Thursday, November 6, 2014

New Shirts!!!

I am excited to share the 1 Cor
10:31 shirts I have in stock. If you
want to purchase a shirt, they are
$20 (including S&H)- they
come in sizes youth medium
to Adult 2XL.  You can pay
through paypal:
leah20usa@gmail.com

When you send payment, let
me know if you want me to
sign the shirt! Make sure to
include the size and an
address. Thanks and
keep shining for the Lord in
ALL you do!

Lots of school, travel, softball, speaking, and more. . .

I have not been good about updating
my blog, so here is a blast of
pictures from the past few months:

2014-2015 school year. . .

 It has been a crazy, busy couple
of months!  School is in full swing
(I am homeschooling once again),
and we are balancing it all as I
have had many opportunities
to travel, instruct, and speak.
In terms of teaching my boys,
I now have a 2nd grader, 3rd
grader, and 7th grader!  Where
has the time gone?!
JFSC VA


We continue to do Jennie
Finch Camps (our last one
for 2014 is this weekend in
Tucson, AZ!).  I'm excited
to get back to Wildcat Country
and see some of my favorite
people in the softball world!

JFSC AL

 Jennie, Crystl Bustos and I all
have birthdays in early September,
so Jennie decided to rent out the
paintball facility to celebrate!  It
was my first and my last time but
it was a lot of crazy fun.  Memories
were made for sure that day!

Bible Study Sunday morning
at JFSC

It was exciting to get the NEW
FCA Softball Sports New Testament!
Just released this fall and it features
my former teammates and coach and
other softball stars!

Softball continues to bring new
friends into my life, and I love
how God just combines opportunities
to see friends from across the country!
Taylor (TN) and Caity (VA) were
involved with Jennie's camp in VA
and we all traveled to the Dominican
Republic in the summer of 2013.
We will be traveling to Spain together
next summer with America's Team!
Taylor and Caity


This summer, we went to a Red Sox  vs Angels game so
Tommy could cheer on his favorite team!
I had the chance to meet Willie
Robertson from Duck Dynasty
in Sulphur, LA when Jennie
Finch and Sulphur put on a
fundraiser for the Wounded
Warrior Amputee Softball
Team.  We had Jennie's camp
that weekend as well.  It was
AWESOME!  And Willie is
such a great guy!  We even
played outfield together- he
can play :)
 I turned the BIG 4-0 in
September!! And I was able
to spend my birthday with
my family and closest friends.
The older you get, the more
you realize that the greatest
gifts in life are the relationships
you have with those around you!

I also took a trip to Mexico
for my birthday.  We planned
to go to Cabo San Lucas but
a hurricane destroyed the area
one week before we were
supposed to be there.  So we
had a quick change of plans
and went to Rosarito.  It was
fun to spend quality time with
my brother and sister-in-law
and my best friend and her
husband.
 The food was amazing!!
 We found some fun treasures. . .
 And I crossed a bucket list
item: Riding horses on the beach!

 Drew and Luke are finishing up
their soccer season.  Luke's team
is undefeated heading into play-offs.
Drew's team has struggled but he
has met some new friends and
enjoyed being out on the field.
 I have been honored to have
more opportunities to share
about how important Jesus
is in our lives!  I spoke at the
Ashlie Pipkin Memorial
Tournament in Sumter, SC
in September.

September also marked a full
year of working out.  I haven't
done workouts like these since
I retired 10 years ago.  Although
the weights are not as heavy,
it has been hard work and I
have enjoyed the struggle!


 I spoke at the Purpose
Conference for teen girls
in Norco, CA.
It was so nice to have
some quality girlfriend time.
A few weeks ago, I spent a
Fri-Sat with some
dear friends of mine at
Beth Moore's Conference
in San Diego.
It was refreshing and
encouraging!
 We celebrated my niece,
Brooklyn's, 3rd Birthday
in September, and Drew's
9th Birthday on October 8th.
I was excited to get the chance to 
go back to West Virginia.  Faith
Christian Fellowship brought me out
for a softball outreach and to speak
at their Sunday church service.  I
was so honored and have met the
most wonderful people!  It was such
a bonus to have the entire Marshall
University Softball Team and staff
help at the clinic and come to the
church service.  


 We took a family field trip to the
San Diego Safari Park last month 
and it was so nice to have Tommy
go with us!



Oak Glen . .
 Oak Glen is a family tradition
and this year we were able to
have Caity go with us.  She is
staying with our family for 3
months as a travel nurse in the
OR at Children's Hospital Los
Angeles.  She also helped us to
get some great shots for family
pictures.
Cousins
 My niece, Taylor, is playing travel
ball now for CIA out of Chino Hills.
I was able to speak to the girls a few
weeks ago.  My passion is to encourage,
inspire, and empower these young ladies
to be all that God has called them to be!

 I was honored to speak at a
fundraiser for Westmont Girls
Basketball as they are preparing
for a trip next summer to Africa.
Santa Barbara is so beautiful-
it was fun to enjoy the weather
and beach for the short time we
were there.
 A couple weeks ago, I helped
at a clinic at Lander University
in South Carolina.  We also worked
with FCA and I was able to share
about the love of Christ.  I love how
God is connecting me with others
who have the same heart!  The
Lander Head Softball Coach is
Tina Whitlock, and we were
teammates when we were 14
years old and then again in Women's
Ball.  She is so strong and bold in
her faith!  It was inspiring.
We hung out with good friends on
Halloween this year.  The boys
enjoyed dressing up and getting
candy!  They wore these costumes
to their Thursday classes that
they take.

 I was able to speak this week
for Sports World in Watertown,
NY and surrounding towns.  The
response was so encouraging!  These
students just need reminders sometimes
that they are not alone in their
struggles, and they all can achieve
greatness with hard work!

Tommy has been working so hard:
eating healthy and working out and
 I am SO proud of him!  He 
has lost so much weight and
has shown great discipline!
In January we will celebrate 
our 16th Wedding Anniversary!

 This has been a very hectic couple
months, but I cannot complain at all.
We are beyond blessed and I am
thankful for my family and for
all that God has allowed me to do.
I am looking forward to the holidays
with my loved ones!  I can't believe
it's already November.


Monday, June 16, 2014

3 colors offered for Philippians 4:13 shirts

This Texas team got their shirts
as an end of the season gift :)
They look great!
Order your Philippians 4:13 shirt 

There are now 4 colors to choose
from:
Hot Pink

White with yellow glitter softball
or
Neon Yellow shirt
&
Gray (*new color- no glitter ball on gray)

How to order:

Cost : $20 (includes S&H)

Paypal: leah20usa@gmail.com

Write down size, color of shirt, and
shipping address.

Sizes available are:
Youth Medium, Youth Large

Adult Small, Adult Medium,
Adult Large, Adult XL (white, pink, & gray),
Adult XXL (white & gray)



(FYI- the shirts run
a little big- I wear an
adult medium and it
is loose on me)
*no returns

Shirts are Gildan Ultra
Cotton Pre-shrunk

We are created to shine
for our Lord. . . ON and
OFF the field!

God Bless You! Phil 4:13

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Family Trip to Big Bear 2014

 We have been taking an annual trip
to Big Bear and the mountains
for 5 years now and each year
is so different.  Last year we
had a storm right before heading
up the mountain and it snowed
while we were there.
 This year there was no snow,
except for the man-made stuff
for skiing and snowboarding.

We took a nice hike one
day while were there and
another day I took Drew
snowboarding with my
brother and nephew.
It was his first time and
he had a blast!  I didn't
even realize how long
it had been since I had
been on skis!  My last
time was 17 years ago
and this was only my
third time ever! But it's
like riding a bike, once
you learn, you always
remember how to do it.
I can't wait to go back
next year.
 Tommy took Jake and my
niece zip lining.  They had
a great time as well.  I'll
have to do that at some
point too!
 Even with a tiny bit of snow,
the view of the lake was
gorgeous!
 Each night we watched the
Winter Olympics and cheered
on the USA athletes.  It was
so fun for Drew to snow board
since he was watching the
amazing talent of the Olympians
each day.

Monday, January 27, 2014

The start of another year. . .

My 1-yr-old Niece, Halle

2014 is here and life is moving along
as quick as usual!  The holidays were so
wonderful.  I always love the down time 
with family when my schedule has nothing
on it!  
We loved having Nana & Papa from Boston 
again this year!  We love our family and 
it is hard to be so far away, but we
are thankful for the time together over
Christmas.
 Christmas Eve at my house is so
much fun.  The past couple years
we have even had my sister-in-law's
family spend it with us.  The more
the merrier!  I love spending quality
time with people I care about.
 I was so far behind on posting so
I'm going to do a quick re-cap
of some highlights of 2013:

Dec: God & Country Game
Phoenix, AZ
Wounded Warrior Amputee
Softball Team vs FCA All-
Stars (once again, another
great time with these heroes!)
 December:
Serving at Operation Christmas
Child Packaging Center with
my Bible study friends and
some of the girls (including
my 13-yr-old niece, Taylor)

I will definitely volunteer to
do this again next year!
 October:
Another great trip to New
York for Jennie Finch Softball
Camp meant a red-eye flight
and half a day in NYC!
Toni, Dre, and I made the
most of our time!


Summer:
First time to Niagra Falls!
I know I posted about
this but it was one of
the highlights of my year!

 Summer:
We took a quick family trip
to San Francisco and walked
on the Golden Gate Bridge.
We saw the seals and had
dinner at Pier 39.  We ate
a chocolate fudge sundae
at Ghiradelli Square and rode
the Trolley street car for the
first time! We walked to
China Town and took pictures
above Lombard St (the crooked
street!).  We ended our trip
in San Francisco at the Boston
Red Sox vs Giants game.
The boys had a blast and we
want to go back again soon!




We took the scenic (LONG) route
home.  It took forever but it was
worth it driving by the beautiful
coast.


We took another family trip to 
Zion, Utah.  The boys LOVE going
to Zion with their cousins and
I enjoy watching them run
around and enjoy being outdoors
and exploring.
We hiked to the top of Angel's
Landing again and this year
Tommy and Jake did the hike too!
I commentated the Finals
for the NPF (Pro Fastpitch) on
ESPN: Pride beat the Bandits
to become the Champions
We had some quality time with
my brother-in-law, Bob.
The boys have loved spending
time with their uncle but we're
all sad that he had to move back
to Minnesota in the winter.

 Fall 2013:
I spoke in Indiana for
Sports World and I was
blessed to also be able to
speak to an Amish school.
They even let me join in
their softball game!  It was
so fun meeting these sweet
people.
This part of the country was absolutely
breathtaking in the fall!  It was
gorgeous!
I even took my first buggy ride!


Fall: Drew and Luke played in their first
season of soccer.  They were on the same
team.  It took some time for them to
learn the game but both of them
improved a lot by the end of the
season.
In October I took Drew with me to
Louisiana for our camp with Jennie
Finch.  We had so much fun
on their land, on an airboat, by
the Shrimp boats and he even
shot a gun for the first time ever!


Because I homeschool, we have flexibility
in our schedule.  That allowed us to
spend a day helping hand out
clothes/shoes to families in need
in LA with the Fred Jordan Mission.
My boys said they wished they could
do that all the time.  It was really good for
them to see others who don't have much 
and to feel like they were making a
difference.

I went back to FJM on
Thanksgiving even though 
there were so many volunteers
and I didn't get to do much.
It was fun to go with my
friend, Kristi, and my
oldest son and my nephew.

Fall:
We took our annual family
trip to Oak Glen

Drew took karate/jujitsu for
a couple months again in the fall.
2013 was full of travel and adventure for
our family!  I am so thankful for all
the opportunities we have had to 
spend such quality time and make
memories on many different trips.
I am excited to see what 2014
has in store for my family.
God is so good to us and we
live to bring Him glory and
He gets all the thanks for
all that we have, all that
we are, and all that we do!