spring is here - and that means baseball!!

i grew up in a baseball town (st. louis cardinals), but wasn't in a big sports family. i went to my fair share of Cardinals games, but they were usually the nosebleeds and I can't remember an instance where we stuck it out through the entire (VERY HOT) summer game. 

i married into a MAJOR baseball family. Ricky was a player as long as he could remember, and was really really good at it. if it wasn't for the Lord apprehending his heart and changing the path of his life - Ricky maybe could have went pro. his dad loves baseball. his extended family loves baseball. this was all pretty new to me as most of my guys friends growing up and before i met ricky were more the "i wanna play in a band" or watch a super funny movie or go on a hike sort of guys. ricky is all of that: lover of good music, great culture, enjoys outdoors, and is super smart - but he also LOVES sports. it use to be weird to me, but i understand it a little more and more.

so i had to let go of the cardinals, which i held onto very very loosely, and embraced the padres. they aren't that great, but you can feel the ocean air from the stadium and it makes my husband happy. SUPER SUPER happy. 

and so amos was given a bat and ball the week he was born. he learned to throw a baseball and hit it before the age of 2. and he thinks his grandpa is a hero because his retired job is working the field at the stadium. 

 here's a look at his padres past... :) 

Amos' first Padres game.  around 6 months old.

Amos' second season of games. here he is about a year and a half.

amos' caught his first ball (or his daddy did). 1 1/2 years old.

practicing hitting at 2 1/2 years old.

we were excited to bring lucia to her first game. she's not even 3 months old and has already been to two games. 

lucia at 2 months old in her padres onesie. and amos with a super weird smile/expression.

 excited to make a ton more baseball memories with my family in the years to come!

"the gospel in her home." (from the small to the large)

     a mother at my women's group has been diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. from what i understand, she has 2 children under the age of 6 and has a desire to have more children. she spoke today on what the Lord has been teaching her through such a trying situation.

    she says she often felt as if she was failing or not enough, especially in the realm of motherhood. God's response to that has been a resounding, "Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again." this is the answer to her failure. it was pinned to the cross.

    she spoke about fear, small fears, on if she would be taken from this earth. she said God's response has been, "Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again." this is the answer to death. it was defeated. she has been given life.

the gospel redeems our everyday moments. the smallest decisions. the unseen upsets. the sin of the heart.

the gospel redeems our tragic seasons. the sickness. the ache. the death. the despair. 

it covers all areas of life. 

her testimony brings hope and joy to my heart. He is making all things new, even now, and ultimately will set all that is wrong right on His great return. 

He is good, my friends, so very very good.

     

check out the posts over at After His Smile HERE and Mike + Brit HERE.

we would love to hear your stories on how the Lord is revealing His gospel in your home. either leave a link below to your personal post, or share a photograph on instagram with a few sentences how the Lord has been teaching them about the gospel in your home. make sure to use the hashtag #thegospelinherhome

mother's day 2013.

strange expression on my part but cute kids. ;)

mother's day! such a great weekend. had some needed alone time. my sweet baby lucia was dedicated on church on the sunday of mother's day. and my husband was in his last official weekend of schoolwork. a new season has come this past week. one with a husband home in the evenings, a baby grown out of newborn stage and a toddler who talks like a fellow adult (WHAT?!?!?!). summer is here and i'm dreaming of a developed back yard, bbq's, worship nights, baseball games, and walks on the beach. because summer is san diego's shining moment. and i can't wait. and i love being a mother - in case my emotional outburt last post confused anyone. ;)

my little rewards. 

last mother's day. 2012.

there was a reset! would love your votes here (click on left owl).

sometimes.

sometimes i want to post about something other than being a mom. because honestly, sometimes i want to sneak into the world of pre-children that is brimming with creativity, freedom, and dreams. not because i don't like it (the mom stuff), because it's my life. it's my joy. i love seeing your children grow up, and you find your place in the role of motherhood. i love watching your heart expand, as mine has. i love it. and i love posting about it.

most of the time.

but sometimes, sometimes i have to sneak away by myself and listen to the hipster radio station full of songs i don't know, by myself, and go to a thrift store - by myself, and take 15 minutes looking through frames and linens - something my toddler would never have patience for.

and sometimes, i have to take a chunk of time and think about things other than if i need to change my baby's diaper or if my toddler is going to break something or be impolite to the stranger who says hello in the store.

sometimes, sometimes - i want to think deeply - about life and theology and art and culture and the world and God. for an extended period of time. i want to then blog about it or paint it or sing it or something.


but when i'm done with my 2 hour sneak away, i love to come back to it all. i love to pull into the driveway to see my son watering the garden with his dad, and my precious baby in a deep, peaceful sleep. i love to read about the new births, and the new pregnancies, and the new words toddlers are uttering. i love growing up with you all. throwing selfishness to the wayside, and embracing servanthood. i love seeing our families grow, our hearts find life, and the ways Jesus is perfecting us through a new season. refining fires of messes, squabbles, sleepless nights, and little kisses.

"the gospel in her home" (the bottom line)

so often, as a mom, i fall short of my own personal expectations. produce goes bad and the meal i planned doesn't come to fruition. i'm short and impatient with ricky, or amos. i don't blog as often as i'd like and drink too much coffee. my heart forgets the holy spirit through out the day. i don't do what i say i'll do. my wretched grammar.

but then, the hope... the absolute BLESSED HOPE, that my performance does not determine my place before God. that regardless of my shortcomings the Creator of the Universe which extends beyond our reach, He who breathed life into man and set the earth into motion. the author of song, He who dances wildly over us - this One sees me as righteous. without fault. clean.

because Jesus came as a man. walked the earth. died a sinner's death though He faltered not once. and then, hallelujah, conquered death and rose out of the grave to hand us ETERNAL LIFE.

this is the gospel in my home that comforts me at night and raises me up each morning.


check out the posts over at After His Smile HERE and Mike + Brit HERE.