#baseballwifelife First Full 2014 Weekend

This past weekend has been so great! I hit the road for Zebulon, NC on Thursday afternoon and was able to make it to the field about an hour before the game started.  When I was driving in, I went a little too far and passed the field but was able to see the downtown of Zebulon.  Let me tell you, there isn’t much to it! Besides about 4 stoplights and a cute little road of street parking and old town stores, there isn’t much more in Zebulon.  I figured out my way back to the field and I knew I was in the right place when I saw this.

I was early enough that the parking attendants were not there yet so parking was free (yay) and after a little walking around the stadium, I found my way to the clubhouse where D.J. was.   He came out and it was so nice to see him! We chatted for a few minutes about my drive down and how close it is to Norfolk and then he had to go back to the clubhouse to get ready for the game! I headed to will call to get my ticket and found my seat.  The stadium is cool.  They have a restaurant that you can dine in and watch the game, lots of upper seating, and the sun goes down behind the stadium so the fans aren’t baking in the sun! Our seats were right behind the bullpen which was cool but kind of weird because D.J. sits right there and I don’t like to be so close to him during the game! I feel like he can hear me talking and gets annoyed! Haha! Before the game started I met Mrs. Lucas, Jeremy Lucas’ (one of the catchers) mom.  She was in town visiting for the weekend from Indiana and drove his car down for him. It was so nice to talk to her during the game and have a friend there!

D.J.’s family made it to the game around the 4^th inning with Amy and Myla! I haven’t seen her in a few months and she has gotten so big!! She was definitely a little squirmer during the game, but what did we expect right?! After the game we took some pictures and The Brown’s went to check into their hotel in Raleigh and I drove the boys back to the apartment.  Since the town of Zebulon is so tiny, the boys stay in Knightdale, NC, which is about 15 minutes away from the field.  It’s an easy drive but just gets annoying going back and forth.  The apartments are very nice.  I thought it would be cramped with 5 guys in a three bedroom, but it doesn’t feel crowded at all.  They have a ton of restaurants, grocery stores, and pretty much everything they need right around the corner.  D.J. will have his car and another roommate does too so that will be helpful.  It was late when we got back so we unloaded the car and headed straight to bed.  

Friday morning we woke up and went to breakfast with the family at IHOP.  We ran a few errands at Dicks, TJ Maxx, and Wal-Mart before heading back to the apartments to get the boys and drive the to field.  We leave the apartments at whatever time the van leaves to take the guys without a car to the field, which was 12:30.  After I dropped them off, I drove to Raleigh to meet the family.  We went to Tobacco Road Sports Cafe. for lunch and it was delicious.  Everything was made from scratch and they didn't even have freezers because they bought everything day of and local.   

After we ate and drove around Downtown Raleigh, we went back to the field and then I drove to the field to get there a little early.  Friday’s starter was D.J.’s roommate Michael Peoples.  This was the first time I actually hung out with Peoples and he had me dying laughing the whole weekend.  Benny pitched on Saturday in relief and Saturday’s starter was Ryan Merritt, the 4^th roommate of the bunch! The 5^th roommate is Dylan Baker and he is meeting up with the team today to hit the road for this first trip to Frederick, MD.  

Michael Peoples

Michael Peoples

Michael Peoples

Benny Suarez

Benny Suarez

Benny Suarez

Ryan Merritt, Saturday's Starter

Ryan Merritt

Ryan Merritt

D.J. came in for relief in Saturdays game and had a pretty decent outing.  2 SO, 2 hits, 1 run, and no walks!

D.J. Brown

D.J. Brown

D.J. Brown

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Saturday we went to breakfast at the hotel the Brown’s were staying at and hung out at the pool for a little bit with them.  The boys had to be there early since the game was at 6.  I took D.J. to the field and then went back and took a nap! I hit up Planet Fitness and then got ready for the game.  We went to Lonestar after the game for a little post game meal and said goodbye to the in-laws since they were getting on the road Sunday morning.
 

Sunday morning we woke up early since the game was at 2 and the guys had to be there at 9 a.m.  I came back and watched some TV, packed up our stuff and then went back to the field for Baseball Chapel.  It was so nice of Betsy to introduce herself to me at the home opener on Thursday.  I felt so special that she invited me to the chapel on Sunday.  She and her husband, Eddie, have been doing Baseball Chapel for about 10 years with the Mudcats.  Eddie does it for the guys (he even does visiting team and umpires) and Betsy does it for the ladies.  We met in one of the boxes in the stadium and this time it was just myself.  It was nice to have someone that understands the hardships of this lifestyle we live to talk with.  She has strong faith in Jesus Christ and God and it was refreshing to hear her talk about how we need to let God handle all of our fears, worries, and doubts.  We talked about just letting our fears go and replace those things with Faith, Worship, and Devotion.  After we talked, they treated me to lunch and I watched the game from the box! It was perfect for the cold Sunday afternoon! I am so thankful I met Betsy and Eddie and cannot wait to see them next time I am in town.  
 

After many years serving our country, this man has not missed a Mudcats game all last season.  He gives all the balls to little kids and even takes broken bats home to fix them and give them away at the next game.  He is truly an American Hero.

After the game, D.J. and I headed back to Norfolk for the night! I am so lucky that he is close enough to come home on an off day.  He has loved on Stryker since we got home and I cannot express how grateful we are to be so close.  I am planning on making the trip up to Woodbridge, VA next weekend as they take on the Potomac Nationals.  So now as I get ready for work on this rainy Monday morning, D.J. and Stryker are all snuggled up in the bed.  Its the little things in life people.
Here’s to the first full weekend of baseball! Cheers!