Day 3,679

 The Belated Championship Party

After an upsetting Saturday night, in which everyone was either shocked, frustrated, sad, or a mixture of some combination of the three, we decided that if we couldn't celebrate with the team, we'd bring the party to us. So, we woke up to an AL Easy Division Championship party, complete with balloons and hats and party blow things,

championship party cinnamon rolls, a party #1 candle,

and we even got to party with Raymond the Ray, who wore his championship party hat and all!

And then we sang, "We are the champions." Because that's what we are!

So, Adam tested positive for Covid, hence his (and our) immediate and sudden departure from the field on Saturday. He's tested every other day with the Rays and also with the Bulls over the summer, as is his protocol and he's obviously not contracted it since last August in Philly with the Marlins. But for the second year in a row, he's tested positive with no symptoms and no sign that he had the sickness at all. And once again, he's now facing the reality that because of the timing of this positive test, he may not be able to participate in at least the first round of the postseason, as he is to quarantine 10 days, followed by more medical testing and the approval of the league before he's permitted back onto the team. I'm not sure I can particularly articulate the frustration that welled up inside of me that first night and next day, as these last 18 months have shaped and reshaped our lives--and many others--in ways we just couldn't even begin to fathom before this pandemic began.

What I can say however--because if I say much more I may not be able to hold my tongue--is that though this is incredibly frustrating, I have been consumed by and in awe of the timing and providence of the Lord the entirety of the last 10 months. He has continually shown me--even in the day to day--that He is intimately involved in our lives, actively working things for His glory and our good, and present always. The faithfulness and kindness He's shown to us over the course of this year has grown me in ways I wasn't anticipating, but am so thankful for. So though I am wholly frustrated by more than one aspect of this positive test, I am digging in and resolved to choose to see this as another opportunity that the Lord is using to grow my faith, to deepen my trust, and to reveal more of His glorious attributes as I faithfully rejoice over His perfect, sovereign timing in all things.