Baseball With My Boys

O.K. so every few month Mel gets me going on another new blog! Let's see what have I been doing since the last post! We enjoyed an amazing baseball season! Yes...baseball not basketball. E.Q. is a baseball fanatic. That is truly is an understatement. He lives for baseball, watching baseball, playing baseball, wii baseball, baseball games of anyone and any team. Having 5 boys I have never seen anyone like E.Q. with baseball nor any of their friends. He somehow gets anyone to play ball with him. He gets on the computer to www.espn.com to get the latest video's and scores for all the teams he loves. He makes sure to give us the details and forces us to watch things we really don't care about but we have to act like it is so important. Well, baseball season came and E.Q. was on a team. He was told to play shortstop, he was incredible. Yes, I'm his mom but when you have all the parents on the team coming up to you and even coaches from the other team coming up to me and my family then you know he's amazing. E.Q. knows baseball better than any 6 year old. Here's the story that's the funniest of all this past season. It was the last inning. The other coach just told our coach just as soon as the boys hit send them even if its a foul ball. They wanted to end the game. E.Q. hits a foul ball. The coach tells him to run. E.Q. tells the coach its foul ball and the coach tells him to run so he does thinking the coach is crazy. In the mean time, the other team got the foul ball and threw it to get him out. E.Q. is STORMING MAD and says "my coach doesn't know anything about baseball, he shouldn't be coaching because he doesn't know what a foul ball is. He made me get out and I shouldn't be out. It's all my coaches fault that I got out and he knows nothing about baseball." Of course, I was trying not to laugh as he was so serious and so mad and I heard about it for a week! Of course, I was team mom for his team and for Calebs awesome team and that was an amazing season as well. One night we were all eating dinner and received a call from the President of the league asking us if he could play-up Caleb into the Majors instead of playing Triple AAA. We really didn't want to but went ahead and said he would. Best thing we did in baseball this year! Caleb had quite an amazing season. Every game the team stands in a line and does the flag salute and the little league pledge. The funniest thing is seeing Caleb in a line next to his eammates that are GIANTS! He seriously looked like he was a midget. You should see the midget play ball and hit. He went 5 for 5 one game. His team was able to go all the way to the league semi-finals and to the Coast Cities Tournament where we had a great tournament. The parents were incredible and basically we became family as we sat together several times a week. We brought pot-lucks and seriously it made my day to be there with all these friends. Being team mom we had an incredible team party here just like we did for E.Q.'s team where they gave me flowers and gift certificates. Well, this year was Neal's first year in the Pony League. If Caleb was a midget against the Giants no words could express what Neal was like in his team. A little 7th grader punk playing baseball with the high school kids double his size! Neal, took it to them and the coach was amazed that Neal could be such an influence to the team and was basically able to play anywhere. Mr. Athletic! Tyler said "it's not fair that he can be so utterly naturally athletic and make it all look so easy." That's Neal on the baseball field. He doesn't even care about baseball but looks like he directs the team being the mascot. One would think he's the ball boy until they see him make the plays in the field and get up to bat and make triples on a guy pitching to him double his size. Don't let your size under estimate what you can do or become!

BASKETBALL IS OVER OR NOT?

Well, my life has been BASKETBALL! Not a surprise with 5 boys and 2 girls that we all play basketball for fun out on the driveway; so that's how it all started. The missionaries would come over and KNOCK-OUT became part of our good-bye. Well, the three oldest are up at BYU so our home is a slower quieter pace...or not? I signed Neal, Caleb, and E.Q. up for a city league basketball team. That made 3 games a week and three practices. That was all fine until Neal made his school team and had two games a week and two practices for his school team. This was not planned as 50 boys tried out for the team and Neal was one of 10 to make the team. It was a GREAT team. The season ended a few weeks ago and they went undefeated the entire season and won the championship. During this time, Karissa made the high school basketball team and had practice 5 days a week and one to two games per week with the high school team. Well, thinking that basketball was going strong in our home, I was called to coach the Young Women's Basketball team for our ward and Karissa had to play for me! We won every game we played! The stake presidents girls on my team, the twin towers down low and with Karissa we were the greatest! The championship game came and I have been coaching for 7 years and won every year. We had a bye because we were the first place team the week before finals. The other ward stacked their team with J.V. players to beat us. We were ahead by a lot so much I felt bad even against them that we took it easy and ended up loosing by a basket! That was a BIG heartbreak but the Mormon referee who didn't know any rules and didn't give me a time out though I'm screaming it for the last 2 minutes and Karissa on the court is in her face still would not give it to me. She couldn't stand to let me win again! Her loss, rumor is paid refs next year and maybe we can get two like the young men. That would make a HUGE difference and I would LOVE IT! Anyway, Neal had to then play young men's basketball. Feeling left out, Craig was recruited. He has been playing basketball for the last 23 years I have been married to him. Therefore my life could only be running from game to game or practice to game or practice to practice. I actually got to be good friends with some of the refs because I was in the gym so much cheering. Well, Caleb's team won the whole city league championship and so his team as well was great fun to watch and cheer. If you haven't figured it out yet, I had 4 kids playing with 7 teams plus me coaching a team and Craig playing on a team that I kept the score book or ran the clock. Try doing this at 9-10PM at night with REAL MEN who want to know how many shots they made after being at games and running around all afternoon long and doing homework in the car or in the stands when we can. It was CRAZY but fun! A lot of fun. At BYU, Kristian and Tyler were playing basketball in an intramural league. It seems like we all live on a court. Well, basketball over-laps baseball. We really are baseball fans as much if not more than basketball. I'm now the team mom for two teams and Caleb made the majors and E.Q.'s is playing rookie league. Both boys are playing above their peers and are so amazing! I love it. It really is a great missionary opportunity as we have them all over to our home and they all know we won't play Sundays. We don't drink and have pictures of Christ all over our house. Well, with three baseball leagues and tax season and basketball season being over did I say OVER? No, it's not OVER! Karissa was asked to be on a San Diego league and Craig's mens team is still in it and Neal has play-offs for the young men next week. My HOT honey, a CPA is not around so I have had to do this all by myself. The 4/15 deadline is 9 days a way but whose counting! Why is it that all this goes on when he is not around? It will all be over except for 3 baseball leagues and Karissa's 1 basketball league next week when his deadline is over. NO BIG DEAL! All the hard work is done with by then of course. I think I need a break because in my spare school time I'm up packaging tax returns and investing clients millions into different bank accounts somehow not any of this really matters in the scheme of life. Isn't it amazing how these things don't matter but they seem to involve us and take up time but I seriously have no idea how I did it all. There were days I truly came home and was amazed that I could do so much. That happened a lot where I just can say I couldn't believe how much I did in a day. I wondered if I did twice what a normal person did, would my stress be twice as much and would my body think I'm 90! Feeling stressed and 90, I feel it necessary to tell my husband I love him and good luck with the next wife when I die!

SCOUTING

Today in church I spoke on scouting and how a cell phone and the church are alike. The church has many programs just as a cell phone. Some programs may be a little intimidating at first and then you learn the many benefits of the programs. The church is the same way. Scouting can be intimidating and then you see its really a huge benefit for everyone involved. Just as you have to charge the cell phone to raise the bar you need to do the same for a testimony of the church. You have to become involved and get to know the programs and then your family will benefit. Today Neal went to home teach B.K. (Brother Kakadelas) Neal and Caleb love to go to B.K.'s house on Sunday afternoons. B.K. today did some scouting with Neal. Neal really doesn't home teach he just goes over and they talk about anything and everything. They are really B.K.'s boys. B.K. has no boys of his own but he has 5 Workinger boys. B.K. today helped Neal with the last part of his Cit. In The Nation Merit Badge. Thanks B.K. for helping to raise the bar for 5 of our sons.

MUSIC

Isn't it amazing what music can do to you? It can change your mood it can make you feel happy, tired, tearful or just amazing! As I sit hear typing a new blog, Josh Groban is singing to me through the computer of course. DARN! It wouldn't be the same anyway without the instruments and of course his piano even if he was here. I am thankful for the diffrent types of music in my life. I enjoy the Sunday Hymns and that certain cell phone ring when I know that certain someone special is on the other end. What about Christmas time and knowing that you could do without any gifts as long as you had music and the person you love next to you. What about getting a new C.D. and listening to the whole thing to see which song is your favorite one. What about the songs that talk of our military overseas and our amazing National Anthem. I was listening to a C.D. of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir the other day (It's a patriotic one they have out.) I was taking my kids to school on a beautiful morning, it was needless to say chaotic; with 4 kids it can be that way somedays. This C.D. made me feel so blessed to be in the U.S.A. and to have family prayer before they left and then to jump in the car and hear this amazing music with all of them was GREAT. What could be GREATER.... As soon as I dropped off the last two kids at the elementary school and they had just jumped out with a kiss the next song was: Glory, Glory Hallelujia. I had to laugh. It did seem glorious to be finished with the chaos. I was now going home to no kids and my husband waiting for me. GLORY, GLORY, It was UTTERLY AMAZING, and...thats all you get of my STORY!

Family Picture 2008

A Babysitter Who Made A Difference

A babysitter who made a difference but never really knew it. Both My son and daughter babysat for a friend of mine and she thought they were incredible kids. They are! She asked me how I raised such great kids and so I gave her a pamphlet titled "For The Strength Of Youth."
She was amazed at the standards and wondered why they would live by them or would they? Well, that was six years ago. Since that time my son and daughter who babysat only a few times for her had attended Brigham Young university(BYU) in Provo, Utah and she knew that. Over this past summer she decided to take a driving trip and headed towards Utah. I'm not sure why. She came to the city that said Provo and Brigham Young University. She decided that she had done enough driving and she was going to take her kids to see BYU. She took them to BYU and ended up staying the night in Provo. She said she was extremely impressed of BYU. Well, last week I met up with this friend who I haven't talk to for at least a year and she told me about her trip to Provo. Her next comment was 'You are so lucky to be a Mormon! I wish I could be a mormon." O.K. here I am in Smart and Final, a grocery store and have THE PERFECT MISSIONARY MOMENT! Lets just say an hour later I testified to her of Jesus Christ, committed her to read The Book Of Mormon, told her about celestial marriage, the word of wisdom, the youth program and so on. I told her she needed to come to church to see the primary program and of course the most important sacrament meeting on Oct. 22... Tyler's Homecoming! She said she would LOVE to come! She told me to email her the dates and the times and how soon could she get that book....The Book Of Mormon. Well, as you know, I do have a connection on getting that book in a matter of seconds. I used my cell phone, called my friend and said I'm driving by your house in a matter of seconds and need a Book Of Mormon as fast as you can. No Problem she replied and handed me a copy of The Book Of Mormon all wrapped up with wrapping paper, bow and a red pencil! I was due to meet my friend from the grocery store at The Strawberry Man after school. Which was only in a matter of minutes from leaving the grocery store. The school traffic was a night mare and I couldn't get to The Strawberry Man fast enough. My heart was pumpin with excitement. I had called my husband and he said make sure she reads this book to gain a testimony not because she wants a social group for her kids. I got to the strawberry man and she was not there. I knew because of traffic she had gone. I DON'T GIVE UP! I drove to her house. I got out of my car and my 3 boys were with me and told them what I was doing. They were just as excited. So...I get out and she comes out as she had seen me and with great excitemnt she could not believe I had time to wrap this beautiful book for her and then drove it to her house. Who is she kidding!! O.K. So here I go...I want you to know that the only reason you should become a mormon is to have a testimony of this book. This book is why you become a mormon. This is how you become a mormon. You don't join the church for social reasons, you join our church because you have a testimony of Jesus Christ. The title of this book says right here "ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST." I then told her if you will honestly read this book and pray you are promised that you will receive an answer testifying to you that the things you read in this book are true. She said to me "I wouldn't join your church for social reasons." I explained to her that I loved her as a friend no matter what happened and if she had any questions to please talk to me first. Everyday, my husband and I are praying for her. Her babysitter is due to come home from his mormon mission in 2 weeks! He never thought he made a difference on anyone before he left on his mission and states "I wish I had done more before I had gone on a mission." Sometimes in life, we don't realize we are making a difference. I can hardly wait to see a difference in her life if she will read and gain a testimony. Little things do make a big difference. I told her that when her children see her husband having a drink every night that they will probably drink. If he was an example to them by not drinking that she would have a much lesser chance of her children even trying a drink. We are taught to SET by example and BE an example. That thought had never occurred to her! Imagine that. She said she had to go home and have a BIG TALK with her husband. I am waiting for a guy to come at my door with a gun! Just kidding! He's a nice guy and I look forward to hoping that he will embark on this excitement and how fortunate I am to have had such GREAT BABYSITTERS who set GREAT EXAMPLES! The interesting thing about this story is that we just had stake confrence and our stake president had told us to pray individually for our missionaries....I did. He told us to think of names and to act upon those names...I did. She was one of the names I thought of during stake conference. The Lord put her in my path. I hope that we can see how much we all MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

RACHEL AND THE RABBI

Well, where has the time gone? Since my last blog a lot has happened! I actually am only on here because my husband told me to go BLOG these stories now! So here goes...

Today I went to the tailor to pick up a pair of pants. A nice gentlemen asked me to go ahead of him. I thanked him and spoke to the lady Donna behind the counter and gave her a congratulations. The gentlemen asked what the congratulations was for and I said she had just had her baby. I then asked Donna if she was ready for 6 more babies and she laughed and said "no." Due to that statement he inquired if I really had 7 kids. I assured him that I did. He said to me "you must be a good catholic girl." I replied with a firm deep voice that you may know that I have "NO, but I am a GREAT MORMON GIRL!"Our conversation then went on as he told me he was a rabbi. I believe he said rabbi Doddick. He told me he was privilege to go through the San Diego Temple a few years ago. He was so impressed that he wrote up an article. He told me somehow that article got to Salt Lake City to an Elder there by the name of Elder Gordon. I let him know I knew President Gordon B. Hinckley and could that be the same man. "Yes, he replied. He said he talked to me and asked me if he could publish his letter in some church paper he had. He then told me that because of that being published many mormons wrote to him and how much he appreciated getting those notes. I proceeded to try to convert the rabbi by telling him some of the things that were in common with the Mormons and the Jews. He then told me "You know we are really one!" I thanked the rabbi for his time and told him it had been a pleasure meeting him and named off a few of my Jewish friends that I someday hope would join the Mormon church including this rabbi! What a peaceful feeling it is to share the Gospel in such great comfort as I knew the spirit was with me. As I left I could only think how lucky I was to be a "GREAT MORMON GIRL!"

O.K. if you are still reading this you can take a break, read on or quit! This is really MY BLOG for a talk that I may have to give in a Stake Conference and I have such a bad memory that this is to HELP ME!

I just lost the 2nd story I guess I'll be typing it again tomorrow as it is really even bettter than the Rabbi!