So much happened

Well so much happened our final two weeks in Alaska.  We had a great time with our players.  They were a great group and we all enjoyed hanging out together.  We found out that they are going to build on to our new field and stadium for next year and we are very grateful for that.
I got to go to discipleship one day and I did a Q & A.  I had a lot fun and they asked some pretty good questions.  It is fun to see how they are processing all the information they have learned and applying it in their relationships.
The boys got to go with our friends the Wuerths four wheeling.  They loved every minute of it and wouldn't stop talking about it over dinner.  I didn't attend but helped my sweet friend Lana pack up some things before her house is remodeled.
I also took Ryan to Artic Thunder 2012.  It was a great air show.  I spent the best $10 of the day when they offered seats for $5 with in and out privileges.  It was great. We were up front and the show took place right before us.  Jack and Ty opted not to go because they didn't want to miss batting practice and anything of our last home game.  Thankfully Ryan and I didn't even hit traffic and made it back in time for the game and all our responsibilities.  We had a great game and won!
Then we had our final game against the Miners.  The next day we had debriefing.  This is a time where the guys will share what the summer has meant to them and we give them Bibles.  A lot of them shared how much they grew in their walks with the Lord and blessed they were to have made such close friends.  Then that evening we had a dinner with the players, host families and booster club.  It was so sweet.  And then....we said goodbye....
It is such a weird feeling to drive away and realize that it is over.  It is hard for our kids and for us.  We have poured our lives into these guys for the last two months and then it is gone.  But we are thankful for what the Lord has done in their lives.  Thankful that these men want to make Him known!
Overall it was a great summer.  It was a lot of work.  A lot of work running a stadium and learning a new town.  But we are so thankful for so many things. We were in a great town that was excited to have us.  We felt so welcomed.  Our guys were awesome.  Continue to pray for Brent Fukishima, Ryan Sullivan, Tim Duxbury, and Adam Hill.  To our knowledge they still don't know the Lord.  And pray for the rest of the guys that they will walk faithfully with the Lord.  That they will Be Strong, Stand for Truth and Live for Eternity.

A day with history

I am sorry I have not been more faithful in blogging.  I could make excuse but that doesn't matter.  Please know that I want to share what is going on but I haven't and I am sorry.
To catch up a bit.....
After coming home from Kenai and having a relaxing time at home.  We had another round of games at home which keeps us all busy.  We then welcomed Justin Dillard back to Alaska.  He traveled with us in 2003 as a player.  He currently has his own baseball ministry Complete Game and works along high school students.  It was awesome having him with us.  First, he understands the game and that gave him a quick in with the guys.  Second, he pursued deep conversations with the players and was helpful in every way possible.  Thirdly, it was so encouraging to see him walking faithfully with the Lord.  It was neat to see how the Lord has worked in his life.  He then left this week and Chris is teaching again.
Our coaches family, the Groth's also left this week for a wedding back at home.  They were great and I wish I could have spent more time with them.  I got to spend quite a bit of time with their son, Caleb, who helped me in the merchandise booth.
So everyone has left and we have 2 weeks left.  These two weeks tend to be the most crucial.  It is a time when a lot of conversations are happening.  Pray for the guys and us...that we will finish strong.
So what does all that have to do with the title for this blog....nothing!  But yesterday the boys and I got to experience history.  We went to Mr Altius (we have talked about him in previous years) house.  He has been a fan of ours since we started coming to Alaska.  He is a retired Army chaplain, who loves baseball.  He is 81 years old.  So we went to his house and he showed us his gun collection.  We held a gun from the Spanish America War, Sgt York's riffle and two WWII rifles.  I am sure if Ryan was writing the blog he could tell you all the names, but I forgot.  Anyway, after he showed us his guns and gave us a gun safety lesson we went to his friends house, where he goes every Thursday afternoon, and we shot pellet guns and bow and arrows.  It was so much fun.  We shot the pellet guns in his garage and then his friend showed us his homemade bows and arrows and we shot all the target animals in his yard.  I have to say I had quite good form with the bow and arrow and felt like Maid Marian from Robin Hood.  As we left, the boys were so excited.  They kept sharing how they had held a piece of history and how neat it was that Mr Altius wanted to share that with us.  It was such a sweet time to experience history through his life.

4th of July, road trips and purity!

Well this week was full of events.  First, my kids got to see fireworks on the 4th of July.  I know you are thinking how unamerican I am, but in Alaska in the summer it doesn't exactly get dark, thus no fireworks.  But the town of Eagle River has them anyway.  So we stayed up till midnight, and the boys were thrilled.

Then we left for a road trip to Kenai.  It was rainy and cold and unfortunately I got sick.  So the boys and I headed home and left the team and Chris in Kenai.  I am feeling much better and Chris got some good one on one time with the players. And the boys were troopers coming home....and we had so much time just getting to relax.

Chris is currently teaching on purity with the guys.  This series usually takes about 10 days and the guys really enjoy it, although it is hard to deal with their sin.  Typically we start to lose games during this time too.  Which is what is happening...we have lost the last 4 games.  Pray for these guys.  Pray that they will want to boldly follow after God and His Word.  Pray that they will feel His grace and forgiveness.  Pray that their hearts are open to Him. And pray for Chris that he will have endurance and strength for the last 3 weeks.  We have no more disciplers coming...and it is just Chris.

Mt Baldy or as Ty calls it Mt Bald Eagle

Today we hiked Mt Baldy.  It was quite steep but thankfully we saw no bears.  We saw a moose on the way home.  Even though it wasn't clear it was beautiful.

Road Trip

This last week we traveled 6 hours up to Fairbanks.  We had a great time seeing friends, but were rain out of some of our games.  The boys and I traveled to the North Pole to see Santa.  Unfortunately I haven't learned the ins and outs of my new camera and the picture didn't come out.  After arriving in Fairbanks on Monday we left Wednesday night.  Then on Thursday through Saturday we had home games.  Sunday and Monday we had a away games and today we had the day off.  Tomorrow we are off on another road trip to Kenai.

The boys love helping at batting practice

Oh we also went to the Highland Games.  Yes they have Scottish games in Alaska.  We aren't sure why but we thought it would be fun.  We listened to the bagpipes and watched the athletes throw large stones and flip huge logs.  The boys even got to try their hand at the games.  Ty claims I was "Captain Fun" that day since I splurged on Hawaiian Ice and Kettle corn.  And here I thought I was always Captain Fun!

Hiking

Yesterday was beautiful so we headed to Thunderbird Falls, which was a lot of fun.  Then we headed to Mirror Lake for a picnic.  The boys and I skipped the midnight game, which we won.  Today we rested getting ready for the road trip tomorrow to Fairbanks.  We went on a hike with a local (with bear spray and all) to Eagle River.  It was fun and thankfully we saw no bears, but we did see 5 moose!

Home Opener and Beyond

Monday we had our home opener with a  great crowd to cheer on the Chinooks. It was a busy event for the whole Beck family.  Ryan ran the scoreboard, Ty was the bat boy, Jackson helped sell merchandise (and has since been promoted to music man), Chris of course ran on field and I ran the merchandise and everything else.  It is busy running a stadium, but we are so excited that the town is so excited.  We probably had about 400 people there opening night.
Our players are awesome and have worked hard to help get everything ready.  Yesterday after discipleship, during BP, they ran up to Chris and ask him spiritual questions regarding the topic he had just taught on of Idols of our Heart.  It is awesome to see their hunger for the things of God.   They are extremely kick back and get along together great.
Last night we had our second home game, which ran much smoother.  We won against the Kenai Oilers.  Today the team will play at 10pm against the Pilots....yep a midnight game.  Monday we head up to Fairbanks for a couple of days

The following is a link to a broadcast about the team.http://www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/1Faith-Based-Baseball-Team-Finds-Home-in-Eagle-River-159307595.html

In the last few days

This week we attempted to have our home opener, but we got rained out twice.  We will try again tomorrow.  We have played three games and won them all.  The boys are thrilled to use the air horn while cheering on our team.  We have even inspired some other Chinook fans and we are quite the rowdy bunch.  The guys are great and all seem to get along well.  They have been working hard getting the field ready and even building the batting cage.  Our family moved up to Eagle River yesterday on our day off.  We are house sitting for a family who is visiting their family on the east coast, while the husband is deployed in Afghanistan.  Pray for the Schmidt Family...we are blessed to be staying in their home.

Happy Birthday Chris

Happy 40th Birthday Chris!

Well we usually are in California and he gets thrown in the pool.  So instead we surprised him at discipleship with cupcakes.  Mind you he took all the exciting 40th stuff off within seconds.  Actually he celebrated last month with, his brother, sky diving!

Honoring DM

Today our family went to the Anchorage Bucs game to honor our friend, Dennis Mattingly.  He was the General Manager and owner of the Anchorage Bucs.  He had been our since we arrived in Alaska 12 years ago. He had often treated Chris like a son.   He died this last winter of cancer.  It was sad to go to the field, where he devoted so much of his time, and he was no longer there.  Chris had shared the Gospel with him, yet we are unsure if he ever made a decision for Christ.  We pray that we would be a testimony to the General Managers of the teams that we work with up here in Alaska.  Pray that this year we will have opportunities to share our hope that is in Christ Alone!

Thanks for praying

Thanks for praying.  We have found a place to live.  We found an apartment for June in Anchorage.  We will move to Eagle River in July.  We are thankful to have found a place. The guys had their second discipleship and practice today!  Pray for them!

Guys arrive

We got into Alaska last Thursday and the players arrive today.  This year our training camp isn't in California, it is here in Alaska.  Pray that although it will be different, that the guys will have open hearts and bond with one another.  Opening day is a week from today.  Pray also that we would be able to secure housing for our family.  We are still in a hotel and uncertain of what to do next.  Thanks for praying!

Here we go again! 2012

Well we are finishing up the details and soon we will be heading to Alaska.  Yes, this year we will not have our training camp in California and we will miss our friends there.  We will head up to Alaska early, because we have a new town and field.  We will be in Eagle River this summer which is about 30 minutes north of Anchorage.  The town is excited and so are we.  The boys are hoping they will get to help around the field.  Pray for us as we finish up packing and fly out on Thursday.  Also we ask that you pray for our housing in Alaska.  As of right now...we don't have any.  We have a temporary solution for about week or two.  Thanks for praying!