#thestruggleisreal tonight

In about an hour, my Tigers are starting their game in LA against the Angels. The problem you may ask...my friend Matt is pitching for the Angels tonight. What is a girl to do???? Well, I'll be cheering for Matt to do well as long as he's in the game....and then when the bullpen takes over (maybe), I'll cheer for my Tigers....unless, Matt is going for them win, then I guess I'll be an Angel/Shoemaker fan for the night.

Go Matt! Go Tigers! The struggle is real folks! 

Calm after the Chaos!

   I have been really fortunate the last 3 years to have my kids go to school next door to each other.  While that is great, the traffic, well, it sucks!  I'll say that the most stress in my life has been during Pick up and Drop off at their schools.  There have been times that I could lose my testimony there, and I think I've said "moron" a few too many times!   I swear, people lose their minds and forget simple things like what to do at a 4 way stop!!  It's CRAZY!!!!

   As crazy as that time is, I love the calm in my house when we get home from school.  My kids love their rooms and honestly, I think they need the time to unplug.  They need solitude after being with 500+ kids all day.  I've worked in both of their schools, and if you remember your own school experience...it's LOUD in there!!! 

   I don't blame them a bit.  They both get a snack, hug on me for a bit (or sit next to me while I write this ) and then head to their rooms.  It's quiet. It's peaceful. It's good for their souls.

   Or maybe, they are dying to play on their phones, watch Netflix or play video games.  Either way, the quiet is nice! :)

I think my blog has abandonment issues...

...and I don't blame it.  I start a blog with every intention of keeping it up...writing every little thing that comes into my head, but the next thing I know, it's been a year since I posted.  Oy!!!

   Things in the Pew household are crazy...school is letting out soon (10 wake ups left), BSF and MOPS are done for the year (I like acronyms apparently), our pup just found himself missing his manhood, and SUMMER is almost here!!!  Summer means, grad parties, showers (wedding and bridal), dance recitals, choir practices, BBQ's, baseball and all the outdoor things.

   I will try to blog more...I think it's a good outlet for me....we shall see.........

It's the most wonderful time of the year...for me!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...for me anyway!! It's BASEBALL time!!! The Tigers have started their season this past monday, and I had the privilege of attending Opening Day!!! 

In the D, Opening Day is somewhat of a holiday.  It is nearly impossible to get tickets to go, so when my sister's boyfriend Mike found out he had tickets and asked if I wanted to go, of course it was a no-brainer!!! Ummm....YES!!! This winter has been awful with an unbelievable amount of snow and too many days of below zero temps, so the chances of Opening Day being nice, well, it was not looking too good. (especially with snow flurries 2 days earlier!!!)  BUT, Monday was GORGEOUS!!! Sunny, slight breeze and 55 degrees!!! Can you say perfect!!????  Thank You Lord!!!

We, my brother, sister, Mike and I, got down to CoPa early enough to catch the batting practice with the Tigers!! I've only gotten there early enough one other time, so I was just in Heaven!!! When we arrived, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Torii Hunter and my new Tiger Ian Kinsler were taking a few swings.  A new Tiger pitcher, Joba Chamberlain (a former Yankee...but we won't hold that against him anymore!) was snagging fly balls and throwing them to the crowd and talking a bit. I can't imagine what Opening Day is like for them!! They get paid to play a game that so many people LOVE!! So cool!!!

When it came time to start the OD festivities, I can honestly say I get a bit teared up...I know, I know, I'm a dork! It's just the feeling in the air, the excitement, the sight of green grass (new grass without the patch up job caused by a Kid Rock concert 2 seasons ago!!), white uniforms with the English D on them and a Ball Park hot dog...it's just a feeling I can't describe! Bryan McKnight sang the National Anthem and did a fantastic job!! But, the part that always tears me up though is when a soldier serving in our military delivers the game ball to the pitchers mound.  I love the ovation that soldier gets...yes, tears and goosies!! Baseball...I love it!!! I'm a happy, happy girl...until October!!!

It's just hair

As long as I can remember, I've had somewhat long hair.  Some would say, my aunt and sister in particuiar, that I'm a bit anal about my hair.  I think it's a comfort thing with me...it's long and covers my neck and shoulders and I can put it in a ponytail.  Whatever right?  

Although it's been long for so long (haha), I have been pretty much every color...brunette, red and even blonde (Let's just say the hubby wasn't a fan of that one.).  I've had highlights, all over color...I'm not really daring, but I haven't been afraid of color...especially the last few years with all of the "sparkles" that have been growing in. (I know that it's really gray, but I refuse to call them that! ) 

So, a few months ago, I got to the point where I just wanted to cut my hair...like chop it off.  So, I mentioned it to Meghan one day and you would've thought I was talking about killing her!  Wow!! There was a lot of "No Mommy!!!" and "we won't have long hair together" comments from her.  I thought she would want to cut her's too, but not quite.  

So, after a few weeks of pouring over pictures and pictures of short cuts, and sending them to Adam for his thoughts, I finally made the appointment.  I honestly didn't think my aunt Teresa would be so happy, but she was!! So, she put my hair in 2 little ponytails and cut 7" off!!! 7"!!! Wow!!! I also donated that hair to Children with Hair Loss.  That felt good! :) 

So, after all that, I love the cut...and Meghan said she finally likes it too...but she's still not cutting hers!! :) 

There is a plan!!!!

Do you ever wish God would tell you "the plan" for your life? Like, maybe on a billboard, or a voice booming out of the sky? So many times I've looked up to the Heavens and said "really Lord? I'm at a loss here!" So many times I've wished He would just make "the Plan" so apparent to me, that there would be no question if it was the right thing or not. 

 A few years ago, when Adam got laid off and we moved to Greensboro, I would've never thought that 2 years later, we would be in the situation that we are in now. I had no idea that God would just move us to G'boro for just a short while, to pick us up out of the miry clay, set our feet on a rock and establish our path. Looking back, I can see how God just weaved His plan to fruition. I sincerely believe that God used Adam losing his job, to take us out of our home church and protect us from all that would happen in the next 2 years and bring us back for a purpose...His purpose. (if you don't know the whole story, let's grab coffee...I'd love to tell ya about it!!) 

 Tomorrow is the last Sunday that Adam and I will be teaching the FaithBuilders at Beacon. It is so bittersweet to me that our time in there is at an end, but it's hard to deny when God is moving!!!  The last 2.5 years have been nothing short of a rollercoaster, but I can see how God has grown me! Has it all been fun, ummmm, NO, (once again...let's get coffee!!) but it has been part of His plan for us....ALL of it!! Growing sometimes hurts, is at times very lonely, and there are usually trials, tribulations & tests for us along the way.  We have endured all of this in the last 2.5 years, but God is good and He has a plan!!! 

Next Sunday starts our second round in the college class...now called the Loft.  I cannot describe how excited I am about it, and how much I honestly love that age group.  It is so crucial!!  College is where young people either turn to or turn away from God.  I also want to be able to "come to them from the future" and maybe help guide them thru this somewhat confusing, yet exciting, time of their life.  More than all of that though, is that I just want to be used by God.  Just like Isaiah said "Here I am Lord, send me", that is my heart's desire...to be used by Him to do His work.  After all, it is only by Him and thru Him that we can ever be seen as righteous and spend eternity with Him.  (if you don't know Him, once again, let's do coffee...I'd love to tell ya how!!) 

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good!!!  :) 

Merry Christmas from the Pews

This is my favorite time of year...a time to celebrate with family the birth of our Savior. It's also time to spend with our families. I find it such a blessing for Adam and the kids to be off for 2 weeks with me. There is going to be some serious seperation anxiety going on January 6th...and it won't be from those 3! :) Last Christmas, I did the 12 days of Christmas for Adam. I basically bought him a little gift everyday...1 box of ceral, 2 gloves, a Third Day cd...you get the idea. It was so fun, and the kids loved helping me with it! But, of course, they asked if I could do it for them this year too...soooooo....I did. What fun it was to hear the wrapping paper being ripped off in anticipation! I loved spoiling my 3 loves!!! We also decided to not buy as much stuff for the kiddos this year. They got 4 things....something they Want, something they Need, something they Wear and something they'll Read. I have to say, this Christmas was less stressful and we focused more on what Christmas was really about!!! So, from the Pews, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!