On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote, a beauty product, a recipe, a pair of cute shoes, etc. If it's a product, sometimes it's something I actually own and sometimes something I just saw online that gave me a smile. Sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. I suppose I believe that God is in the simple details of life and yes, I can even find Him in a tube of lipstick.
Greetings from Maine! At least I hope I've made it here this weekend at some point. I'm writing this beforehand as I sit in a hotel in Richmond on Jenn and Drew's Summer 2021 Mid-Atlantic/East Coast Baseball Tour. This weekend I am going to visit my son, Joe, who graduated from Penn State last year with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and is working as a Broadcaster for the Sanford Mainers baseball team this summer. I have never been to Maine and I'm thrilled to be here. (I mean, I assume I am - mainly because it has been so hot in Virginia that it's a miracle I haven't died.)
It appears that the highest temperature we will see in Maine is 75 degrees which sounds positively arctic. I hope that as you're reading this, I am wearing some sort of long-sleeved garment, eating a lobster, and devising my plan to get the Bush Family to invite me to hang out with them in Kennebunkport. Here are some of my favorite things from this week.
1. Spirit Wear for the Olympics
The Olympics gets me all up in my feelings about my country and hopes and dreams and hard work and all the things. Also, whenever that one commercial comes out about how the parents sacrificed so much for their children's dreams, I bawl my eyes out. I bought a 'Merica tshirt to wear on the 4th of July. The exact one I bought sold out, but this tshirt is similar and of course, it works at any time - especially when you're watching the Olympics.
This Stick the Landing tshirt is PERFECT for the gymnastics events where I sit on the couch and imagine I have birthed every single member of the team. It comes in all the colors, but I really feel like we need to stick with red, white or blue.
2. Smells Like a Citrus Grove Body Lotion
A long time ago, I mentioned this Smells Like a Citrus Grove All Purpose Cleaner that I got at Target. I love it. It smells so great - like a citrus grove, if you will. Imagine my great joy to find that now there is a body lotion that smells like a citrus grove and it costs less than TWO DOLLARS! I'm disappointed that when I looked online hoping for a trifecta, I did not find Smells Like a Citrus Grove Body Wash. I felt like it was the inevitable next step in the Citrus Grove product roll-out. I found Smells Like Summertime Body Wash and Smells Like a Rain Shower Body Wash, but no Citrus Grove. This is a gross oversight, Target. Pull it together.
3. All the Long Sleeves for Maine
As I mentioned, I had a few near-death experiences while watching baseball in Richmond this week because of the heat and humidity. I literally tried to cross my ankle over my knee at one point and it slid off. So gross. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned this color block zip-up hoodie that I ordered for Maine. It arrived, I love it, and can't wait to wear it in an environment in which it wouldn't suffocate me.
I guess I have a color block obsession right now, because I ordered this long cardigan sweater and I hope it came in on time for me to take it with me. It looks too long for my height in the photo, but the reviews say otherwise.
If it didn't come in time, I do have this Long Line Open Cardigan that I got from Old Navy years ago and it's still in stock. I love its lightweight material and the fact that it keeps it's shape.
I also ran into JCrew in Richmond in between games this week and found they were having 50% off on Sale Styles. I grabbed this cute, comfy hoodie and I hope I wear it the entire weekend.
4. Never Have I Ever Season 2
I know I just included Season 1 of Never Have I Ever in my Friday Favorites like one minute ago. I started Never Have I Ever Season 2 and I love it just as much. These characters are hilarious and sweet. The writing is so clever. This show was made for me.
5. Watching this Kid Play Even if I think I Might Stroke Out
#5 this week is just an excuse to show you some pictures of Drew. And also, to say, "Have I mentioned the heat this week?" It's stupid. At one point I was standing behind home plate snapping these pictures like the sappy mother that I am thinking that I had surely never experienced such temperatures in my entire life. I went to look at my weather app fully expecting it to be some where around 127 degrees, but it was only 87. This caused me enormous shame because when I played tennis when I was younger in Texas I would've laughed at 87 degrees. I feel I owe an apology to my Texas brethren and sisterern. I have brought disgrace upon my people with my constant complaining. And I don't even have to wear polyester pants and catcher's gear.
Still no matter what, I continue to do my best to appreciate every second of normal life this summer. I know this is totally new news, but Goshdarnit, I love to watch this boy play baseball. ;-) I'd watch him play in any weather any time.
I don't think it will offend my other boys to say that he works harder than any of the three of them ever did at this sport. He loves the game as much as anyone I've ever known.
And it's pretty sweet to watch someone do his thing the way he does this thing. I'm so grateful for the time we've had this summer. I know that it is a blessing to be along for the ride especially when I'm well aware that the ride doesn't last forever.
Also, I will be purchasing this rechargeable battery-operated fan for the rest of said ride which my fellow baseball mom and high school friend, Julie, recommended to me. She has a baseball player who will play for the Texas A&M Aggies next year. It will take an enormous amount of the Holy Spirit to convict this Longhorn heart to do so, but I will cheer for him and hope he kills it at A&M which makes me a very gracious person. If you know, you know. #hookem
Lastly, a special note of love and prayers to my friend, Sandy, and her family today. Her boy, Gavin, who inspired a generation of baseball players and their families in our area with his battle against brain cancer passed away eight years ago today. Gavin's story changed my life and the lives of many young men I know. He's one of the main reasons I will sit behind home plate in the stifling heat and smile and cheer and cherish every sweaty moment. You can read about him here . God bless you, Rupp Family. Your boy will never be forgotten.
PS Friends.
If you have subscribed by email to this blog and get the posts to your email inbox every week, first of all, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. This means a lot to me and is super important for the day that I actually get my book written and need publishers to know how many people read here. (I know, I've said the book thing was going to happen for ten years give or take, but it's just that there's just so many sports to watch and so much darn laundry. And also, Netflix.)
Secondly, I need to tell you that Blogger, which is the platform/service/site/whatever it's called that I write all this mess on, has sent me numerous notifications that they are taking away the email service portion of this situation in August of 2021. I have promptly ignored these messages with the best, "Fiddle Dee Dee, I'll worry about that tomorrow!" Scarlet O'Hara impersonation I can muster. And now it seems that August of 2021 is, like, tomorrow. If you subscribe by email, I have access to those email addresses and will try to figure out how to get you the posts each week in a new way. I would like to tell you that I'll figure it out by next week and the transition will be seamless, but I know myself and that is highly unlikely. In the meantime, you can always find my posts on my Facebook page. Just go click the icon over there on the right hand side of the page and you can follow me there. If you don't want to do Facebook, I get it because goodness gracious it's a mess there some days, so if you want to receive the emails you can send me yours at jlpskinner@gmail.com. I'll figure this thing out eventually.
Thanks, y'all. Have the best weekend!
Disclosure: The View From Behind Home Plate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn small fees by linking to amazon.com. Post might contain other affiliate links as well.
2 comments:
Jenn, I didn't see a "follow" button on FB, so I sent a friend request. Hope that's OK.
Of course! I got it. Thanks for reading, Mary Jane!
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