Curveball easy?

"Life throws you a curve but also makes it right across the edge of the plate so you can send it for a ride and have no worries about if your gonna make it to first base or not... Thank you god for those ridiculous curves without them I would be swinging at the same ole slow fastball" per Jaque's facebook post today.

Funny, how her brain works. Some girls fear the fastball, and never really sees a ball curve as it comes at them. But my girl, well....let me tell you a few secrets about her.

The first day Jaque went to pitching lessons, we were in Fastpitch World in Russellville AR. She had to be about 11 or so, not really sure. But the coach told her to throw what pitches that she had learned with her dad, and Monica, a local friend that had a really good background in pitching. There she went, throwing as hard as she could...accuracy was coming around good. He then showed her a bunch of grips with the ball. Fastball and changeup, curve, screwball, a second change up, drop ball, rise ball....well, you get the point.

When he was finished he asked her what she would like to work on. He suggested the rise or drop. Jaque asked him which was the hardest to learn, he said curve. She said "I think I will start with that one." Yep, that is her. Full steam ahead. By the end of the lesson, she had it down, and off we went to work on it at home. In the next few lessons we had at Fastpitch World, she even threw a drop curve that managed to change speeds. Her coach was highly impressed, and like us, told her that nothing was impossible for her.

It is great remembering those times, but even greater knowing what that time in her life taught her. To try your best, to expect nothing less, and remember the game face is for the game....leave it all on the field. Where a smile everywhere else.

The last high school game she played, was regionals with the Lady Lions. We lost in a terrible fashion, on errors. When it was over, she walked over to us...her family that followed our fearless leader. She was smiling, and said "I do not understand why they are all crying." They were her teammates. She said "mom, I know I gave my all, I know I tried my best, today just was not our day." Then, in true Jaque fashion, she said "Where we gonna eat?"

I say all of this because it is part of who she is, a hero to me. She is my daily smile and reminder to live each day. She has "gotten it"

Chris and I recently were blessed with being fortunate enough to visit our friends Tracey, Eric, and sister Hannah Lacy. Their son, Buck, is in Tulsa ICU as I type this. Buck is a fighter, and he too is defying what the world says are expectations, and he is showing that God is the true healer. Buck recently had brain surgery. They will soon be getting him off the vent and slowing trying to wake him from the coma that he has been medically placed in since his surgery. I tell you this so you can pray specifically for Buck. For pain free and smooth transition.

After our visit with the Lacy's, I was reminded by all those feelings of Jaque's accident. I told Chris that you did not have to be best friends with someone to be the closest to each other in prayer after something unexpected happens to them. Our community and their family have been through lot, but as we Christians know, we are being prepared for heaven, and our trials make us stronger and closer to God. Pray for Buck tonight, thank you.

Well, just as an update, vacation was wonderful. The Shepherd Center brought old friends, and the opportunity for Jaque to touch a recently injured young mans life. He was thinking of what he would do when he got back home to his farm. She told him all the activities that she did, and when she left him.....he was indeed smiling.

Ann at UCANSKI2 was AWESOME. No other way to put it. She is such an inspiration and what she has done in her lifetime, well....she touches so so so many lives. Ann - God Bless You and your mighty works.

Disney too was as expected. Wonderful rides, even better shows, and our tour guide (dad Chris) picked excellent food. We even got to visit cousin Karen (who couldn't find her car so we helped) and with Jason Mills, Jaque's neighbor for our 3 months in ATL. On the way home we stopped off at Destin. All I can say about that was we will definitely be back!

Long trip, but was indeed what God wanted our family doing over spring break. I could feel his presence with us. He was revealing to me that Jaque would see through Ann what an inspiration she is through the lives of others.

I always say my imperfect perfect teenager. Faults, yes, she has them. We all do, all but our Father in Heaven. But through Jaque, and Buck, people will come to God. They will stop wandering the path that leads to no where, and they will get on the one that is labeled God's WILL for their lives.

Each day is a gift in this life. We go through them some days with a frown, down and worrying about simple things, all of which are out of our control. But when you learn to let God control it, when you learn to turn it all over to him, Life turns out to be an amazing journey of miracles all around us.

Sometimes God speaks in a shower with water beating on the back of your stressed neck, sometimes he comes in a hospital room with the curtains shut and the lights off, but I promise if you will just ask him in your heart, it will warm. You will know his quiet still voice, you will know peace.

Thank you for listening to my constant rambles on this blog. Our journey is not one to be locked in journal for only us to see, it is written and happening to share with you all, our family and friends. If our journey can help save just one soul from the wrath of Hell, then it will have been worth it. We are preparing for the hear after, share this with someone who needs a little pick me up. For when we get to Heaven, we want to share it with those around us!

God's Plan

March.......tornadoes, rain, sweaters, shorts, gardening, golf, 4 wheelers, don't you just love living in Oklahoma? You get the best, and sometimes worst, of the 4 seasons. Jaque is taking Oklahoma history so we have been learning a lot about our great state.

Soon, we will be packing up the ol' ford and leaving OK. ROAD TRIP. We are headed to Atlanta and the to Orlando.

First and foremost on the list is visiting friends that we made while at the Shepherd Center. We are hoping to see new and innovative therapies while we are there. It is so exciting for me to know that they will see that their work is SOOOOO rewarding. We left with a fragile little girl. She was pale, tired, and working hard to recover. We return with a young woman. She is radiant, outgoing, beautiful, and glowing with all life has to offer. Part of that, I will take credit for. Chris and I work hard to always let her know that the sky is the limit. And if you are going to do it, do it the best that you can.

But a major part of the credit goes to Angel, Jana, Jenny, Mary Jane, Jackie, Koneka, Kiki (our American idol), Cheryl, and a host of friends that we made in our 3+ months journey at the place God touches daily....the Shepherd Center in Atlanta GA.

They will see that she is fearless. She is just like every other teenager, just mike take her a few more minutes to get where she is going.....that is if a forklift (aka dad, tater, fufu, etc) are not around. This fearlessness in Jaque can directly be traced back to Papa's Danny, Phillip, and Larry. They never treated her with kid gloves, rather just sit back and watched her in awe. Grandma's Donna and Kay......they have been there through it all - and have showed her what true unconditional love is. Aunt's Em, Belinda, Prissy, Larissa, Kari,and Lindi listen when she is hurting, keep secrets when it is a little to "crazy" for mom, and always are literally a phone call or text away. And the backbone of this crazy family, the uncle's CJ Lane Randy Toby Aaron Tyler and Cecil, with honorary members like Bo, Shawn, Eugene, Mike, Presley, and heath.....took the kicks in the shin when she was little, and now take the wheels over the toes. Yep, they are what makes this little girl the toughest around.

I hate naming names, I always forget someone...forgive me!! I am getting old. It is impossible to list everyone, but women like Courtney, Suzanne, Melissa, Cissy, and Lori have made her set her sights high for a boyfriend or husband.

My girl.........she is gonna be alright......she is "little miss do your thang."

Anyway.....we will be going to orlando for Disney, but most importantly...WAKE BOARDING. Yep, she is getting fitted and will get lessons on wake boarding. We are so excited!!!! What a blessing. I have NO Doubt that God is guiding this trip. It is long over due. He is making our path, and Chris and I are fortunate to be along for the ride. And we cannot forget that Eddie is excited also.

Jaque continues to push what the world sets as her limits. I thought my job was to make her into the person I thought she should be, but it seems as though she is the old making me into a better person.

We will be posting pictures on facebook of our trip. Thanks so much to Toby for keeping the house safe while we are gone. I love Larissa and Toby. They do so much for us daily.

Oh, and school is going well for her....but she says "its still school" lol

May God be with you and as we approach the summer months ask yourself this question-- What am I missing out on in life? Stretch your limits, and LIVE!! Make those that have gone before us proud to look down from Heaven and see all that we have accomplished.

See you all soon. Please pray for our safe travels.