Tourney

We're away at a softball tourney! On Wednesday, we played two awesome "pool" games - no, not water! lol The first one we won 2-0. The second, we played this great team and lost in extra innings 1-0! There was no score and we had to do the international tie-breaker. The other team got bases loaded and NO OUTS! So, infield pulls in to get the force out at home - the winning run. Tarah pulls out some amazing pitches and delivers two strike-outs! Lots of the pressure is over, infield pulls back to normal depth. The girl hits a base hit right between 3rd and short...grrrr

Last night, we won a great game...it was awesome! Our team was "on"! I was catcher that game. We'd get a runner on, then they'd run and we'd catch them stealing at 2nd! It was amazing! The final score was 2-0!

We went for a 9 AM game this morning, getting up at 6 AM after going to bed around midnight. haha At game time, it's pouring down rain and the other team has left us with the dug out with the "river" running through it! The water was deep enough to almost dive in...in the dug out! So, we're all mashed together trying to keep from having to wade through the deeper parts, and a few of the girls on the other side of the smell. About two seconds later, this awful, discusting, sickening, horrible (get the picture yet?) smell comes to our end. Gross! We're all cracking up as we recall that one of the coaches said he ate a big 'ole thing of beans for dinner...but this smell is so much worse that we are all positive it's gotta be something else. haha We're like trying to scratch out way out of the wooden dug out! I look around to see Coach standing up, away from us with the parents telling them something and they are all laughing their heads off! I think Coach had a prank smelly thing! It was so strong and stuck around so long...

Finally, after sitting in a water-logged dug out for an hour, the tournament directors say 3 hour delay, be back and ready to play at noon. So, we get back at 11:00 and at 11:30 it's raining again - not to mention the shape the fields are already in. Our field had three great lakes, not to mention the ocean right outside the lines. I better learn how to swim quick if I'm to catch this next game.

Anyway, they told us to be back and ready to play at 3:00. So, we play the waiting game! I have a feeling we'll play this time for real. It's drying up and the sun is almost peaking through!!! Maybe it'll dry the fields up!

Well, gotta run and get ready to head out!

I'm still here...

I've not been a faithful blogger...bad girl! haha

No, I've had a few things going on lately. I've had some things running through my head as well as just being under the weather. My body has had a few things happening lately, so I've been tired and drained - mostly felt like I've had the flu or something.

But, I'm doing alright. Finally about time to feel better! All day, I had looked forward to taking something to help me rest tonight. You see, for the past 6 days or so, I've had trouble sleeping at night. I haven't been able to sleep until at least 2 A.M. - sometimes not until 4 A.M. I've tried getting up at 7, tried sleeping in to let my body rest, tried just laying there, still. I've gotten on the web and chatted with several pals and gotten to know them much better! :-)

So, back to my story...we're getting ready to pack things up to head to a softball World Series. So, I got up this morning thinking I'd take something to help me rest early tonight (at Mom's recommendation, of course!), hoping I could wake up and feel rested and refreshed - instead of tired, drained, and overall weak and achy. I wait all day long then about 8:30 I take a Tylenol PM...should help me relax, right? Totally dead wrong! I laid there for the next TWO HOURS wondering why in the world I was still wide awake, tossing & turning, with my heart racing. Yes, it made me HYPER! So much for that rest and feeling better tomorrow!

Well, here comes another long night, I suppose. It definitely could be worse - just wish I could rest so I would feel better and play at my peak this week!

Letting Go...

I've been doing some heavy thinking, praying, and brainstorming. Some things have been on my heart recently - I always wondered why things seem to hit at once. Why couldn't all of this have come before or after this election stuff? LOL

I just wish things could be what they seemed and when your brain made a logical decision, that your heart could get in line and follow suite. But there's so many complications, things you know you did wrong, and trying to identify and fix those.

I'm left with the thoughts of What if...? The best conclusion I've come to is to let go...I don't have a choice. Things will work how they are supposed to, as long as I don't just sit back and watch life happen. As long as I jump in there and do what I know is right, His plan and purpose will be followed through.

I was going through some blogs and came across this...it seems to be just perfect for my pattern of thoughts!


To let go does not mean to stop caring,
it means I can't do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off,
it's the realization I can't control another.

To let go is not to enable,
but allow learning from natural consequences.

To let go is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To let go is not to try to change or blame another,
it's to make the most of myself.

To let go is not to care for, but to care about.

To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To let go is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.

To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their destinies.

To let go is not to be protective,
it's to permit another to face reality.

To let go is not to deny, but to accept.

To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more

Remember: The time to love is short

Vote!

Hey guys...sorry I haven't post much lately - nor been commenting. I've been running crazy with elections, campaigning, and "politican!" Tomorrow is d-day, then I'll get a few days to rest up before we hit the trail again with a few possible run-offs!

Dear Erin, I'll get to your tag! Hopefully by Wednesday things will be a bit calmer! :-)

And, guys, go vote in the Primary tomorrow! I've been making calls all night reminding them to go vote then finished the night out strong by putting up some signs! If you live in Georgia, I can help out with a few State-wide recommendations. If you're outside GA, you're on your own! haha

Well, I've got to rest my brain. It's so tired from all of this thinking and campaigning! Just know I'm still here, alive and well - and haven't forgotten about you all! Be blessed, my dear friends!

33 miles

This week, Thursday has once again slipped up on me! LOL I was gone all day yesterday and so I kinda missed a day...sounds good! ;-)

I went to a Building429 concert, which was awesome! But there was also a band there, 33 miles, who was equally (if not more) awesome! Their heart of worship was incredible you could just feel it! There's nothing like being able to worship with a thousand people...starting with the guys on stage! I was sad because their CD doesn't come out until next Spring! But you can hear a few songs at their myspace! Read the meaning of their band name...it's very cool!

We went with my Uncle Billy and his beautiful family! Getting to know Billy has been a blessing that happened through some heartache. Back when we were having all of the tragedy in March/April, we were put back together with them - who we had known but never really did anything with or got to know. Now, it seems we see each other once a week...and I want to see them more! :-)

His daughter, Hannah, has been coming over and we've been working with her on some Sign Language with songs! She has a heart of gold and if I needed to get anything done and know it was taken care of, I'd hand it over to her and know it would get done - someway, somehow!

They are the type of family that everyone wants to have! Just all around sweet, thoughtful, encouraging, sincere, and "real."

So, go check out 33 miles and Hannah - and say hey! :-) And stop by and give my friend Ryan from For God, Family and Republic an encouraging note!

Well, I've got lots happening today...starts with karate, working with Hannah, picking blueberries, then off to softball practice! Love and blessings to you all!

Surprise!

I had a great birthday! With the welcoming of one day, I told my teen years goodbye and have now embraced the journey of my 20's! :-)

I figured Mom would try to throw something Friday night - at midnight (when it was actually the 8th)...perhaps have a few people show up or something. Nope! LOL



I had planned to go pick wild blackberries with Faith and Josh right after work. On my way, Dad called and asked to see if I wanted to go out and eat - which is totally normal for birthdays, he'll usually take us out. We go pick blackberries and after we get a big bowl full, Faith begs to go play on the swings, slides, and monkey bars for a little while! Then, I go to meet Dad at the office. Just as I get there, he gets a call from a customer wanting to place an order. I tell him to go ahead, we don't have a clock to punch! haha, how wrong I was! He takes the order and about 45 minutes later we head to eat.



We get there and we walk casually inside. We start to sit down and Dad is like, "Look, there's some of us already here!"

My first reaction is, No way! It was somewhat mixed, because I wanted to celebrate with everyone but I was looking forward to spending some time with Dad.




There's gift bags on the table, Mom, T, and my grandmother are there, along with three friends! I'm so embarrassed...not because I'm surprised, because I feel like I look horrible! I hadn't done much to my makeup, I was dressed casually, had been sweating (picking blackberries), and my hair was just put up! But, I figured I couldn't help it at that point, the best thing I could do was enjoy myself! :-)



We had a grand time! And they had planned to go bowling, but, as my rights had it because I was the birthday girl, I vetoed that idea and chose to go get ice cream and all the toppings - then party at home! LOL I didn't blow my diet completely...I still chose low-fat options.......when I could! hehe It was my birthday, and I wanted a little ice cream to celebrate!



I ended up getting nail polish, lots of earrings (I absolutely love them!), a gift card, three shirts (the "I Love Lucy" shirt I adore...it's from my Dad, something I wanted so much!), bracelets (from Faith!), and a cookie jar (from Granny Duh) that says, "If they don't have cookies in Heaven... I'm NOT going!" Plus lots of love from everyone!












And I got a poem from a friend...we've known each other for 5 years and he moved away to California - but recently we've gotten back in touch (thanks to the web! haha). It goes:

no words to speak nor write
can show the gratitude inside
you've blessed others by just living your life
I pray that it is you blessed this time
I'm sure I speak for all your friends when I say
thank you for your loyalty and living this way
you'll never know the hearts you've reached
you'll never understand what your words mean
five years now and i've gaind a friend
and a sister in Christ until the end
Keep your chin up, hold onto the fathers hand
Happy Birthday Maegan... um thats the end





Just because the night ended didn't mean the surprises didn't....on Saturday, we went to eat with a few of our team mates. We went to eat and they got together and conspired for them to sing and get me a strawberry shortcake with ice cream! Not only did the standard workers sing, but the entire table (of about 20) sang too - at the top of their lungs! LOL It was great!



This year, I've gotten many gifts. I was offered the political job (just when I was getting out of it all, doesn't God work in mysterious ways?), I'm playing a sport I love once again, and I've made some great friends on the softball field! The gifts seem to be coming faster than I can count them!



Needless to say, it's been a great year and I'm looking forward to an even better one!

I'm The Big 2-0

The rumors are indeed true...I'm turning 20! Thanks to all of those lovely comments...loved the poem, Luke!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
FROM YOUR BLOGGING BUDS,
WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE A BLOGGER,
EVEN IF YOU FORGET WHAT "SENTENCE" MEANS.

I was just thinking how different things were last year...I had both grandfathers - Pawpaw & Papa Hoyt - and my Memeow (great grandmother). I didn't really know my Uncle Billy and Aunt Stephanie. I was seriously considering leaving politics in my past. I was a new graduate. I was looking for the direction my life should take. I wasn't blogging. I was missing out on tons of great people! :-) I was finishing up a heated softball year. Karate was but a thought. I was celebrating my birthday with my Papa Hoyt, Granny Duh, & Memeow. I went fishing with my Pawpaw for the first (and last) time in his boat!

How many things have changed. If only I'd have known that was my last birthday, my last fishing trip I'd have enjoyed myself more and let the "little things" bug me less. I'd have given more hugs, smiled more, and laughed carefree. But they all got to see me graduate and were so proud of me!

My family, grandmother, and a few friends threw me a surprise birthday part at IHOP! Yes, IHOP...they said I was the one who picked the place! LOL I love their salad and that was the answer to my favorite place to eat when they casually asked last night! I got tons of great gifts - I was sure to get great pictures for all of you guys! But my family and the guys made fun of me getting pictures of things..."Don't you want a picture with it?" Then they'd burst out laughing. I do have TONS of pictures of me with them all, too! Check back next week for those! :-)

Well, with that I'll end with a song from Natalie Grant...

I’ve been driving through the night
Pull up and see the lights
This is the place that I call home

I watch you as you dream
I think of all you mean to me
Touch your face, kiss you softly

And before I go to sleep, I pray under the stars
Search my soul and check my heart

CHORUS:
(I) thank God for another day, another chance
To love the ones I love
To find my way
To laugh, to dance
And watch the sun come up
Another day I get to live
As if every breath could be the last I take
I get another day

I have a hand that I can hold
Someone who knows my soul
A safe place to lay my head at night
Still sometimes I forget
Just how much I’ve been blessed in life
I forget what means the most to me, yeh
But I’m waking up again
I feel my beating heart
So grateful that I’ve come this far

CHORUS

Another day to make somebody smile
To go the extra mile
To take a wrong and make it right
Yeh, I’m tryin’ to touch somebody’s life
I get another day

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
When was the last time you visited a hospital?


I've spent way too much time in a hospital this year...I think the last time would've been when my great-grandmother had her heart attack and passed on a few hours later.


Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?


Oh, wow...Probably an 8 or 9!


Salad
Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.)



haha, ok.... (hand) horrible and nasty dandy LOL



Main Course
If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?


It would likely be something political and include the name, "Republian" or "GOP" :-D


Dessert
What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?


mostly tan, some "flowery" carpet, ugly tile and wood - the latter three are about to all be replaced when we re-do the kitchen...I'm so excited. But not excited about the fact that I can't bake for two months :-( But it will be so nice when it's finished!!!

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Happy birthday, Mr. President!

Here is one of the reasons I love our President, although I know there are several things he could have done differently (at least from my viewpoint) - I wasn't in his shoes and didn't know the entire story. I might not have done as well, who will ever know?

He wrote this beautiful poem for the First Lady on birthday...

(click on picture for bigger wording)

Well, I thought I'd still be out of town today for that political training. I've got an opportunity to take over a political "job" (if you've been into politics much, you know "paid jobs" don't come around that often! LOL You do lots of "volunteering"). It would last just up to the General Election - which is great because I'm planning on starting college in the Spring. The lady who has who's doing it now has been having health issues for many years, and she told the State Party that she would have a Plan B just in case she needed to hand it over...and that's me. I consider her my "political mom" as she's basically taken me since the age of 11 and taught me what I needed to know, trusted me with insider info, and is now allowing me to be part of a new era of the Republican Party as technology is changing the way we will target voters. It also helps to be a great Plan B when you've met and been around the executive director of the Party in the past! ;-)

So, I'll be her right-hand person as long as she's doing fine with everything, so I'll keep up with what's happening and how things are going. If and when she decides she needs to hand things over, that's when I'll take over and be spending lots of time making sure things run smoothly, that we're getting the volunteers we need, keeping the State Party informed of our progress, making the much-adored phone calls to voters! ha

Well, I think I'm going to try to go to karate today and see how my ribbies hold up! First time back...so wish me luck, although I think they will do fine! I may be writing later on about how I wish they would heal and not hurt so bad.... hahaha

Softball Tourney, Potential Jobs, and the 4th

Here's pictures from the softball tournament this weekend - yes, I got to play! Can you believe it?!? I'm paying for it now...but it was totally worth it! If I had it to do it again, I'd say yes before you could pronounce actillimandataquerin altosapaoyabayadoondib ab....or something like that! haha

The Squad

We started Saturday out with a bright and early game - having to leave at 6 AM...LEAVE at 6 AM. You know how hard that is for my family? LOL Anyway, we have to be at the field by 7:00. We get there, get going, and warm up. I can tell it's been a long time and just during the warm up throws can tell how rusty I'll be - forget catching with full gear on and making perfect throw-downs to 2nd when a runner is stealing! LOL

My Lovely Mother

If you know anything about softball (or baseball) tournaments, the format was 2 pool, double elimination. Basically that means you play 2 "preliminary/warm-up" games to decided where you "rank" among the other teams. Then you begin your elimination games after that point. At that point, you play until you win the 1st place trophy or lose two games - which ever one comes first.

T in Right Field, Me on 2nd Base

The 1st game of the day - the 1st in the 2 "pool games" - we played tight and won 3-1. The team was great, but we played good and hit like crazy!


I started out catching the 2nd game, Tarah pitching. The 1st inning of that game was rough - I was sooooo rusty! I think our dedicated fans could see the rust flying right and left! Thankfully, my two errors were masterfully covered by my dear team and we came out of that inning with no runs scored against us!

We lost the 2nd game like 2-0, but it wasn't a huge defeat as it didn't count in your "elimination" round. So, while we would've liked to win, we went and had a great time - hunting down a Walmart and food! The Walmart looked like it had just opened in the last month and when we asked around for a Cracker Barrel, but the closest one was about 45 minutes away. This town basically had three fast-food choices! We settled for some chicken! LOL

Running

We meet back at the ballfield for our first round of elimination. We play the same team we had just lost to in the 2nd pool game. This time the game wasn't near as close - this other team's bats were on fire and they seemed to hit everything our pitcher could throw their way. Apparently, it just wasn't our game and, unfortunately, the other team was definitely "on"!

Pitching to Tarah

To home and bed it is. As the adrenaline of the games wear off, I begin to feel pain (imagine that!). I look down and realize I have a "strawberry" on my leg where I slid (and was safe! :-), two bruises (one on each leg), and two blisters beginning to form on my hand where I'm not accustomed to swinging the bat anymore! LOL I get a shower, moaning about the muscles and how bad the strawberry and blisters hurt in the water with shampoo in them! It likely would've been amusing to stand outside my door and just listen! hehe


We get to sleep in just a bit before heading out for round 2! The 4th game (the 1st on Sunday) is a tight game, back and forth. I was starting catcher, T was starting pitcher. It was pressure, pressure, pressure. Both teams would get runners on and then somehow the defense would find a way out! One time Tarah got out of an inning where bases were loaded with NO OUTS! Talk about major pressure! Finally, the doors crack open a bit and we score one run - with another runner on 3rd base. The pitcher delivers and "illegal pitch" and the runner on 3rd gets to advance home! The next inning, there was a runner on 2nd and I was up to bat. I hit a hard ground ball to 2nd base and it bounces off of her glove into right field. The 1st base coach is motioning me towards 2nd base. I somehow lose the feeling in my legs and fall down...I scramble back to 1st base safely! The umpire in the field yells, "Time out! Time out! Illegal move - the splits!" to everyone's laughter - including mine! My coach then says I take karate and starts laughing and joking around that I'm a blackbelt...I think I got some different looks from the other team after that remark! haha The final score of that game was 4-1! We advance!

Game Faces

It's on to the team that we've already played twice - and lost both times. We know this will be a tough game, but we start off strong. We're hitting rockets, but it's always right at a player. I'm playing 1st base in this game, so I get to hear all the action from the coaches and umpire! haha In the 1st inning, a ground ball was hit our short-stop. She barely throws the girl out (but she was out...I caught the ball!). The coach from the other team said something, and the umpire in the field started motioning, "Coach, if you're going to say things like that, you're out of here!" With that, the umpire gives the opponents coach one minute to leave the field.


In the 2nd inning, the other team is once again at bat. They have runners on 2nd and 3rd. Our 3rd baseman gets the ball, looks at 1st base and the girl running - realizes she has no chance to get the girl out, and fires it to 3rd base. The runner dives back, but is called out. The 3rd base coach says, "That's bull! You can see better than that!" The same umpire begins his familiar motion, "If you're going to say things like that, too, you're also outta here!" And with that tells him he has one minute to leave! The umpire makes sure he's going off the field and is following him.

The coach starts ranting, "If you're going to be like this, we'll just forfeit!"

"You want to forfeit? Fine! Final score 7-0!"

With that the umpire walks off the field, to the moaning of several parents and all the girls. We're still standing on the field in our defensive positions ready to play ball - wanting to beat this team fair and square. The umpire is surrounded by the coaches and several parents, so we send a few parents to make sure everything is alright and there just in case a fight broke out.

About 7 girls come out and shake our hands, signifying they were resigned to the fact the game was over. We then talked for a few minutes, both sides apologized and were stunned. The coach that offered to forfeit came over and said he was sorry, saying he wasn't sure what happened.

So, in the 2nd inning the game was called. This puts us in the semi-finals.

Faith Batting

The next game was against one of the best teams. After the whole ordeal with the previous game, we just didn't have our heads in the game and basically became a door-mat for this team. We didn't hit, we made errors right and left, and just let them have it on a silver platter. We were tired and ready to head home! LOL

After The Game

The weekend was great, the girls were a wonderful bunch to play with, and the coaches were excellent! Best of all, they asked Tarah to play in the next tournament with them and since I'm too old (by 7 months) to qualify to play in this tournament, they invited me to dress out with them! :-) There is definitely one more tournament they know I can play in, and hopefully a few others! I love playing ball and this weekend has only gone to prove how much I miss it!


And the ribs? you ask...Well, I can tell they are there - but my entire body hurts so much they don't stand out! LOL I was hoping to start back karate on Wednesday, but I figure I better wait for a few more days and let the ribbies heal from all of this "trauma"! haha

Please also be praying, as I have had a potential political job offer to fall into my lap and I may have to do some training out of town for it. It would be with my "political mother" whom I've known and trusted many years - she has yet to guide me wrong! LOL Just be praying for some quick direction on that, as I've been somewhat getting out of the political loop and now this potential job would put me in the midst of it... more so than ever before!

Oh, and happy 4th! It just doesn't feel like the 4th of July, so I guess it kinda slips my mind! How thankful I am for our freedom - and men and women who defend it each and every day!