Anticipation and Countdowns

I should be packing and getting ready for our Sogard All-Star Break Extravaganza, but I am sucked in watching the Olympic swimming trials and College World Series!  Tomorrow marks the beginning of our 3-day break from baseball and the mark of only 64 games left until the end of regular season.  Wow--where has the season gone and where are all the pictures I wanted to be taking.  I guess I will blame it on not having a good camera and just always using my phone, but I hope to get better during the second half of the season!

During the break, Alex and I are headed to one of our favorite spots--AUSTIN!!! Austin has a sweet spot in our hearts, as we got engaged in this lovely place, but we are going to relax and enjoy simple pleasures that we miss about this place.  We are staying out of the city on the beautiful Lake Travis--boy we certainly are blessed to be able to get away and unplug from the daily demands of the season.  Alex will most likely arrive back in Corpus tomorrow morning around 6 AM and we will head out when he unpacks, I do his laundry and we repack!!!  To say we are excited to eat three meals a day (maybe some extras too), and spend 72 uninterrupted hours together makes me feel like I am waiting for Santa to come--aka EXCITED!!!  Well I am off to pack...and continue counting hours until I see my man!!!

Happy Memories in Austin

In our little apt in Austin--what a wonderful place

One of my fav pics of all time in Austin--missing our girl

Although we are going on a vacation, our true refuge is found in our Lord--so if you are not able to go on vacation check out the many verses (I think 23) that specifically describe our God as our refuge and you too can have an altered attitude and it may seem like you are on vacation!!!!  

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him.  Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:1-2

Many Blessings and Lots of Love

Arlie

Austin here we come....

Where in the World is Arlie Sogard???

(The post title is sung to the tune of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandeigo") Carmen Sandeigo Theme Song--if you never watched this amazing show, you certainly were deprived!!!

Enough reminiscing about my amazing childhood and back to the real question, "Where am I?"  The answer is simple--in CORPUS CHRISTI!!!!  However, the past few weeks, I have been anywhere but here in Corpus!!! I have just returned from San Antonio, breaking up a 12-day road trip for my man!  It was so fun to get away to see him on the road--always like a little vacation.  Travelling for both baseball and to see friends have definitely made the month of May and June fly right on by.  I can NOT believe that June is coming to a close.  Since last writing, Alex and I have become settled (or as settled as we can be) in the home of the Blankenships.

Our God is so good--last November Alex and I ventured to Orlando, FL for a PAO conference. PAO is a Christian-based organization for Professional Athletes and they hold conferences annually for both football and baseball professionals.  We were truly humbled and blessed to attend this conference, and who do we end up meeting the first night in the lobby...you guessed it Greg and Bridgett Blankenship!!! The entire conference we worshipped, ate, laughed, and prayed with the Blankenships.  So fast forward 7 months and here we are in their hometown and are living in their upstairs!!!! Wow, if that isn't the wonderful provisions of our Lord, I don't know what is!  Not only are they selfless, but they have made this transition easier on us. Words can't and will never be able to explain our gratitude to them for making us feel welcome.

Although this all sounds well and good, the move to Corpus has been anything but easy.  When arriving here, I was stunned to meet over 7 wives and girlfriends during the first week I was here.  Two of which lived here in Corpus with there husbands and others that made the trip quite often.  My how time changes--now I am the lone ranger wife living in Corpus!!! Several of our friends have been promoted (which is amazing) but we sure do miss them here :(  I am however, thankful for those girlfriends and wives still here in Corpus, but it is so funny how fast the dynamic changes in our baseball life.  We have learned to live without a car, with ours only arriving last week!!! Certainly a struggle, but also slightly invigorating!  We are completely thankful our car is here and we now have all of our stuff (though most of it still remains in the backseats)!  Through this time, Alex and I have relied on our faith and continual prayer to get us through not just the downs but also the ups.

I will leave you with several pictures from our recent happenings.  I apologize for not writing in a while, we have not only been busy, but also we have been soaking in all those precious moments with one another!  We urge you all to not take a second for granted with those you love--even if it is while doing the mundane things!!!

Date night in Corpus--1st week here 

The Hicks' and hubs on our way to the riverwalk (San Antonio trip #1)

The men at the Alamo

"Watch out those things will get ya"

Riverwalk with some beauties--I sure do miss these faces

Beach Night--check out all the gross seaweed

Trying to get the sunset--fail.  Two lazy eyes--success!

Lovely Barnes women--miss them

Go HOOKS

First fireworks of the Season

Looking good #22

Peyton, Lauren and me at Eli Young Band

Always a good time with these lovies!!!

Precious pea I get to hold during the games!

Yes you are seeing right...He got an AB!!!!

Bliss at the Riverwalk (San Antonio trip #2)

Headed back to Corpus :(

Much love and blessings (and to those other baseball ladies Happy All-Star break whether you have just had it or it is around the corner)!!!

Arlie

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a

(This verse has given Alex and I encouragement to tackle the world together--for together with our Lord we are much stronger than alone)