NeighborHOOD Baseball

There is an open lot behind our house where the neighborhood kids play baseball. I just love it. It reminds me of what I think the old days might have been like. Most of the kids in our neighborhood are very poor. They don't need anything fancy or official. They are happy to be together. They used traffic cones and an AC unit for bases and they had a blast.

Gabe on base

Judah up to bat

The Woman I Want To Be

I've always wondered what the bid deal is about Ruth. I finally read through her story myself and fell in love with her inner beauty. Her choice to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, was probably a hard one, but the right one. Naomi had turned into a bitter, negative woman after the death of her husband and sons, but who could blame her? On the other hand, how could you leave a lonely old woman to figure out life all alone? I'm sure Ruth had her own opinions about things, but she never argued with Naomi. She trusted and obeyed. She called herself "your servant, Ruth." Boaz (the hottest and wealthiest man in town) said of her that "everyone in town knows you are an honorable woman." Her reputation came from her inner life. She was a woman of humility and service and God blessed her with favor, food, a job, and eventually the whopper - Boaz himself. And it didn't stop there. Through them came the lineage of Jesus.
In this fast paced, materialistic, keeping up with the Jones' world we live in, it is so easy to get distracted with everything we should be doing and could be having. Reading the story of Ruth reminded me that there is only one kind of woman I need to be to my family and friends - one who humbly serves.

1st Grade Over!!

Today was Gabe's award ceremony and last day of school. He received "The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness" award and scripture memory award, which means he memorized his weekly scriptures all year. There were times during the year that I really didn't know if he was going to make it but he ended the year with mostly all A's and B's. The only C was in Phonics, his most difficult subject. It's officially summer in the Vogel house. Now on to sleeping in (for Gabe), swimming, and playgroups!

My Mothers Day

Flowers from all the boys...

Lunch at Cracker Barrel after church...

Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen after seeing Avengers with Aaron & Gabe...

And we ended the day with old fashioned chocolate malts! I also got $10 from each kid and Aaron (so that's $50) for shopping!!! I had a great mother's day! Thanks, Aaron for making it so special every year!

Baseball Season 2012

This year Gabe has moved out of teeball and into the 7-8 team. The boys are stronger, practices are longer, and the parents are serious! Last year, Gabe was one of the older kids in teeball, so his athletic ability was obvious. I was a proud mama hearing parents' comments about how good he was. This year the competition had clearly gone up. He still has a natural athletic ability, but hasn't gotten as much attention. It has taught both of us what playing is really about. While it's great to win, it's more important to keep a good attitude, especially in disappointment, and to show the loving, serving, patient character of Christ while on the field. We've had lots of great talks about this and it's been more rewarding to watch my baby grow internally than externally. I'd rather him have God's applause than man's. That's a lesson for us all to remember.

Mazie is One!

The birthday girl princess getting into her cake!

Easy Days

Isaiah and Gabe were gone for the day so I only had Judah and Mazie - my two easy kids. It was a breeze! We went to McDonald's for pancakes and an ice cream at 10:00 in the morning!