Anniversaries

Today marks 12 married years for Jay and me! Our anniversary always coincides with recruiting season...So...we celebrated during the recruiting dead period here in Nashville---have yall been downtown lately? so fun.I guess that assumes you love country music like me. And, I had to borrow this hat! The guy I talked it off of wanted to get a picture with me which I obliged, and he was super cool when I suggested my husband could take the picture:) Then we turned the camera on us.

We certainly have great examples---my parents celebrated their 45th earlier this month and Jay's parents celebrating their 40th tomorrow. Thank you to our moms and dads for that gift even when it may not have been easy.

Looking forward to another dozen years enjoying the God-ordained journey!

BISON BASKETBALL OPENS SEASON AT UNC

BISON BASKETBALL OPENS SEASON AT UNC
Memphis, Alabama & Baylor highlight pre-conference play

The Bison basketball team will open its 2010-2011 season on November 12th in Chapel Hill, North Carolina as they take on the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Road trips to Baylor (Nov. 22), Alabama (Dec. 21) and Memphis (Dec. 30) highlight the rest of the pre-conference schedule. The home Battle of the Boulevard with Belmont will take place on January 26. Seniors Adnan Hodzic, Josh Slater, Brandon Brown and Michael Teller return to a team that will look to break through to Lipscomb's first-ever NCAA Tournament bid in men's basketball.

Looking forward to an awesome season!!!!

Summer days

Now,that baseball is over....Oh, by the way, we got a note from Coach Lee today that gave us a heads up that the team that beat us 9-8 and 21-20 in the tourney last weekend of June is now in Atlanta playing in the 6U World Series. They won their first 4 games and are coming out of pool play the #1 seed going into the elimination rounds. So....go Shelbyville! May we get you next year.

We've wasted no time in getting on with summer and hit the Lake weekend of 4th and have another Lake trip coming! Unfortunately, I yet again did horrible job of keeping camera with me b/c I was just kicking it. I made up for lost pics tonight at the pool.

By the way, fellow coaches' wives....hit the pool before bedtime and it's okay to count that as bath (at least every now and then) when it's recruiting season. And, if it's not okay---don't tell me.

There's not a day this summer that has gone by that we haven't prayed for our friend Christina. I found this clip tonight from our recent visit with her. Please pray for her with us and God's plan for her life. Jay is the interviewer in case you are wondering. She's a bit bashful and he's making her practice her English. (Mute the music at the bottom of our blog before playing the video.)

The Wild!

Yall know one of my favorite spots is Radnor Lake---so convenient, traffic free and beautiful. I seldom have my camera at my finger tips including this week's visit but we experienced the most beautiful sunset of a lifetime this past week along with frogs, centipedes, lightning bugs, deer, ducks, otter, butterflies & oh, yes, we bumped into our dear friends the Hickman's (who had called us to meet them there but we were already there and didn't get the message). If that's all not wild enough for you.....check out this wild one who made its way into our garage. The mama deer leaves her baby in safe place when they are very young. She left this little baby with us each afternoon for about 4 days.....each day, he got closer and closer to the house during the June heat wave. (Mute music at bottom of blog to hear our family chatter.)

Summer Scenes

So far, most of our summer fun has been at the ballpark. We're itching for some lake visits and some water play past keeping the cooler full. But it's been great fun and ensures a good night's rest.

Willie & Trenton

After 12+ hours due to rain delays



Just too tired!

Fav quotes/questions of the day

I don't want to forget:

Ruby: "do the whistleblowers have their own cars?"--referring to the lifeguards at the pool.

Willie: "mom, I love it when we talk like this."---after a heart to heart about how it's not okay to cheat just because someone cheats you.

Ruby: "can I have a polipop?"--on the way to the bank.

Little update:

We're working hard and playing hard---which is actually my brother's motto. It's basball tournament week here. We've won first 2 but will play 3 or 4 on Saturday---that sounds insane to even me. We were thrilled to earn game ball last week when Nana & Papa were here to watch.

Camp season is upon us. For Jay--of course, that means lots and lots of basketball campers. For Willie, that means a sports sampler, baseball, basketball, & tennis camps. He wants me to find a flag football camp---need to look for that.

Ruby wants a camp of her own. Willie did start Jr. Bisons at her age? Somehow, I just don't think Jay is ready for Ruby in the gym --even if it is just 2 hours a day. We kept up her Jump, Jazz & Roll class for the summer which was great decision with the progress she's making. She keeps askinga about returning to the "big stage" where they peformed spring show in front of 100's.

Reality

It's back to reality after a wonderful week-long trip in the DR. Jay and I were able to relax some at the beginning of the trip. I encourage going to a country where you can speak their language barely---ensures you to spend most time communicating with your spouse---which is good for a talker like me. Plus, I have to let Jay do all my communicating (which is generally not my style) and I LOVE hearing him speak Spanish. He'll tell you he's not that good----but that's not my view.

Jay and I met a new friend, Jose, who spent 2 afternoons with us showing us the entire city. He told us he felt like he'd known us for 2 years vs 2 days. We will definitely look him up when we go back We also had privilege of taking last year's new-found friends, Giovanni and Carolina, to dinner. They are missionaries with SCORE International (founded by a former basketball coach, Ron Bishop.)

Some you know I drink a smoothie almost every morning. Well, we found an incredible smoothie from a cart vendor on the street---Papaya and carnation coconut milk with sugar----were main ingredients for about $1. Oh, I'd pay $10 to have one right now.

After some much needed relaxation, we met up with with other basketball coaches and their wives for blessings that will sustain us the rest of year. Part of our hearts will stay in the DR forever after sharing God's love with children in the orphanage, basketball clinic, and villages. As for being back to reality....I pray to keep the perspective that eternal matters give --it's a redeemed reality that I pray to draw from all year.