Day 4,050

The Other Side of the Fence

Marlins from the other side. 

Hi Mr. Brian!!

Our new favorite player!

But I think they did forget how hot a Spring Training baseball game is. Turn the air on Mom! We’re freezing hot!

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 3,699

The Little Fish

Saturday morning house hunting?

Well, our current situation has us with a beautiful piece of property but still without a home. And with rental prices the way they are (goodness gracious, unbelievable!), we figured that maybe the best way to save money AND keep the money we spend is by possibly purchasing a small house that we eventually rent out? Who knows. For now though, this is seeming like a better option. 

This is where the bulk of Saturday happened though!! Bearett’s first ever kid pitch game! It was quite possibly the slowest game of all existence (in this first year of kid pitch, the majority of the kids are walked or hit and then the base runners steal every base, including home), but it was such a thrill watching Bub square up against another boy! He ended up striking out his first at bat (he swung at nearly every pitch imaginable) and getting hit during his second at bat (on a pitch he swung at ha!) which left a bruise, but he liked it and is excited to be playing again! 

And just like his Daddy, he’s a Marlin in his first big season! 

I’ll say it again, only this time it hits a bit differently:

GO FISH!

:)





All the ladies came out to watch our Marlin, and what a treat it was! 

Day 3,678

The AL East Champions

It was the first time ever—in the history of the Conley family—that we’d get the opportunity to celebrate alongside our championship team. Because Saturday night, the Rays clinched our place atop the NL East division as *the* Champions when we beat the Miami Marlins in our 96th win of the season!! We’re heading into October and the postseason with the best American League record and are excited for new experiences and many more wins! What an incredible team! Rays up!!

Unfortunately for us though, our plans of attending the celebrations post game and celebrating our victory alongside the fans and the team and the families and our friends were cut short in the sixth inning when we had to leave the game unexpectedly. More on that later (everyone is ok and we’re still on the team), but we instead had to watch our guys clinch first place from our Airbnb couch, while teary eyed babes tried their best to understand why we couldn’t be there for “the party.” Choked up and disappointed, we reminded those precious little sad faces that regardless of our circumstances, we’d choose to be content and trust the Lord. As we’ve said all year long—especially over the last six months—the timing of the Lord is specific, purposeful, and intimate to our lives and we both recognize that and trust Him increasingly more because of all the ways He’s proved that to us in the past. I must only look back very recently to be reminded of how intricately God is involved in the lives of His people. And so, whether on the couch or on the field or wherever we find ourselves to be, we will pursue contentment and rejoice in God’s timing because His ways are always better than ours. 

Day 3,611

The Miller’s Debut

Usually they’re screaming AT eachother, but this?! What could they possibly be screaming WITH each other for?!

BECAUSE THAT’S MR. BRIAN ON THE SCREEN!

AND HE’S WEARING A MARLINS JERSEY!!!

AND THAT’S MRS. MICHELLE! MR. BRIAN IS A BIG LEAGUER NOW! GO MR. BRIAN!

Friday, our friends flew from their away series hotel in Charlotte, NC to Miami after receiving notice of their promotion Thursday night. He started in left field and made his MLB debut for the Fish the same day he arrived, and what a joy it was to watch. They both carried themselves with such grace and humility—a true delight and encouragement to witness. We are so incredibly proud of their achievement and pray for faithful, courageous, dependent, and loyal hearts toward Christ, no matter where He chooses to send them. 

We may not be Fish anymore, but we haven’t stopped cheering them on since the day we said goodbye. That place holds so much of our heart and effort toward the gospel and to see now FOUR of our dear brothers in Christ walking faithfully within those walls is such an encouragement. My goodness, my heart. 

GO FISH!

Day 3,535

The Durham Debut

Saturday night, Adam was called and asked if instead of being activated on Tuesday, he’d be ok being activated on Sunday. Well, that was maybe the easiest yes!

So we dropped our Papa Bear off for the first time this season!

And the kids were more excited about going to a baseball game than I’ve ever seen them. 

We made the trek down to Bulls bullpen and the kids screamed with joy at Adam for a solid ten minutes before we headed back to our seats. Seeing him in uniform felt so new—it’s been a long time coming. 

!!!!!

In the last year, we’ve watched God work in countless ways that have been so intricate and sweet—perfect in timing when we look back with clear eyes. His kindness was visible yet again, as Sunday was the last game of the Bulls series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp...the AAA affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Almost all of Adam’s Bible study group he led over the last year was in the opposing dugout! Mr. Brian, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Nick, Mr. Cory, reunited in Durham, NC.  

That made Sunday EVEN MORE exciting!! “We get to see our friends!!!”

And...we get to face them too!

That’s #55 on the mound facing #5. 

Daddy vs. Mr. Brian!

The third hitter Adam pitched to in his Durham Debut was against his best friend. 

We couldn’t have asked for a more special night. 

  

The smiles continued as Mr. Daniel gave Bubba a baseball,  

as we ate all the ice cream,

as we got that same baseball signed by all our favorite players, 



and ran the bases at a brand new field. 

______

Adam threw one inning on 11 pitches and his average fastball velocity was somewhere around 97.5 MPH. He gave up one ground ball hit, struck out one, and got a double play to end the inning. 

Day 3,531

The Big Huge Pool and Debut Smiles

Pool all morning, this time with floaties. Game changer! If there’s one thing they’ve missed in the sale of our home, it’s swimming in their pool whenever they want. In time they’ll have another, as we have plans in building a new pool for them on our new property, but the waiting might prove to be difficult at times. Thankfully, we found a pool for them to play in this last week and they’re loving every second of it! 

Then it was date night, chicken and waffles style! Thinking of you, Erika! While it wasn’t nearly as good as the plate served at Coolinary Cafe in Jupiter—I doubt there is another better—it stood us ground and was a hit with the kids. 

Then good night cuddles. 



And finally, the much anticipated and well deserved Major League debut of our friend Cody (and Madeline and Baby Charlotte!)!!! He was called up to start the Marlins Wednesday night game against the Diamondbacks and pitched incredibly, even recording the win!! After such a sweet last year with the Poteet family—getting to know them through the women’s conference, several Bible studies, a lake escape in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and their move down to Jupiter—we were especially thrilled and excited for our friends. Congratulations guys! We love you!

Day 3,465

The Lost is Found

THE ER QUARTER HAS BEEN FOUND!

It was just the second time in six days that Ella Mae did her thing—the first time, I dug through the toilet in search for the quarter. The second time, it was Adam’s turn and thankfully, we’ve retrieved what is easily the most expensive quarter we’ll ever own. 

May we never be so happy over a lost quarter again. 



The smiles persisted well into the night, as we got to hang out with some of our dearest friends who are down for Marlins Spring Training. I will confess that there remains a small longing to be fighting the good fight alongside the Millers within the Marlins organization, but the direction the Lord has us pursuing is what we trust ultimately. And we’re so looking forward to how God uses the eight of us to bring glory to His name, regardless of jersey. We’ll sure miss you this year! Be faithful, don’t sin, and go Fish! We love you!