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