Gold Anyone?

Michelle Smith made her appearance at the Little League State Tournament in Missoula last weekend. Our girls were so excited to participate in her 2 hour pitching camp. 

I'm not sure if they even realize who they just got coached from, took their photos with and got their ball signed from. 

We are talking about Michelle Smith!!! Olympic GOLD medalist... Not once but TWO TIMES!! Michelle was a pioneer in the sport of fast pitch softball and is a great role model for young girl athletes. (I'm pretty sure the girls will be doing a report on Michelle this school year ;) because I'm the mom AND the teacher and I said so ;)

Softball has become a family sport here at the Spry house. Even so much that Joel is going to be head coach of the Montana Avalanche 10U team next year. (And I pray both if our big girls get a spot on his team ;) I couldn't be more excited and proud of him. My husband loves baseball. So when you are blessed with 3 daughters, you learn to love softball too :)

Joel has a love for the sport but even more, his passion is to help develop girls into strong young ladies on the field and off. Working hard and learning to be a good leader and encouragement to your team is so important. Doing your best without having to be the best is another key phrase when it's time to tie up the cleats. These are life lessons that they'll be learning but I also know that through this season in our lives (who am I kidding?! Like the next 18 seasons!) Joel and I will probably be learning more than we'll ever be able to teach. 

I'm sure you'll get to hear all about it right here over the next year. It's going to be a fun, fast-paced journey. 

Did you play sports as a child? What did you play? What was a life lesson you learned from that sport?

XO

Jari

Breakfast: vanilla protein shake with strawberries and blueberries 

Snack: granny smith apple 

Lunch: a cup of GF chicken gumbo soup and a big salad filled with fresh veggies and I used the juice of the pepperoncinis as my dressing 

Early Dinner: naked burrito with brown rice, black beans, lime chicken and mango salsa scooped up with tortilla chips. 

Snack: almonds

Snack: vanilla protein shake with peanut butter and cinnamon 

My Mind is Full

Today Joel and I participated in a biblical counseling class at our church, Sovereign Hope. The topics covered were Depression and Anger. It was an incredible class and I thought for sure the whole teaching was being directed at me.

My hand was flying all day taking notes and I learned so much about me but even more about God. I am in awe that He is so big, amazing, awesome, sovereign (I could go on and on) that even if we learned as much as I did today, every day, for all of eternity, we'll never fully know how awesome He is. Now that's a God I want to serve.

I'm still trying to process it all. A few notes I took:

More can be done than we often ask or imagine by God's grace. - We must be CONSUMED by the gospel - progressive sanctification.

Sadness is trying to be stomped out for the idol of happiness.... appropriate sadness is being treated as a disease :(

EVERYTHING changes at the Cross!

God is ALWAYS working in our lives.... Always - in every circumstance.

The day of judgment has NOTHING to do with sin when you believe :)

All sinful anger is an ungodly handling of life.

Anger is murder in the heart.

You have to WANT to change - God WILL change your desires.

Trusting God is living out His Word.

And so much more. 

I want to take more of those classes soon!

Joel had today and tomorrow off as we were originally going to be having company, but plans changed and we spent the majority of the evening at the ball fields. There is nothing sweeter than seeing the love of your life teaching two little beings that mean the whole world to you, how to improve at their passion. They LOVE softball! Joel made the girls take a 2 week break after State to just rest and not think about the bright yellow ball! Well, today, 2 weeks were up and they were chomping at the bit to get ready for try-outs at the end of summer. 

This is one of my favorite photos. I love these people so much.

Avin is fascinated by her big sisters. She will be pitching in no time I'm sure.

I'm so late writing this post - and feel I'm talking in circles because it's almost 2 hours past my bedtime - because our laptops are on the fritz. This one drops the internet right in the middle of writing... the other one just stops working and goes black.  Do you know anything about computers? What can I do to fix these guys? What is your favorite laptop? To MAC or not to MAC... that is the question.

Tomorrow will be a post full of photos as we get our 'splash' on as a family!

I could get used to Joel being home... all the time :)

XO.