Home is wherever I'm with you.

Ah, yes.  Here I am, I'm back to blog a little bit.  I've been packing and moving and unpacking and making our apartment here in Louisville a home for the past few weeks so forgive me for being completely MIA for over a month...

We made it through spring training - whew!  What an exciting and anxious 2 months that was, no doubt!  But we made it through together, all in one piece and learned SO much in that stressful atmosphere full of uncertainties.  Matt was absolutely and incredibly AWESOME through it all - always so calm and collected.  Yes, he experienced some major frustration but turned that negative energy into strength and control in order to begin his 3A season on top.  And I made it through with the intense and fulfilling help of my yoga practice - I finished my 60 day Bikram Yoga Challenge the Friday before camp broke!  60 Bikram classes in 58 days for me!  It was an incredible experience, incredible, changed my life for sure.  It just so happened that Matt found out that same day (Friday) that he would be starting the season in Louisville again - so funny how things like that work out.  So, Friday was kind of the climax of our spring training and the relief we both felt that night was intense but such a good feeling.  Obviously we had hoped for Matt to start the season in Cincinnati but our faith in karma and everything happening just the way it is supposed to not only comforted us but really allowed us to be totally excited about going back to Louisville - a city we both love!  We spent Friday night spouting off all the things we were going to do when we got to Louisville, each thing getting us more stoked about being there.

We try to always look at things in perspective - it could be so much worse and when we think of it like that, it seems not only silly to complain, but selfish and ungrateful.  We are so grateful to have one another, good family and friends surrounding us, a wonderful city to spend time in, an excellent coaching staff to take care of Matt, great teammates, healthy bodies to help us do everything well, healthy minds to keep us living in the moment, and the fun-loving spirits that allow us to have a good time no matter where we go in life :)  

Here we are in Louisville then - we rented an apartment in the same complex we lived in last year except this year, instead of renting all of our furniture, we moved all of our things from Columbus and Huron that had been in storage to Louisville (including all of our wedding gifts!).  We are surrounded by all of our own things!  I never knew it would make this big of a difference - it is wonderful!  I decided to make this happen because we hadn't had any of our own things - our bed, dressers, kitchenware, etc. - in over a year!  And since we'd been renting vacation homes (in Austin and in Goodyear), we'd been staying in fully furnished places which is all great but not for long periods of time.  Matt had been bumming about "never feeling home" anywhere because 1) we move around so much and 2) we never had any of our own things.  I knew it was really bothering him and that he just wasn't comfortable.  So, although I knew it would be a pain in the ass and a lot of moving and unpacking and sorting, I decided to move everything to Louisville so that Matt could have a real home to come home to.  We've spent about 3 weeks gathering, moving, unpacking, rearranging and we are finally pretty settled into our cozy little place.  I am SO GLAD we decided to do it because WOW - it does make a huge difference and Matt is so happy and I love that he's so happy :)  

Life has been good, so good.  We have been having a great time with teammates and wives and family here.  We haven't been worrying at all about what will happen tomorrow, or next week, or the rest of the season - we really have just been enjoying every moment we have here.  Not only is life so much more enjoyable this way, but things go so much more smoothly and Matt can easily go out and do his job on the mound because he is comfortable, confident, and not caught up in what's going to happen next.  The feeling of ease that we both have is something I truly wish for everyone - and it comes from simply appreciating what you have now and where you are at now.

Currently, Mo is on the 7 day DL (disabled list) for that nasty blister on his left hand middle finger that hasn't fully healed since last August!  He is scheduled to pitch again in Scranton on April 29th and has been throwing the past couple of days and says everything feels good.  I have been asking family, friends, strangers (LOL) to send healing energy and prayers to his finger for a speedy and full recovery and I think its been working so THANK YOU!  He has been having a great start to the season so far - below is a link to an good article on him with a summary of how things are going:

Maloney Among League Leaders After Three Starts

Lots of fun things are going on in Louisville right now - we just had Thunder Over Louisville this past weekend and now its Kentucky Derby Festival all the way until next Saturday!  So, although the boys will be on a long 8 day road trip next week, there will be plenty of fun to be had in Louisville!  Friends are coming down and I'll be in my big hat at the Derby to pass the time while Mo is away ;)

Note to self: going to try to be better about blogging this month... cheers!

PICTURES OF OUR HOME:

PICTURES OF FUN IN LOUISVILLE THUS FAR:

The Big Guy

10 Things I'm Loving About Him Right Now.

1) His continual attention to my personal interests and activities even though he has lots going on in his own career - asking and genuinely listening to what I've been up to or thinking - how my day went - how I'm feeling in my 60 days of Bikram Yoga - how my energy levels are ... its incredible how much better I always feel just knowing that he is always interested in how I am.

2) His laugh - the one thats so perfect and true - the one that brings tears to his eyes from so much uninterrupted joy - the one with an unmistakeable sound that is all his own ... I've been hearing it a lot lately and just listening to him laugh gets me going and makes me feel insanely happy.

3) His growing character - the way he continually allows himself to be open to new experiences in order to grow into this beautiful, fun-loving, relaxed, open-minded individual - the way he uses his experiences to form a strong persona with such integrity ... I discover more to love about him each day.

4) His love for Lucy and Gus - the way he'll lay on the floor and wrestle with them until they're tired - the way he makes sure they're comfortable at night (even though they're just dogs) - the love in his eyes as he watches them playing outside enjoying themselves ... its such a pure selfless love he has for them and truly heartwarming to witness giving me a small glimpse of what kind of father he will be.

5)  His attitude about life which he translates to ball, relationships, and change - staying positive through each situation he is presented with - his ability to figure out how he can make his life good no matter what is thrown his way and his faith in the idea that when you can relax and keep moving forward, good things will come to you ... I am never more impressed than when I see how he handles himself during rough spots in our life.

6) His integrity - the way he carries himself with confidence but not cockiness - the way he puts everything he has into anything he does, stays true to his own abilities and gives 100% genuine effort all the time - the way he remains honest and wholesome in a lifestyle that turns many people greedy and deceitful ... I feel so blessed to have a man that I can learn so much from and lean on whenever I need.


7) His courage to try new things and be himself in any situation - the way he said for months that he would come with me to yoga and finally has begun his own journey into yoga (and is actually really enjoying it) - the way he fearlessly and confidently steps up to any challenge and truly trusts his body, mind, and talent to help him follow through ... I couldn't be happier to have a husband who not only recognizes the importance of continual development, learning, and growing as a human being, but creates and takes opportunities to make these things happen. 


8) His inner calm through absolutely everything - the way he accepts changes in his world and looks at them not as hardships but as different opportunities - the way he does not let anything steal his inner peace, always so collected and focused in his personal life and his career - the way he channels any anger he may be feeling to this beautiful proactive energy to help him in his circumstance whatever it may be ... I am envious and completely inspired by this characteristic in him.


9) His appreciation for the little things - the way he comes up right behind me when I'm cooking dinner to kiss my cheek and tell me thank you - the smile that spreads across his face when I pick him up from the field every now and then - the glaze over his eyes as he watches the dogs playing, laughing to himself, just happy that they're having fun - the sound he makes when he bites into a really good steak, so appreciating just the delicious melting in his mouth ... His gratitude reminds me of all the small blessings we have to be grateful for every day.


10) His tall, athletic build - the way I fit perfectly into his arms and can nuzzle my head right into his chest and neck - the feeling I get just sitting next to him on the couch: safe, warm, loved - the way he liberally hugs me throughout the day, really squeezing tight to make sure I know he means every one - the way he lets me sprawl out in bed at night even though I'm half his size and taking up way more of the bed than he ... I sometimes wonder what it would be like if he weren't 6'3", 215 lbs, and I instantly recognize my immense appreciation for his size -- he's my big guy and I absolutely love that.

The Happenings

Here is about a month's worth of some of the random, lovely happenings taking place in our lives while here in Goodyear:

WALKS.
Every day Lucy, Gus, and I venture out into the sunshine for an hour-long power walk through the parks, sidewalks, and playgrounds of our neighborhood here in Goodyear.  The pups are always plowing ahead, workin' those hammies, so enthusiastic and grateful to be able to enjoy the great outdoors so often.  After our walks, Lucy and Gus find the spot on the carpet where the sun is shining in through the window and take themselves a long afternoon nap together.  Its glorious. Here are a few shots of the scenery we are able to enjoy and their afternoon siesta...

FAMILY.

Its been awesome to spend time with my grandparents- Fred and Barb- and my cousin and her fiance- Sam and Luke.  We have been getting together at least once a week for a variety of different things including: dinner, drinks, dance shows, cook-outs, ball games, wedding-dress shopping... It is so nice to be able to spend time with the "roots" while we are out west far from our immediate families.  We always have a good time and its wonderful to be around people that share the same interests and values.  It makes for good conversations and a loving atmosphere.  We are enjoying every minute.  Here are a few shots from our dinner at Organ Stop- a pizza place with one of the largest organs of all time that plays instruments that are on the wall around the restaurant. It was a hoot! 

DOWN TIME.

We have been spending a lot of time with friends on the team, including but not limited to- Jared Burton and his girlfriend Audrey, Justin and Guia Lehr, Sam LeCure, Chris Valaika, Nick and Jennah Masset, D-Ray (obviously) doing activities such as dinners at a string of local restaurants and bars about a mile from our house, cook-outs on the weekends, movies at the theater, and an occasional game night at our place. 

The boys had a little Super Bowl party a while back which included way too much food, way too much beer (a keg... yes! a keg!), football and beer pong in the garage before, during halftime, and after the game.  It was a good time no doubt. 

Mo and I drove up to Chandler a couple weekends ago to spend some time with Justin and Guia and check out their home (they live in Chandler, AZ in the off-season).  We had some good Mexican food, played with their beautiful and hilarious children- Reed and Avery, and relaxed in front of their fire pit on the back porch watching the sun set.  It was so nice to spend time with a couple that has a similar mindset and lifestyle to us.  They are both very relaxed and put off the go-with-the-flow vibe which we love.  

We got to check out the big golf tournament in Scottsdale- well, we didn't watch any golf but we did get hooked up with media passes to the O.A.R. concert that Saturday night.  Mo, D-Ray, and I drove up to Scottsdale for the night to enjoy some music and a very large crowd.  We had a few drinks and met up with a few other teammates and friends.  

Our newly started baseball wives book club got together for the first time about a week ago.  It was great to meet and get to know some of the girls I had never met before and so nice to converse about things other than baseball.  We chatted and had some snacks and enjoyed the female company.  Our next book is The Namesake and I've found a few more girls that want to come as well so it should be a very interesting and dynamic discussion about this book- as well as a great reason to get together and socialize.

Of course, I've been chugging along strong at my 60 day Bikram Yoga challenge.  I hit my half-way mark this past Friday and am feeling completely drained but completely invigorated at the same time.  I caught a little bug late last week and was thinking it was most likely all the negative energy and emotion being released from my body due to all this yoga.  I was reminded that I need to slow down and take care of myself every now and then... Every day is different.  It is still challenging and sometimes I feel like I just can't get my head on straight but I just keep going.  I keep going because I know I am on this incredible journey and I trust that the process is a beautiful and complete way to heal everything (physical and psychological) in me.  

I just actually had the opportunity to take a posture clinic with a senior yoga teacher, Michael Harris, this past Saturday through the studio where I practice.  It was an all day event- 9am-3:30pm and it was wonderfully enlightening!  I got to connect with fellow yogis and learn a lot about the specific postures in the Bikram series and the mentality behind the practice.  I also learned a lot about myself and my own practice.  I am so grateful that I got to have this experience.  It reaffirmed that I am right where I need to be.

We just saw Alice in Wonderland with D-Ray, Nick, and Jennah last night at the IMAX in 3D- it was a great flick with some awesome colors and characters.

Here are a couple photos from a Friday night game night at our place with a few friends- we played Cranium and Balderdash and were rolling around laughing all night... it was too much fun!

 

And a few shots from the O.A.R. show

BALL GAME.

Last but not least my first ball game of 2010.  I went to a bit of the Spring Training opener last Friday- Reds vs. Indians- to watch Mo do some work and get a peek of this new field.  It really was beautiful and the weather completely cooperated with warm temperatures and sunny, blue skies.  I went with Audrey and my cousin, Sam.  Mo looked pretty sharp in his uniform-- besides that his pants might be a tad too big now...

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.