1 For Love of the Game

A while ago I explained to you how much baseball means to our family here.

This Saturday, Nate and I went to our first baseball game of the season. Those A&M stands are so special to us. They are special to Nate because he watched A&M baseball long before Parker played there, and special to me because on those stands I watched Parker play 5 wonderful seasons. But they are especially memorable stands to us because that is where our love really grew for each other. Yes, we fell in love in the A&M baseball stands. Olsen Field provided a wonderful place for Nate and I to get to know each other and for Nate to get to know my family! I will never forget when Nate went to a Tuesday night baseball game with my parents (and I couldn't go!) about two weeks after we met. He sat IN BETWEEN my parents and they grilled/talked to him the whole game! Mom and Dad called me afterwards and said they LOVED him and Nate said he had SO much fun too. . . and we went to almost every baseball game of the season. . . Dad, mom, me and Nate!

The past two Spring Breaks, my family and Nate have spent our time watching the Dodger's Spring Training! This past Spring Break, Parker was moved up to play a game with the major league guys! It was pretty impressive watching him warm up next to Brad Ausmus.

Parker chronicled his minor league life in his blog here. There have been so many ups and downs in his career but God has shown that he is sovereign throughout all of Parker's many seasons.

The start to this baseball season is different though. . .Parker made a difficult call a couple weeks ago. He called the Dodger's organization to let them know that he was "hanging up his cleats." The Lord has given Parker the ability to excel at baseball, many second chances, and even the opportunity to end his career on Parker's own timing. . .

Parker, If I could choose one verse to describe your baseball career this would be it. . .

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" Ephesians 3:20

Proud of you. . . .