Day 4,503

The Pigeon Forge Vacationers

Only a short 12 hour drive, and we’re here!

Hello Pigeon Forge, Tennessee!

The team Daddy helps to coach had a week-long tournament in the most kid-friendly town in the Smoky Mountains, so we tagged along for a quick and beautiful little vacation!





:)

Day 4,469

The Gainesville Gang

Off to Gainesville with Papa Bear!



His 12U baseball team was playing half hour from Ginnie Springs, so we decided to make a weekend out of work. And what a treat it was!

Day 4,186

The Millers in Jax

Hey! I know them!

Good afternoon from The Miller's apartment in Jacksonville!

We left early-ish Monday morning in order to spend the off day with our friends, who are currently in AAA in Jacksonville. We were able to swim and fellowship and eat and talk from late afternoon to bedtime and what a sweet, encouraging time it was. We are so thankful to have been able to love on them while they are without their church body and in the middle of a long, busy baseball season. 

Hi Baby Kendall!

We love you and your parents SO much!

When it was bedtime, we were prepared to go to a hotel room, but a last second decision by Daddy had us driving the 3 1/2 hour drive home instead.

I can't blame Daddy--he's stayed in so many hotels over the last 11 years that the thought of doing it again when home wasn't too tremendously far away wasn't exactly appealing. So, we drove through the night with our littles cozied up on each other's laps while we had a date night in the front seat!

Day 3,997

The Georgia Goodbye and Auntie Hello

One last goodbye to our Kendall girl! We are so happy to have finally met her and can’t wait to watch her grow over the years. What a treasure she is to all of us. We love you, Kendall! (And Mrs. Michelle—hello at 3AM! You’re doing incredible, Mama!)

Another ten hour road trip = another day of movies! 

The movies may have been their most favorite part of the day…if not for their giant surprise at lunch time! Auntie Morgan, in the flesh! 

Hooray! It was the best way to end our quick Georgia trip. We miss our Auntie so much but we’re thankful that when we do get the chance to take trips north, she’s within driving distance to see us!

Love you Sissy. 

Miss you. 

Day 3,996

The Neidert Wedding

Our trip to Atlanta was incredible. 

We were thankful to be able to celebrate the wedding of our dear friend Nick and His beautiful bride McKay, whom we finally were able to meet!  It was a wedding that exuded Christ and highlighted the covenant of marriage so intentionally and thoroughly. We are in awe of all the ways the Lord has grown Nick in the past year and look forward to what lies ahead for him and McKay. His teachable heart, desire for God’s word, continued obedience, and joy before the Lord is testimony to a faith that has been transformed by the Savior and is such an encouragement to all who have labored alongside him. 

Marlins from the start. 

Friends till the end. 

Seeing the boys back together and being with the ladies again brought such a flurry of emotions to my heart. What a treasure the Lord has given us through baseball—I miss it in ways I didn’t know I would and this is right up there at the top. 

Meeting McKay!

Ella Mae was riveted by her beauty and loved talking with her about Jesus, where she got her dress, and about her new ring. You can always count on Ella Mae for a genuine smile and light hearted laugh. 

She marched right up to their table and moments later, her sisters followed. It was adorable. 

:)

Just about as adorable as Baby Kendall!!

This is as close as we got to a family photo and though I’m kicking myself for not getting the whole Conley crew, this abbreviated version of it is most acceptable. They’re SO adorable!











It was a beautiful night. The Lord is so kind to have brought such faithful men (and their ladies!) into our lives through baseball. Though we’ve experienced countless sweet relationships and have praised God for His mercy and grace in the salvation of Adam’s teammates and wives over the many seasons, in all our years together in baseball, few things have been more encouraging or impactful to our faith than the authentic yearning for godliness in the lives of these men. They love God’s word, they pursue it, they’re changed by it, and they continue to live out their convictions with boldness and courage. We look forward with anticipation in all the ways God will bring glory to His name through each of your testimonies. 

Happy wedding day, Mr. and Mrs. Neidert. 

It only gets better.

Day 3,658

The Last Tampa Trip

We checked out of our Airbnb at 10AM on Wednesday (Mom got four hours of sleep woo!), stopped to say goodbye to The Property (we can’t wait to share the land with you, peacocks!), ate breakfast with Gammy (you’re a treasure!), went and bought a new phone (salt water is no joke—be warned it’ll kill your mother board)

said goodbye, and headed West. 

Daddy played his last game of a ten-game road series while we drove to our new home in St. Pete for the month. 

I think Bearett must have read 15 books on the way, including the Wizard of Oz which claimed the title of his favorite. This boy continues to be enthralled by his ability to get lost in stories, of which I am so excited about! His love for reading is incredible and though I’m still not sure exactly how it happened, I’m just so happy it did!

Hello Central Florida!



And hello Pineapple Palace!

We are home for the month!

Day 3,649

The Thirteenth

We said goodbye to Grandma, turned on the baseball game, and drove three and a half hours back to Stuart. 

In the coolest, most insane game I’ve maybe ever watched, the Rays came back to beat the Red Sox in a marathon of a afternoon that saw a not-really-but-basically grand slam, and in the park home run, a deficit of 6 obliterated, and an extra inning nail biter that was all the excitement we could need for the duration of our drive. Ella Mae begged the Rays to win, asking every half inning if we were winning yet. She kept an intense eye on the score, even skipping her nap to watch until the end. That’s my Kate for ya. Alas, we won, Daddy pitched great, and Ella Mae was totally satisfied. My girl. Also, for the first time in his career, Daddy caught a pop up right to him without any other fielders calling him off of it. Even made it look easy. What a guy.  

And now for our 13th home since March. 

I said it.

Thankfully we had a meal already prepared for us upon arriving, as our favorite girls served us in a way that was just the sweetest and SO helpful!! It’s the little things that always end up being the big things. Thank you for loving us well, ladies. 

Hey! Let me in!



And as if on cue, more servant hearts popped out of the woodwork, giving this mama a break not only from preparing supper, but from cleaning it up solo too! 

We are well and the Lord is so kind. 

Day 3,641

The CBC Kids

I wish I would’ve taken a picture of these babes faces Sunday morning at church. Oh my word, they were lit up like never before—close to the faces they made when our friends brought out banana splits ingredients after church!

We spent Sunday afternoon with more friends, as we ate and talked and shared life together before packing into the car and heading to St. Pete. 

It was the loveliest of Sundays and made us miss being home even more. Our longing for the church body and being present to worship alongside them certainly has grown, and we look forward with great anticipation to the next time we’re home to do so. 

But as of Sunday night, the Lord has us headed back to St. Pete! 



And we look forward to the days ahead, as we get to support Daddy in the great task of sharing his faith with the men at Tropicana Field. 

Day 3,627

The Rays Debut

Fruit Loops for breakfast at the hotel!!! 

“Mom, these taste just like Pebbles, only in circles!!”

Our one-night stay in Florence, South Carolina went just about as smoothly as it could’ve with only one adult and four babes. 

When we arrived at the hotel Saturday night at midnight, I took all the bags off the roof and placed them inside the car. I discovered Sunday morning that though I had initially protected our belongings from theft, I simultaneously left the key in the car…unlocked. Thankfully, everything was still there in the morning. And heavy lifting—this time all by myself—was the only thing left between us and the road to Tampa. I heaved all three fifty pounds bags up onto the roof—thankful for all the days in the gym over the course of my life—strapped them down (this time, no mistakes!), ran upstairs to rinse off, poured some iced coffee in my thermos, and hit the road before noon!!

Here we come, Tampa!

I even had a co-pilot for most of the trip! 

He’s never ridden shotgun like this before, but he did it well and we had a good time learning all about driving, listening to Harry Potter, and watching the baseball game!

HI DADDY!!!

*Kids screaming in the car*

He’s a Ray. For real! And oh my word, that was fun!

His debut went just about as well as it could’ve. In 2 innings pitched, he struck out 4, walked one, hit one, and got an inning ending double play, while touching 98 on the radar. 

We’re so proud of you, Papa Bear!

Just as we were arriving to our hotel in St. Pete, Daddy was descending with the team into Tampa. 

We waited patiently for him with lots of jumping jacks and push-ups. 



And finally, after the most unanticipated and full week maybe ever, we got our Daddy back. Oh thank goodness, he’s back. We missed you so.