Second Season: Day 1

Due to several requests, ahemmm borderline demands, I hereby commit to update our adventures and happenings daily through out the upcoming baseball season. All with the hopes of avoiding any more awkward moments, and straight up call outs, at otherwise delightful dinner parties and fun social gatherings. (You know who you are). This is the start of Kyle's second full baseball season, and my second season traveling with him. That being said, I will start today off as "Day 1," of the second season. Hold on tight, it's going to be another wild ride.

It's an interesting time of the year and when we talk to other guys we realize the season "starts" at different times for each of them. Maybe it's the first time they hit the gym to work off their Christmas, the first time they pick up a bat and take a hack after the New Year, the second they hold that (reimbursable) airline ticket for the team, the moment they step onto their teams' home training field or when they receive their issued gear for the season. It's different for each player. 

The season starts for us the moments after we drop Adelyn off at her moms apartment. The brief walk, from her door through the housing complex and to the car, is physicically painful. It's mostly my insides that hurt. It feels as though my heart is gripped by a vise, cranked to the tightest setting. My stomach flip flops, and even though it's empty, it struggles to settle, all while emitting that uncomfortable feeling we know too well. It's as if it's screaming, "you're anxious about the future months and there's nothing you can do to fix it." I can't even begin to verbalize how Kyle feels during this time. My goal is not to cry or we'll both lose it and empty everything out into a sloppy, snotty, tear filled river. Four miles down the road, that happened anyways, and it was more than justified. 

This is the most difficult day of the year for us. We intentionally push it as close to our actual departure from town as we can, so we can spend as much time with our sweet girl as possible. We dropped Adelyn off on Sunday afternoon. We left our cozy cabin rental 24 hours later. We cleaned, we prayed, we packed and we paused every now and then to just hold one another. 

I have to take a moment to commend my husband for his strength and love for his daughter. He is a prime example of a true Godly family man, he faces obstacles and challenges with prayer and the guidance of the word. Kyle provides for his wife and child in the position that he is most skilled to do so. He was blessed with a special talent in baseball. The Lord continually provides for us on this journey, I have no doubts that this is exactly what we're meant to do, called to do. In a similar way, my husband provides for Adelyn, the best life he possibly can. I'm continually impressed with his dedication, devotion and strength while he manages the time we're separated from her.

After saying our good byes, and running last minute errands we hit the road for my parents home in Prosser. We arrived to home grown bbq'd ribs and oodles of chocolate cheesecake. Afterwards we enjoyed cribbage and chatting with my family, a relaxing cap to an otherwise hectic day. We savor these special family moments, we're so blessed to have wonderful family that support us in our unpredictable baseball adventures.

We fit ALL of our clothes into Kyle's travel bag with the help of space bags and a vacuum. Packing for Florida was less daunting than packing for Iowa. We each packed one separate small bag for our road trip from Idaho to Florida. The remaining items found their home in the trunk. We also packed a bag of shoes, our favorite blanket, a box with my art supplies, a standard tool kit, Kyle's golf clubs, several coats, and a small air pump. 

Newman Lake road, as we left the cabin.