I just wanted to stop and give thanks unto the Lord for our children. Although many times I see them as not trying very hard or "trying my patience with a vengence", they do something that makes my heart swell, and my eyes well up with tears. I will post more later about the other children, but because it is so close to church time, this has to be fast.

If you know any little thing about Brendin at all, you know that he is most passsionate about baseball. He eats it, sleeps it, breathes it. He LOVES it. While school is in session (we homeschool), he is the most perfect child during the week of the Blue Jays home opening. (Once I grounded him for the whole week of the opening, and he was not able to watch ANY games that week. Well, being a girl, I didn't realize just how important that week was for him, but he learned, and has minded his p's and q's since then). He has been playing in one league or another since he was about 6 years old. He is 12 now. When we first entered him into this league, we said, NO SUNDAY games. The coaches were all very good and understanding, as was Brendin. Because this was a tournament, we allowed Brendin to play, but ONLY between the hours that we were not to be in church. This last weekend, his team competed for the city championships. It was his team against the other for 1st place. If they won the first game, they were the champs. If they lost, they had to play that team again 30 min. later. They lost the first game, which ended at 3:10. The next game began at 3:50. The score was tied at 5-5 in the 7th inning. Brendin had pitched the first 3 innings and did a wonderful job and made a couple of awesome plays. At the top of the inning, he just happened to be first batter up. He got on base. It was 5:45. Church started at 6. I said to the coach that he could stay until he came off the diamond, whether because of an out, or a run. That was ok with Coach. He made it to 3rd base, but there was a third out, so it was then the end of the top. When he came off the diamond, he grabbed his things and said good-bye to everyone. Not one complaint. Not begging, "Can I just finish the inning?" Nothing but a happy heart as he changed his clothes and got ready for church. What a blessing that was to us. I am sure he was disappointed to not have been able to play out the rest of the game, but he never voiced them aloud or with a bad attitude. So, although his passion for baseball is great, I could tell his love for the Lord is greater. For that, we are very thankful. By the way, they lost and came in 2nd. Oh, yeah, we made it to church by 6:02. They hadn't even started, yet.:)

The first pic is of Brendin as he watches the Jays play. This pic is about a year old, but that is how he dressed everytime he watched them play. The second pic is of him playing hardball this year. It was his first year of hardball, but boy did he hold his own!!

Psalm 113:1,2

Well, I gotta go!

Take care, everyone, and have a wonderful evening!

Love,

Ida