Play Ball

Just a quick update on Matt for y'all...


Spring Training has officially begun.  Although we've been here since the beginning of February, pitchers and catchers official report date was February 18 and the entire team reported on Tuesday, February 23.  Now begins the exciting but monotonous (can I use those two words in the same sentence?) days of practice for perfection.  Matt usually gets up at about 7 a.m.- which I am loving by the way because I get up just a little before that and we get to spend a little time in the morning together- and gets to the field by 8 a.m..  From there it can range from team meetings, to light workouts, to throwing bullpens, to running poles.... etc., etc..  The boys get a really great breakfast and lunch prepared for them and have everything from coffee to protein drinks at their disposal.  D-Ray and Matt are usually home between 1:30-3:30 p.m.- already showered and fed and ready to kick back and relax.
Matt is very excited for games to begin (opening day in spring training is March 5) and acclimating pretty well to the Arizona climate.  It is much different than Florida with no humidity whatsoever- very arid and dry.  Growing up in Ohio and not having spent much time in the West, its a pretty big adjustment to make.  For pitchers, this means the ball won't move quite so much (breaking balls) as it would in the mid-West (i.e. Florida spring training). 

Matt seems very content each day.  The sun definitely wears him out but he says he likes the Arizona weather.  The Reds spring training facility is brand new and state-of-the-art... Matt says it is very cool and loves the set-up.  I'm happy he's happy.  I am excited to get to a game and check out the complex- with no humidity, it will be a little easier to enjoy games comfortably without sweat dripping from every crevice of my body... We have lots of family and friends visiting in the next month to enjoy this sunshine and watch Mo do some work on the mound... let the games begin :)

Mo throwing during a Reds practice in spring training.

Awaken to Your Own Truth

"In yoga, truth is not something that you learn, like knowledge, 

but is something that is revealed, like wisdom."

Notes on what is being revealed to me during my intense 60 day Bikram Yoga challenge:

~My physical body is much more capable of exactly listening to my mind than I could have imagined~

~My lack of being able to focus solely on one thing is a habit I've created over many years and it will not just go away after a few days of practicing moving meditation (i.e. Yoga) so I must trust that, like the body can be trained to walk differently or correct a slouch through repeated practice, my mind will slowly learn to focus as I continue to direct it in my practice~

~Frustration is like a circle, it gets me nowhere except more frustrated~

~I worry about ridiculous little things way too much~

~I cannot change a person and as much as I care for another, I must trust that they will find the way in their own time~

~Muscle memory is so much more powerful than I'd imagined.  Going deeper in a pose each time, creates an opening in the physical body that is literally remembered, in order to get back to that depth the next time~

~The energy of others, especially in the Yoga room during practice, is incredibly intense and was meant to be shared.  Feeding off one another's energy makes a big difference during a class~

~When I think I can't possibly keep going, I do~

~...Mind over matter- always~

~I am what I think~

~The BREATH, aaah the breath, is the most powerful force in the body.  It can calm me, steady my focus, energize me, and connect me back with the natural rhythm of my body~

~Beginning my day with Yoga helps me set myself up for a beautiful day~

~The intense backbends and forward bends in the Bikram series can envoke some serious physical reactions because of the amount of energy that is being moved around and/or released in the body: old memories, intense happiness, intense sadness, tears, anxiety, intense calm~

~Letting myself experience these emotions is exactly what my mind and body want and need at that exact moment~

~My body is a good to me and knows what is right.  I listen to it and trust its advice~

~Low, slow flow: deeper breaths energize, revitalize, and relax everything in my body~

~Learning to take deeper, longer breaths (or learning how to really breathe again) during my practice, helps me to do the same throughout my entire day~

~This challenge is actually harder than I thought it would be, mentally and physically~

~I am breaking everything down so that I can build it back up the right way~

~We are not isolated individuals, but share a connection with everything that is~

~My practice is not just about my practice... it is making everything in my life better as well~

~The more I sincerely practice, the less anxious I am and the more I can enjoy just being~

"In truth it matters less what we do in practice than how we do it and why we do it."

Grateful.

Its been a little over 3 months since our wedding and I just finished my thank you's... thats right, I might be the biggest procrastinator you'll ever know and also a little disorganized (a little?).  I am a little ashamed because I had no good excuse why they didn't get done earlier except that we were busy moving the couple months after the wedding and with everything scattered between Ohio and Texas, it was difficult to remember to sit down and do them.  

However, it had been weighing very heavy on my mind lately, just thinking of having to do it gave me awful anxiety.  I would find myself thinking about it during my Yoga practice, during dog-walks, and before I would fall asleep at night.  So, after feeling myself become agitated and irritable yesterday over little things or nothing at all, I decided it was time to lift this weight off my shoulders so that I could move on and focus on other things in life.

I had started them a few weeks back but had about 150 still to do... and I took yesterday and finished them ALL!  I feel like a HUGE WEIGHT has been lifted off my shoulders.  Yes, my hand felt like it was about to fall off, my neck hurt from looking down the entire day, and my fingers are still tender from pressing them on the pen- but I cannot express the freedom and relief I feel for getting them done.

Ok, so why am I blogging about this experience?  Well, as I wrote the cards and starting kind of re-living our awesome day, I thought it might be appropriate to just give a shout-out via our blog to everyone to made such an important time in our lives so special.  So:


Thank you to my parents for sacrificing so much to give Matt and I such a beautiful wedding.  Your selflessness and generosity was incredible and I couldn't have asked for more.  Thank you for the time and love and creativeness you put into the wedding.  Thank you for not fussing over the small stuff and not being the annoying mother/father standing in on every decision.  I am so grateful, always, that I have (and now Matt has too) a mom and dad that are so supportive and loving and have taught me how to stand on my own two feet and then let me do it, never second-guessing decisions I make.  I don't think I'll ever be able to quite express the gratitude I feel for everything you made happen during that special time in Matt and I's life.  It was perfect.  Thank you for loving Matt like another son and making him feel so comfortable in our family- he loves you so much and is so grateful. Thank you for being the perfect example of lasting love.  We will always strive for the balance you've shown by example in your marriage.

Thank you to Joe and Kim (Matt's parents) for going to graciously with the flow of all the planning and preparing.  Thank you for the time and effort you put into making it such a special day.  Thank you for cooking such an incredible rehearsal dinner for us and providing a space to gather all our out-of-town friends and family.  I am so appreciative for the parents you have been to Matt.  You have raised such a strong, kind, independent, and loving man.  You have shown him what it is to always be faithful and how to express affection.  His heart is always in the right place and you can see that through everything he does.  Thank you for loving and accepting me into the family way back when I was just a teenager...  I have grown to feel supported and loved so much by you both.  We are so grateful for you.

Thank you to the incredible wedding party we hand-picked.  Kelly Bozicevich (maid of honor), Daniel-Ray Herrera (best man)... bridesmaids: Kate Gerken, Samantha Rhew, Lydia Basting, Jordan Ferrell and groomsmen: Ben Kuhl, Jay Jefferis, Daniel Maloney, Zachary Basting.  Your love and support and whole attitude during this special time in our lives was exactly what we needed.  Mostly, thank you all for being such good people and friends from the beginning.  We picked you for a reason, because we have such faith that our friendships with you will continue to grow and evolve and we appreciate everything that you bring to the table.  Each of you have helped shape us into the strong couple that we are and the individuals that we are.  We are so grateful for all of you.

Thank you to all of our family for the love and support you have continued to bless us with throughout the years.  We are so blessed to have such a strong support system filled with loving grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins to enjoy life with and learn from!

Thank you to all of the guests (friends, family!) who made the trip to Ohio for the wedding or cleared their schedules to be able to help us celebrate such a special time in our lives.  To be able to see so much FAMILY and FRIENDS during a time that is so important to us was truly a blessing.  We are so grateful for your presence with us at our wedding- it made for such a dynamic and beautiful event with so much good energy surrounding us. We appreciate all your love and the wonderful gifts each of you so graciously gave.

Thank you to our guests who, although they couldn't be with us, sent their love and congratulations with cards and gifts to our home.  We missed you at the wedding but are so appreciative that you took the time and effort to send a gift and your kind words- thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you to all those involved with the planning and preparing process... Fr. Dave Nuss and the St. Mary's staff, Penny Williams from Sandusky Yacht Club and her amazing team of servers, Renea Medina our photographer, Kelly Laine Abrams my makeup artist, Melissa Janisheck our loving aunt and cake-baker, Bryan Thom our DJ, Mandy Stoll our florist, my Uncle Dwight and Aunt Beth (and many other aunts, uncles, friends, and cousins) our rehearsal dinner chefs and servers, and many others that made such a special and gorgeous event happen so smoothly.  I am forever grateful for the stress you took off of me and the effort and heart you put into our lovely wedding.

Gratitude is such an important aspect in our lives with all the hustle and bustle of moving around all the time... I feel it is imperative to express to those who make a positive difference in our lives how thankful we are to have them.  All the above people had an intensely positive effect on Matt and I and I hope they can truly feel how grateful we are towards them.

How'm I doin'?

60 Day (Bikram Yoga) Challenge Update:
My 60 day journey has been incredible so far.  I am amazed at how different I feel every day.  Some days I have so much strength and energy and the postures come easily to me and some days I feel like its the first time I've ever done them... I'm beginning to see that my thoughts and focus (or lack of it) have much to do with the strength I feel during my 90 minute open-eyed moving meditation (...or Bikram class).
What I'm finding my biggest challenge to be is completely clearing my thoughts from my head and focusing only on my breath.  There are always a hundred things running through my mind and it is insane how difficult it is to let those go and truly be in the moment of my practice.  I am learning that I need to just accept that this mind clearing and thinking of nothing will not come in one day to me- I must keep practicing it and avoid judging myself over it.  I understand that it is a habit that I've built for a long time (not being able to truly relax and let go) and it will take me a little while to break down.
Because Bikram works so deeply into the spine, (back bends, forward bends, spine twists, spine compressions & extensions) the release of energy and emotion can be very overwhelming during some of my practices.  I have had a few experiences, during my challenge and in previous classes before I started the challenge, where I will feel completely taken over by a wave of emotion (sadness, joy, anxiety...) and begin to tear up without real control.  It is an experience that I try not to fight because I recognize that this is normal and that my body wants to release what it needs to at that moment.  It often comes after camel pose in the Bikram series (the deepest back bend of the series).  It is truly an indescribable feeling.
I am learning a lot about myself and my thoughts through this intense practice.  I am learning that the mind is where the bending and growing really happens and that if I can focus on a pose and listen to my own breath, I can get so much deeper into the pose and hold it almost with ease.  I am genuinely loving every moment.  And I am seeing that what I'm learning during my practice extends far beyond the hot room-- practicing has helped me begin to "see" better in the world around me as well.  Its been 2 weeks and I am feeling amazing.  I will keep updating every so often on how the challenge is going for me.


Other things of note:
As much as I absolutely love practicing Yoga, I have not neglected a girls need to maintain lean muscle either.  I do believe you can keep a lean figure with just Yoga, however I enjoy lifting and functional training so much that I couldn't give it up completely during my challenge.  So, I've disciplined myself to continue weight training at the YMCA right across from our condo complex two to three times a week.  This has been a bit of a challenge because of the energy I expend during Yoga in the morning, but it is working out quite well so far.  I will go to Yoga at 9 every morning, come home, get a bite to eat (enough to give me energy for a good lift) and then head to the Y around noon.  And yes, still walking the dogs every day because I know how important that is to them.  It is always a challenge for me not to overdo it, so I do limit myself to only being in the gym for an hour and keeping my lifts to mostly twice a week so that I am not wearing my body down.  I feel like I have a healthy balance and a good routine as of now and my mind and body are responding well to it.


Spring Training officially starts tomorrow which means I'll be seeing less of Mo and more of players' wives, fiances, and girlfriends.  I am ready for it and excited for it!  I am looking so forward to getting to know everyone better and socializing with other females :)


One last little bit of goodness for today... I am leaving a connection to a YouTube video on the power of Validation.  Its a really great short film that I highly recommend checking out if you have about 15 minutes.  I've posted it on my Facebook page and Twitter so it may be a repeat for you if you follow me on those sites... ENJOY :)

VALIDATION

Gus with the golfball he picked up for Mo on our walk.

Lucy and her underbite! Ha!

B-E-A-utiful Arizona sky- its been sunny every day!

A favorite lunch choice for Mo & I :) So much fresh produce!

Enough About Me-

Let's Talk About Mo!

Watching my husband work HARD every single day to make his dreams reality is incredibly inspiring.  I am continually impressed with the man he has grown to be- on and off the mound.  His drive is special, it is genuine, and it is for the right reasons.  Most days seem like groundhog day, but when I take a step back and look at our life from outside of myself, I see just how far we've come...

I've posted a few links below to articles on Matt that have surfaced over the past month as Spring Training gets under weigh and the season inches closer... 


As a sort of disclaimer, let me just add that it is out of the ordinary for me to do any "showing-off" of Matt- I have always felt strongly that his actions and work on the field speak far louder than any "bragging" he or I could ever do and we both have a firm belief in humility- humbling ourselves knowing that the good we do, ultimately, is part of a much bigger plan and for a greater good.  We trust in that.  Our faith lies in the belief that playing from the heart and having a true love for the game are the components to being successful- at any level.  After all, any good player knows that the game is mostly mental- if you can stay focused and not get caught up in the hype, the wondering "when?" and the asking "why?", you will go further and with much less struggle and frustration.  As difficult as it can be at times, we trust that we are always right where we need to be- there for some reason.  Matt has been so strong in that aspect and has helped teach me so much about patience and staying calm just through his leading by example.  He is an amazing man and a hell of a player.  That being said, I am very proud of him and wanted to share a few things (click on the titles to be connected to the link):

USA Today's 100 Names You Need to Know... #32



Competition to Highlight Reds' Spring



Looking at the Fifth Spot



Top 10 Prospects for 2010: Cincinnati Reds & Pittsburgh Pirates

Lindy's 2010 Baseball Preview has Matt Maloney pictured as Breakthough player :

Athlon Sports 2010 Preview has Maloney projected as 5th starter:

Live By This.

The following is one of my favorite readings, ever.  It is one that my mom always had framed and hanging in our home; one that she framed and gave to Matt and I as a Christmas gift two years ago; and one that was read at my wedding.  
It is so very close to my heart and I wanted to share it with hopes that you all might appreciate the beauty, simplicity, and truth of it.  

The Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,

even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble,

it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love;

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

60 days, starting... yesterday.

My mind and body have been craving a new challenge!  So, yesterday I started my own personal 60-day Bikram Yoga Challenge... 60 consecutive days of practicing Bikram!  Many Bikram studios across the U.S. started the challenge amongst the members of their studios at the beginning of the New Year.  Unfortunately, because we always make a move at the beginning of February, I am never able to participate in the group challenge- which is kind of a bummer but I always feed off their positive energy during the challenge so I feel like I am still benefiting.  This year, I wanted to test my mind and body and do the same challenge- just on my own timeline.  So, for February and March, I'll be practicing every day at the studio I've found about 3 miles from our condo in Goodyear, AZ- Bikram Yoga Avondale. 
I am so excited to have begun such an incredible journey for myself.  I know that there will be days when I don't feel like doing anything- and I'll have to be my own trainer and encourage myself to keep pushing on!  I am wanting to gain stronger focus on what is really important in my life and I know that practicing Yoga everyday will help me tremendously with that focus.  Its always been difficult for me to clear my head and truly live in the moment-- so I am putting my trust in myself and my practice that I will be given everything I need over these 60 days to get better at that. 
Why do a 60-day challenge?  "Bikram highly recommends practicing his yoga every day for 60 days, especially as a beginner. He says coming every day for two months is the best gift you could give yourself to get your body and mind young and supple and beautiful again.  60 day of Bikram Yoga will give you a new body, a new mind and new way of life  Not only will you improve your health and well being by participating and completing this Challenge, you will learn that anything is possible when you set your mind to it. You will "Break Through Your Limits."  Bikram says you have to break down before you can break through... and the 60-day challenge has the power to do this for you!"
I am also doing the challenge as a way to support Matt during his journey through February and March at Reds Spring Training Camp.  I feel that if we are both fighting for something we love and doing something we are so passionate about, we can really help one another have a positive and life-changing experience.  I want to be working just as hard as my husband and using my natural gifts!  I'm certain this will deepen our connection to one another and we will also learn to appreciate more, the hard work that both our minds and bodies are capable of. 
 All of your positive thoughts, energy, encouragement and prayers are always appreciated!  


The move to Goodyear went fantastic!  The truck was completely full... with just a wee bit of space in the pack for the dogs to sleep- atop many bags and blankets. We split the drive up (from Austin to Goodyear- 15 hours) and did it in two days.  We are loving the furnished condo we have rented for the next 2 months with D-Ray and we're enjoying the beautiful sunshine that has been out the past week!  I will admit, I'm not totally in love with the dry desert and the brownish vegetation that covers the landscape... but its only 2 months- I can embrace it for that long (but I miss GREEN Austin so very much!!!).  The dogs are content- another move, another new home, more new trails to explore... Speaking of new trails, I decided to check out Estrella Mountain National Park today with the pups in tow- I was looking for a good 4-mile walk like the path we'd do in Austin.  Unfortunately, I wasn't careful enough when reading the map and our normal 4-miler turned into and 8-mile hiking adventure for 2 hours (and hour longer than usual!!) while I tried to figure out how to get back to the truck, or even the path!  Sadly, we were lost for a while in the hot, dry heat- poor Lucy and Gus on rough terrain without any water- panting the whole way.  They were so grateful to get home and have food and water and have been sleeping ever since!  Oops! 


Anyhow, as my last post describes, we have lots to look forward to over the next 2 months... leisurely activities, visiting with family and friends, and good challenges for the both of us!  Woo hoo! Bring it on.