The Boys of Fall

I love October!!

Here are a few reasons why:

• the entire Holiday season is ahead of me... October is anticipation
• October is a sportsman's dream - Baseball playoffs and College football is in full swing; every game counts but the season isn't wrapping up yet
• the colors of autumn are amazing; as a friend said, "Autumn is when all the leaves become flowers"

Have you heard the Kenny Chesney song, "The Boys of Fall"? It is an awesome song... it is an even better video.

Do you pray for The Boys of Fall? I do.

Sometimes I feel a little silly, but I'm not praying for my team's victory - I'm praying for the young men training, practicing, playing college and professional football; these men who are learning from each other and from their coaches. Their coaches and teammates can teach them strong character, honorable values and lead them to the Lord, or they can teach them that winning is everything and to live for their own glory.

These college football teams are comprised of 18-year-old college freshman to 23-year-old college seniors and all ages in between and children look up to these kids. Children dream of becoming football players like the boys on the football field.

Join me in praying for the boys of fall.

22nd Anniversary

October 8, 1988 was the day my sister got married. She married a man named Dan and thus began, what I think of as 10 of the most joyful years of my family.

Tracey and Dan were engaged Christmas 1987... I was young. All of my memories of my family include my sister's husband.
This is the family I best remember from my formative years - ages 4-14 years: Trent (brother), Daddy, Mom, Tracey, and Dan
This picture was a "flower girl gift" from Tracey and Dan to me for being in their wedding. It has been in my room ever since.
Tracey is in the background and I'm in the foreground... I don't have many pictures of us from her wedding day.
During the 10 years of Tracey and Dan's marriage, there were six of us: Mom, Dad, Tracey, Dan, Trent and me... we took some amazing trips and had some wonderful times.Okay, so I seriously re-oriented this picture multiple times and saved it right-side-up... and it keeps posting to the blog up-side-down. So, you can flip your computer up-side-down or you can stand on your head. Any ideas from those more computer-savvy than I am, please share suggestions and help!!!This picture is on its side... I'm sorry. It was one of my families best memories -- attending the 1989 Orange Bowl in Florida where University of Colorado played Notre Dame... we've always been a college football family. As far as I know, it is the only bowl game most of us ever attended.Many of these pictures can be categorized - pre-cancer and with-cancer. So far all of the pictures have been pre-cancer.This picture is with-cancer. This picture was taken Thanksgiving 1997. Dan had been battling cancer for nearly a year and he died May 28 of the following year. Tracey died of cancer four years later.While I remain frustrated and saddened that this marriage and both of these lives ended so early, I am trying to focus my heart toward gratitude that this marriage happened. No matter how short-circuited, these were joyful years for my family. I am so grateful that this marriage happened and that I have as many memories as I have with Tracey and Dan.

Happy Anniversary, Dan and Trace! I miss you both. Our family is not the same without you... but we're living on in your memory.

Baseball Trip: July 26-31

End of the line for our baseball trip... I actually think its kind of fitting that I've gotten around to posting this pictures at this time of year -- BASEBALL PLAYOFFS!!!!

July 26 - Driving through Idaho to Missoula, MT to buy cell phones (no sales tax in Montana!!!) - and staying longer than expected
Wide Montana skies!
July 27 - Across Montana and North Dakota
Great sunset behind us

Night-time driving
Notice our gas gauge... we made it to a gas station - on fumes! Range 0 miles... E
July 28 - Minneapolis, Tour of Target Field, Mall of America
Evidently the artist who drew this when the TWINS franchise began, thought that it might be used on dixie cups or something -- he never imagined it would become the center field well-known symbol of the team. He said he wouldn't have made a silly cartoon if he had any idea of how much the image would be used... there's a lesson here. Always do your best!

This is a wind/decorative screen that is designed to look like shimmering water when the wind blows.
In the press box
Calling in the pinch-hitter!
In front of the golden-glove... I think this was a big deal, but I don't remember why.
Welcome to Mall of America!!!
There are hundreds of shops in wings around the center of the mall... there is an amusement park in the center of the mall!
I convinced Chris to pop his head in the American Girl store... I was shocked to learn that Samantha and Kirsten have been retired... I guess I have two collector's items.

What a great trip! Our last day was spent on the road and then meeting my parents in Chicago... the whole trip had to be cut a little shorter than expected because Chris had to be back in Colorado ready to start a new job on August 2.

I meant to get a last picture of us by the car as we said good bye to our awesome road trip adventure... but of course I forgot and our last documentation of the trip is from the Mall of America.

Baseball Trip: July 24-25

Chris and I had a great time during our weekend in Seattle - and with two boys ages 4 and 1.5, we took SO many pictures!

I'm glad Emily commented on the fact Chris and I slept so many nights in the car... when I talked to my brother on the phone a day or two before we arrived in Seattle, I told him we had just spent our 4th consecutive night in the car, and he said, "Well, Brooke, you're in luck! We have a spare car up here, so you and Chris can each have your own car to sleep in!" Oh, brothers...

July 24 - Hike with Trent, Jake and Ryan; Cook-out at Trent's house
Chris found a snake next to the path and the boys thought it was awesome! Trent is my brother in the blue hat, Ryan is the 1.5-year-old blondie in Trent's arms, and Jake is the four-year-old in the red hat... and Chris is the snake charmer.
We walked to a place where water drips onto drums - and when the water stops, you can clap or tap your feet to get the water to start again. Jake and Ryan loved clapping and dancing for the drums!
Aunt Brookie and her two adorable nephews, Jake and Ryan!
The Sanden crew! Trent, Jake, Ryan and me!
Jake in the water looking for rocks to throw
Ryan is really enjoying that, even it if looks like he's crying - he's laughing!
This is the little Radio Flier my mom and dad bought for Ryan for Christmas. He looked so cute on it!
Jake and Aunt Brooke!
Trent at the grill. Trent makes AMAZING food on the grill!
Chris and the boys. Hanging out after lots of games and water fights.
Ryan with his first ear of corn-on-the-cob
Maria and Ryan
Chris and me at Pike Street Market... awesome times with the Flying Fish!Children's statue at Safeco Park!
SUPER JAKE!!!
Jake is wearing the W&L Smart Cookie shirt I bought him a few years ago. This is kid is Washington and Lee bound!
The food at Safeco Field was AWESOME - and the signs were hilarious! "Roast Roast Roast for the Home Team..."
Ichiroll... not to be confused with the Mariner's player Ichiro Suzuki
The GROUNDS crew!
Intentional WOK - I think these are hilarious!
Double Play Desserts
A little baseball trivia!
Rolling Roof Refreshments - the Safeco Field roof rolls on and off
Chris caught it!!!
Then I caught it!
AWESOME food! Fruit-kabobs!
Great time at the game! Trent, Jake, me, Chris! Go Mariners!
Jake ran the bases after the game. He did awesome!Chris beneath the Space Needle
And a view from the top!
Chris brought some fireworks out to set off in front of the boys... they loved it! Jake, Trent, Maria and Ryan.Jake, Maria, Ryan, Trent!
Chris, Jake, me, Ryan and Maria at Snoqualmie Falls!
We had been to three corners of the county (Maine, San Diego, Seattle) by this time... what an awesome trip!

Last leg of the trip to come...