The View From Behind Home Plate: Monday Daybook: July 16: A time to laugh and a time to cry

Outside my window:
early morning sun and dew on the window...good rain last night.

I am thinking:
of joy and sorrow and how in the whole of this life He has given me, there will be both, sometimes almost simultaneously. We experienced exhilarating joy for our All Star team's district win Saturday night and the very next day that joy was halted and pushed aside. We got news that our neighbor, Sara, a mother of four who had been battling cancer, had passed away. Even as we had hugged and cheered and smiled under the setting sun at a baseball field our friend had left this Earth to be with Him. There is a time for every season, for every matter under heaven, isn't there? We must take joy when it is near and we must turn to Him in grateful celebration, just as when we are faced with heartbreaking grief, we must turn to Him in search of comfort and peace. God bless you, Sara. Rest now.

I am thankful:
for planes landing safely and to have my big boy home for a week until he leaves again for a Habitat for Humanity mission trip.

In the kitchen:
the coffee is almost ready...thank goodness.

I am wearing:
Old Navy pjs

I am going:
to take the whole gang to Vacation Bible School today. One teacher, two youth helpers and one "camper".

I am reading:
Ephesians

I am hoping:
to be able to wake these summer sleepers of mine in a few minutes to get them ready and out the door for VBS. I anticipate some grumbling.

I am looking forward to:
spending a little time in Olive Branch, Virginia (apparently near Portsmouth?) to watch our Loudoun South boys try to win a state baseball championship.

I am wondering:
if there is anything more exciting than seeing a sweet, humble boy who I have watched play ball for 3 years hit his very first homerun ever in the most important game he's ever played....maybe it's second only to watching his mama see that ball sail over the fence.

I am learning:
that being a woman and mother of faith with a head full of words didn't mean that I would not be struck wordless when I looked into the confused and grieved face of my child when I had to tell him that his friend had lost his mom.

I am praying:
For Sara's children, family and friends.

I am listening to:
no noise...sleepy heads.

On my Ipod:
I'm not a huge country music fan which apparently breaks all kinds of laws being that I'm from Texas, but someone special turned me on to this song by Big and Rich and I love it...I see brighter days, friend. I really do.

A quote for the day:
It's going to be a busy week, where I am rushing and urging, "Let's go, let's go!" When I know this is the case, I look to Ann Voskamp's chapter on hurrying:

"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing...through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away....Hurry empties a soul."
-Mark Buchanan via Ann Voskamp and Ann Voskam in One Thousand Gifts

A verse for the day:
"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

One of my favorite things:
He's home.

A few plans for the week:
singing praises with lots of His little ones and subsequently dancing and embarrassing my "cool" youth helper.

A peek into my day:
This evening, Kyle's 11U Travel baseball team will play an exhibition game against the Anderson Monarchs, a team which is doing a "barnstorming" tour of 18 cities in tribute to Jackie Robinson and the Negro Baseball League. It's going to be an honor for Kyle and his buddies to participate. Check out this video to find out how to follow this great group of kids.