Mission Trips

This past week both boys went on a mission trip with Faithbridge Church. This is Camden's third year and Casen's first year to go on a mission. The way the church does the mission with the youth is they are able to start the summer before their 6th grade year. The first two years, they do a mission locally in Houston and then the summer before 8th grade they go to Galveston to serve there. The next year they head to Lubbock and then after that they may go somewhere in the United States or even outside the country. 

On Sunday afternoon we dropped Camden off at church to head to Galveston for a week with 10 other 8th graders as well as 3 leaders. He and his buddies, Cole and Trennan, were the only three boys in the group of 11. 

After we prayed over them and their journey, they were on their way.

We finally received proof of life on Thursday, when they posted some pictures on Instagram.

Camden and his group stayed at Seaside Church in Galveston during the week. They were split into 3 groups and each day the group you were assigned to had different chores - from cooking to cleaning. Each morning, if it was his groups turn to cook, he would wake up at 5:15 to be ready to help cook at 5:30. On days his group was not scheduled to cook, he would wake up at 6:30, get ready, eat breakfast and then they would do their morning devotional about the book of James. After that they would head to their mission site. Most mornings and all day Thursday they worked with Galveston Urban Ministries (GUM) mowing grass, picking up trash, leveling a shed and other various things. They also ran a Vacation Bible School for kids in an apartment complex. Once they returned to back to Seaside church after their day, they would do 'Team Time' which consisted of them reviewing their daily devotional, worship and encouragement. He really enjoyed the week and is already looking forward to going on a mission next year. 

Camden and Prateek (one of hs leaders)

Someone finally learned how to mow

Working to level a shed

Playing with the kids in an apartment complex

VBS

Learning how to do the worm - LOL

Group pic after arriving home

Upon picking him up, Camden reported that he lost a tooth while on his mission. Apparently the tooth fairy down in Galveston is not as generous, as he only received a nickel. LOL!!!

Glad to have my boy home!

Casen started his mission on Monday morning. Since I was off, I was able to drop him off that morning  at 8:00am and then the rest of the week Shane dropped him off at the church each morning and picked him up at 5:00pm.

His week consisted of working at multiple places around the Houston area. The first day they went to the Dollar Tree and purchased items to make bags to hand out to the homeless. 

On Tuesday, they visited the Houston Food Bank where they organized food and drinks. Wednesday, they worked at Kids Meals where they decorated bags and then packed them with food for kids. 

Filling bags at Kids Meals

Decorating bags

Lunchtime

On Thursday they served with Meals on Wheels where they delivered meals around the area. On Friday, they went to Bread of Life where they organized soap for several hours with no air conditioning. 

Ice cream treat after working in the hot building.

Casen enjoyed the week serving and is looking forward to next year.

Thank you to everyone who prayed and supported both boys this past week. They definitely felt the love and appreciate you!!!

Casen's Birthday Celebration

Since we were in Gulf Shores for Casen's birthday, we did not have birthday cake, nor did he get all of his gifts. When I asked him what kind of cake he wanted me to make, I was for certain he would request a homemade ice cream cake as in years past. He surprised me and told me I could choose what kind of cake to make, however he didn't want an ice cream cake. One of my favorites (and my dad's) has always been Mississippi Mud Cake and I haven't had it in years. So, I decided that is what I would make. Casen helped me bake it from scratch and he and Camden both loved it. So much so, that Camden has already decided that he is going to forego an ice cream cake for his birthday and instead wants Mississippi Mud. 

Since Casen has quite the collection off baseball rings, we got him something to display his rings on. Looks like he can only win one more ring. :)

I am not sure where time is going, but I am going to need it to slow down. I am really loving this season of life with the boys. I often chuckle when I think back to when Casen was about four and I was convinced that one of us was not going to make it out of that season alive. I always said I brought out the worst in him because he was so sweet and loving to everyone but he and I just butted heads. I am so grateful things changed between us. Now he is a momma's boy, always willing to help me and never minds going shopping with me. I am looking forward to what the next year holds for both he and Camden.

The Busy Tooth Fairy

Camden has been complaining of one of his teeth hurting the past few days while in Alabama. He knew that it was loose, but just couldn't seem to get it out and said he would wait until he got home to pull it since it was really hurting him. He is not my crier, and this evening  after we got home, he was in tears due to the discomfort. When I looked in his mouth, his tooth was completely pulled away from the gum on one side, but completely attached on the other. After a little coercion, he allowed me to see what I could do to help him. I just pushed really hard on the side of the tooth that wasn't attached and pushed it right out. After examining the tooth, we saw that there was a really rough edge and could see why it was causing him such discomfort. 

Casen apparently did not want to be left out and in less than 5 minutes of Camden's tooth coming out, Casen pulled out one of his. He said he knew it was loose, but didn't realize how loose it was.

Can you tell from the picture who is excited about losing theirs and who isn't? LOL. Camden said his mouth was still hurting so he did not want to smile.

World Series 2023

This past Sunday we headed to Gulf Shores to spend the week there for the Gulf Shores PG Tournament. The boys received their swag bags at their last practice which were filled with all sorts of fun goodies! Aside from the pin trading towel, fishing shirt and shorts (which we paid for), each parent contributed something to put in the bag. Needless to say, they ended up with all sorts of fun stuff!

Since the festivities did not start until Monday evening, we did a few things in the morning and then we headed to the beach where we met Casen's teammate, Miles, and his family and just hung out and relaxed on the beach.

We then headed to the pin trading ceremony where the boys traded pins with teams from all over. Some of our players had not yet made it to Alabama, so were not there to trade pins.

The boys getting ready to go inside the 
amphitheater to trade pins.

The boys and their parents

After the ceremony, a group of us headed to the Island Wing Company Grill & Bar for dinner. 

Once we got back to the hotel, Casen was willing to pose with his pin trading towel that we so strategically placed all the pins. :)

In our bracket there were 22 teams and we had two days of pool play and that determined which of the three brackets you would end up in. On Tuesday we won both of our games, which fortunately for us allowed us to save some of our pitching arms. Casen only had to pitch one inning.

After our games, we headed to the Hangout to eat. It was extremely crowded, so while some stayed there to eat, Miles' family and ours headed over to a fun place across the street from the Hangout called the Picnic Basket and had a nice dinner.

We woke up on Wednesday to having an 11 year old. Casen spent his birthday playing two baseball games, going to the beach and hanging out with friends - all things he loves. The only negative to the day was the fact he had to wear knickers. LOL. He always wears pants and was not thrilled when they decided to add knickers as an option for our uniforms for this tournament.

So grateful for good baseball moms,
like Jennifer (Tyson's mom)

The knickers must not have brought us luck because we ended up losing to the worst team at the tournament, the Chili Dogs, by a score  of 2-12. We may have been their only win the whole week. I don't know what was wrong with our boys. They couldn't hit or make plays. Spoiler alert - the knickers did not make another appearance the rest of the tournament. Apparently we have some superstitious folks, so the rest of the tournament we wore all white as we did on the first day.

Eating a snack between games

The second game of the day included a rain delay. Not that you could tell from the pictures since the storm was behind us, but there was a lot of thunder and lightning and the boys were instructed to sit in the dugouts. During the rain delay, the boys from both teams played tic-tac-toe on a baseball. One team would make a move and then throw the ball to the other dugout to let them make their move. After doing that for a bit, they then started having a dance off as well as doing line dances while waiting for the lightning delay to pass.

Dropping it low, low, low

They fortunately ended up winning their second game. Afterwards, Miles was so sweet to give Casen a bag filled with all sorts of gummy candies for his birthday.

Since our games were early, we were able to plan some team time at the beach. When we first arrived, there were two guys who were getting pulled down the beach as they were tackling something on their fishing line. Once they reeled it in close enough to the shore, everyone could see it was a shark so. Everyone was so eager to see them reel it in.

Playing cross net

Wiffle ball on the beach

The baseball moms

The baseball crew at the beach

Once we got back to the hotel, Casen open his cards that family sent him as well as opened one of his gifts from us. He has been asking for a Pena jersey for awhile so was very excited to receive it.

With finishing 3-1 in our bracket games we ended up in the top bracket with 7 other teams. On Thursday we played another two games and won them both which secured us a spot in the semi-finals. Luckily, Camden made friends with another player's, Tyson, siblings. He spent time chatting, playing soccer and who knows what else to help pass his time at the fields. 

After our games, we went back to the hotel, let the boys change into their swimsuits and headed over to the condo where Miles family was staying. Tyson's family also came and the kids swam and ate pizza until the pool closed. We then headed inside and where the boys played MLB The Show.

Me, Kelly and Jennifer

Yesterday, our semi-final game did not start until later in the afternoon, so we headed to the putt-putt course near our hotel to have a friendly competition. This course was fun and had some unusual holes. We finished the first 9 holes with Shane in first, then Camden, Casen and of course me in last. Shockingly, I had a great back 9 and ended up in second with Shane of course finishing first, then Casen in 3rd and Camden last. 

When we arrived to the fields for our semi-final game, it was raining. So after sitting in our vehicles awhile and then under a pavilion, we finally made it to the fields. The rain brought cooler temps, so for the first few innings of the game, Camden and I sat under a blanket. 

The boys won their semi-final game, and ended up playing Canes Southwest out of Austin, whom they had played and beat the day prior with a score 6-1. Casen was the starting pitcher for the final game. He pitched well, but it was obvious his arm was a bit tired as he did not pitch as well as he did earlier in the week. It didn't help that they boys really weren't hitting the ball well either. When coached pulled him, he just went in the dugout and broke down crying. It was not easy for this momma to watch the agony of defeat and not be able to go into the dugout and console him. Fortunately Coach Ryan gave him a hug along with some encouraging words. The final score was 2-11. 

Despite the loss, Coach expressed to the boys how very proud he was of them finishing 2nd out of 22 teams. We finished our season at 28-14-1.

After the game, Coach Ryan huddled up the boys to deliver the news that he would no longer be their coach. You see, some people are just down right crappy. About a month ago, all parents in the Wildcatter association received a survey regarding the organization as well as their coach. We have some players on the team whose parents know all the actual owner of the organization and were in his ear regarding our coach. What their exact complaints were, I am not certain. But, as you might have guessed, their children were the weaker players on the team and perhaps did not play the positions or have the playing time they felt their children deserved and apparently those 3 or 4 parents complaints trumped all others. We were absolutely crushed. We, along with the majority of the other parents, have had multiple coaches and we all really liked Coach Ryan. He was firm, but fair. He didn't yell or scream at the boys. He gave Casen a chance at other positions where other coaches have not. Despite parents reaching out to the heads of the organization and expressing their discontent, we were informed that he will still be with the Wildcatter organization, but they will be moving him to the high schoolers. Perhaps one day our paths will cross again.

Coach Ryan breaking the news. :(

The final huddle.

Our obligatory selfie with his ring.

One of the things Camden wanted to do while in Gulf Shores was to go and drive go-karts. So on our final night, we went so they could have a little fun. We ended our night at Waffle House, which is a beach tradition for us (although I failed to snap a pic of it).

All 3 of them in one pic.

It was a great week, despite the drama that ensued at the very end. There are currently two AAA teams from our area and our understanding is that some of the players from our team will help in making up a Major team and the others, if they don't get cut, will make the AAA team. We are hopeful that we will be on the Major team in the fall with the other players from the team who have played well and those that caused the commotion will end up on the AAA team. Only time will tell . . .