Batting 1000

So I have found a new favorite thing to do: go to Durham Bulls games.  The Durham Bulls are the triple A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.  Baseball is the best spectator sport.  I don't think there is anything more American than going to a baseball game, eating a hot dog, and singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch.  It's just relaxing being in such a family atmosphere, hanging out with friends.

Well Paige (from my small group), her husband, friend from college, and I went to see the Bulls on Thursday night.  It was extremely hot and humid but we ended up switching seats and sitting under the fans.  Paige and Zach know people so they also got Wool E. Bull to come up and try to help Zach start the wave.  Wool E. Bull also kissed our hands, which apparently Brett was not appreciative of that night when I told him ;)

This weekend was Brett's last weekend in town until late November/December because his season starts in less than two weeks.  We decided to do something fun so we bought tickets to the game on Saturday.  We met one of Brett's best friends Greg, Megan and her friend, and Natasha and her two Aussie friends there.  I was a little nervous seeing the clouds and the sporadic spouts of rain while driving over there.  The wind was also out of control.  Definitely that storm-is-about-to-roll-in feel.

Now one thing I have to mention is the last time Brett and I went to a game, it rained steadily for 2 hours.  Luckily, Brett got us seats under the terrace so we could sit there, stay dry, and enjoy each other's company.  The game started at 10:11 p.m. instead of 7:05.  Because he was teaching me how to keep score the "old fashion" way (which apparently is a lost art), I wanted to stay the whole game.  The game got over around 1 a.m. Needless to say, we went to the 11 o'clock service the next morning.

Anyway....we DID NOT have seats under the terrace this time around.  It sprinkled a little bit, but we came prepared with umbrellas this time, given what happened to us last time.  They covered the field, but the rain stopped so the players started warming up again and they got the field ready.  It was still lightning and thundering, but no rain.  All of the sudden, the bottom fell out of the sky and DOWNPOUR!!! For about an hour or so, we were standing in the concourse.

The rain stopped and the grounds crew took the tarp off the field so we went back out.  So many people left that we sat right behind the home dugout.  Megan was kind enough to wipe off all of our seats.  We waited, and waited.  Brett started heckling the players, which of course embarrassed me.  My long story short, they decided the postpone the game so we didn't get to watch it.  Brett made a good statement saying, "If I had a batting average for me and Sara going to a minor league game and there being a rain delay, it would be 1000."  This is one time that an average of 1000 is NOT good.

Because of Greg and Brett's bromance, and the fact that they both start their season soon and wouldn't see each other for a couple of months, Greg came over and hung out for a bit after the game.  Good thing we didn't stay at the stadium because there were some crazy, crazy storms.  Enough to knock over a tree at the front of my complex.

I'm sad that Brett won't be able to come back for a while, but I'm excited to be able to see him do what he loves.  He's had the itch to get the season going since last season ended.  Anyway, all and all, it was a great weekend with amazing friends.  You know they are good friends when you can still have fun despite the bad weather.   I'm blessed.

The ladies

He's such a trooper

The bromance

Fore!!

I went to visit Brett's family in Ocean Isle Beach this past weekend.  I love going down to see them because 1) they are fantastic people and we have so many laughs, and 2) it's like a mini-vacay for me because I get to go to the beach (or at least close to the beach).  We were without Laura this time around because she was on a missions trip so we were 5 guys to 2 ladies, but somehow we managed.

Brett, Will, and Sam played in a golf tournament that supports the West Brunswick High School football team.  Each of them brought a friend to play in their groups (Drew, Joey, and Mike).  I decided to be an amazing girlfriend and watch him and his friends and brothers play the whole day.  It was my very first time on a golf course...and I LOVED it.  There's something so peaceful about being out there.  Yes, for all of you who know me, I would probably not say that if I were actually playing.  There may possibly be some club throwing, instead of hat throwing like in ultimate :)

Saturday night, Brett, Yogi, and I watched Boys of Fall, a documentary by Kenny Chesney about football.  I cannot describe the presence in that room when we were watching it.  You see, Yogi and Brett are both football coaches. Yogi has been a high school football coach for a long time.  Brett decided to walked to walk in his footsteps, but on the college level.  I could see the passion in their eyes.  That is what almost brought me to tears.  I have no doubt Brett is in the profession he is supposed to be in.  His desire to impact and shape young men's lives is inspiring.  Well that's a recap of my weekend.  Hope you all had a fantastic one!

Spiritual Munchies: Fighting Tempation

I shared this with my small group, but I just wanted to write about it on here because it’s something I think people (including myself) forget about in the busyness of life.  

I've been learning about God's Word in my devotional with Brett, and I found a topic that really stuck out to me like it never has before.  I know a lot of times I question whether I can get through a temptation or a struggle with sin.  Sometimes it seems like there’s no way out.  It's just too hard or we're too deep in the sin to turn around.  I think two passages in the Bible demonstrate how we can overcome these temptations.

The first is Matthew 4:1-11.  These verses deal with Jesus being tempted in the desert by Satan. Each time Satan tempts Jesus, Jesus always says "it is written."  He quotes Scripture to fight Satan.  If  we believe the Bible is truth (which I do), we should really use it to proclaim truth over our emotions, thoughts, or temptations.  Proclaim means "to announce or declare in an official or formal manner."  Sisters, we need to declare God's truth just like Jesus did when he said, "It is written."  Ok, done with my Beth Moore moment.

The second is Psalm 119:11:  "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."  I've read this verse so many times over the course of my life, but it meant something different this time.   That’s one of the things I love about God’s Word: His Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).  Anyway, the reason the author hid God's Word in his heart is so that he could refuse sin.  This means he relied on God's Word and the truth in it in order to combat temptation.

Given these two passages (and probably many more) I think there is no question as to how we can resist sin and turn the other way: know His Word.  That's why being in God's Word and memorizing Scripture is so important.  When we start feeling tempted, we can declare truth over the situation, just like Jesus did.  

Some people question whether God speaks now.  I would answer, “Ummmmm….YES!”  It may not be audible, but He does speak through His Word.  For example, when I’m starting to feel my blood pressure go up and feel the anger rising, James 1:19-20 comes in my head: "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."  Moments like this just confirm that He is fighting for me and providing a way out of sinning.  If we struggle with something specific, find a verse that speaks truth over that situation and memorize it.  Whenever we start feeling the desire to sin, start saying the verse.  I need to learn to declare God’s truth over the situation, instead of letting me (my emotions) talk to me.

I know it won't be easy, and it's something that I have to work through daily, but at least we can start the discipline of doing this in areas we're struggling.  I mean if Jesus does it, how much more should we be doing it?  Anyway, that's my spiritual munchie for the day.  It's something that I have and still struggle with so I thought you might find it helpful too.  

24, We're going to be friends

So I had the most amazing birthday weekend EVER!  I worked the whole day but got to get off work by 4.  Brett was already in town and I came home to beautiful flowers and such a sweet card.  He said he was going to take me out somewhere really nice for dinner Friday night, my actual birthday.  I had asked him all week where he was going to take me for dinner but he refused to tell me.  He then proceeded to tell me that our reservation was for 8 pm (just to let you know, that is super late for me since I'm on old person scheduling and eat dinner at 6).

If you know me, you know that I start stressing if I don't know where I'm going or if we're running late.  Well both were the case Friday night.  We parked in a parking deck in Raleigh at 8, which meant we were late.  Brett told me that we didn't really have reservations after I said we were late, which made me question why we went to dinner so late to begin with.  As soon as we walked into The Oxford, an English pub, he told me to just walk right and kept pushing me that way.  I was trying to walk up to the hostess to tell them two but he didn't let me.

At this point, I'm starting to think something is up.  I looked toward the right and saw Paige's face (friend from small group) through a whole in the partition.  I walked up the steps and saw a long table full of all my favorite people!!  Two of my best friends, Jessica and Michelle, planned the whole surprise celebration.  It was the first surprise "celebration" I've ever had (Brett says I can't call it a party).  Friends from college and small group were all there.  We ate, talked, laughed, some danced, and just had the best time.  I'm actually stunned no one spoiled the surprise because of everyone who was there, and Brett doesn't keep secrets from me very well.  Here are a few pictures from that night.

The two people in charge of the whole thing

Love my small group

So glad he could share in my special day. He's the best.

Yep, we like each other

So we got home close to midnight on Saturday morning, and I had to get up before 7 because my small group signed up to do serveRDU at Apex Middle School.  ServeRDU is one week that my church, Summit, devotes specifically to showing God's love by serving the community around us.  It's supposed to be a catalyst to getting involved in our community.  We spent around 4 hours cleaning up the grounds at the middle school.  We laid brick, pulled out weeds, and planted more shrubs and flowers.  

Some of our group at Apex Middle School

After I got home, Brett took me to the mall (definitely a good birthday present since I know he hates going to the mall).  He bought me a pair of Rainbows.  I bought a pair of nude-colored pumps (be proud Paige and Natasha!) and cowboy boots.  We were in and out in a hour!  Now that is efficient.  Brett and I met up with Kyle, Amy and Michelle for dinner at Carolina Ale House. 

We matched again!

The ladies of the group

Sunday, we got up early to go to church.  After church, we went over to my parents' house for some steak my dad grilled. It was fantastic!  I opened presents, took a bunch of pictures, and watched the women's world cup.  So that's a recap of my birthday weekend.  Sorry it's a little long.  Hope you enjoyed a little peak into my life.

I think this is a great picture

He actually smiled :)

Goodbye 23!

Well, after a couple weeks of debating and one fun night with my small group ladies (you all are crazy but I love you), I have decided to start blogging.  I'm not sure if I have enough thoughts or interesting events in my life to make this a good read, but hey, we'll see.  I figured this would be a good time considering I'm about to start on a new year.... 24!! Man that sounds old.  That leads to the topic of my first post: my 23rd year in review.

I was able to encounter a couple of firsts:

• My first year involved in my Summit women's small group
• My first season as a college football coach's girlfriend
• My first MLB game (at Yankee Stadium versus the Red Sox - AWESOME)
• My first time playing an ultimate tournament in the snow
• My first year living by myself
• My first report being cited in a U.S. congressional hearing - Veritas Study

All these things have brought so much joy in my life (for the most part).  The Lord has been teaching me a lot this year about His character through my relationship with Brett and the women in my small group.  Being in a long-distance relationship is tough.  I know in any relationship, you have to communicate.  I think this is even more important in a long-distance relationship because it's all you have.  And it doesn't help the I'm not a phone person AND I'm a horrible communicator.  Brett has been a trooper with me though.  He has shown me what Gospel love looks like.  He knows so much about me: my struggles, fears, joys, and crazy antics.  Despite all of this, he still loves me.  J.D, the pastor at Summit, says the Gospel is being known more than you ever imagined, and loved more than you ever dreamed.  Brett is teaching me about this every day.  To think that his love is just a glimpse of God's love for me is mind-blowing. 

Now to my small group. Man, oh man.  I have never realized until the past couple of weeks what beauty there is in being able to be completely vulnerable with a group of women without fear of judgement.  We can ask stupid questions (yes there is such a thing) or just act like fools.  We can share our struggles and know with 100% certainty that we have each others' backs.  I am encouraged by their life stories and seeing where God has brought them from and where He is leading them to.  They bring a smile to my face with their texts of Bible verses or emails saying what God is teaching them.  Within the past year, more so than any other year, I have seen what God can teach me about Himself, myself, and how to treat others through this group.  Plus, we have so much fun together!  God is teaching me so much more about life, but that's for another post.

I guess that's a short recap.  Here are a few pictures of the highlights of my 23rd year.  So excited to see what 24 is going to bring!

The fantastic 4 at Jeremy and Mandy's wedding

Siblings at the Yankees game

My wonderful family

Kiss for the Victory Bowl Champion!