sticky traps were delivered (those sticky traps are horrible).  We never caught the sneaky-chocoloate-loving-creature and I forgot about the sticky traps under my desk.

Until this morning.

I have a foot rest under my desk to keep my feet up for some-reason-that-I-can't-remember.  As I sat down at my desk, I saw a piece of white, maybe paper, sticking out from under the foot rest.  So with my foot I tried to grab the corner of that paper and slide it toward me. It is not unusual for me to have papers flying around as my desk is stacked with paper.  Anyway, as I slid the paper there was something wrong with what I was seeing.  My brain and my eyes were not synching and I think it was because of shock.  Finally my brain registered that this was no ordinary piece of paper but a sticky trap with a dead mouse on it and it was now stuck to my shoe.

Oh yes....it was stuck to my shoe.

I shook my foot and shook my foot.  The same leg with my brand-new-knee-of-which-I-am-thankful-I-did-my-therapy-so-I-could-shake-and bend-very-quickly.

Are you shuttering?  I am just typing the whole thing out again.  Remind me, why did I feel this was important for you to know about my day?

The thing finally let loose of my shoe and I backed up to fast.  I didn't scream but I was making some sort of utterances because Mr. Reece in my office stopped working and stared at me. 

Turning to Mr. Reece the begging and pleading started...."oh please...please...please...get that mouse out from under my desk"!  Mr. Reece looked at me like "you've got to be kidding...just because I'm a man you expect me to want to pick up a dead mouse"?  



But he did it.  And I am so grateful.

Looking through my desk drawers, I was grateful to find that The Mouse does not like applesauce or Maple & Brown Sugar oatmeal packets because that is the only food I had in my drawer.  The maintenance people were quickly called and two more sticky traps were brought and placed under my desk.

All afternoon I've wanted to keep my feet UP ON THE DESK instead of using the foot rest.

So again I ask myself the question:  why was this important to post today?  I think it is because we all need to laugh.  If you can picture me with a sticky mouse trap (mouse included) stuck to my shoe and the dance that I was doing to get it off...I know you will laugh.

Our gracious Lord reminds us that "a cheery heart is like a good medicine". 

Being able to laugh is a gracious gift.  I hope I brought a laugh to you with this true story.  And if not, scroll back up to the top of the page and look at Baby C.  She is sure to make you smile.

Crafty

I've been crafty.  Well, crochet crafty. 

This blanket I made while home on surgical leave

 The first person in the livingroom grabs the blanket

so I decided to make a second one.

I finished this second one at the baseball field

this spring.

 My nifty craft bag is portable and allowed me

to start another blanket at the baseball field.

 Single crochet is fast, easy and allows me

to watch Kidlet Three and his team play ball.

 I finished the blanket this weekend.

My flash distorted the color as this is the same

yarn from the picture above.

This blanket will be raffled in a silent auction

in the Relay for Life my parents participate in.

 The yarn is packed and ready for my next project.

I've been asked to make blankets for the hockey and

football fundraisers at Kidlet Three's school.

Both blankets need to be done by July.

Guess I'll need some crafty time in the next month!

Being crafty is amazing fun for me and I'm so happy

I can share my projects with others.

Baby C's Dedication

Grandbaby C was dedicated in church last Sunday.  Favorite Son-in-Law and Kidlet One brought her to their church family and before God, made a promise to raise her knowing of God's love, salvation through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

 Both sets of grandparents were able to stand with the

Pastor and his wife to pray blessings on the parents and baby.

 It was a powerful and memorable event.

Baby C slept through almost the whole thing!

 Favorite Son-in-Law's family and our

family all joined together for a meal

after the service.

Here Baby C's Great Grandma shares secrets

 Baby C's other Great Grandma bought the outfit

that Baby C wore.  Great Grandma Marjorie

isn't able to travel so was unable to join us

for the day. 

 Kidlet Two took his turn holding Baby C

Here is Kidlet Three taking his turn with

Sleeping Beauty

 Many pictures were taken on this day.

Here are "my kids"

 And I could sit like this all day long...

 Mom and Daughter.

Aren't they beautiful!

 The Star of the Day!

 Proud parents and enchanted Baby

 The four generations of women represented:

My Mom, Me, Kidlet One and Baby C

 Baby C wasn't very happy with all of the pictures

and was crying so we decided we would

join her!

 Heritage

Both sides of Baby C's family

are represented here

What a blessing!

 It was an amazing day!

Doggy Hospital

Riley had surgery today.
The poor thing hasn't been brushing
or keeping up on his dental flossing.
He had 10 teeth removed.
For the first time in his eight years, he is silent.
The neighbors must be wondering what happened.
Usually he is outside barking at the birds flying overhead
or at anyone walking in front of the house.
Tonight, however, he laid on the couch.
His food was soaked in water to be softened.
Blankets were arranged around him.
His antibiotics were given.
He was pampered.
Just as if he were in the hospital.
 

He slept much of the evening.
I do hope he gets some energy back tomorrow.
However, the silence has been golden.
He is an amazingly spoiled pooch!

Your Heart

My daily devotion from Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer

May 20

Religious teaching turns our attention to our outward appearance, but it doesn't empower us to clean up our inside thoughts and intentions.  Jesus called the religious Pharisees "white-washed tombs full of dead man's bones"(see Matthew 23:27), because they boasted of their perfect obedience to the Hebrew laws.

But God didn't see them as perfect, because their hearts were not merciful as is His.  God would rather have someone with a sweet, wonderful heart toward Him, who makes mistakes, than somebody with a slick performance, who is rotten inside.

When God looks at your heart today, let Him find it wholly seeking Him.

******
An amazing word to start the day.  Lord, may I live wholly for You with no performance as my driving force.  May my heart be found sweet and wonderful for You.  Amen!

Streusel Apple Muffins

This time-tested, well worn recipe lives in my recipe box.
Years and years ago, I think before I was married,
I cut out this recipe from our Local Town Newspaper.
And I've made these muffins numerous times.
Perhaps you already guessed that from the
crumpled appearance of the paper.

This recipe uses just one apple. 

I make the streusel topping first and set it aside.

Combine
1/3 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 t. cinnamon

Using a fork or pastry blender, mush in
1/4 cup softened butter

Combine until crumbly. 

The apple should be peeled
and finely chopped.

In a new bowl, combine
1 1/4 cup flour
1 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cinnamon

In yet another bowl, combine
1 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1 beaten egg
1/2 t. vanilla

Make a well in the dry ingredients and
pour the wet ingredients into the well.

Stir just until moistened.

Add the chopped apples.

Grease the bottom only of a 12-cup muffin pan.

Fill each cup three-quarters full of batter.
Sprinkle streusel topping onto batter. 

Bake 18 to 20 minutes in a 425 degree oven.
I had a loaf of cinnamon bread rising while my
muffins baked.
I was in a cinnamon mood that day!

A plate of delicious muffins.

Give them a try.
I bet you'll call them amazing, too!