It's Opening Day for baseball and World Series Kind of Stuff is back in business after loving & taking full advantage of every moment in the off-season. It's been a over a month since my husband left for Spring Training. This was a particularly special training, as Logan was invited to Major League camp. I am so proud of him and beyond excited for what this season will bring! But enough about him, let's talk about me. :) The first three weeks away weren't all that challenging. I had planned enough activities, J. Hilburn appointments, and weekend get-aways to keep me occupied. In all honesty, it wasn't so bad having some alone time and catching up on books, shows, and diving into work. I went to visit in mid-March with my family, and figured these next three weeks before visiting would be just as easy. WRONG. It's finally hit me. It is day 19 of being back home and I've had two freak-outs. I think my biggest issue -- well, I have several, but this is the one that I feel like sharing today -- is not feeling like a wife. Since becoming a wife I haven't spent more than 10 days away from my husband. Not being with him physically means I have to watch our favorite TV shows alone, he comes home from a road trip to an empty (and dog-less) house, and when I'm sick (I've had some health issues lately) I have to rely on my mother, instead of my husband, to take care of me when I can't get out of bed. Being married means getting to do all your favorite things with your favorite person. So what is the role of a wife that can only text, call and Skype -- that is, when the time change allows you to actually communicate... ?? So I did some soul searching to figure out what that means to me. It came to me one night while reading my Bible after Logan was pushed back and forth by the organization and wasn't sure which team he would be on this season. While it is more difficult to communicate only over the phone and not face-to-face contact, it is a special relationship that takes practice and communication to maintain. As I wrote before in "Going the Distance," a long distance relationship is similar to a relationship with Christ. Just as we rely on God -- talk to Him, read His word, have faith that He does all things for the good of His children -- we rely on our spouses. We have faith that He will see you through to the end. Have faith that you can disclose your worries & fears to him, and while he can't fix them like God, he will comfort you. Not necessarily in the physical sense by wrapping his arms around you or even verbally, but when you are commit to a holy covenant between God, your spouse and yourself, you have an obligation to have similar intentions as the Holy Father - love unconditionally, together or afar. While I hate being away, it's a rare love that can only be found in the most special of relationships. So on this particular Opening Day, I celebrate the special meaning behind baseball-wifey-hood,
the goodness of God, and the deliciousness of nachos & beer. -E-
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We're baaaaaack! Last month we made the long drive from NY to Texas. Since then we have moved in with my parents... (What?) and I have started working full-time again in Fort Worth. We have a house under contract in Arlington and cannot wait to close and move-in at the end of this month! "But why would you buy a house when you're going to leave again in 6 months?" Yes, it's a logical and common question. When searching for an apartment to rent for the off-season, we started adding up how much we spent in rent last year. It was outrageous! The worst part is knowing that we will never get a return on the money we put into it. We also started considering Logan's position next year for baseball. After spending an entire season in AA, there's a strong possibility that he will be promoted to AAA in Las Vegas at some point in 2014. At that level, the team travels by plane and I can't exactly hop on the plane with them each week. Therefore, we thought it best to invest in a house knowing I will work full-time during the season next year and that we will be retuning to DFW for the next several off-seasons. So, we began the house hunt. Within a week we found a house with everything we were looking for: a huge backyard for Beau and a ton of potential to be OUR home. Home. What a great word. We can't wait to make this place our home -- but I know once Logan leaves again next year, it won't feel the same... because "home is wherever I'm with youuuuu." :) Thank goodness I have this blog to share all my sorrows next season when he's gone! {whew!} Things that make me excited about having a home: 1. Having a place to call home! 2. Finally creating some Pinterest projects I've been eyeing 3. Being able to keep all our things in one central location (rather than our storage unit, my parent's house, and my car) Besides buying a house, several other exciting things are happening in our lives! Logan has spent his days gathering quotes and doing research on paint, carpet, granite, cable, internet... the works! He's having fun. Even though I finished my classes in New York, I haven't been able to take my Real Estate Exam -- until now! Very soon I will be an officially licensed real estate salesperson in the state of Texas. On top of that, I have started a new side-business with J. Hilburn, which I am BEYOND thrilled about. J. Hilburn is a luxury menswear line that offers everything from custom shirts and made-to-measure trousers, personalized suits and tuxedos, to ready-to-wear cashmere sweaters, silk ties, performance polos, belts and much more. We combine the world’s finest fabrics with personalized construction at an uncompromising value. I work directly with my clients, to ensure their wardrobe is customized to fit them and their lifestyle perfectly. Please check out my website and let me know if any men in your life would be interested in purchasing, if you'd like to purchase a piece for them, OR if you would like to join my team! This post is a little out of the ordinary, but I felt it necessary to write an update. There are still several thoughts I wanted to share regarding our journey over the past 6 months, but as you can see things have been a little crazy lately. So for now, I'm going to enjoy the off-season with my husband and close friends/family from home and will turn to this, once again, when my thoughts are running wild and I need somewhere to park them. Happy Off-Season! -E "At this point in life, you're going to have to make all the sacrifices." {The above was said during a long car ride by a fellow baseball fiancé. It is a piece of advice that came from a colleague of hers. It stuck with her long enough to share with me, and stuck with me long enough to share with you.} Yes, I've made quite a bit of sacrifices to be with my husband, but how long is "this point" in my life? Does it last 5, 10, 30 years? Then the tables turn and he begins to make all the sacrifices? Nope. If I have it my way I'll have children in the next 5 years (or so) and will be sacrificing it all for them for the rest of my life! When I got married I knew my life was changing forever. I knew it was no longer about me, but about us. I knew it, but hadn't grasped the concept completely. I still haven't. It's something I'm working through and will continue to work through for years to come {maybe the rest of my life}. We are selfish by nature and it's no surprise that at times I feel as though my 'sacrifices' need recognition. Then I just so happened to read the verse that opened my eyes to why I'm able to make these 'sacrifices' in the first place. "God saved you by his grace when you believed. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice and has asked for nothing in return. His example on the cross allows us to forgive where we shouldn't, love those who are broken, sacrifice what we can't... Amazingly, in baseball, a successful sacrifice bunt does not count as an at bat but does count as a Plate Appearance; this means it does not count against a player in determining on base percentage. However, if the official scorer believes that the batter was attempting to bunt for a base hit, and not solely to advance the runners, the batter is not credited with a sacrifice bunt, and is charged an at bat. What an incredible example of the message I'm trying to write. When making a sacrifice and thinking nothing of yourself during it, those closest to you are able to make advancements in the right direction without any negative repercussions onto yourself. For, "Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." With a connection like that between the game and the Word of God, 'it's hard not to be romantic about baseball.' So in an endeavor to act out the word of God rather than just read it, I am making a pledge to no longer ask when life will be all about me again. No longer refer to these amazing opportunities Christ has given me as "sacrifices." No longer wait for the day that I don't have to adjust my life to meet the needs of others. I will let everything I say be good and helpful, so that my words may be an encouragement to those who hear them (Ephesians 4:29). If you struggle with the same selfish thoughts, join me in posting Ephesians 2:8-10 on your bathroom mirror, car dash, nightstand, fridge... as a reminder that this life is not about your sacrifices, but about His. -E
Believe it or not I've been very busy. I went home to Texas for a week to see friends, family and Beyonce... {who got the best of me & made me lose my only form of ID with my married name on it & made me go through extra, extra security at the airport in order to get home & made my entire body sore for the next 3 days due to mirroring her moves & gave me the best concert experience of my life}. Some highlights: I spent one night alone in Bingo before heading out to New Hampshire for the final time this season to meet up with my husband for my birthday. From Manchester, NH we headed south to New Britain, Connecticut for the Eastern League All-Star Game. Logan's parents flew into Hartford to be there for the special game. We are so proud of Logan for making the All-Star team his first season in Double-A! I am always proud of my husband, but having family there that loves him just as much made our row in the stadium beam with pride during his inning. Logan's family traveled with back to Binghamton with us from Connecticut and stayed for a little less than a week. This town is a lot more fun when the people you love are nearby. We explored downtown during "July Fest" and came across several new/fun places to eat/drink after the games. Once the Verrett's left on Wednesday, another fiance, who I've become very close to, and I followed our boys back to Connecticut for another series. What is there to do in New Britain, CT you ask? Well...
Which brings me to today. A day filled with weeks of laundry to get done, grocery shopping, detoxing, vacuuming, exercising, and coffee. Lots of coffee. And lots of Jesus. Being around so many inspiring people within the past few weeks has sparked my interest in writing again - and not about silly, dumb, materialistic things. Things that have sparked my creativity and imagination to make myself a better person through Christ that I want to share with you. Stay thirsty my friends. -E
The hard is what makes the relationship better. The fights are what make you stronger. The long distance is what makes both people more grateful for the time spent together. So, continue to pray for the relationship & pray for God to guide you to YOUR next step in life. I don't believe what I'm doing is for everyone. It's a crazy lifestyle. I'm alone a lot more than expected in a town that I'm not familiar with. But, God opened the door for me and I immediately walked through it. I haven't figured out exactly why He opened the door for me and not some of the other girls, but what I have figured out is that He has a plan - and His plan is perfect! -E |
Erin Verrettwife of a pitcher. mother of a golden. daughter of the lord. FOLLOW @erinverrettCategories
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