Weekend News--abbreviated version

We had a really good weekend. Richie went to the IP Classic and watched some baseball, Cathryn played outside with the dog in the great weather, and I cleaned out Trey's room! Of course, I couldn't clean out everything, because some things are sentimental, and he might want them. He certainly was chivalrous about letting me use his closet for Cathryn's Spring/Summer clothes; this way I can keep her winter stuff hanging up! YAY--no packing things away!

Had a wonderful time Sunday. Went to Sunday School and service, and it was nice, sitting out in the congregation with Richie. If I had sung in the choir, I would have been able to walk down and sit with Richie anyway, but I really just wanted to sit with him through the whole service. After service, we went over to Tracey's for lunch, and she had a spread put out for us--hamburgers, BBQ, baked beans, potato salad, greasy brown rice, and macaroni and cheese with ice cream for desert. We all ate ourselves silly, and would have stayed longer if I didn't need to get back for evening service.

Boy am I glad that I did attend evening service! Gena, the minister of music at Ringel Heights, asked me to sing a song at Graves Station's revival Tuesday night! This is my first time singing solo at a revival, so I'm a little nervous, but also very excited. I think service starts at 7pm. Pray for me!

Toodles!

USCL vs. Upstate Mavericks

A few weeks ago, the family headed up to Gaffney (all the way up in the upstate of South Carolina, at the very tippy-top of the state) for a baseball tournament at Limestone College. USC-Lancaster played a team called the Upstate Mavericks. Here are a few photos from the day.

Trey leaning against the fence, talking with us before warming up for the game.

Trey and Chris warming up before the game.

I love watching Trey warm up and take infield. He is so focused on what he's doing. He is totally in the zone.

I shouldn't love this picture as much as I should. It looks like he's dancing. But when you think about it--Trey is incredibly graceful and quick on his feet. On first base, his movements are so fluid and rhythmic, watching Trey play is like watching a dancer perform. It's just that the stages are different.

Ah, the requisite "Trey in the Fence Diamond" photo. I just can't seem to blog about Trey without having one. I love it! It's like the most appropriate frame ever.

Trey at first base, taking infield.

Even though this is "just" taking infield, Trey gives it his all. In this photo (one of my favorites), he scoops the ball from the dirt and throws it to second base.

In the next set of photos, I'd like to illustrate something called the "Trey shuffle", which is what Trey does after he's taken a cut at the ball, or steps away from home plate because he doesn't like the ball that was thrown:

Trey watched the pitcher throw a ball into the dirt, so he...

...backs away from the plate, swings his bat a couple of times...

...readjusts his batting gloves...

...and gets back into his stance. I love it!

Trey ended up getting walked at that at-bat.

Ha ha, he's looking at me like, "Really, Josie? Another picture? You're as bad as Grandma now!" Yes, Trey, I am. AND PROUD OF IT. You only get these moments every once in a while, so you've got to capture them when you can.

Hope to see you again soon, Number 26! I'll be there with my camera.

Toodles!

More weekend photos

It was unbearably hot on Saturday at the first set of games, so most of the pictures I took were of Trey. However, I did get a few nice shots.

Trey's Grandma Toni and I had to practically chase Trey down for pictures. He's become quite skilled at hiding, but a very nice teammate of Trey's rounded him up for us. This is Shawn Thomas, another of Trey's teammates who transferred from Coker College.

More of Trey's teammates pop into the frame. They just seem to get along so well! The team really seems to have a great dynamic. At one point, Toni and I could hear Trey cracking jokes and making the team laugh--right where he loves to be.

We also had the luck to meet Trey's girlfriend, Anna Catoe. She was a joy to meet because she is smart, funny, and so easy-going. Anna also has the cutest accent. They look really happy together, and I believe that she and Trey have a lot in common. Plus, I believe she's got Trey figured out. Richie and I like her. A lot.

For me, this photo was the highlight of the weekend. Richie sat right behind home plate in the heat, getting sunburned like you would not believe, waiting for Trey to take the field. When Trey did take the field, let's just say there was an influx of emotion on our side of the fence. This photo was taken on Sunday, after the first game of the day.

Don't let this picture trick you. Katie and Cathryn get along very well. Katie, like Trey does not enjoy taking pictures. Cathryn, as has been evidenced through this blog, lives for the camera. Katie is Cathy's niece, and she is twelve. She thinks of Cathryn like a real live doll, and Cathryn is more than happy to comply because she really looks up to Katie.

And of course, Cathryn got bored (even though she had her Nintendo DS AND her Barbies), and decided to roll in the grass and climb trees:

Posing. See what I mean? LIVES for the camera.
The next two, however, were candid:

Another case in point: she begins to climb the tree, and her Aunt Rosa asks her why she's doing it. Her answer? "So my mom will take a picture of me!"

Of course, I complied. What choice did I have?

A great weekend all around for everyone. Looking forward to more.

Toodles!

College Gameday (Baseball Edition)

Well, folks, the day finally came.

Trey officially became a college baseball player on Saturday, September 13th, which, coincidentally enough, was his 19th birthday.

As is the norm for Trey, he was not thrilled about having his picture taken. This time, his Grandma Toni and I were both on site to be his personal paparazzi. Hey--he has his own entourage, so why not?

He was, however, generous enough to take a photo with his sister, and later, some of his friends jumped in, but that is another post! It was really sweet to find out from Trey's girlfriend Anna that he talks about her all the time. Trey and Cathryn have a special bond.

Trey taking some infield practice. I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but I saw Trey putting out the first base bag, making sure *his* base was taken care of. I'm telling y'all, they'll have to pry that position away from his dead, cold hands.

The team "bringing it in" before the game gets started.

Trey was also determined to get his old number back, 26, although he said that he would have been happy with 17 as well, which was his Legion number, as well as his Uncle Jason's.

Warming up to take the plate.

Disgusted because he was hit by a pitch on his first at bat! He wanted to hit the ball!

Trey is such a phenomenal first baseman. His footwork is like no one else's that I've seen. Unfortunately, he didn't get to see a lot of action at his base this weekend. A few more shots of him in the field:

Trey got him out! Unfortunately, at Trey's next at bat, he was given the "hit and run" sign, which basically means that you need to sacrifice yourself to move the other players over. Trey, ever being the total player that he is, did just that, and didn't see much else action on Saturday.

Sunday was a different story. Trey's first at bat brought him a double! Here he is running to first base.

On second base. Prior to this, the whole family was cheering and I was screaming "Run, boy! Run!"

The team congratulating him on a job well done after he crossed home plate.

It was amazing to watch him play college baseball. Sure, it's a brand-new program, but he's waited for a long time to see this happen. Watching him with his teammates is so much fun. Trey is so confident and at ease with himself out there, and he looks like he's found a place where he can belong.

Which, when you come right down to it, isn't that what we all want?

Congrats, Trey-Bo. We're keeping our fingers crossed for you in Florence next weekend.

Toodles!

To My Son and Daughter

This was passed on to me via email, and I thought I'd doctor it a bit, seeing as how I have a son and a daughter, and Trey's birthday is tomorrow. I promise pictures!


To My Son and Daughter

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day............


*sniffle* These things make me cry. *sob* Why are my children growing up????

Toodles....

Trey and Chris Go To Lancer Commons

Hi. We're Chris and Trey. We're pretty awesome and we know it. Let us show you around our new place here at USC Lancaster.

This is Lancer Commons, home of the University of South Carolina-Lancaster baseball team. It's a brand-new construction and we're the first guys that get to break it in.

We were very surprised to find that we have a deck. We have a grill now, and so most of the cooking can be done outside, since Chris's mom and Trey's Grandma Toni supplied us with enough food to last us for quite a while. Maybe even a full two weeks.

Our living room/dining room before the table, chairs, and pantry arrive. We also have a futon on the left wall, but you can't see it here.

The table arrives with Grandpa Jay, or JJ, as Trey affectionately refers to him...

Trey's bedroom, which is as big as his dorm room at Coker, only he doesn't have to share it with anyone.

The view from Trey's bed--television, bookshelf, and desk. Trey jokes that he has no reason to be late for class-- he has five clocks!

Family picture time!

Grandpa Jay, Trey, Grandma Toni, and Uncle Aaron. They are pros at posing for photographs, because Toni is the official family biographer through her camera.

Granny Cathy, Trey, and Pappy Richard. These two are the moving professionals. It takes them no time to set up a place.

Josie, Trey, Richie, and Cathryn. Josie thinks she just found a new Facebook profile picture. We are one good-looking family. We should be on the cover of "Good-Looking Families Magazine", if there was one. Just sayin'.

Trey and Cathryn. Despite their age difference, they are very close. Cathryn made Trey a card to tell him how much she would miss him, and he constantly threatens to harm any boy that gets close to her. A lot of boys would be very annoyed by a seven-year-old curling up and watching Spongebob on their new beds, but not Trey. He takes it all in stride.

Trey and Richie. This one chokes Josie up a little, thinking about what they've been through to get to this point. It chokes Richie up a little, too, but he won't admit it. The arguments, the endless baseball talks, the practices have all been leading up to this point. And Richie couldn't be more proud.

Well, thanks for stopping by 1114-C. Now, get out of here. We have things to do and people to meet.