A Look Back at the Offseason

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby

The offseason came and went in the blink of an eye.  Although there was no baseball being played, we definitely weren't just staring out the window waiting for spring!  For us, the offseason brought one wedding, two receptions, a cross-country drive, new house, new town, new jobs, and even a new truck!  Needless to say, we were extremely busy.  I started running and training for an eventual half marathon while Steven worked to stop chewing tobacco.  Steven hunted and I crafted.   We barely had time to get settled and it was Spring Training again!  Baseball seems to always keep us on our toes both in and out of season.  I don't know what future offseasons will bring but I am pretty sure there'll be no staring out the window for the Hensley's!

Defying Gravity

Everyone has heard the expression “what goes up must come down” and being a science teacher, I know all about Newton’s laws and Einstein’s theories.   Being in baseball, I know that it is much more than law or theory; it is reality.  Anyone who follows an athlete’s career from draft day to retiring can also confirm this. 

While some guys shoot straight to the top, it is much more common to slowly climb, move up and down, or bounce from team to team.  In Steven’s career he’s been moved up for temporary reasons (like to be an extra arm in a playoff run) but most of the time when moves are made there is no timeline.  It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of reaching the next level but at some point reality sets in and you realize that you can just as easily be moved back down.  Of course the flip side of that is that you can also called up and get that shot at the big leagues.  Every performance becomes so critical and sometimes its really just about doing the right thing in the right place at the right time.  Baseball is so circumstantial and fickle.  It plays with your emotions and more importantly; it plays with your life.

Recently Steven went through a slump and I found myself fixated on the idea that we’d be headed back to Tennessee.  Steven had warned me not to “ride the rollercoaster” when he was moved up to Tacoma but without really even realizing it, I had.  It took a lot of prayers and kind words from friends and family to ease my mind.  I had to remember that Steven had given his career to God and while I might pray for 1-2-3 innings, that just might not be His plan. I had to remember back to early in the season when someone told Steven to think of himself as a flower and grow wherever he is planted….even if we’re replanted in Jackson.

Once I was able to give in and stop worrying, Steven had a great outing.   I reflected on the whole experience and realized I would need to keep things in check if I was going to survive this lifestyle.   I would have to accept that we would have some great moments but possibly some not so great ones because our goal was to defy gravity…to go up and stay up, and then go up even higher. 

Moving Up

I had started to write a blog about being settled in Jackson as the first half of the season wrapped when we found out that Steven was called up to AAA Tacoma.  Baseball life at its finest!  I still want to mention some of what I had intended to write but obviously this post has taken a whole different turn.

I arrived in Tennessee after a three-day drive from Arizona.  Mira and I dealt with some carsickness and less than fancy hotels, but we made it!  With the car unpacked and the apartment looking more like home, Mira and I found some great walking places and were able to relax.  I started working in the ticket office at the field and attending a local church where I also helped out with vacation bible school.  I planned a fun camping trip with atv-ing and horse riding for the All-Star break.  Jackson didn’t seem so bad and I was pretty comfortable.  That should’ve been a sign that everything was about to change. 

When Steven was told he was being promoted I was waiting in the parking lot after a game.  I was excited and proud, but also completely overwhelmed.  We had 6 hours to get as much of his stuff packed as possible and come up with a plan.  Jackson to Tacoma is a 35 hour drive and I knew it wasn’t a task I felt comfortable taking on by myself.  We had thought this call up might happen, just not now.  A promotion is always a blessing and always the goal so I tried to keep that in mind as I began to run through possible plans with Steven over Steak N Shake.

If you’ve been reading my blog then you know I have really tried to completely trust my life to God and have 100% faith that He will provide and take care of Steven and I.   This has been a great opportunity for me to do just that.  In the last 24 hours I can’t even explain to you how things have come together so perfectly.  Friends and family have stepped in to help us out and one of the church members opened their house to me here until I am able to fully move to Tacoma.   I found that I went from being overwhelmed to being able to just be joyful.

I will be the first one to say that I have definitely insulted God’s power with my worries and anxiety in the past but this time I have let it go.  It has been my prayer that God will continue to lead us and that I will trust it all to come together in His perfect way.   I have to tell you though that as I prayed for God to help Steven and I with this transition I started to feel it was extremely petty.  For the last week a couple in our baseball and PAO family has been dealing with a very scary situation involving their 2 year old son.  His heart stopped beating and he was dead, only to be resuscitated.   This morning as I prayed for God to continue to provide, I just had to stop.  I know God hears all prayers and can help us all but I just had to tell him to focus his efforts on little Copeland.  I know that both Copeland and his family can use all of the prayers possible so I encourage you to read more about their story and lift them up in prayer (http://willlaurenstartup.blogspot.com/). 

Copeland’s story has been a reminder to me that life is so much bigger than baseball; a reminder that God can use both positive and negative situations to draw us closer to Him.  Whether we stay in AAA, move back down, or find ourselves in the big leagues, all we can do is continue to trust in Him to provide for us.  We could not be more thankful for all of the blessings we have received and all of the ways God has shown how faithful He is to us. 

Not For Sale

Since the PAO conference in November, Steven and I have taken a very different view on many aspects of our lives.  One that has changed drastically is baseball.  It is a job but it isn’t a job that just anyone can do.  God has blessed Steven with an amazing talent and we both realized it was time to start using that talent for more than income.

Earlier this spring Steven and I were introduced to a group called Not For Sale.  We became aware of them at about the same time that the KONY 2012 campaign went viral so it seemed fitting to get involved.  NFS uses athlete’s abilities to raise money and encourages fan and critics to get involved as well.  I started thinking; let’s just pretend Steven threw 1,000 strikeouts a season.  I would GLADLY write a $1000 check for that.  Why not pay forward God’s blessings?  We decided to donate money for every strikeout and inning and of course will up the ante when a move to the big leagues is made.

If you are able to join our efforts this season and make a donation we would appreciate it.  It can be based on Steven’s stats or a one-time donation, anything helps.   Ideally we will be able to encourage other Mariner’s and athletes in general to join us so look for your other favorite athletes as well!

Our page....donate here!

For Better or Worse

I haven’t blogged in a while so this post is definitely overdue.  I’m going to give myself a break since school and wedding planning have consumed my life.  Not to mention listening to nightly baseball games and attempting to get back in to running.  It seems like I constantly have something to do, which is good because it has helped the time away from Steven pass relatively painlessly.  The last two months have also brought the start of a new show, “Don’t be Tardy for the Wedding”.  Those of you who know me know that I have few vices.  I don’t smoke or gamble, and rarely drink or curse, but Mt. Dew and the “Housewives” tv shows get me every time.

Kim, the star of the show, is going over vows one day and starts in on the “in sickness and health, richer or poorer” and stops because she says she doesn’t like negativity in her vows.  I get what she is saying; who wants to think about the bad things that life might bring on such a happy day.  The truth is though, life can bring some hard times and one of the blessings on a marriage is that you will have a partner to help you through.  I mean, that is kind of the point of those vows; letting the other person know that you will always be there for them.   

I know every life and marriage has the possibility of things going wrong but I have to wonder how many people really believe any of it will happen.  Two of my friends got married in the last year, both teachers.  Did either of them think about what would happen if he broke his leg and was done working for the year?  If he got fired?  If he was forced to teach across the country?  I doubt it.  Those things don’t happen in most careers.  I think instead couples embrace marriage and accept that there could be a few bumps along the way. 

There are a few situations where the negativity in those vows is especially important and a baseball marriage is one.  I can guarantee there will be bad calls, bad games, bad fans, bad road trips, and even bad teammates.  There will be injury, minor or career ending, and there will be trades, releases, and who knows what else.  Baseball has provided us with some situations that have been testing of us individually and as a couple and will continue to do so.  

The thing about the vows is though that once they are said, there is no turning back.  There is no “the distance isn’t working” or “the measly minor league salary isn’t enough”.  You know getting in to it that the negativity in those vows is a reality and you’re going to be there and be his biggest fan anyway.  There are many people who will be around for the success and the good times, but I think it’s important to say, up front, I’ll be there when you can’t get out of the first inning, I’ll be there if you have a surgery and need a nurse, I’ll be there if we spend our savings chasing the dream and end up broke.  Of course I’ll be there for his MLB debut, when he signs a big deal, and has a jersey retired, but I think we all already know that.  What we really need to hear is the first part, the reassurance, that no matter what, we have someone to turn to. 

I have no idea when or where Steven and I will end up saying “I do” but I do know that when the time comes he can count on me to say every line.

Back to School

A few weeks ago I was approached about taking a job as a substitute teacher for the remainder of the school year. The job was going to be 7^th grade Social Studies at the school I resigned from last year. At first I didn’t really know what to think. It seemed exciting to picture myself back in the classroom, working with the people I loved so much last year. The challenge of teaching a new subject area also provided some allure but then it hit me, remainder of the school year means end of May. End of May means into the baseball season. Into the baseball season means staying behind while Steven plays….and that’s just the start of it. Then there was the reality that I would be the third teacher these kids had had this year, not to mention the reputation this group had. All of a sudden that excitement turned in to fear. I found myself not wanting to go and clinging to the idea that I would leave in April and travel with Steven. I knew this was something I needed to pray about and there was a reason I was given this opportunity.

As the days went on I started to realize that God was answering my previous prayers and this was something I absolutely needed to do. I realized what an honor it was that my former administration and co-workers thought I would be able to handle this position and create the classroom environment necessary for the students to be successful. I thought about my New Year’s resolution to do better and give more and knew I had to do it.

Luckily I was able to find someone who was willing to rent me a room for a few months and allow Mira too. At that point, I officially accepted the job and spent the last week preparing my classroom and myself for Monday when the kids are back in school.

I’m sure that in no way will this be easy and I’m sure there will be times when I wish I would’ve just gone with Steven but I know there is definitely something to be gained from this. Plus, who can turn down a few more months of sunshine?!

Its Always Sunny in Peoria

Now that Steven and I have been living in Arizona for a month I thought it was probably time to get everyone up to speed, especially before Spring Training officially kicks off and things get crazy!

We drove from Wisconsin down here with stops in Kansas and New Mexico. The drive went well and Mira was great both in the car, and in the hotel. Steven did most of the driving but we didn’t pull any 16 hour days like we did on our way to North Carolina. We pulled in to our driveway in Peoria, AZ on Feburary 1^st and were joined by our roommate James the weekend.

The past month has gone by pretty quickly. The boys stay busy with baseball and video games and I’ve expanded my cooking repertoire. While they are “working” at the field I have stayed busy tutoring 5 nights a week and babysit for a few different families on occasion. Hopefully I will start doing some substitute teaching soon as well.

This past month has allowed us the chance to really slow down and enjoy life. For example, we get to eat lunch AND dinner together every day, which definitely won’t happen during the season. We’ve been able to have a house tennis tournament (that ended when I beat both of the boys) and Mira gets a long around the neighborhood regularly. We’ve had friends over for the Super Bowl and to grill out. I’ve been able to catch up with old friends and climbed South Mountain last weekend for the American Cancer Society. We’ve been able to attend church every weekend and even hang out with friends from other teams. Soon Steven will be starting a Bible study with his teammates and I am joining a neighborhood group through our church to do some community service.

It really is almost always sunny in Peoria. Mira is in dog heaven and with a pool in our backyard, I’m in my personal heaven as well. It is very easy to feel blessed here and see all of the good God has put in our lives. I see this time as the calm before the storm and hope when the craziness of the season starts I can remember these moments. After all, the next blog could easily be “Its Always Rainy in Tacoma” or “Its Always Humid in Jackson”….with baseball you just never know!