May 31

I am so, so tired.

I took Isaac to school for his first days of finals, went to Starbucks with Brady (where we took this photo, our last of the school year as crazy as that seems), took him to school, went to the Sports Park and walked two loops with Nikki, went home briefly, talked with Adam about potentially acquiring a third car, picked up Isaac from his final, came home, figured out when Brady's team party should happen and sent out an invite, picked up Brady from school, came home, took Isaac to practice at one park, ran Brady over to his practice at another park, test drove a car with Adam and agreed we should buy it, picked up Isaac from practice, picked up Brady from practice, went home, ate dinner, collapsed in chair.

Current state: zzzz-bound, but with a third car (a BMW i4, for the car aficionados among us -- fully electric, which is something Adam has long-desired) in the driveway that will make coordinating our summer --with all of its team commitments and tournaments and Abby's work schedule-- infinitely easier. 

So yeah, it was a long day, but a good one. I am so thankful for Wednesday morning dates with my baby and for the series of photos we've taken while there. And I'm thankful for the financial flexibility that allowed us to buy a third car. And I'm thankful for baseball and for teams and for fun with friends. I'm just... thankful. 

May 30

I took a field trip to visit Abby at work late this morning.

She was thrilled.

Not really. But she did smile for me when I came up to her register to say hi.

I stood back for a while and watched her as customers approached. I watched her check them out, one by one. I watched her carefully punch in prices and I watched her bag items and I watched her smile and engage in pleasant, quick little conversations with people she'd never met before and will likely never see again.

And I felt a sense of gratitude that the wee one who used to stomp around the house in my high heels and a feather boa has transformed into a competent, bright young woman. That in and of itself is no small blessing.

May 29

I glanced out the window at some point this afternoon and noticed a new sign in the front yard.

I couldn't see what it said, but I had a good guess, so I had Brady go outside for a look. And I was right: it's his All-Star sign.

He was on the 11's All-Star team last summer, but since so few 11-year olds were eligible, it wasn't especially difficult to earn the honor. And once the summer ended, Brady said that he wanted to be on the team again this year, only he wanted to really earn it this time.

And he did just that. He was an integral cog in his team's mechanics this spring, with a batting average that hovered around .400 all season long and some solid defensive work, too.

I'm proud of his hard work and grateful that he's earned another chance to play over the summer. And I'm hopeful that it will be another positive experience that will help him to continue to grow as a child of God.

May 28

After communion at church this morning, I glanced over and saw Abby put her head on Isaac's shoulder. 

I thought 'aw, what a sweet moment', reached out with my phone, and took what I thought was a stealth photo.

When I looked at the image, I realized I was not, in fact, stealthy, because all three of them were grinning. And Brady's pointed gaze was the 'we knew you would do that, mom' icing on the cake.

I do love that they know me so well. It may not be the precious, in-the-moment pic I thought I was getting, but I think it's pretty sweet nonetheless.

May 27

As I walked through the house this afternoon, I found the boys like this:

Just two brothers lying on the floor, playing a phone game, enjoying Slurpees after an hour at the Sports Park hitting some baseballs. 

It's a slice of everyday life, and the moments --even the unremarkable ones-- that make up everyday life are blessings.

May 26

Before Abby went outside to walk this evening, she and I had a little chat. 

She shared that although she misses people from school, she's enjoying her time here; she's appreciating spending time with some of her high school friends and having dinner with the family and jamming out to tunes during her late-day walks (and yep, she's the little white figure in the pic). She even admitted that she's enjoying watching the boys play baseball and getting to know her Hobby Lobby co-workers better.

Given that this is her first summer at home during college, I wasn't sure how she'd react and worried that she'd be mopey or disconnected. But amid my fears, I also prayed that she'd handle the transition well. And I'm so, so thankful that God granted that request.

May 25

Abby was off work today (although she'll be back at it tomorrow, in case anyone feels the irrepressible urge to swing by Hobby Lobby between 11 and 3) so we spent the morning hours together.

First there was the requisite trip to the Mother Ship, and then we headed off to Costco to do some shopping.

She served as the official cart driver and dinner-selector. And afterward, I bought her a churro for her effort.

It was a pleasant, peaceful outing with my favorite girl, and I am grateful for the hours.

May 24

After last night's disappointing loss, the Phillies hit the field tonight for the season's very last game.

And when the dust finally settled, they took the Majors Championship over the Guardians by a final score of 9-3. 

Brady smoked a triple to deep, deep center field and a pretty great catch robbed him of a second deep hit later in the game, but it was okay because everyone contributed. They were enthusiastic and didn't let the frustration of having to play a second game get to them. And I'm grateful that my prayer for them to just be loose and enjoy being out there together was answered.

This life we share often involves resilience, so I'm thankful that these 11 and 12-year olds showed so much of it tonight. It will no doubt serve them all very well in the future.

But for now, yay Phillies!

May 23

Well, the game tonight didn't go the way we'd wanted. The Phillies wound up losing 4-3 in a whopping 9 innings (a normal length game is 6), which forced yet another game tomorrow night to decide the winner of the title. Brady was near tears as we left the Sports Park. But I'd prayed before the game that things would go as they ought to, so I'm at peace over how it went down.

But what I really want to address is this girl, over here on the left. After dinner and after Isaac and Brady were in bed, she did as she's done so many times before and plunked herself down on the floor in front of me and Adam. And she talked. She's been talking for some time now, telling us about the colorful customers she's encountered at work and singing random bits of song from various musicals and just... life. Whatever happened to occur to her in the moment.

She and I have been butting heads a bit this week, so I'm grateful for the peaceful (and entertaining) interactions.

May 22

I was watching Brady's practice this afternoon, just enjoying the sunlight and moderate temperature when one of his teammates said something that got to me.

"Come on guys, let's have fun! It's our last practice." 

Now that statement may or may not turn out to be true; if they win tomorrow's Majors championship game, they can continue on to a district-level tournament. And Brady will play as part of the 12u All-Star team this summer. So there will be more practices for us no matter what.

But the deeper truth of the statement is still valid: it was their final practice as this exact team, playing in these precise circumstances.

Isaac and Brady have been on lots of different teams over the years, but this is our last season of traditional Little League. I have plenty of sweet memories from these years; lots of amazing wins and heartbreaking losses and definitely lots and lots of friendships formed. 

But in that moment, as I reflected on the wise words of his teammate, I tried to focus on simply watching the Phillies hit and run and scramble. And it was a very good thing indeed. Because there will be time to look back and remember tomorrow, but it will never be today again.

May 21

It was Youth Celebration Sunday at church. As part of the program, they called the middle and high schoolers up to the front and asked them to offer up a piece of advice to younger kids.

There were good ideas shared --like remembering to stay close to God and surrounding yourself with good friends-- and then Brady got the mic. His contribution?

"You might think that switching classes will suck but it's not as bad as you think." 

There was laughter. I can always count on Brady to keep it real in a very, very blunt way.

So for that moment of laughter and for these amazing kids (including my own!) who come to learn more about Jesus, I am grateful.

May 20

Brady didn't have a game today, but I took him over to the Sports Park this morning anyway so he could watch the game that decided which other team would be joining his in the Majors championship this coming week.

When we arrived we found a handful of his teammates ready to take in the action. (That's Brady on the righthand side of the cluster of boys off to the right of center. He's with his friends/teammates Darshan and Owen.) 

Anyway, it was so much fun for me to stand back and watch them as they darted back and forth between the dugouts to visit their friends who were playing. 

It's strange that my baby is almost a teenager, but it's such a blessing to see him grow and change and become more and more of the person God created him to be.

May 19

It seems like too much of an oversimplification, but today was a very good day.

It began with my usual Mother Ship run where I saw Terry and a number of the usual suspects. I also got to see and spend a little time catching up with my old pal Ti, who I hadn't seen in about a year.

From there I headed out to Livermore with my friend Jen for a wine tasting at Murrietta's Well. It was a gorgeous 70-degree day with blue skies and a light breeze and it was just so wonderful to sit outside in such a lovely setting sipping a selection of wines and chatting.

Then we closed out the day with Isaac playing his second game as a member of the Tri Valley Babe Ruth Royals. He patrolled left field for the entirety of the game, and went 2 for 3 at the plate. I am so thankful that he was given the opportunity to play and I'm optimistic that it will go a long way in healing some of the hurts that resulted from his disappointing freshman season.

So yes, it was a very good day. And I am very, very thankful.

May 18

Brady and the Phillies held on in the face of a dicey bottom of the final inning to claim a berth in the season's championship game next week.

And afterward, we headed over to dinner at the Black Bear Diner with Adam's parents, who had come down to watch the game. 

It was a fun game to watch. (Well, except for the very end of it. That wasn't as much fun as the rest.) We had a good time talking during dinner. And I think we were all in a generally positive collective mood.

So tonight I'm grateful for good teams and good people, and for chances to spend time with family.

May 17

This beautiful young woman is one of Hobby Lobby's newest employees.

Adam and I told her a few months back that we wanted her to get a job over the summer, and given that she has an affinity for sewing and scrapbooking, she set her sights on Hobby Lobby. She submitted her resume online, a manager called her yesterday, and today she went in for an interview. And voila, she was offered a job on the spot.

We're very proud of her for venturing outside of her comfort zone and optimistic that she'll be blessed by her time working there. 

May 16

With just a few weeks of school left, summer baseball is upon us. Brady will be playing on the little league 12u All-Star team (official notification went out tonight) and Isaac... well, it's been a journey trying to figure out what he will do.

Initially, he had two options: a team run by the Varsity coach at his school, and Headfirst (which is more of a club/travel kind of team). He signed up for the high school team because it's so close to home and tried out for Headfirst and was offered a spot on a new team.

And then rather unexpectedly, a spot opened up on a Babe Ruth team that his freshman assistant coach works with, and he offered it to Isaac. After mulling the opportunity, he decided to take it, and I took him to his first game this afternoon.

And I nearly laughed aloud when I saw his number: 77. See, Isaac is almost always number 7. He missed out on being 7 for the freshman team because another boy chose it first, so he settled for 10. But I knew he was bummed about it. So it's almost like he got a 7 to make up for the one he didn't get this spring and a 7 for the summer. 

I guess that's a little weird, but I took it as a sign from God that we're on the right track with this team. And for that decidedly unusual bit of confirmation, I'm grateful.

May 15

I was going through a bag of some unfinished projects last week when I came across this long, lilac cardigan.

It was nearly complete --just needed one arm and a collar-- so it surprised me that I'd put it aside with so little left to be done, but apparently I did.

So I decided I'd go ahead and finish it up. I'm not quite done yet --since it's duster-length, the collar rounds take a while to complete-- but I'm close. And I'm enjoying and am grateful for the satisfaction of finally getting it done. 

May 14

Mother's Day is always an introspective sort of day for me.

On one hand --the bigger hand, fortunately-- I reflect on the goodness inherent in being mom to the three wonderful young people in this picture with me. I actually contemplated that gift during church this morning, and as I marinated in the magnitude of that blessing, a strong sense of gratitude arose in my chest. They're good people. Good, kind, thoughtful, intelligent, (and big... seriously, it won't be long before I'm the shorty) people. And that gift is huge. And I am so, so grateful for it. For them.

On the other hand, the smaller but perpetually present one, I'm sad that Logan isn't here with us. That he wasn't part of dinner from CPK or ice cream at Coldstone. And that he missed out on the exuberance-fueled BearBear baseball game (which, interestingly enough, saw BearBear appear as the bat) that took place in the backyard tonight. Yes, I miss him every day, but I feel his absence more keenly on certain days. Like Mother's Day. Today.

But I made it through, and most of it was very, very good. So for that, I am thankful. I'm grateful for what is, what was, and what will be again, whenever Someday rolls around.

May 13

It was a very good baseball day for the Wight boys.

Brady's team won their first playoff game by a final mark of 6-0. He went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and tossed two scoreless innings from the mound. (The only blip happened when he plunked his friend in the bum during an at-bat, but apparently his friend's dad thanked him for doing it. I have no idea what that was all about but it's funny and no one was hurt so there you go.)

In Isaac's final game of his freshman year, he started --and played the entire game-- in right field. Although it was a hot day, he told me afterward that he was really happy to have played all seven innings and that it was his favorite game of the season even though they lost to rival Foothill 1-0.

I know I've said it before, but it's been a tough season for Isaac and I'm proud of how he persevered first through injury and then through lots of time on the bench. I'm proud that he didn't let disappointment knock him down for long and that he continued trying, trying, trying no matter what came his way. And that he didn't let his frustration turn him into an angry person.

And I'm even prouder because of what his coach did after today's game. After he'd dismissed the boys to leave, he called Isaac and his friend Alex over and talked with just the two of them for a few minutes. As we walked out to the car, I asked what he'd said to them, and Isaac shared that coach had praised both of them for their good character and said he'd enjoyed working with them. And that he would be proud if his young grandson grows up to be like them. My heart melted when I heard those words. And I think Isaac's heart melted a little, too, because he said it's probably the nicest thing anyone had ever said to him. He may not have delivered a clutch hit on the diamond, but that compliment ended the season on an unexpectedly high note.

I take very little credit for Isaac's good character because that's all God and Isaac himself. I'm just the blessed one who gets to be his mom. And for that not small gift, I am thankful.

May 12

Abby did us a huge favor yesterday by cleaning the boys' bathroom. (It was not pretty, but the story of the rusty nail and Isaac's assertion that he's vaccinated will live on in our family's annals.)

Anyway, I "paid" her our agreed upon price today: a four-pack of Crumbl cookies.

I'm thankful for the time with her, and I'm also thankful that she gains a sense of satisfaction from cleaning. And that she's willing to tackle the toughest jobs. 

May 11

The Majors playoffs are officially underway. Brady's team has a first-round bye so they didn't play tonight, but we did head over to the Sports Park after practice so he could watch the other four teams go at it. 

While Brady hung out with friends behind the plate and cheered on his pals who were playing, I spent time with this amazing person.

I met Jaime a number of years ago when her husband was one of Brady's coaches, and for the first time in a very long while, our boys are again on the same team so we've gotten to spend some time together this season.

And I love it. I love her for her honesty and her kindness and her dedication to her family. She's a military wife and I'm always impressed by how she handles her husband's deployments with grace and truth and humor. 

Knowing Jaime is a blessing, and I am grateful for the way she makes my life better without even realizing she's doing it.

May 10

I don't love most pictures of myself. In fact, I don't even like most of them.

But I do like this one that I snapped this morning during my Wednesday Mother Ship date with Brady (and his bumble bee cake pop, which looks oddly feline).

So for a rare good photo and this time with my youngest kiddo, I am very grateful.

May 9

Abby made her grand return to the Mother Ship this morning.

I had my usual cuppa joe and she had one of her faves --a mocha cookie crumble frap-- and we sat in my usual corner chit-chatting with Terry and a sprinkling of the usual suspects as they came and paused and then went.

And it was good. And for that bit of familiar, predictable, comforting goodness, I am very grateful.

May 8

I was over at the other high school in town this afternoon for a little baseball rivalry action.

While there, I had the chance to see my friend Kelli and her husband Tim and their son G. Isaac and G played together back in little league and more recently as parts of the Spartans/Rays teams, so we saw quite a lot of them for quite a while. (As an aside, Isaac and G are both #10 for their respective teams. It's funny because neither of them wore #10 when they used to play together.)

Anyway, it was fun to see Kelli and Tim and G and to see how much taller he's gotten. And it was fun to go into full mom mode and insist that they take this picture together. You know, because I could.

Times flies. But moments like these when the past and present collide in a tangible way are dear to me.

May 7

I looked out the window at some point this afternoon and my brain registered seeing Adam in the hammock and Isaac up on the hill pulling weeds from the joints between the stepping stones.

My initial response was to think 'aw, look at my boy up there pulling weeds all on his own. What a good kid.'

And he is indeed a good kid. An excellent one, in fact. 

But what my brain registered wasn't the reality of the situation, as I learned at dinner. No, the reality was that Adam was up on the hill pulling weeds and then Isaac eventually joined him. What I thought was Adam lying in the hammock was actually him walking by the hammock after depositing an armload of weeds in the green bin.

My initial interpretation was only partly correct; in order to get the full story, I had to ask about it -- I needed help. Life is so often like this: we think we know what's going on when we actually don't. We make judgments about people or situations without knowing the full story. So today I'm thankful for the reminder that I need to step back and see the full picture rather than jumping to conclusions.

May 6

It was cool, overcast, and intermittently drizzly all day long, but it's a Saturday so there was baseball to be played.

After Isaac's doubleheader wrapped, he, Adam, and Abby joined me and Adam's dad to watch Brady and the Phillies win their game at the Sports Park. We got an extra special treat when Brady launched his first triple of the season well into right center. It's always satisfying to see either of my boys really get ahold of a pitch, so it was a blessing to be able to whoop and holler and to feel that jolt of excitement over his achievement.

And beyond that, it's a blessing that Adam's parents are close by and that his dad was on-hand to see a good game. I love that he knows my kiddos and that they know him. 

So yeah, it may have been a chilly day, but my heart is warm nonetheless.

May 5

My one and only girl is home for the summer! 

Thunderstorms delayed her connector in Denver and Isaac's baseball practice ended early, so we were all unexpectedly available to load into the car to pick her up from the airport early this evening. And I had the honor of meeting her at baggage claim while Adam and the Brositos circled the terminal until were ready to go.

After her first choice for dinner --CPK-- offered up a whopping one-hour wait time, Abby opted for the Cheesesteak Shop instead, so that's where we went. And we sat around the table and ate and talked and just... were.

So today, I'm grateful that my girl is back under our roof for a few months so she can animate BearBear and watch terrible Lifetime movies and dance to the SVU theme song. And so our family can once again be as together as it's possible for us to be. Because that is one of the biggest blessings of all.

May 4

Brady had a game this evening and Adam finished work early, so we swung past the high school to pick up Isaac from his not-practice (apparently his teammates didn't feel like practicing so they didn't; he was bummed out and told me so repeatedly) and headed over to the Sports Park.

It wound up being a quick (1:20) but dramatic win for the Phillies. For his part, Brady went 1 for 3 and did some great work with the glove on defense at first base. 

It was a chilly evening out there on the bleachers, but I got to share a blanket with my middle son. And I got to hear his thoughts on the strike zone. (The second pitch that was called a strike during Brady's first at-bat? Totally a ball.) And I got to watch him hop up periodically so he could saunter over to the dugout to exchange words with his little bro.

Winning is nice and I'm grateful for the team's success, but the other stuff -- those things are the sugar cubes that sweeten life.

May 3

It rained on and off today which meant that the freshman game on the calendar was canceled. But otherwise, it was a normal Wednesday.

And that meat that this guy and I had our customary time at the Mother Ship this morning before I shuttled him over to the middle school for class.

Time is a blessing. And spending it with my kids doing little things like this is a blessed use of my minutes.

May 2

Brady had a game on the calendar so we weren't expecting to have a date night, but a late-afternoon downpour accompanied by a few flashes of lightning and claps of thunder led the city to close the fields. So off the boys went to Youth Group for the first time in several weeks and off we went to Strizzi's for dinner.

And I have to say, it was so, so lovely to sit there in that charming space downtown sipping my glass of Primavera prosecco --one of my favorite kinds-- as Adam shared about his day of work.

It was such a blessing to have a few unexpected moments to reconnect and just be. (And the yummy food didn't hurt much, either.) So for that, I am grateful.

May 1

It's been a challenging baseball season for Isaac. But today, he got a start. 

He began the game in right field and then platooned with a teammate between there and second base for the remainder of the game. Not a lot of balls came his way, but he did successfully turn a near-disaster into a great catch.

He also contributed to the winning effort from the plate by going 2 for 3 with a pair of singles (although admittedly, one of them was probably an error. But he made contact each at-bat, so that's something to be happy about given how few plate appearances he's had).

I'm proud of him and grateful to God for gifting him with a strong sense of perseverance. I'm proud that he's continued being a good teammate in the face of circumstances that would frustrate most. And I'm proud that he went out there (in this suddenly windy, chilly 50ish degree weather) and had a good time playing ball. Like he used to. And like I fully believe he will once again.