Day Four Hundred and Twenty-Seven

The Take-Away

Yesterday Kendall and I travelled back to Pullman to discuss the funeral with Josh, who will be presiding over the service. It is always such a breath of fresh air to chat with our once-pre-marital-counselors/small group leaders/ best friends ever! With all the emotion and craziness the past few days, it was a great help for Kendall and I to slow things down and gather our thoughts. Josh and Amy talked us through this process and we walked away feeling confident we could pull all of this off. We returned to Spokane to meet up with the rest of the family, and get back to it.

Jacob and all the sisters have the difficult task of deciding what to do with Johnie's possessions. All the kids wanted to take something of Johnie's to remember him by, so with limited time before the funeral, and our departure to Florida just a few days away, A Hard Rock Cafe Pin Set was Kendall's choice. On the background of the framed memorabilia? A map! Definitely appropriate for our lifestyle pending I remain a baseball player...Then we got to the hats. John sure did have a lot of hats, so they had plenty to choose from. We all tried on a hat and forever documented the memory in Kendall's blog. Now according to Grandma, "it's time for Easter." I agree!

Day Three Hundred and Ninety-Nine

The Martin's...Stadium

Kendall and I feel so blessed to be able to visit the ones we love in Washington during this early off-season. We left Spokane early this morning with big plans for an off the top of my head speech for the baseball team. We arrived in Pullman just before 11AM to find only Gregg Swenson (my college pitching coach) in his office. Practice was short, and only for pitchers who couldn't miss throwing today. Our day quickly adjusted as we met with Gavin, an equipment manager for the baseball team. He surprised us with a box of Coug gear, I especially liked the sweats. Thanks Gavin! After a Panini from Heroes and Sports, Kendall and I ran all over town meeting with old friends. We were so happy to be in a rush to Josh and Amy's. After 10 months apart the four of us haven't missed a beat. Re-connecting with them felt right at home and the only excitement for them that rivals dinner tonight, will be watching and learning and Josh teaches tomorrow morning at Resonates Todd Auditorium service on campus. It has been too long since we heard our great friend preach. This is however great news, and bad news all at once, although we can't wait to hear Josh preach, He will not be leading worship tomorrow, and for that we are bummed. Also Amy literally makes the best applesauce I have ever eaten, and she gave me her last jar. Kendall might have been jealous because she loves feeding me so much, either way, I loved her applesauce, and her finely prepared dinner! 

Cougar Football Saturday! Our trip to the newly renovated Martin Stadium was much like our trip to Washington in general...crazy. We ran all over the stadium catching up with more friends, and congratulating Megan on her awesome half time show performance, great job Megan! Thanks to Lindsey Weber, we got free ticket to the game, and even got to thank her in person and catch up. Her and her husband had their first child four months and a day ago, a baby girl. Congratulations Lindsey and Nate!

The new Martin Stadium...I hope by now you all get the title of this blog. Kendall and I are worn out but I tried making it a little creative. I struggle however to keep pace with the designers of the new press boxes and second deck seating pictured here. It reminded me of a Mac Book Pro, grey and white with white lights, sleek, precise, well advertised. We finally got to see the new addition to the stadium although it came at the price of a cougar loss. At least we have Resonate to look forward to tomorrow morning, and another day of seeing friends and family.

Day Three Hundred and Eighty-Five

The 5K Cougar CDA Game

I'm bone tired. Absolutely exhausted. And it all started at 7:30 this morning, when I had to wake up for a 9 AM 5K that Colleen dragged me into unwillingly. Ok, technically, I'm the one who chose to pay the $20 to run the race, but still. Most of the time I won't even run if I'm the one getting the prize! But today, I sucked it up, ran (if you want to call it that) the 3.2 mile course, and didn't die. Go me! I do owe a huge thank you to Colleen for dragging me along...the funds raised are going to the Young Life programs around the Spokane area, and I'm definitely all for it! 

I got back to Grama and Papa's and was immediately put to work. This time, by choice. Papa was ready to help me wash the car I've been driving, so we headed outside and spent the next two hours together wiping off the 1-inch thick dust build-up on this little Geo that a sweet friend graciously lent me. Papa taught me the Navy term, "holidays." Holidays refer to the small little streaks or missed spots that get left behind while washing a car. He taught me that the best way to guarantee a holiday-less car wash is to start from the top and work your way down. This man knows what he's talking about! Because my borrowed car is the cleanest borrowed car around town! 

I ended my day in Coeur d 'Alene, Idaho, in front of a gigantic TV screen broadcasting the Cougar game. Susan and Kyle invited me out to their neck of the woods to cheer on our alma mater. We lost. Which isn't that surprising...but we did turn a few heads and were even trending on Twitter for a little bit! Haha GO COUGS! I'm now laying in Kyle and Sue's extra bed and more ready than ever to pass out into the deepest sleep of my life! I've missed my best friend, Suey, more than I could have imagined and I'm so happy to be only 30 feet away from her! 

Day Three Hundred and Fifty-Five

The Florida State COUGS!

Adam was just as perplexed as I was when he noticed the little gecko hanging out on our window this morning. As he got closer, he immediately recognized the problem. Rittle Riz (that's what we call ALL of the lizards down here) was stuck between the slider and the screen! Poor guy! How he got there, we're not sure. I made the joke that he probably hatched from the eggs in the window AC unit that's currently sitting on our living room floor! One of the survivors that Adam DIDN'T step on and squish! Haha :0

I finally cornered my uniformed man after the game and snatched our first Hammerhead jersey photo! I WILL get another one here soon...I forgot my camera at home, so I was forced to use my iPhone for this one. Can I just say this: Adam looks SOOOOO GOOD in his uniform. And that hair. The smile! Oh gosh, he kills me!

After the game, I was walking to the car and was almost murdered by a GIGANTIC angry and poisonous spider! Ok, not really. But he did start repelling down his enormous web when he noticed me photographing him. Rude. The "little" dude was about the size of the circle you make when you touch your index finger to your thumb. That's BIG. I was scared. And I ran away screaming. 

I decided to make Adam's favorite Taco Soup tonight for dinner since he's pitching tomorrow. And apparently, Adam bragged to his boys about how good it was...so they had to come over and give it a try. I think they liked it, but maybe they're just really polite. I'll stick with the former. But I may never truly know. Hey, Zach Neal (left) at least went back for seconds! Tyler Higgins (right) didn't (remember him?!). Hmmm. Maybe next time, I'll just let him cook instead! He did last time and it was great! 

When our friends left...it was time for some Cougar football! We didn't think we'd be able to see the game from Florida, but as it turned out, the boys in Crimson and Gray were playing on ESPN!

And so, we grabbed a few beers, sat down, and enjoyed some football. Did I mention that my man is SUPER gorgeous? Oh yeah, well, he is! GO COUGS!

PS, Adam pitches in his last game tomorrow at 6:35. It'll be his last game until playoffs start! Holy smokes, this season has flown by!

Day Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight

The Cody Bartlett

Welcome to Dunedin, Florida, home of the Toronto Blue Jays' Spring Training Facility. We've yet to play in this stadium as Hammerheads, and won't for the rest of the season. But while we were in the vicinity (doing something much more fulfilling than sitting at a baseball game) we decided to drive past and take a look anyways. Might as well, right?! We've gotta add to our numbers! And, for today's little fun fact: my grandpa (dad's daddy) was a scout for the Blue Jays back in the day...so I had to see some sort of logo to make the trip just a bit more special! 

But our real reason for the quick trip up North...CODY B!! Oh, Cody B. We absolutely love our Cody B. Actually, if it weren't for Cody, I'm not sure Adam and I would have ever met. The first night I laid eyes on Adam, Cody was there. We were all hanging out in his apartment, and that's when Adam approached me. Cody was one of my first friends at WSU and ever since, we've remained close buddies. As teammates, Adam and Cody also became good friends...and well, the rest is history. The two boys ended up as roommates during their last year of college, and naturally, he was one of the groomsmen in our wedding. 

With only 4 hours time and a tank of gas separating the three of us, we had to see each other before season ended. So, we swooped into the Blue Jay hotel, grabbed our friend, and whisked him away to Bahama Breeze, a local hot spot on Tampa Bay. Over four hours and a few drinks, we hung out with Cody, thoroughly enjoying the company of a familiar face. It was refreshing to see him again and we're already missing his sweet smile! We love you Cody! Keep up the hard work and get that arm back into shape buddy (he just had rotator cuff and labrum surgery last month!)! 

Day Two Hundred and Thirty-Two

The Bailey-Brayton Resonate Date

Cougar baseball will always have a special place in my heart. The earliest memories I have of Adam are on the field of Bailey-Brayton. I called him "Floppy Hair" back then. He was an avid chewer, a binge drinker, and a potty-mouther. I had no idea that I'd ever call him my husband. And in one season, I witnessed a complete transformation. So did everybody else. The Lord worked hard for my boy. Finally, He caught up with Adam and turned him into a man.

And so, a trip to Pullman was in order. Cougar baseball was on my radar, and so were a few of my sweetest friends. Sue was waiting patiently for my (late) arrival. Just like old times. I miss having a "buddy" like her at all the games, and wish, desperately, that the Marlins would select him in this year's draft! Fingers crossed! Unlike Sue, Megan and Jacob had no idea that I was coming into town. The look on Meg's face when she realized I was there, was just precious. Ah! Kills me! The Swenson kids are dear to my heart, and I absolutely love the immediate bond we formed last year. When I have children someday, I can only pray that they'll "turn out" something like these two. Such good people. 

Yes, that's a Greensboro Grasshoppers hat. Yes, that's in Pullman. And no, I didn't buy it for him. GO HOPPERS!

Making the trek with me to Pullman today was my girl, Katie! She toughed out the baseball game all alone, as my butterfly tendencies took me away from her for the brief time I was there. Not to worry, she came equipped with a bag full of PT homework and studied in the sunshine like a champ. An ultimate nerd. 

World's worst photo. World's best band.

I love Resonate.

Adam loves Resonate.

And we could never fly back to Washington without a Sunday at Resonate.

But since Adam couldn't worship alongside me today at the church that transformed our lives, I filmed Josh singing and sent him the videos. He was one happy man.

ADAM MICHAEL. I STINKIN MISS YOU.

We haven't had more than a 20 minute conversation in the past two days, and I just wanted to remind you that my name is Kendall. I am your wife. And I make really good shepherd's pie.

Love you Handsome!

Day One Hundred and Sixty-One

The Rain-Out

The Cougar Baseball Team is in Mississippi today. And so were we. The spur-of-the-moment road trip took us 13 1/2 hours Northwest to the city of Starkville where the dirt is red and the rain is cruel. We were two hours away from the stadium when we got the call: game 2 cancelled due to rain. Lesson learned: before making a sudden trip, maybe take a peek at the forecast? But Adam was determined to see his boys - even if it was on the practice field instead. 

At the hotel, surprised faces lit up the room. Adam was with his baseball brothers again, and for a second, I wanted another year with them. In Pullman. Adam still looks good in Crimson, and he proved that today. (He's the farthest right in the picture). After a movie with the team, we followed the bus to MSU's indoor practice facility where the Cougs held a three hour practice. With an efficient swapping of clothes and shoes, Adam was on the field, warming up, and throwing with his old team. The rain wasn't a let-down after all. Actually, I'm quite grateful for it: I've never once seen a collegiate baseball practice before, and I walked away from the facility with even more respect for the game than I already had. 

We finished our trip aside the team at dinner, where they were treated quite well. WSU Track never got service like that! And after, we got to sit down with a few of the guys and catch up on life, the Lord, and the game. Over laughs, tears, and a prank at the door, our journey North was fulfilled in just one conversation. That time, alone, was worth every second of the 26 hour trip.

Good luck this season, Cougs! We'll be watching, praying, and cheering for each one of you.