Red Sox Interview!

Once upon a time, I had a long wait in the doctor's office and I was perusing Facebook. I came across a post from the Boston Red Sox stating they were looking to fill positions for the 2013 season. I decided to apply for a job with the Boston Red Sox organization. I mean, who WOULDN'T want to work for the Red Sox?

I submitted my application and got an automated response that said "Thank you for submitting your application. We have an extremely high volume of applicants and appreciate your interest in the Boston Red Sox."

At that point I sort of put it out of my mind.


A few weeks later I get an email saying I had been selected for a video interview!

Super exciting, right? I waited until the absolute last minute to do the video interview but felt pleased with how it went. It would pop in my mind every few days but again, I sort of just forgot about it.

Until I got this:

Holy schnozzberries! I made it through round 2!

God has really been really been impressing on my heart that 2013 is going to be a BIG year for me.  I hesitate even putting that out there in the blog world - because I'm not even sure what that means at this point.  I just have this overwhelming feeling that late in 2012 and so far in 2013, He is preparing me for something.  I have NO idea what that something is - trial, celebration, valley or mountain.  More on that maybe in an upcoming post.

I really debated on whether or not to accept an interview. I'm pretty sure it won't pay very well and it probably won't even cover gas to and from the city. BUT, I did figure it would make for a really cool story! (How many people can say "I'm going to marry a professional baseball player!"  "Yeah, I interviewed with the Boston Red Sox."?!)

So, I selected an interview time and this morning, off I went!

Here I am freezing my tookus off in front of Gate A at the Most Magical Place on Earth: FENWAY PARK!!

I was super early so I decided to mosey on through the Souvenir Shop across the street.  See the people hanging in the background?  They're Fenway Park Tour people!

Here I am!  Headed into 20 Yawkey Way - the EMC Club entrance! Off to my interview!

We went up two escalators and in between there was this odd break of about 10 feet of flooring before the second escalator.  I looked to my left and saw the field!  I was SO EXCITED!

This picture is the view I had during my interview!  These seats are right outside the club dining area.

A panoramic picture taken with my handy dandy iphone.

Mackenzie may or may not have been snapping pictures while I interviewed.

Really need to work on my posture...

And it was over before I knew it!

One last photo op with the field behind me!

I lied.  One last panoramic picture!

My "little sis" Mackadoodle and I.  Glad she was there to keep me company.

Now, I wait.  The emails I received leading up to today have informed me I will hear of a decision by Friday, February 15th.  Here's to being one step closer to meeting my Jesus loving, professional baseball playing future husband!

5 Question Friday!

1.  Do you embrace or dread snow/cold weather days? I admit, I'm like a kid when there's a big snowstorm in the forecast.  But when it's here I CAN NOT STAND IT.  I don't mind the bitter cold so much, as long as it doesn't stick around long and I don't have to be out and about a ton.

2.  Which game show or reality show could you totally win?  I just told my mom the other night that I really need to be on Wheel of Fortune.  Love that show.

3.  What is your preferred climate?  I love where I live - as much as I complain about snow in the winter and the humidity in the summer, I really do love experiencing all 4 seasons.

4. What do you buy every time you walk into the grocery store, no matter what?  Lately, cheese and pepperoni.  It is my go-to low carb snack and I love it!  You should see the stash of cheeses I have in the fridge...

5.  If you see a spider/bug in the house, are you brave enough to kill it, or do you call for your hubby?  Hubby, ha!  I usually scream and freak out and then find something to kill it with.  Sometimes I try to get my dog to eat it but she is too humane to do that.  Last summer my mom brought home this super awesome tennis racket looking thing that electrocutes bugs!  Sometimes I would get smoke - those were the best. :)

Remembering Roe

40 years ago today, the landmark decision to legalize abortion was made.

It literally brings tears to my eyes.

Mother Theresa said it best in 1994:

"America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation.  The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men.  It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships.  It has aggravated the derogation of the father's role in an increasingly fatherless society.  it has portrayed the greatest of gifts - - a child - - as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience.  And, in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners.  Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign."

Last month, after the tragedy in Newtown, CT our president was quoted as saying something along the lines of this:

The innocent children in Newtown, because of this senseless act of violence, now won't have a chance at life - birthdays, graduations, weddings... 

This same president who supports the killing of over 3,000 innocent lives EVERY DAY.  That's over 1 million innocent lives every year!

Can we say contradictory and hypocritical?

When do we as a country - as a society - say enough is enough?!

This year I pledge to do all I can to protect the lives of the unborn... to be the voice for the voiceless.  If it isn't in God's plan for me to be a mother... I will die praying for, protecting and raising awareness for the thousands of lives given up on every day.

SSMT 2013

I've become a stalker of Bekah over at Bekah's Bits and came across her blog entry about SIESTA 2013 for scripture memory.  Beth Moore is heading up her  Siesta Scripture Memory Team (SSMT) and I ordered my adorable little spiral bound index card holder thingy and GUESS WHAT?!

It came in the mail today!!  I am SUPER excited!  I'm also behind.  We are supposed to check in on the 1st and 15th of every month.  I obviously missed the 1st, so I'm going to start with the 15th and try to catch up at some point during the year.  I've asked the Lord to be faithful and show me the verses He would have me hide in my heart, and this first verse seems so fitting given my goals for this year.  So, without further ado... my first verse of the year:

Psalm 37:7

Be still in the presence of the LORD,

     and wait patiently for Him to act.

Don't worry about evil people who prosper

     or fret about their wicked schemes.

I like the New Living Translation for this particular verse - some translations say "Rest in the Lord" but I like the translations that say "Be still".  Being still is difficult for me to do.  I also like this translation because it says "in the presence of the Lord"... not just "be still before the Lord" or "Be still in the Lord"... but be still in His presence.... my prayer is that I find myself in His presence constantly in 2013.

I also really like the second half of this verse.  "Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."  I love scripture because it is so versatile and applicable.  Some people call this taking it out of context.  I call it... personalizing.

Confession:  There are lots of people getting married and having babies and I struggle with that on a daily basis.  Some of these people include people who haven't done things "the right way".  

What do I  mean by that?  I graduated from high school.  I went to college.  I got a degree.  I worked while I tried to find a job in my field.  I found a job in my field.  I left that job.  I got a Master's degree.  I go to church every week.  I love Jesus.  I keep busy and enjoy serving in the ministries I'm involved in.  I feel like I've done everything right - why won't God bless me with marriage and motherhood??  I see others who do whatever they want whenever they want to, being blessed with good husbands and beautiful babies.  I know the grass isn't always greener, and I realize my attitude is selfish... but it is hard not to have the "woe is me" mentality.  So, I'm hoping this verse helps with that!

So, there we have it!  First scripture verse of the year.  If all goes as planned, I'll have 24 verses memorized before the end of 2013!

5 Question Friday!

1.  Flu mist?  Flu shot?  Or take your chances?  Flu shot - always!  I've heard way too many people say that with a flu shot, they either don't get the flu OR the symptoms are less severe than those who didn't get a shot.  I'm a firm believer in the flu shot!

2.  Do your kids have iPads?  What are some good educational apps?  Price?  Don't have kids, but i have an iPad!  If I'm blessed with kids Super Moms Rachel and Amanda will be my go-to Moms for good apps.

3.  What are your favorite girl/boy names?  I used to love the name Ava for a girl.  Even now that I've taught and met a few Ava's, I haven't met one I didn't like. I also liked Addison for a girl.  In college I was drawn to boy names that ended in "son".  Grayson, Bryson, Jackson, Emerson, etc.  Now, I don't really care.. popular, trending, original, top 1,000.... ultimately I'd like for the name to be Biblical and/or have some sort of family meaning.

4.  If "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", what apple do you choose to eat? I'm a Macintosh girl, or Pink Lady.

5.  What is your favorite place to escape to for peace and quiet, to think?  Why?  I'm a big fan of either "The Wall" on Ocean Avenue in New London, or going out to Stonington Point in Stonington Borough.  I was just there earlier this week.  I do a lot of talking with and listening to God when I'm there.  I prefer Stonington because there's a lesser chance of running into someone I know while I'm there.  I don't know why, but I'm drawn to water when I need some intense time with God.

2013 goals

A few weeks ago I was perusing Kohl's in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.  I was there with the intent of finding some new jewelry for the Christmas concert I would be singing in that weekend.

My heart wasn't really into Christmas at that point, as my great state of Connecticut had just experienced the nation's 2nd worst school shooting in our country's history the day before.  Then, I spotted a ring that said "hope".

Given the circumstances of the day before, I couldn't pass it up.

Also, notice the finger I'm choosing to wear it on.

I am more hopeful with this new year than I have been since I can remember.  It is 1/3 of the way through January and I'm still pretty positive... most moments.  Yes, this is a moment-by-moment process and most moments I still feel positive that 2013 is going to be a great year.

That said, I have a few goals that God has been speaking to me about - and I'm putting them here to document them and hopefully use this blog as a way to keep track of the goals being checked off my list.

2013 - 

Health Goals:

Lose these last 30 pounds.  I'm down almost 60 pounds since March (80 pounds since August  2010!!), and this is the home stretch.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could be one of "those" people who actually attempted to lose weight and was successful at it. Xyngular has been such a blessing to me this year, and I pray my success continues.

Exercise. - I was doing ok with this before winter hit.  I need to get back to the gym until it warms up enough to be walking outside at Poquonnock Plains Park.  Kathryn has been encouraging me in this area already and for that I am thankful.  Goal is to exercise 3 times a week beginning in February, if not before.

Financial Goals:

Pay extra on my student loans when I can. I'm looking at the last few thousand on my student loans.  Ultimately this is better debt than other types of debt, but it is debt nonetheless.  I'd like to see it gone.

Cut my credit card debt in half.  This is a lofty goal with work being so random and unreliable.  But, I was blessed with news from the state last week and I know God is pushing me to get rid of my 2 credit cards altogether, so I'm praying towards this goal.

Personal Goals:

Go on a date. Is this asking too much?  One date with a normal man.  I think that's reasonable.

Is getting engaged by the end of the year too ridiculous?  Ultimately I'd love to replace the "hope" ring on my finger with a diamond.  Not sure this is the year for that, but with God ANYTHING is possible!!!!!  I'm really praying through some difficult things right now - I've always always ALWAYS wanted to be a wife and mother.  I can remember playing hospital when I was 6 or 7 years old and I would pretend to be in labor (true story).  It has been a desire of my heart for as long as I can remember.  I'm staring down 35 years in 2013 and I'm still waiting.  I keep telling people "I don't think God would give me this strong of a desire to be a wife and mother if it wasn't in His plan for me."  But then (what I hope is) the enemy creeps in.  Doubt takes up residence and I get discouraged.  A friend told me last week that she has committed to praying this year for my husband.  My response was that many, many days I can't bring myself to pray about marriage and motherhood because it is just too painful - it feels like an empty, unanswered prayer.  I'm working on getting rid of that mentality - of that attitude of disappointment and fear.  It's a process, people.

Scripture memorization.  I may or may not have ordered this super adorable lined spiral index card book to help me memorize a verse a month.  I'm going to post January's verse as soon as the cards come in!

Seriously attempt to build a small business.  Building my small business with Xyngular will not only help me achieve my weight loss goals, but also my financial goals.  It just makes sense!

That's it!  I think those are attainable goals.  What goals have you set for 2013?