Career v Baseball

Written by Tricia Shelby, Wife to John Shelby III

Even though the seasons first half is finished, it still seems like years until the end. Once the season ends my husband and I can once again be together; seven days a week instead of two. An important question was asked today to me-how long will this separation continue?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I work for my local Sheriff’s office. I have an interesting job, working in our Process Division, serving a series of things such as warrants, child support, domestic violence, and civil/criminal summons. I love what I do and I love the team I work with; each day is different. The obstacle to this is that I have to be away from my husband. I cannot move with him because that would cause me to sacrifice the time and money I have already put into this job.

My husband and I met in college, at the time I was just trying to find myself and where I wanted to be in the next couple of years . Well here I am, away from him, and hating every minute of it. Today, of all days, adds more to my confusion. I was approached by my “supervisor” the Sheriff asking where I was going with my career and what not. Of course, I did not plan upon graduation that I would want to be in law enforcement, but since joining I have loved all the knowledge I have gained and the time spent making each day for another person better. When I got married, this separation was meant to be temporary, but since I already had invested time into my job, and did not want to move, I stayed behind commuting once a month.

Okay back to the meeting, making a long story short she offered me a promotion- working with Domestic Violence victims. GLORY! JACKPOT! WHOOOO HOOOO!!! I can do what I always wanted to do, help people, help those who do not think they have a voice and my specialty WOMEN in bad relationships. Why you may ask? Well before I met my wonderful husband, I was in a horrible relationship emotionally and physically, I knew that if I ever broke free from this I would help those who are afraid to come forward, and maybe afraid to leave that relationship.

Well when I left her office ecstatic about the new promotion that I felt was from God, my gut started to hurt, WHAT ABOUT MY HUSBAND??? What about the plans WE made? What about the promise I made that I would move during the season with him. I already pushed back this current season, and he isn’t doing very well (as he would like) I could not do that to him again. We do not want to go another season being apart like this, only seeing each other once a month.

Confused and torn between my career and my husband, I sat in my car contemplating what to do next. My automatic response was to pray “Lord I am thankful that promotion comes from you, that good things comes from above, and that you died on the cross for ALL my sins. Also stepping out on faith knowing that I am not called because I am qualified but I’m qualified because you called me. Could you please Father, Order my steps, I do not want to move away from Your will for my life, and I know since you instituted marriage that your Holy Spirit would help me become a better wife/women. Amen!” Once I was finished, I knew that it might not be an automatic response, but I had to KNOW in my spirit that the Lord is already ordering my steps and that it has all been taken care of.

Still festering in my mind the thought “what all does baseball require me to sacrifice?” I mean I know baseball is mentally stressful, my mother in law (who might I add is my neighbor) has been a baseball wife for 26 years (married 30), bearing 6 children and my husband being the oldest, she sacrificed her dream of being a Registered Nurse to become a house wife. Now at the age 51 her children are all old enough to cook and be alone, so she is going back to pursue her dream career. Do we all have time to put our lives on hold, have children, then come back and pursue our dreams?

Well, I have a chance in a lifetime doing what I always wanted to do, helping women, and I am so torn between my destiny/ and being a supportive baseball wife. Trust me, I don’t despise being a baseball wife because I have a wonderful wonderful husband, who has been so good to me, and the joy I get seeing him pursue his dreams, repeat: PURSUING HIS DREAMS, but am I being selfish by saying “what about me?” I know I did not go thru four years of college and more to just sit around… I have a mission- to use everything God has invested in me, but making the right choices, to benefit us both (me and husband) is what is hard.

What am I meant to do? Travel with my husband, or take this promotion? How will I ever truly jump-start my career if I am constantly moving from place to place (not that it’s a bad thing but realistically speaking.) Where do I see myself, my marriage, and my family ten years down the road? When I called my husband and told him the once great news, I was startled by his response. “Tricia, I trust the Lord with my whole heart and we have to worry about today, right now, not tomorrow.” It was as if his words spoke freedom to my weary heart. He was willing to take each day as it comes with me, he was excited about the position but who knows where we will be next year. This may sound cliché but he hit right on the money.

I could be building up my experience helping others, and who knows what may come from this, God knows but like his Word says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Why? You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” –Side note these are two scriptures put together Matthew 6:34 and James 4:14.

There we have it, I cannot worry about next season or even this off-season, I can only worry about TODAY. I have to do my best TODAY not tomorrow, or next week, BUT TODAY. I informed the Sheriff I would meet back with her Friday to accept my new position or decline, but as of today I am accepting the journey that God has placed before me. I am now Tricia Shelby, a Domestic Violence Court Advocate, but also a supportive (baseball) wife to my husband.

Changes

Written by Rachel Eyre, Wife to Willie Eyre

As August approaches, I am realizing just how much life is changing for us.

Our oldest son, Jackson, begins kindergarten and we will have to leave Willie early.
In the past, we have all stayed for the entire season and driven back together.
This year, I will be driving back alone...well, as alone as one can be in a car with 3 children!
It's a 20 hour drive. And I am not worried about it at all.
I have decided to make it an adventure. We will stop as many times as we want and we will see what there is to see along the way.
Now, prior to this season, I couldn't have done this.
Before, I had a regular, weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) babysitter, who would free me up for some time by myself.
Here, I have been doing it on my own, aside for when my husband is home.
I grocery shop with 3 kids (Ages 5, 3, and 1)
I take 3 kids to the mall if we need to get something.
I take 3 kids to the pool.
I take 3 kids to the gym, which is a workout in itself.
I bring them to the post office.
I bring them to the movies.
I bring them to 3+hour baseball games.

Now, to some, this may seem like no big deal.
And finally, to me, it is not.
I have always been so daunted by the thought of handling the kids out in public and having to manage them all on my own.
I didn't believe that I could do it.
I thought I may lose one.
Or, someone may throw a fit.
And guess what?
They did. And they do.
And we move on.
This season has been one of change for me.
An amazing change in my mothering skills.
While I still enjoy the little bits of quiet time I get to myself,
I have realized that the best part of being a mom are the adventures.
And with 3 little ones, it's ALL an adventure!

I see exactly what God wanted me to see in myself by placing us in this unknown city.
And I am forever grateful for this learning experience.

Brewers Wives in the Community

This past Saturday, the Brewers Wives were stationed at tables throughout Miller Park selling mystery bags to fans.  In exchange for $40, fans could purchase these mystery bags that contained a baseball autographed by a Brewers player or coach.  The proceeds from the event will go to the Brewers Community Foundation in suport of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southeastern Wisconsin.

Red Sox Wives to Host Picnic in the Park

The Red Sox Wives will be hosting Picnic in the Park at Fenway August 1.  The picnic will be featuring the Blue Man Group and will have auction items such as a chance for you and 13 friends to see BMG at the Charles Playhouse in September.  It also features a walk-on role on the Fox series "Glee" and lunch with the show's co-creator, Brad Falchuk.  To purchase tickets and learn more about the event, visit www.redsox.com/picnic. 

Uh, No. He's the Radio Guy.

Written by Ck Egan, wife of former Radio Guy and General Manager of the Altoona Curve.

When Rob and I started dating in 1994, he was working at a local radio station as a news and sports director. His dream job was to be a play-by-play announcer for a professional baseball player. I'll be honest, I found this a bit strange. I chalked it up to being a dream, and went on with life.

Several months later, I was driving Rob to Chicago to catch a red-eye flight to California. His sister saw an ad in her local newspaper, an independent baseball team was coming into town, and they needed a radio guy. Off Rob flew to interview. Again, I chalked it up to being a non-issue and went on with life.

Then he got the job. I found myself packing him up, cleaning his apartment and preparing to say good-bye. He would be living with his sister and her family in Salinas. I would be staying behind, in Michigan. To say I was shell-shocked would be putting it mildly. Just like that, he was gone. Thousands of miles lay between us. I was proud of him, happy for him, but incredibly sad for me. Incredibly sad.

This was 1995. Neither of us had a cell phone. We really didn't have email access either. We had to rely on the good ol' USPS to communicate. Because of his schedule, phone calls were few and far between, not to mention this was before the whole "free long distance" phenomenon. I wrote a lot of long letters, he sent cards. I was happy with the few scribbled lines of information and declarations. It was all I had to hold on to.

In September I flew out to Salinas for a week to visit. During that visit, we got engaged. Fast forward to March of 1996, we decided to elope. It was too hard (and too expensive) to plan a wedding. by this time Rob was with another independent club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Much closer to Michigan, but still a hearty drive. On April 1st, 1996 (yes, we are aware that it's April Fool's Day.) we got married in a quiet courthouse ceremony in an even quieter town in Pennsylvania.

We spent one season in Johnstown. It was a shock. Not only did Rob work terribly long hours on game days, he traveled with the team as well. I was a new bride, in a strange town and I was alone. It was hard. Very hard. I had no idea how much he would be gone. Money only allowed me to make one road trip with him, to a team in Michigan, which was an hour-and-a-half from my hometown. Rob had to share a hotel room with one of the pitching coaches and the team's trainer. They graciously found other places to sleep so I could stay with Rob.

I was ecstatic when the season was over. We spent a couple months doing normal couple things. We took a belated honeymoon trip to Myrtle Beach. During that trip Rob interviewed for a job with a team in Charleston. It was affiliated ball. A Big Move for him. Just like the baseball players, his goal was to reach the major leagues, the Big Show.

So we were packing again, for a move down South. I was excited. I didn't really enjoy Johnstown, and the prospect of moving south and experiencing a winter devoid of snow and ice and all things cold and blustery was appealing. Charleston was (Is!!) beautiful. We were poor, very poor, but we were pretty happy. The first season I worked in daycare. Not exactly my dream job, but it was a paycheck. The second season I was able to work for the team as well. Definitely more fun! I finally had friends! A social life! Sure I still missed Rob when he was on the road. but at least we got to ride to work together when the team was home.

In January of 1999 we were packing up again, to move back north. I can't say I was at all thrilled with this. I loved the South! Rob had been hired as the radio guy for a brand new AA team in Altoona, Pennsylvania. I was hired in ticketing. A thankless job, but again, it was a paycheck.

All in all, Rob spent ten years in the radio booth. he called the action for four different teams, in three different levels of baseball. The questions? They never stopped.

"What does your husband do?" "he works in professional baseball." "He plays baseball?! What team? What position?" "No, he doesn't play baseball. He's the radio guy, the play-by-play announcer." "Oh! The guy who introduces the batters during the game?!" *sigh* "No, that's the PA announcer. My husband is on the radio." *blink blink* "Oh. Ok."
I cannot tell you how many times I had that conversation. People just really didn't get it.

It was very lonely being the radio guy's wife. He traveled with the team, but wasn't part of the team. I didn't really fit in with the players' wives or girlfriends. He was part of the front-office staff. But the front office wives got their husbands back when the team was on the road. I was in a no-man's-land, of sorts, and it was a lonely place.
Sure, I had friends. but I spent the bulk of my time alone. I was hours away from my family and my high-school and college friends. I missed countless weddings, reunions and the like because they were all during the summer......or in this household....during The Season. We really didn't do anything non-baseball related during The Season.

Another question I'd get was the "What does he do during the off-season." Well, sales. Sales, sales, sales. He was required to sell commercial time for his broadcasts, outfield signs, program ads, promotional nights etc. Sure the hours were much more "normal" during the Off Season, but there was still plenty to do. A lot of planning goes into preparing for a baseball season. In the minors, every member of the front office is expected to sell. Even the Radio Guy.

All four of my children were born during the baseball season. I once had a general manager's wife remark about that fact. Why didn't I plan better? Didn't I realize this was inconvenient for me to be giving birth during The Season? What she failed to understand, my husband TRAVELED WITH THE TEAM. He was never home from April to September. (Not that it was any of her business anyway!) I refused to schedule not only the births of my children, but their conceptions as well, around baseball. Seriously!

After ten seasons, Rob decided to leave the broadcast booth. To leave baseball. It was a hard decision. He was giving up his dream. But he was also missing his kids. In the ten years he sat behind the microphone, calling the action for four teams, we moved four times. I gave birth to four children. We buried a child. We bought a house. Two of our sons were diagnosed with autism. I struggled with post-partum depression. And Rob neared burnout from all the travel and the off season hours that were becoming more and more demanding. In March of 2005 Rob said good-bye to professional baseball.

Little did we know, three years later it would come back, knocking on our door.

AAA All-Star Break: The Big Game

Written by Nicole Johnson, wife to Elliot Johnson

I arrived a little late to the game.  In my defense, Blake was still napping, and I knew that Elliot wasn't starting.  Blake and I drove up as the pre-game festivities were finishing up and we had to park pretty far away since we were a little late.  I wore heels, so my feet were a little sore after, but it was worth the walk once I was inside.

The stadium was packed!  We made our way to our seats and enjoyed the game.  Elliot went in during the 6th inning at shortstop, and made his at-bat count by hitting in the game-winning run.  It was so fun to cheer for Elliot and to watch him play in the All-Star game!  The International League won, 2-1, and we all got to go down on the field and congratulate our men afterward.  We took a couple pictures, watched Elliot do an interview, and then waited for him after the game. 

I am so glad that we got to do this and that Blake was here to see it.  I love making these memories with my husband and son, and I look forward to the memories we will make in the future, both on and off the field. 

AAA All-Star Break: All-Star Gala

Written by Nicole Johnson, wife to Elliot Johnson

As part of the festivities, we were invited to a gala that the Iron Pigs put on.  It was a semi-dressy event with childcare provided and tons of food, drinks, and entertainment.  Before the trip, I was the most excited for this night.  If you tell me that I get to dress up and enjoy some food and wine and you're going to take care of my baby boy for free, I'm a pretty happy girl.

Childcare
We rode to the Gala on the bus from the hotel with other players and their wives, girlfriends, and fiancees.  Once we were there, we hit a little bump, though.  We asked where the childcare was, and a couple of the girls handling the event just looked at each other as if they were saying "what child care" to each other.  One woman literally looked at us and laughed, and after nobody communicated with us, while we're just standing there, I started to lose my patience.  Eventually, it seems like some of the staff members got together to watch all the kids, and found a room for them to all play in.  Needless to say, it was an uncomfortable situation, and I wish they had planned the childcare better.

The Rest of the Evening
I don't want to seem like I was unhappy with the entire evening, because I definitely wasn't.  Once everything was sorted out with the childcare, and we knew our son was in a safe place with someone watching him, we relaxed and enjoyed what the Gala had to offer.  There were several stations with different foods, including a potato bar, a pasta bar, a meat carving station, and a dessert bar with cheesecake that was delicioius! 

The entertainment was this group of guys from the carribbean playing contemporary songs on steel drums.  Have you ever hear "Poker Face" on the steel drums?  Because now I have.  They were a lot of fun and got the crowd dancing and having a good time.  They even played some Michael Jackson music and did the moonwalk while playing the drums.

We enjoyed the company of some of the other players and their wives and fiancees and girlfriends, and made some new friends.  Since we live a baseball lifestyle, we aren't afforded many nights where we can enjoy each other's company before 11 pm, and I think that many of the other couples would agree that we loved having the chance to get to have some fun like this.

AAA All-Star Break: Home Run Derby

Written by Nicole Johnson, Wife to Elliot Johnson

We woke up bright and early on the first day of All-Star break.  By bright and early, I mean 8 am, and I know that many of you that are not in the baseball lifestyle are laughing at me right now.  I would have laughed at myself, too. 

Anyway, we woke up early and finished packing ourselves and our son up so that we could make it over to the airport for our flight.  It wasn't delayed, and after one bumpy flight and a couple happy pills (for my anxiety while flying), we landed safely in Philidelphia.  Some of the other families weren't so lucky, they ended up stranded and delayed in other cities because of bad weather and tornadoes.  We rented our car and made it to Bethlehem, where we stayed at the Hyatt Place.

Once we were all checked in, we got ready to go hang out at the All-Star Home Run Derby so that we could cheer on Elliot's teammate, Dan.  We got to the field, and they didn't have a ticket for Elliot.  They left us one ticket for 3 people.... hmmmmmm.  After he talked to a few people, he got in, but we did find it kind of odd that they would only give us one ticket to the event that he wasn't in. 

We made it in just in time, too, because there was trouble brewing in the skies. 

It rained and rained and rained that night.  They started the derby late, but had to finish it in the rain.  During the delay, we hung out on the concourse and didn't do too much.  I definitely wanted to wait it out, though, because I had never been to a Home Run Derby before, and I thought it would be cool to see in real life. 

We found some seats next to Dan's wife, Holly pretty close to when they decided to start the competition up, and watched most of it from there.  It was cool to watch the guys hitting so many home runs.  Definitely an experience I'm glad I had.  After the first round, the travel and delay became too much for our son Blake, though, and we decided to call it a night. 

Dan ended up winning (Go Dan!), and he said they didn't make it back to the hotel until after midnight that night. 

Gwinnett Braves Wives Join Their Husbands in Community Service

Randi Timmons recently joined her husband, Wes, in visiting Glancy Rehabilitation Center.  Along with their two children, Kallyn and Irelyn and teammate Josh Anderson, the couple visited with several of the patients there.  The players signed autographs and took pictures with over a dozen patients receiving physical therapy at the center. 

Randi sees joining in as her way of giving back and building a relationship with the community.  Even with their busy schedules, we are sure that everyone they met appreciated them taking the time to say hi. 

The Baseball Wifestyle

Written by Kalee Maloney, Wife to Matt Maloney

It's getting to be that time of the summer where the excitement of start of the baseball season is beginning to wear off. Road trips start to feel longer, distances farther. Home games drag on, off-days are few and far between and the off-season is a distant and foggy dream filled with what if's, where's, when's, and how's.

This is where the super-planner in me resurfaces trying desperately to put together a picture of what the rest of the season and off-season might look like. Silly, I know. Not to worry though, I'm perfecting the art of quieting that part of me in order to keep my soul at peace and mind at ease because in all reality, well, in our particular reality (the baseball life), these questions and details will be answered and unfolded day by day. The real challenge, I'm discovering, is finding safe outlets to discuss frustrations and worries not only with people that will withhold judgment but, more importantly, will be able to truly relate and empathize. For most individuals this would be family and close friends - the people you've grown up with, experienced much of life with, grown with, built trust and love with - your core, your foundation. And as much as I lean on my family and friends for support and love, its always going to be difficult for them to truly understand and relate to this baseball lifestyle. The conversation rarely will end with them looking you in the eyes saying, "I know exactly what you mean." This season, especially, I'm finding that even my own immediate family doesn't quite "get" the difficulties, fears, uncertainties and sacrifices that the baseball lifestyle entails. And they cannot be blamed for this, of course. It's not a matter of me being angry because they don't understand - it simply IS WHAT IT IS and its my acceptance of that fact that is difficult. I am learning that the family and friends that I normally look to most for guidance, acceptance, and understanding might not always be able to offer it best when it boils down to the baseball life. That can be a hard pill to swallow - for anyone, no doubt.

WHERE I DRAW STRENGHTH:
Now, living with Matt full-time this season, I can say it is really nice to be able to have other baseball wives around to socialize with and relate to. It is especially nice (but rather rare) to find one or two girls who can become wonderful, genuine friends whom you can lean on and truly trust and love. Its not too often this happens, however, because a baseball wife friendship is, in general, only a half-a-year relationship (physically seeing one another, anyway). A baseball wife friendship is what I like to refer to as an accelerated friendship. Getting to know one another happens faster, a friendship forms quicker, and you become closer sooner because ultimately, both parties know that the time together is limited and certainly never guaranteed, so there's never a moment to waste.

I feel extremely grateful to be within an organization where I have made a good number of close girlfriends because I know that that is not always the case throughout the different ball clubs. I am always making a conscious effort to get our little group of wives together (especially when the boys are on the road) for lunches, dinners, pool parties - any kind of get-together to help the time pass quicker and to continue to build loving and lasting friendships amongst one another. I cannot stress enough how important to have these girls to lean on and to confide in - woman to woman, baseball wife to baseball wife.

I wanted to keep this post fairly short but definitely wanted to express the gratitude I have towards the baseball wives whom I have in my life right now. These are girls who have made my baseball experience so much more fulfilling. From them, I am able to feel a tad bit more "normal" in a lifestyle that is not so "normal" at all. From them, I am able to cut loose, relax, let go, have a good time and not worry about what might be coming next. I have grown so much not only as a baseball wife, but as a person. From them, I feel supported, understood, loved, accepted... this is PRECIOUS and PRICELESS to me and I am so grateful to each and every one of them for the certain characteristics they bring to the baseball wifestyle table.

Thank you girls, without you, I might be a crazy mad-woman ready to hang up the cleats.

Preslee

Written by Nicole Johnson, wife to Elliot Johnson

Today, I received a couple emails from some other wives about a sweet girl named Preslee.  She was a beautiful little girl that had been fighting for her life since she fell into a canal near her grandparents house and drowned.  A couple miles down the canal, a farmer saw her and immediately started CPR while his brother called 911.  Preslee was airlifted to the hospital and was a fighter for the past couple weeks.  She recently went back to be with God.

I started reading her parents blog, at http://patrickandashley.blogspot.com/ and I just cried and cried.  I started reading it after just putting my son to sleep, and I want to go wake him up and kiss him and hold him and tell him I love him so much.  It breaks my heart because I can't even begin to imagine how Patrick and Ashley are feeling.  Can't even begin. 

Please pray for Preslee and her family.  She is 100% healed, but the hearts of those whose lives she touched are hurting. 

Preslee's family, if you ever read this, we are praying for you and we are extremely sorry for your loss.  My heart is broken for you. 

Looking Forward

Written by Nicole Johnson, Wife to Elliot Johnson

My son just recently turned 8 months.  I look back at not only those 8 months, but also the time I spent pregnant, and I can't help but feel a little sad about how the time has flown by.  Some days, I hold him and I just wish that I could freeze time so that I could have him in my arms forever. 

Some other days, I can't wait for whatever we're trying to get through to get over.  In my pregnancy, I couldn't wait to get through the first trimester and the nausea.  Then I couldn't wait to get through the "fat" feeling and actually start to look pregnant instead.  Then, I couldn't wait to get into my third trimester, and get his room done.  Then, I couldn't wait to meet him, to hold him, to love him, to kiss him. 

Once he was born, I couldn't wait for him to sleep better, and to eat better.  I couldn't wait for him to hold his own head up, and for him to sit up.  I couldn't wait to see him crawl.  And then he did all those things.  And now, I'm at a spot where I want time to freeze.  I just want him to be exactly as he is, and I don't need time to go so fast, because I realize how quickly all this happened.  When he falls asleep in my arms, I feel such joy because I used to want him to be able to fall asleep on his own, but now, I just rest with him in my arms for a few minutes when he decides it's a comfortable spot.  I don't always mind the middle of the night feedings, because I just want to hold him and enjoy a few minutes with him.

This can be seen in baseball life too.  When I first got engaged, we had to get through that season.  We spent our first season apart, and it would all be better once we were together.  We were together at the season's close, and then we had to find jobs, and then we got married, and then we had to get to spring training, and then to Durham for the season.  The time flew by, just waiting for the next step.

Then life kind of came to a hault.  After having Blake, time started to slow a little, we wanted to enjoy our time together, because we realized how little time we have.  We didn't make the big league team, and we found ourselves back in the same place that we had spent the majority for the previous three seasons.  We made changes and learned to enjoy the "now" instead of constantly looking forward. 

In baseball, we're all however many steps away from our dream.  There is always going to be a job better than yours, and a salary better than yours.  Even if you make it to the big leagues, you find that you want a contract.  Even with that, you want to make it to the playoffs, and even with that, you want to win the World Series.  Once you've won the World Series, do you think you don't want it again?  There is always something more that you want.  We can spend our time sitting here saying to ourselves "if I just had _______ everything would be so much better," or we can enjoy where we are now. 

If we treat our life as a baby, one that will grow up too fast, we might find that there is a lot more to enjoy than just looking forward.  Of course I want great things, but I'm not going to ignore the blessings I have right now.  I challenge you to do the same.  Whether it is baseball, children, your career, or life in general, take the time to enjoy it, because before you know it, you'll be looking back thinking about how fast that time has gone. 

4th of July in our Hometown

Written By Sarah Hefner, Wife to Jeremy Hefner

Our fourth of July was one we will never forget! Jeremy pitched here in Tulsa where we call home! Jeremy & I both grew up in this area so we had a very big crowd there Sunday night for the baseball game & fireworks! I was very anxious at first because I knew there would be so many people there & just not enough time to see everyone! Fortunately, it went very smoothly!!!

Jeremy got to stay with Jace & I all 3 nights! Actually, July 3rd was my birthday & they were up in Springdale, AR (1.5hr from us!) so we went to spend the day with him on the 3rd & he got to drive us home that night! I was so pumped!!!! We would definitely be spoiled if he played for the Tulsa Drillers or OKC Redhawks!

That day we got to go to church as a family, eat lunch w/my sister's family & my parents, relax a little, then I took him to the field! I met up w/his family for dinner at a Mexican place near the field (all 24 of them!). It was so nice to be with family!! Once we got to the game I tried to pump myself up for all the conversations & seeing old friends! For most of our family & friends this was the first time for them to see Jeremy pitch professionally! We made it to our seats by the first pitch & was fighting off the rain!!!

Jeremy did so well & everything went great! It did rain on us in the 7th & 8th inning but we got through it! Afterwards, Jeremy had his own little fan club outside waiting for him! (well over 100 people there to see him!) I know he felt loved that day & it was very special to both of us!! We are truly blessed!! A fourth of July we will never forget!

Common Bond

Written by Jamie Cormier, Wife to Lance Cormier

"Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up"
Prov. 12:25

The road of life is paved with opportunities to worry, and life in baseball is no different. Players and families are often faced with anxiety about lacking performance, worries of an upcoming move or trade, or how to begin a life outside of baseball. No one is exempt. We know how we feel for our husbands when success on the field seems near impossible. We worry for them when a move is imminent and the details are messy. We are anxious as we wait for a contract offer, but one never comes, and we must begin a new life. The worry and anxiety I experience in baseball is familiar. I have felt it often, and I can perfectly recall the feeling, even in a time of success. It's common to me, as it is to other families in the sport. I can almost feel my burden becoming heavier as I take on the worries mentioned above. Add to that the burden of normal life circumstances, and the weight can become too much.

Years ago, when pack animals were loaded down with their goods, the handlers needed to know just how much each animal could carry. They knew that if they loaded their animals with even one pack too many, they risked injury or loss of strength. As the verse above suggests, worry can be that final pack for us. If we take on worry as we go along in life, we may eventually have a spiritual collapse. A worry here + an anxiety there makes for a heavy load.

The good news is that we can shed the burden of worry! We can call on God for help and trust in him because we know that He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7). We can help each other, too. The face of baseball anxiety is an easy one to spot. We bear a common burden, so look for ways you can encourage others when they are burdened with these cares. Point them in the direction of the God who calmed your fears and offer them encouragement. One word in the right place is like removing the pack from an overburdened animal trying to climb a mountanside. Seek God in worry and encourage someone today!

Prayer: Dear Lord, in the up-and-down of the baseball season, help me to seek you before becoming anxious. In Your hands, I know we are taken care of. Help me to trust you and fill me with your peace. Also, Lord, help me to recognize the same worry and anxiety in others. Give me the word or gesture that can only come from you so that they may share in that peace and feel Your presence. Amen.

Round 2

Written by Danielle Lutz, Wife to Derrik Lutz

As quick as I can type what is going on in our lives I need to hit the backspace key because our plan of action has changed.

Last week we were dealt awful news. Derrik's MRI revealed a tear in his UCL. His UCL is what he had repaired last year (Tommy John Surgery). It was awful news to take in, lots of tears on my part, comprehending we would spend a whole other year in rehab, knowing we would miss not only all of this season but part of next. We spent the rest of that day feeling sorry for ourselves, being fustrated, talking to those who mean the most to us asking for their opinion, and by the next morning picked up the pieces and began moving forward.

We had a big decision to make. We had multiple decisions we could make in regards to Derriks career, but I think both whole-heartedly feel we need to continue to push forward with this. We both know it can work and have seen many teammates come back perfectly fine from this. One of the guys playing for the Reds has had the surgery three times! I will forever question why Derrik? Why his arm? Why are we suppose to do two years of rehab?

I know there are bigger reasons for this. Maybe as a family we are meant to be out there on our own. Maybe it'll make us even stronger, closer, and even more in love then we are now. I know we grew so much as a family out there on our own this past year.

Where do we stand right now? At a stand still. The doctor in Arizona and the tech who reads MRIs in Arizona see a tear, but the head doctor in Cincinnati (who did the last surgery) says he does not see it. We are very fustrated because last year when the doc in Cincinnati read the MRI he said he did not see a tear either when it was indeed torn. Derrik's arm is a mess, feels awful, and we feel as if this surgery is indeed going to happen its just a matter of politics being sorted out at this point. I was waiting for some definite answers before putting this all in writing, but it seems it may take anotehr week or so to sort out and did not want to leave our family and friends in the dark.

We are trying to keep our heads up, but I'm such a planner at heart. I tell Derrik I can handle any living situation (location, length of time, furnished, unfurnished) as long as i'm given some sort of plan. Right now I have nothing and my mind can not handle that. We had an apartment all lined up to move into, but were then told the doctor is wanting to wait on surgery. It's so fustrating constantly trying to rearrange our lives off of someones opinion they took two seconds to make.

At the moment I am trying to keep myself busy with the present day. It seems to be all I can prepare for so I have to be content with that. Hoping all of this can keep me busy until we get some answers.

Rays Wives: Rays on the Runway

The Rays posted some pictures on facebook from the Rays on the Runway Event that took place June 15 to benefit the Children's Dream Fund.  Check out some of your favorite wives all dressed up for a good cause.

Gisele & Sean Rodriguez

Jamie & Lance Cormier

Julianna & Ben Zobrist

Katelyn & Wade Davis

Kelly & Jason Bartlett

Pamela & Carlos Pena

Ryann & James Shields

Red Sox Wives Host Can & Cash Drive

The Red Sox wives are taking over Fenway Park on July 30 & 31 to host the 17th Annual Can & Cash Drive for the Greater Boston Food Bank. For two hours prior to the games through the first inning of each of those days, volunteers will collect 10 non-perishable food items or $10 donations in exhange for an autographed photo of a Red Sox player handed out by one of the wives. Fans do not need a ticket to the game to participate, the volunteers and wives will be standing outside the gates at these games.

A list of the best foods to donate to the drive can be found here.

The Barbarian Way

Written by Sarah Hefner, Wife to Jeremy Hefner

I just read the book called "The Barbarian Way" by Erwin McManus... I highly recommend you reading it! It really spoke to me about how I am suppose to live in this world as a "barbarian" & be an alien of the world. As I was reading it I began to relate a lot of the points to being a baseball wife as well...

Here is a passage from his book I want to talk about..

"Somehow Christianity has become a nonmystical religion. It's about a reasonable faith. If we believe the right things, then we are orthodox. Frankly whether we ever actually connect to God or experience His undeniable presence has become incidental, if not irrelevant. To know God in scriptures always went beyond information to intimacy. We may find ourselves uncomfortable with this reality, but the faith of the scriptures is a mystical faith. It leads us beyond the material world into an invisible reality. We become connected to the God of eternity. Who are you at the core of the spirit. To walk with God is to journey in the spiritual realm." Erwin McManus (The Barbarian Way)

What he is talking about here is how our world has become comfortable with religion & routine instead of seeking God at a more intimate level & living for him even if that means being different. He calls it the barbarian way.



So here is my point... I have to confess that lately I have been praying to God & asking him why we couldn't have just been normal? Why couldn't we have just gotten normal jobs, normal hours, average home, nothing fancy, no stress, church members (same church yr round!), that I could be the wife who does laundry all day & fixes dinner every night? you know those lifestyles you see on old sitcoms that frankly just aren't real?

I know this sounds silly but the baseball lifestyle just can wear you out! Can you relate? Well, after praying about how I just wish things would slow down (fyi...i have never wished for my husbands career to end just that God would have chosen a different path for us in the first place. It was my cry out to him of just stress) he gave me this book. I guess I just wanted to be "safe & secure" but have you ever heard the saying that if you aren't uncomfortable then you aren't growing? And wouldn't normal being boring? We would be lacking risk, passion, & sacrifice. I got so excited reading this book & craved to be on adventure! What would life be like without baseball? What would our passions be?

Of course we need a Plan B to fall back on & pursue our personal dreams as well but why not be different & go ALL OUT for our husbands career & ours too? Just like we are to go ALL OUT for Christ? If this is where God has placed us & if we are to be different lets do it with the best of our ability instead of wishing for something else!!!! "It is the Spirit of God stirring within you , pleading with you to stop settling for the status quo." Erwin M.

I am over my pity party now & on fire for what God has in store for Jeremy & our family! I want to be that barbarian on fire for Christ in the baseball life.. I don't want to be a stereotype! As baseball wives we might not have the normal family time... our kids might have a different schedules than most... Our summers aren't spent at the lake w/family bc its spent on the road w/baseball... etc. but God knew a long time ago who we would marry & what we would be going through! Lets be fearless & take on the ride of this crazy lifestlye :)

Anyway, that might come across a little strong but its been on my heart & needed to share this! I hope you too will be on fire to be a barbarian & be out of the "norm"... live life to the fullest & go on this crazy adventure God has put you on in full force!! Go where he sends you, no matter what the cost!

"the Kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." Matthew 11:12

Have a great day!

p.s. I hope some can relate to what I am trying to get across?

Our Crazy 4th

Written by Nicole Johnson, Wife to Elliot Johnson

We have not had a home game on the 4th of July since I've been married to Elliot. I had no idea what to expect out of this day at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. We went about our day as usual, we went to Church and came home to relax a little while Elliot went off to the field. Blake went down for a little nap at 6:30 (I know, baseball life), and didn't wake up until about 8:00. When he woke up, we went to the field.

There were cars everywhere. I have no idea why on earth I didn't think it would be very busy, but it was. I took the longest way possible to get to the parking lot, and with the help of some of the people that work at the field, I finally made it there, since a lot of the street had been blocked off. Once I got to the ticket window, there were tons of people at the gates, so I went in a side door, thanks to Darlene, who works at the stadium. I didn't ever even go onto the concourse. She told me to go up to a suite where some other wives were, and to watch the game from there. Thank the Lord!

I realize that one of my shortcomings is that I get really (REALLY) anxious in big groups. I don't ever want to spend New Years Eve in the crowd in NYC, and I freaked when I was trying to get out of my sister's college graduation. We were leaving the auditorium, and all the sudden I realized just how low the ceilings were and just how many people were there, and it got hot, and I needed to get out. So, 4th of July at a ballpark, isn't exactly the place I should be.

After games, I hate to leave right away because I don't like walking with everyone else. I freak at the idea of needing to get out fast and not being able to. I don't like crowds. I haven't always been like this, it's something that happened to me more in the past few years.

I went because I wanted to watch the fireworks with my son and my husband.

Darlene doesn't know it, but she seriously helped me so much by helping me avoid the main concourse on the busiest night. I got in that elevator and I stayed in the suite until we went down to go see fireworks. We again bypassed the concourse and went all the way to the bottom where we walked up through the dugout and watched the fireworks there with our husbands.

 

It was a lot of work, and a lot of counted breathing on my part so I wouldn't be to anxious, but it was a lot of fun! Elliot held Blake and he enjoyed the fireworks! I really loved being able to share that experience with my husband and my son, and I'm thankful to the ballpark staff that kept us together and safe during all the chaos.

MLB Wives Visiting Gulf Region

A group of current and past MLB wives are visiting New Orleans right now on behalf of the Major League Baseball Wives Charitable Foundation. They are there until Thursday visiting residents and business owners affected by the oil spill and raising awareness of the needs of the residents of the area. Among the wives is Jill Borkowski (wife to former Astros pitcher Dave Borkowski.

Books on Tape: Marriage (and Life) Savers

Written by Alisha Perkins, Wife to Glen Perkins

Sometimes I wonder if I still would of married him had I known what I was getting into. Heck, I wonder if my parents would of let me marry him if they would of known much this was going to effect their lives as well. Maybe it is better that you don't know in the beginning... that you are naive to what the life of a baseball wife really entails... and believe me naive is definitly what I was.

We got engaged July of 2004.... it was not anything moving or extremly romantic... just like the life of baseball it was quick and then it was back to baseball. Glen was playing for the Minnesota Twins minor league team- the Quad Cities Swing, out of Iowa. I was living in MN and finishing my degree at the U of M. He had a day off so he drove the 3 hours back to MN to BBQ with my family and I. At the end of the evening out on the end of my parents dock he asked me to marry him... I obviously said Yes, and then he hoped in his car and drove back to Iowa to play baseball.... and so began my life as a baseball wife.

I should of known then that it was not going to be the romantic glitz and glamour that I thought it was.

Earlier in the year I had flown out to Elizabethton, TN to see Glen. After a long flight, a connection, and a final flight on a tiny puddle jumper plane I was there. Oh the beautiful towns that minor league teams are located in. Let me tell you Elizabethton was a real jewel. :) The next day- I am not kidding- the very next day- he was called up to the Iowa Team... so he hopped on a plane (how nice for him) ;) and I packed up the car, left the Red Roof Inn (classy I know) parking lot and set out to drive alone from TN to Iowa. Needless to say my only sanity lied in books on tape. And let me tell you that those suckers really make the time fly.... I read (listened) so many books in the years to come as I drove the car from Iowa to FL, MN to FL, FL to CT, CT to MN, and finally this year (with two kids in tow, three and a half & 20 months) I drove alone from MN to NY and back to MN again.

If it hadn't been for "The Nanny Diaries", "Confessions of a Shopaholic", "Mommywood", "STORI Telling", (riveting and life changing books I know) ;) and many many more- I do not know if I would still be a baseball wife... seriously sometimes I think books on tape saved my marriage, or at least helped me survive the long car rides between the minor leagues to the major leagues :)

Party Like an All-Star

Written by Nicole Johnson, Wife to Elliot Johnson

We found out that Elliot made the IL team for the AAA All-Star Game!  I can't hardly contain my excitement, and I'm so proud of the fact that he made the team.  Blake and I are excited to take the trip with Elliot and check out Allentown and enjoy the festivities and the game.  It will be the first All-Star game that I've been to, but not Elliot's first.

Don't worry friends, I plan on taking lots of pictures and I plan on writing all about our experience after we get back.  :)  I'm really excited to share this with all of you! 

They announced the roster on Wednesday, and we let family and friends know within moments of knowing ourselves.  The game will be on July 14 at Coca-Cola Park, the home of the LeHigh Valley Iron Pigs.  I'm not currently sure if the game will be aired on TV or online, but if it is, you all should definitely check it out and look for Blake and I in the stands cheering for Elliot.

I'm looking forward to keeping you updated with the happenings surrounding the All-Star Game, so follow me on http://twitter.com/baseballwife for more up to date details while we're on our trip.  I'm so proud of my husband! 

Lemonade

Written by Rachel Eyre, Wife to Willie Eyre

Sometimes, this is exactly how baseball makes me feel.

Sour.
Being brutally honest here.
I simply want my husband to feel good about the hard work he is putting
and has put into his career.
Sometimes, this doesn't happen.
I am so proud of him.
I actually don't care where he plays ball.
I just want him to feel that awesomeness
that he so rightly deserves.

I completely believe that God has a perfect plan.
And we will see this.
I just pray for patience for us.
And my husband's good pitching to persevere.