It's hard to believe Spring Training is already coming to an end. In 3 days, well be packed up back in suitcases again and headed onto our next adventure. Which as of now, is looking like our next adventure will be in Jackson, TN with the Mariner's AA team (a level up from last season, so we're excited). I am so proud of Daniel and so excited about how well he's done this past month. He's hitting .441 so far this spring (15 for 34 with 7 walks, 6 stolen bases and 2 HRs)! Praise God!
Daniel's parents, sister aunt and uncle also came out to visit this past week, which has kept us extra busy. Daniel's parents headed back to Cali yesterday and Daniel's sister, Meagan, is staying with us until Monday so she can do the drive back to Cali with me. The plan right now is Daniel leaves with the team 3am Monday morning and I'll be flying out to TN the 15th. I'm excited because there will be 4 other wives traveling with their husbands as well this season in AA. Looking forward to all God has in store.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Spring Training:God is our Healer
The smell of pine tar, dirt and sun screen fill the air...which could only mean one thing, it's baseball time!
Spring Training has been super exciting so far. God has continued to show us that His favor, grace and protection are over us.
Our excitement was cut short a couple days after we arrived though. While doing his Performance Training, Daniel tweaked his right groin. He was feeling quite a bit of pain and felt like he would be out close to a week while he rehabbed it back to strength. He said it was close to a 7 on pain scale of 1 thru 10. Our first reaction was disappointment, but Daniel was quick to say "God is in control". As a wife, you try to be strong for them but it's easy to feel frustrated when you have seen your husband experience injuries. You know their desire is to just play and anything that sidelines that breaks your heart for them. In the midst of what we thought would be a setback, we both experienced an extreme sense of peace after praying about it and being reminded that our God was in control.
The Lord has really been showing, teaching and opening our eyes to the fact that He is a Mighty Healer! He is alive, active and relevant. I think so often, myself included, we get in a comfort zone and limit how truly powerful God is. Romans 8:11 says that the "same power that conquered the grave lives in us"! Do you realize how powerful that power truly is? It's beyond our comprehension and natural realm. It means it's a power that is capable of performing the supernatural. We've been really trying to absorb that and have child like faith in believing that.
Well a few days ago, while praying with our good friend Alex over FaceTime (yes, God is not limited to technology but uses even that for His glory) we had an amazing intimate experience with the Holy Spirit, we were overfilled with joy and prayed for complete healing over Daniel. And guess what? That's what the Lord gave us! Daniel was 100% completely healed and even stronger! We are in absolute amazement still! This happened just a day after Daniel experienced his injury. There was no way he would have been able to come back as soon as he did.
He has been doing awesome so far this spring and has been told he looks even faster then last season. Which is without a doubt from the Lord, because with the pain he was experiencing that first day he should be no where near close to looking faster then last year. All Glory to God!
His first game of spring training was awesome! He went 2 for 2 with a single, double, 2 walks, stolen base, run scored off the Mariner's big league #2 projected starter. He also made a crazy running catch in center! (sorry if the stats bore you... I'm just a proud wife!:) Daniel was also invited to play in the big league game today. It was a split squad so he was even able to start. He had a great game and went 1 for 2 (again...more stats,sorry) with a single, stolen base, 2 walks, run scored and an awesome flyout to deep center that was just short of being a home run! He also got invited to the big league games tomorrow and Saturday as well. I'm just so excited for him to be getting opportunities like this. God is SO GREAT and at work constantly. I'm learning that there should be no such thing as a "boring Christian life", God is so exciting and at work- we just need to have faith to believe it and see it.
Spring Training has been super exciting so far. God has continued to show us that His favor, grace and protection are over us.
Our excitement was cut short a couple days after we arrived though. While doing his Performance Training, Daniel tweaked his right groin. He was feeling quite a bit of pain and felt like he would be out close to a week while he rehabbed it back to strength. He said it was close to a 7 on pain scale of 1 thru 10. Our first reaction was disappointment, but Daniel was quick to say "God is in control". As a wife, you try to be strong for them but it's easy to feel frustrated when you have seen your husband experience injuries. You know their desire is to just play and anything that sidelines that breaks your heart for them. In the midst of what we thought would be a setback, we both experienced an extreme sense of peace after praying about it and being reminded that our God was in control.
The Lord has really been showing, teaching and opening our eyes to the fact that He is a Mighty Healer! He is alive, active and relevant. I think so often, myself included, we get in a comfort zone and limit how truly powerful God is. Romans 8:11 says that the "same power that conquered the grave lives in us"! Do you realize how powerful that power truly is? It's beyond our comprehension and natural realm. It means it's a power that is capable of performing the supernatural. We've been really trying to absorb that and have child like faith in believing that.
Well a few days ago, while praying with our good friend Alex over FaceTime (yes, God is not limited to technology but uses even that for His glory) we had an amazing intimate experience with the Holy Spirit, we were overfilled with joy and prayed for complete healing over Daniel. And guess what? That's what the Lord gave us! Daniel was 100% completely healed and even stronger! We are in absolute amazement still! This happened just a day after Daniel experienced his injury. There was no way he would have been able to come back as soon as he did.
He has been doing awesome so far this spring and has been told he looks even faster then last season. Which is without a doubt from the Lord, because with the pain he was experiencing that first day he should be no where near close to looking faster then last year. All Glory to God!
His first game of spring training was awesome! He went 2 for 2 with a single, double, 2 walks, stolen base, run scored off the Mariner's big league #2 projected starter. He also made a crazy running catch in center! (sorry if the stats bore you... I'm just a proud wife!:) Daniel was also invited to play in the big league game today. It was a split squad so he was even able to start. He had a great game and went 1 for 2 (again...more stats,sorry) with a single, stolen base, 2 walks, run scored and an awesome flyout to deep center that was just short of being a home run! He also got invited to the big league games tomorrow and Saturday as well. I'm just so excited for him to be getting opportunities like this. God is SO GREAT and at work constantly. I'm learning that there should be no such thing as a "boring Christian life", God is so exciting and at work- we just need to have faith to believe it and see it.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
"Baseball is in the air"
Well.... Here we go again, It's Baseball Season 2012!
This is Daniel's 6th season as a professional baseball player and my 5th season as a professional packer. I honestly feel like I could get paid to pack for people. I now know how to minimize living essentials for 6 months of the year to a few suitcases, that's a master art! And one I am quite proud of.
We are now in Arizona and have been so blessed to have been able to live with the sweet host family we lived with last Spring Training. The setup is great and we are less then a mile from Daniel's stadium.
Yesterday was the annual Spring Training Ladies Luncheon put on by Baseball Chapel and PAO. This was my 4th time attending and it is always such a blessing! I was able to catch up with some sweet friends and meet more incredible ladies who live this crazy life too. It's always so nice to get encouraged and have a support system in these women. I am so excited for all God has in store this season-to Him be ALL the glory!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Trusting in the Lord
Completely, 100%, whole heartily trusting in the Lord is something I find myself struggling with at times. Especially when it comes to baseball. This time of the year (Spring Training time) I often find myself getting caught up in the "worries" and "unknowns" this lifestyle can bring. Although we have been told Daniel will most likely start this season in Jackson, TN (AA), I still say nothing is for sure in baseball until you are there. And then once we are there (wherever there may be) comes the "where will we live"..."do we bring our car"..."how long will be there"...the list can be endless. That is where TRUST needs to come in. The Lord has proven to me over and over again that He is our constant Provider. He has never failed us yet!
Yet, I still find myself lacking trust in my King of Kings! Why? Jeremiah says "Blessed" is the one whose trust and confidence is in Christ! I believe my lack of trust has to do with my desire to want to be in 'control'. The Lord has been showing me that in order to fully trust Him, I need to surrender my will, my desires and my future into His Hands.
In Genesis, God promised Abraham and Sarah a son. Yet, it took almost 24 years for that promise to be fulfilled. In the mean time, they took matters into their own hands in order to speed up the 'waiting process' instead of completely trusting that God would fulfill His promise to them in His timing. I often find myself doing the same thing, trying to take control and make things happen in "my timing".
My prayer is that in every insecurity and instability this baseball life may throw our way, that I would be grounded in the complete confidence that God is our provider and sustainer. By not trusting Him, I am trying to retain control of my situation. Today I am reminded to "Let Go and Let God". I KNOW His timing is better then our own in ALL things and that He will provide for our EVERY need (Matt 6:26).
Isaiah 40:31
"But those who TRUST in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint."
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