Baseball...

The time season most of our life is revolved around is here! :) I know Alex is happy; and as much as I miss him, I do enjoy getting to come and watch him play! I've been in AZ since Friday. I, unfortunately, have to leave tomorrow, but we have had a fun few days! I'm definitely looking forward to my next visit! I am so thankful for the opportunity Alex has to chase his dreams, and I am glad I get to be apart of it! :)

Spring Training!!

Hey everyone! Hope all is going well! Out here in AZ at spring training and staying super busy but loving every minute of it! I have found a great church out here that I go to every Sunday night called Christ Church of the Valley! Great stuff, great place, great people, and has a strong desire to share the love of Jesus! Just pure awesomeness! Also have been attending a bible study on Monday nights in Goodyear, AZ with players from other affiliates, last week was pretty cool, I met a pretty good left handed pitcher, some might know him (Clayton kershaw). Great guy, with an even greater love for the big guy up top! I recently had dinner with my agent and some of his other clients at an amazing steakhouse! What a treat!

Kelley and my mom get out here on March 23rd, so that is definitely something to be looking forward to! Everyday I have so much that reminds me of how thankful I should be.. All I can do is work as hard as I can with what Jesus has given me and trust his plan. Videos such as the Kony 2012 tell me how much of the simple things we can really take for granted.

That's it for now! I'll snap some photos and post some so you get an idea how cool my job really is! Here is a pic of me being goofy last year during the season..

Hope everyone has an awesome week!

Keep praying,
Alex

I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul

Father God, I am clay in your hands,
Help me to stay that way through all life's demands,
'Cause they chip and they nag and they pull at me,
And every little thing I make up my mind to be,
Like I'm gonna be a daddy whose in the mix,
And I'm gonna be a husband who stays legit,
And I pray that I'm an artist who rises above,
The road that is wide and filled with self love,
Everything that I see draws me,
Though it's only in You that I can truly see that its a feast for the eyes- a low blow to purpose.
And I'm a little kid at a three ring circus.

I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.

The paparazzi flashes, and that they think that it's you,
But they don't know that who you are is not what you do,
True, we get it twisted when we peak at the charts,
Yo before we part from the start,
Where's your heart?
You a pimp, hustler?
Tell me what's your title,
America has no more stars, now we call them idols,
You sit idle, While we teach prosperity,
The first thing to prosper should be inside of me.
We're free...
Not because of 22's on the range,
But Christ came in range, we said yes now we changed,
Not the same, even though I made a fall,
Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I'm Paul.


I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
Don't wanna walk away,
Don't wanna walk away

How do I sense the tide that's rising?
De-sensitizing me from living in light of eternity,
How do I sense the tide that's rising?
It's hypnotizing me from living in light of eternity,
How do I sense the tide that's rising?
De-sensitizing me from living in light of eternity.

Lord what we gon do,We're relying on you, 
all eyes are on you Lord, 
all eyes are on you, all eyes are on you Jesus.

I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
(Don't let me lose my soul, my soul.) 
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
(This is my honesty, Father, won't you cover me.)
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
(Don't wanna walk away, and all those people say)
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
(Don't wanna lose, I don't wanna lose my soul.)

Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world,
That fight for our love, and our passion,
As our eyes are open wide and on you. 
Grant us the privilege of your world view,
And may your kingdom be, what wakes us up, and lays us down.

Hallelujah, Don't wanna lose our soul,
No, Don't wanna lose my soul.

Hey excuse me, 
I'm looking or the after party,
Toby, 
Haha, yeah, last door on the left, you'll hear it.
Thanks,
No problem.

Don't let me lose my soul, I never wanna walk away,
I don't wanna lose my soul, 
No, no, no.
Don't let me, don't let me, lose my soul,
I don't wanna walk away,
Don't let me walk away,
Na na na na no,
Don't let me lose, my soul,
I'm never gonna walk away.



What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36

Breakfast fun with Ali Mac!

:)

Hey everyone!! Spring training!

Hey guys! Sorry I've been slacking on the blog! It's been hard to keep up out here in AZ during spring training but I will do the best I can. It has been a great first week, I have even gone to a great church service out here at a church called CCV- Christ Church of the Valley, and went to an awesome bible study in Goodyear, AZ on Monday alongside some major and minor leaguers! It was awesome! Really missing my family and awesome fiancé, but I will be seeing them soon!!

Here is a psalm for the day! I was reading this today!

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all humankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all,who considers everything they do.No king is saved by the size of his army;no warrior escapes by his great strength.A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;despite all its great strength it cannot save.But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,for we trust in his holy name.May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:12-22 TNIV)

Feeling thankful

I'm feeling so thankful today. Here are some things I'm thankful for:

1. Alex
2. The opportunity he has to chase his dreams.
3. My job
4. Wonderful friends
5. An awesome family
6. The Beth Moore devotional CD that I listen to in the morning.
7. And of course a precious puppy to cuddle me and always love me

Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real is such an awesome book! and a great read!! I highly recommend it! Alex and I have both read it! I'm typically not a big 700 club fan BUT this video is pretty awesome! You should watch it!

5k #165

There was a great turnout at the operation Haitian 5k this morning!! What a cool event and I'm glad I got to do it before heading off to spring training! I think I can go ahead and say that counts as my conditioning for today! And for the people who run those things on the reg.. All I can say is (STUDS)!! Anyways it was fun and I finished in 25 min so I thought I did pretty well for my first ever outside running event in which I have only done sprint work to prepare for it..

Have a great weekend! I'm spending mine with my family and Kelley and of course college baseball!

God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked. (Psalm 9:9, 10 MSG)

Keep praying!

--Alex

Valentines Day Date

On valentines day, Alex and I planned to go to see The Vow. We both had been wanting to see it (especially me). So, what better day then the big day of love. :) I really liked the movie despite all the bad reviews it has been getting. Alex told me to come home quickly after work. I was assuming he had something planned, but I wasn't for sure what. When I got home, he had a nice little surprise for me. He had borrowed a fondue kit and bought ingredients to make fondue. We made dinner together! :) It was so much fun!! We made a cheese dip, a sauce to dip and cook the raw meat in, and a chocolate dip. It was so so so good! Plus, I felt really special that he went to all the work of getting the food and having it prepared to make. He also made me a cute little poster, bought me some candy, and got me three cards. It's kind of become our "little thing" to buy more than one cards on special occasions. All in all, this was the best valentines day I have ever had. :) Who knew a little fondue would make a girl feels so special!? :) 

Running my first 5k

Decided to run my first 5k just out of no where the other day at church.. The run is called Operation Haitian! I can say I'm in pretty good shape right now with spring training approaching so I'm challenging myself. Hope it goes great!

O and by the way, I LOVE KELLEY WHITAKER!! Hah :)

--Alex

Groundhog Day Luncheon

On Feb. 2nd I went down to Murfreesboro to the MTSU baseball groundhog day luncheon. This is a big thing with the baseball program and it is kind of a kick start to the season. Although I never got to actually play there because of transfer rules and then being drafted after my year there the coaches, players,  and the whole MTSU baseball family still includes me in everything. This is the second year I have gotten to go because they always invite the pro players back each year. It is a great event highlighted by coach Steve Peterson's dream about a groundhog telling him a story about the upcoming season and the year in review. And I got to see all my good buddies from MTSU! Two of which will be in the wedding in September (Justin and Ken). I am so thankful for the opportunity that MTSU baseball gave me and I'm really glad I get to experience cool things like this luncheon. Here is a pic of some of us at the luncheon.

(Far left, Coty Woods- Colorado Rockies, Will Skinner- Atlanta Braves, Tyler Burnett- Houston Astros, Myself, Justin Miller- Washington Nationals, Justin Guidry- Senior for MTSU, and Ken Roberts- Colorado Rockies)

--Alex

Valentines Day!!!!

Kelley and I read a devotional together every night from the book "Experiencing God" by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby and the devotional from last night was one that after reading we both immediately said I'm posting to our blog tmrw for Valentines Day! So here it is:

Love Assumes the Best

Love... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love has no limits. Love never says, "You've gone too far. I can't love you now." "All things" means everything is included. Christlike love leaves no doubt in the mind of another that you will continue to love steadfastly. Do those close to you know that they can fail and do foolish things, yet you will not falter in your love for them? Are others assured that, even when they hurt you, you still love them, holding nothing against them?

Love assumes the best about others. If someone inadvertently offends you, you choose to believe the offense was unintentional. If someone seeks to harm you, you "bear all things," forgiving unconditionally. If a positive light can be shed on a difficult encounter, you grasp it. If someone continually provokes you, you "endure all things." You never lose hope in the ones you love. You practice the same unconditional love toward others that CHRIST gives to you.

Paul said that he was nothing if he had faith to move mountains, the tongue of an angel, and the gift of prophecy to understand all mysteries, yet did not have God's love. It is unacceptable to say, "Well, I just can;t love people that way!" When God loves people through you, this is the only kind of love He has! Read 1 Corinthians 13 with gratitude that God has already expressed this complete and selfless love to you. Pray and ask Him to express it through you now, to others.

Hope you enjoyed that as much as we did! Thats true love!

Happy V-day!!!

--Alex

It's a NEEDTOBREATHE kinda day!

Just Listen and Enjoy!!! O and by the way I'm trying to learn these on guitar.

Hope you enjoy!!! We went to their concert this offseason and it was legit! They are coming to Nashville on the 23rd and 24th of february! Go check em out!

Keep Praying!!

--Alex

Prayer 4 Today!!

Here is one of my prayers for today! You pray it too if you want!

THANK YOU GOD FOR GIVING ME WHAT I DON'T DESERVE!!!


--Alex

BIRTHDAY!!!

It's Kelley's 23rd birthday today!! Her mom came to Clarksville, and we all went shopping and ate at Old Chicago! Here are some pics of our dinner and the server singing happy birthday! Everyone comment and tell her HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Spoiled

I think it's safe to say she has it pretty good!!


--Alex

We're all finding our own place in the world.

I found this on Pintrest. This is so sweet and so true when it comes to growing older. :)

Psalm of the day keeps the devil away pt. 5

God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. (Psalm 23:1-6 MSG)

Keep praying and keep sharing!

--Alex

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Exodus 14

My new homework!

After being in pro ball for a year and a half,not being in college anymore, and watching Kelley do homework every night for hours I realized that I need to get some new homework for myself! My typical day in the offseason usually starts off with a huge breakfast, then I go hit, take ground balls, throw, and lift. After that I usually come home to make a huge lunch and then sit around until I give baseball lessons to kids, most nights. Needless to say I have a lot of free time. Soooooo I picked up guitar! I figured this is something that I could entertain myself with and play some of my favorite songs. I expressed this interest to Kelley last fall so she bought me guitar lessons for Christmas at Mary's Music in Clarksville. So after three lessons and hours on YouTube I'm really starting to pick it up! So here is a pic of my guitar and a pic of my chords and scales I've been learning.. If you have a lot of free time I would suggest guitar! Just takes some patience and a lot of practicing! That's it for now. Keep praying and serving God!

--Alex

Just the usual

Getting ready for my second full week of school, and our last few weeks together before Alex leaves. I'm so thankful for the opportunities that are before us! About 7 1/2 month until our wedding :) I'm excited! Thanks to our family and friends that read our blog! We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoy writing it! :)

A psalm a day keeps the devil away pt. 4

The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:7-11, 14 NIV)

I love reading psalm because of the use of metaphors, check out verse 10 to see what I mean!

Keep praying and helping people who need help! God bless

--Alex

Psalm a day keeps the devil away pt. 3

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
Psalm 18: 1-2

-- Alex

Final few weeks!

The reason for the title "final few weeks" simply is because these are my last few weeks at home before I head to wherever God might take me this season.. Last year he took me to AZ, then to Delaware, then on the disabled list with a broken hand and back to AZ (haha jk).. But seriously a guy did break my hand with a fastball. After a great week in AZ at mini camp , learning so many great things and being more involved with such a classy organization as the Royals, I'm ready to return home for 27 days until I report to spring training!!!! The other reason I refer to these as the final few weeks is because to me I'm gone for the next 7 months and when I come home after those and hopefully a really successful season I will be getting married to the coolest chick I know! So I'm happy to be returning for my "final few weeks" and getting ready for this exciting year! I'm so thankful and am ready to see what God is gonna do with Kelley and I this year! That's all for now!! Keep praying!


-- Alex

Tomorrow!!!!

After a week of Arizona, I'm ready for Alex to come home! I'm so glad he is coming home tomorrow! Not ready to start this long distance thing up yet! So I'm glad we have until the 23rd until he has to leave again! BUT..On the upside, I do miss going to see him and watching his games! Plus, I'm thankful for the opportunity he has! :)

Psalm a day keeps the devil away pt. 2

I love you, God-you make me strong. God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God-the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout. I sing to God, the Praise-Lofty, and find myself safe and saved. The hangman's noose was tight at my throat; devil waters rushed over me. Hell's ropes cinched me tight; death traps barred every exit. A hostile world! I call to God, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call; my cry brings me right into his presence-a private audience! (Psalm 18:1-6 MSG)

Toby Mac

What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for? (Matthew 16:26 MSG)

I wonder if this is the verse that Toby Mac used to form his song "lose my soul"

I'm guessing so!!

Random blog but read this verse today and was just thinking about it. Anyways that's it for now! Blog you later!

--Alex

You make all things work together for my good!

I start my new job tomorrow! I am very excited! As for today, I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off to try and prepare. I am trying to get ahead on my homework so that I am not over-whelmed working full time AND going to school full time. I am also trying to run all the errands on my list before I have to work everyday from 7-3! I have been a little stressed trying to figure out how to balance work, school, and all the observation hours I need to get done, but I am SO THANKFUL for this opportunity I have. I am also strangely calm. I'm sure it as a result of the constants prayers to not freak out in fear of not being able to work it all out. This calm is new for me, and I must say that I really like trusting God to work things out! Sometimes, I think He uses stressful situations to help us remember to pray continually--1 Thessalonians 5:17. God keeps reminding me that we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose--Romans 8:28. Or as the song interprets the verse, "You make all things work together for my good."

I am also so thankful for the love and encouragement from Alex and my mom! :)

Kelley

Experience God

"It is one thing to KNOW about the truth [of God]. It is yet another thing to EXPERIENCE the truth of God being worked out in your life."

A psalm a day keeps the devil away

God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor; despise the despicable. "Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. "You'll never get blacklisted if you live like this." (Psalm 15:1-5 MSG)

Back in AZ!

I'm back in Arizona for my boring job! Jk (hitting,catching,and throwing baseballs) haha.. This time for just a week, and then I'll be back home for 3 1/2 weeks before heading out for spring training! I'm currently at what the royals call an elite player camp which is basically just a week of baseball activities mixed with some team bonding events like bowling, paintball, and tug of war. There are 25 guys and we break up into teams and have some fun! The royals do a tremendous job of stressing the important parts of life other than baseball and provide opportunities like these that really allow us to all work together which can be a struggle in the minor leagues because of the sometimes ego driven single minded way your brain gets wired to get to the big leagues.. All in all this is a great opportunity and a nice week,especially with the weather being so nice, 70 and sunny ALL week! Have a good rest of the day! I'll be blogging again soon! God Bless --Alex

feeling tempted?

Today, my bible reading plan led me to the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. Joseph was an amazing man of God. As a result, the Lord greatly blessed him. He was tempted over and over by Potiphar's wife but still he refused to sin against the Lord. The Lord continued to bless him and give him success as a result of his faithfulness. Such an inspiring story! Check it out:

Genesis 39

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
2 The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Quick Tip!

Keep a journal at church! Write down every thing that stands out to you during the church service and then at the end of the week or throughout the week refer to it or look at it and see if you have used what you learned or studied about GOD! This is something I thought I would never do but after Kelley bought me one I have come to know the Bible and God on a whole new level.. It really let's you focus on things in a whole new way! So try it out! I got my journal from target I believe! Ask Kelley??

Saturday FUN!!!

Today was a great day for Kelley and I! After Kelley got out of her class (yes a class on Saturday, so studious) she found out that she had been offered a job in the Clarksville School System, which is pretty big time for us right now because it is a good opportunity for her to get her foot in the school system, and will let her do some observation hours along with her job which works perfect with her grad school classes, and can provide some cash flow for her and a chance to save money for our life that is about to start together as one!! Recently we both prayed together about how we wanted to become completely devoted to turning over everything to God and letting him show us our path. This was just one of the things that we prayed about and we are so excited and thankful to see him working through us! I honestly think I was more excited than her, I felt so proud and happy because I knew it was the big man taking care of us and because of Kelley's hard work.  

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall"

(Psalm 55:22)

We also took the dogs out for a little run!! Watch how fast Kannon and Izzy are! 

- Alex

We had our engagement pictures taken in the fall by Jenny Mabry. Click on the link below to view them! :)

ENGAGEMENT PICTURES!

puppies!

Anyone that knows Alex and I knows that we are a big fan of dogs! As most people know, I have a mother-like obsession with my 3 year old puppy, Kannon or Kanny as I usually call her. Somedays, I can't wait until we get married and get a house of our own because I want a new puppy! Yesterday, I saw the cutest brown terrier mix on tv, and I want her so bad! She looks a lot like Kanny! She would make a great sissy for Kan! So if you or any one you know are looking for a dog, I would first like to say that we HIGHLY recommend getting one. Secondly, don't go pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for one! Instead, rescue a dog in need of a good home! :)

Check some out  here!

After all, "A house is not a home without a dog"

K

Dogs!

I love DOGS!!!!


And Kelley

-Alex

a little tid bit on bridal shows...

I went to a bridal show a week ago with my friend Hannah. It was fun, and I got to see some neat stuff and get some great ideas. If you attend a bridal show, you register to win lots of prizes. Of course, I registered for all of them. I do believe that people actually win, but I now get LOTS of emails and tele-marketers call me at least once a day. So, thats not really that cool. BUT all the grooms that were there got FREE wedding bands! SOOOOO bring your groom along for the day! Oh, and if someone calls telling you that you have been selected to win a honeymoon and you have to come listen to 90 minute session to claim it... it is more than likely a sales pitch.. we recommend going (to get the free trip) but they don't feed you (even though they say the will).... And they will probably try to sell you on a highly over-priced product. I don't really recommend taking them up on their offer though. :) Our sales man didn't really enjoy our polite "no thank you." However, I have heard that most are a little more friendly. Overall, the bridal show was a fun experience. Give it a shot!

so funny but so true! a good laugh...

Balance Beam - Francis Chan

what a great point!

new year, new goals

My goal for the new year is to blog more. We clearly were off to a great start... then Alex came home. We have really enjoyed our time together and plan to share more stories soon! :) We also started a one year bible reading for the year with the YouVersion bible app on the iphone. http://www.youversion.com/ It is pretty awesome if you want to check it out!