2007 World Series

History was made by the Laughlin family last weekend when 3 generations attended the world series between the colorado rockies and BoSox in Denver. My grandpa is 83 years old and finally attended a world series. It was a great memory! We were the first ones in line for Game 3 of the world series. I was the first fan to get into the stadium at the gate that opened first. We got to the game 4 hours early and had to wait 2 hours to get in. Then we just took in the sites and watched batting practice for 2 hours. It was a great experience. there was so much energy in the place of 60,000 fans. It was very loud at times and some fans were more entertaining than the game at times. We won't discuss what was paid for the tickets.... but it was worth every penny. game time temp was 45 degress and was about 35 by the end of the game. My knees were cold. My grandpa was irritated with the rally rags because the kids in front of us waived them even when no one else was and it created a cold breeze on us. At one point he pulled on the kids hood and told him to sit down. The thing I didn't like was that you didn't know what was going on unless you were watching. There was no PA announcement of base hits or strike outs. And they only replayed selected plays and didn't replay controversial calls.



Me and grandpa Gerald Laughlin on Train ride to ball park in downtown Denver.

Scoreboard and TV in centerfield.
A shot from our seats in right field.

My brother holding his homerun ball he caught in batting practice hit by Matt Holliday.




This is a video of the crazy fans cheering after a 3 run homer brought rockies to within 1 point at 6 to 5. The yelling you hear when the video starts is me. This was the 5th inning and we had nothing to cheer about until this first pitch 3 run dinger by Matt Holliday. At the end of the video you can hear my grandpa ask if it was a home run. :)

confused, sad, mad, etc and excited

What a week. What a emotional ride. It can only get better, We will make it. This has been a very confusing week with the event that has taken place, but we have much to look forward too. If you are an outsider, I am sorry, if not then you know what I am talking about. God is still on the throne, and we won't skip a beat. We will and are rallying around each other and will move forward with excellence.

I personally have a lot to look forward too. Jaxon will be here soon and this weekend I am taking a once in a lifetime trip to Game 3 of the World Series with my 83 year old grandpa, my dad, and my little brother. Just getting the tickets is a story to write about, maybe some other time. 14 hour road trip one way. Then deer season is right around the corner and the 3rd annual hunt with my hunting mentor. Each year has had it's own unique and amusing memories. Then there is the thanksgiving and Christmas season that I am actually looking forward to this year. I won't be here this Sunday, but I know it will be a great time. See you men on Monday night!

about nothing

I have nothing to share. Sorry. Oh, wait! I watched the cowboys game on Sunday with Tim. That was about my only high- light....so far. I may have some news later in the week.

how much more?

I have been reading Romans 5:. this is what changed me. Verse 8 we all know and quote.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. but verse 9 is the kicker for those are no longer sinners. "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." So... he died for sinners, but How much more are we saved from wrath now that we are born again. I don't know why, but this really brought revelation to me. To me this says, there is nothing I can do that will change God's mind about me, he won't forget who I am because my flesh gets in the way of my spirit and does something sinful. I have a friend that believes that there is a point where you can "loose your salvation", and it is really aggravating to talk to him. He doesn't know where the point is, but if a christian doesn't watch out, you might not inherit the kingdom. I didn't do anything to receive my salvation so why could I be able to do something to loose it. It is all about Jesus. Not my self righteousness. Be encouraged today that no matter what. You can't shake God! Even if you wanted to.

anonymous

I apparently have a lot of anonymous blog readers and for what ever reason don't feel the need to identify themselves, and that is okay. I am just surprised at the amount of traffic on my site. I put a traffic checker on my blog about 2 weeks ago and have about 12-15 readers per day. Average visit length is 45 seconds. So I know its not people coming here by accident.

verbal communication

I am learning how I function in relationships. I was sitting in a small group a couple of weeks ago and this stranger sitting across from me, says. "I am not a verbal communicator." I communicate best in writing." I realized that is me. I suppose that is why I have taken up blogging.
I don't like talking on the phone, for one reason, is that every time my phone rings it is somebody wanting something from me. Very rarely is it someone that wants to give me anything. Just think about it, When you call someone, be it a business or friend it is usually because you want something. I suppose since I am not a verbal communicator that is another aspect of why I don't function well in groups of people. I tend to say stuff that doesn't make sense or is not thought through before being said. I am much safer and comfortable in small relationship settings. I feel pressure to perform in a large group setting (5 or more people)

I do a lot of watching and have noticed that people have their "clicks, the group of friends that allows them to be comfortable and safe. Last night we had some new friends over for dinner and
I was uncomfortable at times, because I didn't know what their expectations were. Would they like the food I prepared? How would the conversation flow? Was the room temp. comfortable to them? Would they see the stains in my carpet and think something awful of us? All these questions roll through my head, but the occasion was a success. Turns out that me and the guy had a great deal in common. Both of us are HUGE Oklahoma Sooner fans!.

So, I would rather text or email or blog than make a phone call.
So I suppose that we tend to migrate towards friends that make us feel comfortable, accepted and safe. The friends that don't care what the house looks like, if the food is good or not, etc. This discovery is very enlightening to me.

Not from around here

After my last post I was thinking about why I don't have any hobbies. The things I am passionate about I don't get to do except once every couple of years. I must not be from around here. I LOVE snowboarding. I love hiking, and I love deer hunting, and I love river-rafting. All of which I can't do here in Clyde. I have free deer hunting in 2 counties that are 230 miles away and 300 miles away. I wonder why God put me in Clyde, Tx when I should be in Colorado? Maybe someday he will call me there.

guys

The guys night get-together went very well. Had a nice turnout and everyone seemed to indicate they would come back. It was a little busy for me, cleaning up messes and making sure there was enough food out. But it was fun and I look forward to it every week. I am not one to carry the conversations, that is why there is enough room for everyone with all of our different personalities. David H. seems to always have something funny to say about just about anything.
I seem to be starved for guy time lately. I come to work in Abilene from 7:30 to 5:30 5 days a week all day and vary rarely see anyone. The routine gets really really old and I find it hard to find things to do during my lunch hour, so most of the time that hour is spent working. So this is exactly what the dr. ordered.
The OU/TX game was a blast. I couldn't be a dedicated fan like most of the 60,000 people there, but it was fun to go and experience the atmosphere. It's amazing how much energy that many people can create. There were 2 funny parts of the trip that I will share. The first one was me navigating around downtown Dallas with no map or co-pilot. I went down many oneways the wrong way and thanks to my compass built in to my dash I finally found the hotel I was meeting my aunt, uncle and cousin at. I parked in a parking lot and couldn't figure out how to pay the dumb fee. So I went to another parking garage that I thought i could figure out. I was walking to the hotel and didn't have a compass or map and got disoriented so I called my cousin. I stopped at a bus stop and he answered his phone. Turns out we were about 3 feet apart. He was behind the bus stop putting his coins in the machine for his parking fee. We talked for a while before we realized we were standing next to each other.
The other funny thing was after the game as we were leaving in the pouring rain. He says to me, "hey watch this" and yells "BOOMER!" and the entire crowd of people yell back, SOONER!. It was hilarious. That is the OU Sooners chant. Boomer, Sooner. Anyway... I thought is was pretty funny.

mens life

It's official. I am hosting a mens gathering every Monday from now on, at my house for now and if we need a bigger venue we will change it. Come and go from 6-?. The purpose is to be relational with other men, to get below the surface crap. Pray, worship, talk about what's on your heart, and eat. Bring a finger food and lets open up. This has been on my heart to do for several months. Any man who wants to come is welcome. This Monday will be the first. October 8th. Tell your husbands. Husbands tell your wife you will be gone on Monday. When there is WOW bring all the kids. I think it will be fun.

aahhhh winterfresh

Friday- Billing for BRM. $27 less than last month. WOW!. Head home for an evening with the guys. The boys watched Shrek on our brand new Dish Network service... I was glued to anything sports. I must say that after 30 years of no cable or dish it is a nice treat. Saturday- I spent most of the saturday afternoon playing a video game that I really don't like, but play it just to be relational with other guys. I am horrible at it, but seems to be the only thing that allows me to be around other guys, and it gives them a chance to win. I am done with athletics so that eliminates time with all the wanna be athletes. I do like football, watching it that is. I love my ESPN and all the other dish channels that have football on them. Sunday - slept til 8:45. Sunday was a marathon of football, it was "my day." If i am not outside playing with my boys, I could watch football forever. We did break loose for a while and play football. Payton saved his money up and bought some shoulder pads at walmart for an amazing low price of $30, so now we can "play rougher" So since I am a man of no hobbies, Dish is my hobby. It was a great weekend! Monday- you guessed it Monday Night Football on ESPN.