Mwangaza and Road Games

It. Is. Finished. Congratulations, my fellow slicers, we made it! Another year is under our belts. Boy, oh boy, am I ready to have a break from writing.

Actually, I'm ready for a break from school in general. Partially, because of my plans this summer. The easiest way to talk about my summer trip to Africa, without rambling too much, is to include a portion of my support letter.

Dear Friends and Family,

This summer, I have the incredible opportunity to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Africa, from June 26th - July 9th. Similar to what I wrote in 2013 before traveling to Hong Kong, since graduating high school in 2009, I felt the nudge to serve overseas. The cool thing about this trip in particular, Tresor Yenyi, the founder of Mwangaza International, was my family group leader at Camp MoCoMi back in 2009 when I first felt that tug on my heart. My “home” church and camp have been supporting Mwangaza International for years, and now we have the chance to see the work in the Congo first-hand.  

Camp MoCoMi 2009

Over the past 10 years, I have had the privilege of being Tresor’s chauffeur to and from Joplin and Eldon on a number of occasions. Each time our trip concludes, I leave feeling uplifted by the stories of everything Mwangaza is accomplishing in the Congo. God has truly worked in mysterious ways: from getting the land for the original orphanage, shutting off power in Goma to put in the first water well, macro-loans given to Congolese men and women for start-up businesses, and in one city the deaths by Cholera decreasing 100% after the placement of the first water purification system. 

While in the DRC, my team will be continuing work on Mwangaza’s orphanages (teaching kids, painting buildings, etc.), installing more water purification systems, and working at HOPE centers (where locals go for meals and to learn trades to help build a life for their family).

This trip has been 10 years in the making and I could not be more excited! There are 2 things I'm a little nervous about though. First, I will be missing 9 Cardinals games. Oh, the horror! However, proving God really is a Cardinals fan, the entire time we are gone, the Cardinals are playing on the road. That helps lighten the burn. Secondly, my nephew will probably be born while I am gone. To lighten that sting, he will be born in Idaho, so I would not have been there anyway. My trip is already providing a needed reminder that God's Kingdom is more important than earthly things...

Until next year, slicers. Here's to 12 in 19!

Heaven on Earth

Last year on our Gilmore Girls vacation, we also spent a day in Cooperstown, New York. The place baseball players are enshrined. The home of the Hall of Fame, where 1 percent of all baseball players make it. Let me repeat that, one percent of ALL baseball players get inducted to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Red spent over 70 years
in a Cardinals uniform.

I have grown up my entire life hearing about Cooperstown. The current, and biggest debate, involving the St. Louis Cardinals is whether Yadier Molina will be inducted. If you ask me, well, duh! My completely unbiased (that's not sarcasm) opinion is how could he not be? I could write an entire blog on that topic though.

Back to Cooperstown itself. In my head, I had envisioned Cooperstown as a big city, at the very least, an average sized city. Boy were we surprised to find a very small town, tucked into curvy, windy roads back through the woods of New York. It's population is somewhere around 1,800. No, I didn't place the comma wrong and forget a zero! The population of Cooperstown is 1,800. You learn something new everyday, or at least we did!

I won't bore people with every detail of our tour or my numerous pictures. I'll leave with my top 3 take aways.

We found our way to be enshrined at
Cooperstown. As the best fans in baseball.

1. Purely by stroke of luck, we were there the day before the 2018 induction. Unfortunately, we didn't run into any famous past players, but we did get to see Cooperstown being set up for the big ceremony. We also got to see the placements on the wall where the new plaques would hang. That sounds boring, however, we learned that living players sign behind their plaques. So we got to see their signatures, which I figure is something most people don't get to see.

2. Cooperstown is everything baseball. The stores down the brick road are nearly all baseball related. The restaurants are baseball themed. There are ball parks tucked back behind the museum where the first baseball games took place.

Stanislaus.
*All the feels*

3. If I were to imagine what heaven is like, it would be pretty close to Cooperstown. There are 3 floors to the museum. We walked around every floor and spent the entire day reading about America's favorite pastime. We could have spent at least another day reading, if not longer. (If you want to get me to read, take me to a museum!) Contrary to what people might think, I wasn't just stopping to read about St. Louis Cardinals players. I enjoy all baseball history. From the beginning days, first baseballs and gloves, Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Rogers Hornsby, Stan "the Man" Musial, Ted Williams, the baseball strike of the '90's, home run battles, World Series biggest moments, and all of the other moments and players in between, they are all showcased in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame museum. My heart flutters thinking about it.

If you love baseball, go to Cooperstown. It is worth the drive through the woods. Just plan on spending the entire day there, better yet, you might want to plan a couple days in baseball heaven.

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

The Sultan of Swat, the King of Crash, the Colossus of Clout, the Great Bambino! Ted "the Kid" Williams. Carlton "Pudge" Fisk. David "Big Papi" Ortiz. It's a surreal feeling knowing you are standing where some of baseball's greatest players have stood.

In the spirit of baseball, I must admit I enjoy visiting other team's ballparks. Of course I will always prefer Busch Stadium, but I like seeing what other stadiums are like and learning the history of other teams, especially the historic ones.

My first ballpark visit away from my beloved Busch was Kauffman Stadium. We went there a few different times growing up, because tickets to see the Cardinals play the Royals were cheaper in Kansas City. I've now been there a handful of times including last summer when I got to take my friend Kyla to her first Major League game. Don't worry, the Cardinals were in town!

Next up, when I was in 6th grade I got to be a tag-along on a mission trip with the high school youth group at my church to Arlington, Texas. My parents were going as sponsors, my sister was entering high school, and I got lucky! While our group was in town, we got to go what was then known as The Ballpark in Arlington.

Please note the shout-out to
St. Louis above "BLEACHERS"

Now approaching 2 summers ago, I went to Indianapolis with my friend Nellie. We had done everything we wanted to in Indy, and decided to take our adventure a little farther. (Had the Indianapolis Indians, Pittsburgh's Triple A team, been in town we probably would have stayed to watch them). Chicago was within a day's drive and I had never been before, so we set out for the day. My main request for our trip was to see Wrigley Field. I know what you're thinking! Caitlin wanted to go to Wrigley?! Yes, because while my hatred for the Cubs runs deep, I respect that they have not torn down Wrigley to build a nice, new ballpark.

Last summer, on the "babymoon" vacation with my friends Bri and Jory we visited Fenway Park in Boston. I had actually been here one other time on a Spring Break trip to Rhode Island, but with Bri and Jory we went on a tour of the park. We would have went to the Red Sox game that night, but that's an entirely different story!

I think out of all of the ballparks I have been to, not including Busch Stadium of course, Fenway Park is my favorite. I probably can't give Wrigley a ranking because I would never admit to putting Chicago number 1 on any list, and I have not actually been inside. In all honesty, Fenway and Boston's history of baseball would be hard to top. It was cool to think we were standing in spots that some of baseball's greatest players had once stood.

I regret not going to old (1923) Yankee Stadium when my family was in New York City in 2008. It was the last season the Yankees played ball there before they tore it down that winter. I also regret not going to Chase Field when I was in Phoenix a couple Spring Breaks ago, but I did go walk around a couple Spring Training locations!

One day soon, I look forward to crossing new baseball stadiums off of my list. Although, I think I have been to all of the decently named ballparks! My top choice would probably be PNC Park (Pittsburgh), plus it would add a new city to my list of adventures!

Day 2 of baseball. Time to fly, Cardinals!

Time to Fly

The smell of beer had never appealed to me. I'd smell it at sporting events, usually St. Louis Cardinals games, and would be appalled. At 15 years old that changed.

My dad had gotten 2 Cardinals tickets through his work. They were for the 2nd game of Opening Week. The game was on a school night. Lucky for me, my sister was in college 3 hours south, so she wasn't an option to take. He wouldn't take my mom and leave me home alone. So winner, winner for me! It was going to be a special father/daughter outing.

He picked me up from school. We had to leave immediately to get to the 7:15 game on time. It was going to be extra exciting, because they were celebrating the 2006 World Series Championship team from the season before. 

It was 2007 and iPhones had not yet been released. Which meant we didn't have the weather at our fingertips, and we were not prepared for what we were getting ourselves into.

Last year might have been the coldest game at Busch Stadium at start time, but I'd have to highly disagree that it was the coldest game ever. I would argue that it was April 2007. My dad is naturally warm blooded and that night in 2007, he was freezing. 

I honestly don't remember if the Cardinals won or lost. I remember a few things. First, I remember learning a high school letter jacket is NOT a coat. I think I had on a t-shirt, hoodie, and my letter jacket. I needed a coat! I remember the men sitting around us were drinking a ton of beer, probably to distract themselves from being cold. Lastly, I remember thinking how cool it was being at a Cardinals game with my daddy on a school night.

We left the game an inning early so we could head home. On the drive, we stopped at Taco Bell for a midnight snack. By the time we got home and I got ready for bed it was nearly 3 a.m. and I still had school the next day. There was no skipping school in our household! I didn't care though, it just made our night more memorable.

That night I was disgusted by the smell of beer. By the next day, I still thought it smelled awful, but there was something different about it. 

The smell of beer was now a memory.

Today marks 12 years of Opening Day games later, and my dad and I still reminisce on the time we went to that April game. The smell of beer still takes me back to that frigid night in April 2007, sitting at the coldest baseball game ever, watching the boys with the birds on the bat, knowing I'd be awake to the wee morning hours, still having to go to school the next day, all while creating another special Cardinals memory with my daddy.

It's Opening Day 2019! Time to fly!

One for the Record Books

Over the last 5 years, I have watched a one-hit, shutout by ace Adam Wainwright, Matt Holiday's final at bat as a Cardinal resulting in a pinch-hit single to help win the game, an 18 inning game end in a loss, a benches clearing brawl because an opposing manager used poor word choices toward Yadier Molina, a grand slam in the 1st inning by Marcell Ozuna, a no hitter carried into the 8th inning by Michael Wacha, a walk-off homer by José Martínez, and the coldest start of a game in Busch Stadium history.

Like I've said, when you buy tickets to a game, you never know what you're going to get. Of course, they were mostly bobblehead games, so we knew we would walk away with a new bobblehead. That's how we ended up at the coldest game in Busch history.

It was Opening Weekend 2018; the Cardinals were giving away a Mystery Hall of Fame Opening Day Car Parade Bobblehead. I've attended Opening Weekend one other time during high school and I knew one thing, it is very possible the game will be very cold. We knew it was supposed to be cold, so at least we were prepared for it!

Bundled in fleece-lined leggings, jeans, doubled up socks, a long and short sleeve shirt, a hoodie, my Carhartt coat, fleece gloves, a Cardinals stocking, a 9 month old nephew, and 2 fleece blankets, one would think I would have been nice and toasty but not in temperatures below freezing, sitting 5 stories high with the wind blowing in my face.

Oh, but my family loves our boys in red, so we thoroughly enjoyed freezing our tails off. My parents, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew actually left a couple innings early. Lucky for me I had gone to the game with my friends equally devoted friends, Bri and Jory, so my family leaving meant I got to go to the new addition to Busch, the Budweiser Brew House Deck, to finish the game.


With faces resembling the color of the birds on the bat, we watched our Cardinals defeat the Diamondbacks 5-3. The sting was softened by the win and upon hearing we had attended a historic game. Although, I have to say I'm okay with leaving the coldest game in 2018. There's no need to rewrite that record in the books.

Some Netflix, but Still No Chill

The requirements for my 5-1 list of favorite shows are similar to 10-6. However, 5 is an exception, I had to use Netflix for the first season. Also, most of these 5 required some use of internet in some capacity!

5. Riverdale -- During the summer, and any breaks from school, my guilty pleasure is to wake up watching Live with Kelly and Ryan every morning! What does this have to do with Riverdale? Kelly's husband, Mark Consuelos, is on Riverdale. Therefore, they talk about the show frequently. I also knew Cole Sprouse was in it, and I grew up a Disney kid, so last winter I decided to see what Riverdale was all about. After the first episode, I was hooked! I don't think it has anything to do with the plot of Archie Comics, but the characters are based off of them. I'm currently heartbroken over the passing of Luke Perry.

4. One Tree Hill -- I got several girls on my dorm floor hooked on this show in college. I started watching it my Junior year of high school. I was spending the night with a friend and it was in the middle of season 5. As she explained the plot during the episode, I knew I needed to find a way to watch the first four seasons (this was before Netflix!). My sister had a friend who had the seasons on DVD, and I'm pretty sure I managed to watch all of them in 2 weeks. Don't worry my grades did not suffer due to my binge watching of a teenage soap opera.

3. Boy Meets World -- Once again, I remember the first time I watched BMW in 2nd grade. I had a friend spending the night with me and she always watched it. I mostly remember the red leather couch in Eric, Jack, and Rachel's apartment. I also remember thinking it seemed a little scandalous that these 2 boys had a girl living with them. Nevertheless, ever since, I was hooked. Growing up I was a lot like Cory, and my friend Emily would have been my Shawn. Now that we're adults, I think I'm more like Shawn and she's more like Cory. At her wedding, I definitely could relate to how Shawn felt at Cory and Topanga's wedding. "Do you really like her [him]?!"

2. Friends -- Fun fact: my mom never let me watch Friends growing up. Although I think I just assumed she wouldn't. I would sneakily watch it late at night during the summer. One time when I was home from college, I discovered she had started watching it. Now we frequently watch it together on Nick at Nite. Even though I've seen most episodes a bajillion times, they still make me laugh out loud. I make a lot of references about my own life in regards to Friends, I appreciate that most people have watched the show so they get it when I make a Friends reference. Like Rachel wondering who FICA is and why he's getting all her money, Phoebe's crazy running, Joey's incorrect usage of a thesaurus and poor reverberation of French. Thank you, Netflix, for not taking this off like you planned!

1. Gilmore Girls -- This shouldn't surprise anyone who has been following my blog! My vacation last summer half revolved around going to the town in Connecticut that inspired the show. My love for coffee mirrors Lorelai's need to have it in an IV. Although I think personality wise I'm a lot more like Rory. My college friends used to tell me they could see me answering to a boy telling me he loved me like she did. She told him thank you. I wish I was as quick witted as any of the characters in the show. Lastly, #TeamLogan

No Netflix and No Chill

Once upon a time, in a land of no Netflix, I had to be creative with how to watch some of my favorite TV shows. With the exception of one, which will be on tomorrow's list, all of these shows were once binge watched, in a sense, by me. The requirement to make my top 10 list is that they have episodes I have watched more times than I can count on one hand. The first five had to be shows I watched entirely without the use of Netflix. Enjoy!

10. Petticoat Junction -- Fonda would never let me hear the end of it if this show didn't make my list. She also loves to share this fact about me. When I was in Kindergarten, we had to fill out a form about our favorite things. My family watched a LOT of TV Land. I wrote Petticoat Junction as my favorite TV Show. My mom was mortified, only because she was afraid my teacher would think my parents were backwood hicks. Nevertheless, I still love all of the old classics.

9. The Nanny -- I figured I might as well stay on the "old soul" trend. Although, The Nanny probably doesn't qualify as old soul, I certainly didn't know anyone my age watching it. My mom and I watched it together usually during the summer. I think it was on in syndication on Lifetime. We probably liked it because the Nanny was the polar opposite of our personalities: loud and nasally, larger than life, over-the-top, tight mini-skirt wearing with big, poofy hair. Now anytime I see it's on TV, I still watch it.

8. Disney Channel -- Yes, I'm aware this is not a TV show, but how could I possibly be asked to narrow down the best shows? Throw in DCOM's and it becomes an impossible task! Bug Juice (that one is for my sister), The Jersey, The Famous Jett Jackson, Even Stevens, Lizzie McGwire, That's So Raven, Phil of the Future, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Girl Meets World. See, this would have ruined my list of 10. I would be willing to bet that I have seen every episode of all of these shows including their movies. I also know that I watched some of them well past the prime age of Disney Channel viewers, but they were light-hearted TV shows to escape from the drama of high school life.

7. Saved by the Bell -- I know, I know, it's cheesy! I'm well aware of the inconsistent storylines and the rarity of plots flowing from one show to the next. I don't care. I love Saved by the Bell. Come to think of it this is probably where I got my first celebrity crush. Hello, Zack Morris! Sorry, Slater, I didn't dig your curly mullet, but those dimples are another story. It's also the first show I became very opinionated over a love triangle. I definitely rooted for Kelly and Zack. Thankfully, the internet wasn't a big thing when I started watching, so there were no spoilers. I also never realized I was watching the show in syndication. My sister and I used to watch it at my Granny and Papa's house, we had satellite at home which at the time kept us from getting local channels. After watching, we would go outside and play like we were the characters. Finally, when I was older they started airing it on TBS. I loved being up early on snow days and in the summer, because it meant I could watch Saved by the Bell at 7 am. #90sbaby

6. Smallville -- When I was in Jr. High, they started airing the first 4 seasons on ABC Family. They did a marathon of random episodes one Saturday as a kick-off. My mom was watching with me and from the Pilot she told me it was the story of Superman. They showed a new episode every night and since this was before the days of Netflix and DVR, when we were busy I would record episodes on a VHS tape to watch later. (Binge-watching early 2000's style!) Kids these days will never know the horror of thunderstorms interrupting their favorite show. Once I got caught up to the new seasons, I started watching on The CW. It was much easier watching one show a week versus nightly.

Sloppy Wet Kiss

I have received a lot of sloppy wet kisses this week and I have thoroughly enjoyed each one.

With a niece that just turned 2 and a nephew who is 20 months old, neither of which give out very many kisses, I feel very privileged to be someone they smooch even if they are slobbery.

Emily once got a kiss from Ainsley with a mouthful of tuna salad. Emily not expecting a fishy kiss, wiped her mouth and made a “blech” sound. Now, Ainsley makes the same motion and sound, followed by a giggle, whenever she gives kisses. She gave me two kisses when I told her goodbye at the airport and with both she wiped them off and laughed. It’s very cute and made me giggle instead of cry.

Ezekiel doesn’t give out very many kisses. His mommy gets them frequently and his daddy sometimes, so I feel extra privileged that I am on his list of people he slobbers on. I spent the morning with him yesterday and I think he gave me more kisses than ever before. When I left he was getting ready to take a nap, but with his boppy (pacifier) in his mouth, and tear-filled eyes, he still gave me multiple kisses.

My niece and nephew kisses make my heart melt. They also remind me of the song “How He Loves” by David Crowder Band. I know, I know that sounds like a stretch! I think most people know it with the lyric, “And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss.” However, I first heard it at CIY by Aaron Pelsue Band and they sang, “And heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss.” The visual of a sloppy wet kiss resonated with me more than an unforeseen kiss and even more so now.

The thought that God’s love for me doesn’t even begin to compare to my love for my niece and nephew still blows my mind. I long for the day that heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss, but until then I’ll keep enjoying them from Ainsley and Ezekiel.

Boise to Seattle to Kansas City

Today’s blog is late, for me, because yesterday I read a book. I know for a lot of people, especially teachers, that’s no big deal. However, for me saying I read a book, a whole book in one day, it’s a very big deal.

Yesterday I flew home from Boise. I had a 1.5 hours flight from Boise to Seattle, an hour layover, and a 3.5 hour (I think, time changes lose me) flight to Kansas City.

I actually prefer reading on flights compared to watching in-flight movies or playing games on my iPad. Yesterday I also discovered airplane WiFi now gives you to option to turn on messaging services. I quickly turned that off, because my phone started dinging like crazy and I like disconnecting completely while I’m flying. It’s peaceful.

Normally I take the time to write my next day’s blog while I’m flying home. But that afternoon in Boise Airport I had started reading Took by Mary Downing Hahn and I knew if I read the whole time I could finish it. When we landed in KC, I was just short of finishing. However, my parents pick me up from the airport, so I was able to finish the last chapter on the drive home.

I know for most people this would not be a feeling of accomplishment. But being a person who doesn’t love to read, I was, and am, quite proud of myself!

Note to Self

I wrote this blog sitting in the Boise airport last year, before the crack of dawn, about things I should remember this year. I thought I'd see how well I listened to my past self.

Dear Fututre Caitlin,

Next year when you are planning your Spring Break trip, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Try to fly Southwest. Even if it costs a little extra, the easy check-in process and no charge for a checked bag is worth it.

We're not off to a good start! However, I've thoroughly enjoyed Delta Airlines and checking my bag was only $30. I'd say it's still a win, and next year if Delta is cheaper than Southwest I'd take it. 

2. Do NOT leave Boise before the crack of dawn. No one wants to be awake at 3 in the morning. The coffee shops at the airport aren’t open yet. At 4 am, after checking in, you’ll want coffee, but you can’t get it. 

Success! This year I'm departing at 3:52, so I have the entire morning to spend with Emily. 

3. Write blogs ahead of time and schedule them to publish. You had a good start in 2018, but the last few days that weren’t scheduled were rough to get finished. 

You weren't perfect, but you had the first couple scheduled and knew your topic for each day, so I count that as a win with room for improvement. 

4. When you leave for the airport at 3:20 in the morning you don’t get to kiss Ainsley goodbye, you and Emily don’t talk on the drive to the airport, and Bart is snoozing back at home making everyone jealous. 

This one goes back to number 2, so well done, Caitlin!

I’m sure there are other important things to remember about Spring Break, but that list will suffice for now. You did do a good job this year by using your large suitcase so your carry-on was nice and light. Keep that up!

You followed this tactic again this year and packed less than ever before. Way to go!

Sincerely,

A very sleepy, slightly teary-eyed, de-caffeinated Caitlin

P.S. You're still sleepy and teary eyed, but at least you're well caffeinated. In 2020, you need to ask/remind Emily about your conversation from 2019. Fly into Seattle or Portland, they'll meet you, spend a few days there, and drive to Boise to finish the week. Make someday, today!

Vowels and Great Grandparents

We’ll blame it on being a new mom, but I think Brianna missed a very important thing (actually 3) on things people should know about me. So here is my number 11.

11. I have 3 beautiful, wonderful, funny, smart, and extremely loved nephew and nieces.

First, and exactly 2 years ago today I earned my aunt title for the first time with Ainsley Ida. Ida comes from her great grandma, whom is 1/2 of the reason Emily and I met so many years ago. And thanks to a wonderfully timed spring break, not only do I get to be with her every year on her birthday, I got to be there when she was born.

Second, came my actual by blood nephew, Ezekiel Joseph. Joseph comes from a long line of middle names as Joseph on his daddy’s side of the family. However, perfectly fitting it was also my dad’s Grandpa Bever’s name. Ezekiel usually FaceTimes me, thanks to my sissy, at least twice a week. Around Christmas time he started calling me Cait Cait. *insert cute awwww noise here* Although his dad is trying really hard to get him to call me Aunt Cake.

Finally, as of January my 2nd niece, Amelia Marie, entered the world. Marie comes from her great grandma and her mama’s middle name (no not at all from mine!). Amelia is the only one of my three littles who lives near me, so I get my fill of baby snuggles when needed.

In July, I will become Aunt Cait for the fourth time when Ainsley welcomes a baby brother. Last night it hit me that I might be in Africa when he arrives. It killed me just a little thinking it might be days before I even know he’s made it to the world. But that will give me something to look forward to finding out upon my return from the Congo.

Upon writing this post I have also realized two things. Apparently to be my niece or nephew it is a requirement that your first name begins with a vowel and your middle name comes from great grandparents. So to Emily and Bart who have mixed all the boy names once on their list, this should help narrow down your choices a bit. You’re welcome!

Spitting Image of My Father

Last but not least on Brianna's 10 things people should know about me!

10. I get my looks from my dad, to the surprise of most.

I can't count on one hand the number of times I've heard in my life that I look exactly like my mom. I can count on one hand the number of times I've heard I look like my dad. Two. Two times in my life someone has told me that.

The first time was in college. I was visiting my mom at work, the Upper Elementary in Eldon. A lady who worked with her, who also went to school with my dad, told me I looked just like him and insisted I must hear that all the time. Nope. Actually I never had! I liked hearing it though.

The second I don't even remember when or how, Brianna has just always told me she thinks I look like my dad.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind hearing either. If I age like my mom, I'll be one happy girl. I hope to look like her at 61! Sometimes though it's nice to hear the opposite. I know at first glance my dark hair and dimples stand out, and those certainly are from my mom. I think if you look close at my facial features, you will see my dad. His eye genes are quite strong.

Honestly, I think I'm a pretty 50/50 split of my mom and dad. Even my preacher, Robin Sigars, who knew my parents as teenagers has told me that. The words that come out of my mouth are things my mom would say. The tone in which I express them are completely like my dad. A little dry and deadpan, I suppose. I hold conversations with new people and carry my heart on my sleeve with many emotions like my mom. I love sports, especially Cardinals baseball, being outdoors, on the farm shooting, on the lake fishing, etc. like my dad. I have a quiet rebellion, and dare devilish side, within me which is also probably thanks to my daddy. My stubbornness, I'm sure they'd say I got from the other, but I'd say I was doomed, I got a double whammy from both.

As far as looks though... I'll let you be the judge. Who do I look like more?
         

Your Job's a Joke, You're Broke, Your Love Life's DOA

We' re getting closer to the end! Today we're at the 9th thing people should know about me. I have my own set of friends much like the TV show Friends. They, along with their husbands, are people I know will always be there for me.

9. My two best friends: Emily and Brianna

Best friend definition as given on Urban Dictionary: A person who can make you laugh even on your bad days, and who makes all the problems in life seem easy to overcome, as long as you have them by your side. A best friend can be many things... best friends help each other to become better people by using honest, constructive criticism that sometimes hurts to hear, but is all for the best in the end. Best friends are the ones that bring up touchy topics with you, even if it will risk you being angry w/them because they care more about your well being.

Emily and Brianna definitely fall under this definition. We don't always agree on everything, we certainly all have our own opinions, and I have had my fair share of arguments with both of them.  However, each of them makes me a better human. Any time we have had a fight, I always knew it wasn't the end of our friendship. In fact, our fights have made our friendship stronger. We've learned how to talk about things to get past them rather than sweep problems under a rug and let them boil up until they explode. I've learned lessons from them that I can't imagine having learned from anyone else.

Emily is my literal best friend forever. We met in the nursery at church and have been inseparable ever since. Growing up people knew if they saw Caitlin they were going to see Emily, especially at church. We can go days, occasionally weeks, without talking, and months without seeing each other, but we always pick up right where we left off. I don't have to talk to her every day to know she's always there for me. I visit her every spring break and she makes a trip to Missouri every summer or Christmas.

Brianna and I met in college. I was a junior, she was a freshman. We bonded over the Cardinals instantly and that's actually how we met. We still text every day, but it's nice to have a friend in town who checks in to make sure I'm still alive. She fills in the gaps where Emily can't living hundreds of miles away by being my person who would drop everything if I needed her. (Like when my apartment flooded last year).

I consider myself very lucky to have two best friends. It's comforting knowing without a doubt, no matter where life takes us, different cities, states, or continents, they will always be there for me.

  


  

  

Skunk and Midnight Marie; 23 and Me

Spring Break has me stretching out the last half of the things people should no about me as much as I can. I'm making myself be okay with far from perfect posts, because it's allowing me to spend more time with my niece, Ainsley, and my best friend, Emily. So moving on to number 8.

8. The cat I prayed for.

I wish I always prayed with the same innocence I had when I was a kid. When I was around 5, I decided I wanted a cat. My parents said not right now. I don't really remember what I thought or felt when they said that, but apparently I thought I needed to take my request higher up. Every night when my parents tucked me in, my mom would say bedtime prayers with my sister and me. After they told me no to a cat, my bedtime prayers went something like this, "Dear God, thank you for today. Thank you for mommy, daddy, and Jessie. Please be with Granny and Papa, Gramy and George. And God, can I please have a cat? Amen."

I'm sure my mom and dad had a good chuckle about my prayer. Eventually, after 6 months of me praying for a cat, my mom told me ever so gently, "Cait, you don't have to keep praying for a cat. We aren't going to get one right now."

As any stubborn 5 year old would, I continued to pray. Again, I don't remember what I thought or felt, but obviously I believed God could override even my parents wishes. My mom and dad must have decided to give up the fight and just let me keep praying. Every night, my prayer was the same, asking God for a cat.

Finally, approximately another 6 months later, my sister and I were outside playing. We live out in the country, and from back in the woods, a cat came walking into our backyard. My parents were outside, too, and saw it. They thought it was probably a distant neighbors' cat out wandering. If he was, he lost his way home. We had Skunk (he was black and white, so naturally I named him Skunk) for 3 more years. He attracted a VERY wild feline to hang out in the woods behind our house, whom I named Midnight Marie. Skunk and Midnight then blessed us with 3 litters of kittens. From those litters we kept Nala, Simba, and Batgirl. Eventually, Batgirl and Simba provided us with Blackie. (I was a very creative pet namer...).

One day Skunk ran away and never returned. My parents told me there was probably some other little girl praying endlessly for a cat and Skunk had to go answer her prayers. They were quick to remind me of all the cats Skunk had given us.

My parents were without a cat for a few years until this past summer. Our neighbors moved leaving behind a cat, who had also been left behind by the previous home owners. The big softy my dad is realized with the house still vacant that the cat had no one to feed it. So he put food out at our house and now my parents are the proud owner of a black and white cat we call Kitty. (We know the original owners called it Cindy, but who names a cat Cindy?). I can't help but wonder if maybe Kitty is a descendant of Skunk. They need to come up with a 23 and Me for pets. Can you imagine those lineages?!

My family looks back and laughs at the story. I appreciate God's sense of humor. Surely He laughed when my mom told me I could stop praying for a cat. I know to this day my mom laughs when she remembers telling me to stop praying. I wish as an adult I had the same stubbornness in my prayers I did as a child.

Only with My Oxygen

Continuing on with my list of things you should know about me. 

7. Coffee

I suppose some people would call my love for coffee an addiction. Therefore, hello! My name is Caitlin Bever and I drink too much coffee. The first step is admitting you have a problem, right? Okay, done! I’ll just stop at step one. I justify my amount of coffee intake not being a problem because 9 times out of 10 my coffee is black. The other 9% of the time all it has in it is milk, if you want to be technical steamed milk. The other 1% is when I splurge at Christmas time for a Peppermint Mocha, or if a new flavor is released and I have a free drink waiting for me at Starbucks. Other than that, my coffee consumption is rich, dark, and black. 

There are some days I only have coffee in the morning! Then there’s days, like yesterday, while traveling... My mom had a pot brewed for me when I woke up. I had a small cup on my flight to Salt Lake City. An Americano helped me grade papers while I sat in front of a gorgeous panoramic view of the mountains during a 4.5 hour layover. Then I had another small cup on my flight to Boise. What can I say? I love the taste and the warmth it brings me. 

So, goodbye! This is Caitlin Bever and I’m going to continue to drink coffee with my oxygen. 

Ol' Gray

IT'S SPRING BREAK! While you are reading today's post, I will be a few thousand feet in the air heading to Boise, Idaho. As promised yesterday, here's #6 on the list of things my friend thought people should know about me.

6. The cars I've driven.

In high school, my "first" car was my dad's 1987 gray and rusty, Dodge Ram complete with a hay spike on the back. It was his farm truck. I absolutely loved The Tank, as my friends called him, and I was well known for driving it. I didn't love it when he didn't start and made me late. There were many prayers said in Ol' Gray.

When I went off to college, I was lucky. My Gramy was buying a new car and wasn't going to get enough to make trading in her car worth it. She gifted me her 2000 Dodge Intrepid. It was 9 years old and had almost 100,000 miles. Like most Intrepids I have seen, it was gold, a kind of ugly gold. But it was a free gold car, so I had zero complaints! It took me several thousand miles over the years and a lot of fun memories were made in it.

My intrepid lasted me until I got my first teaching job. I normally wouldn't remember the date I purchase a car, but it just so happened to be July 4th when I bought my 2013 Ford C-Max. My dad took me to Jefferson City just to look. While we were looking, he had me test drive a C-Max. It was the same kind of car he had for work, he knew they got great gas mileage, so he thought I should give it a try. I must admit, it wasn't at all what I had my eye on. However, it was a great price, less than 2 years old, under 30,000 miles, and it gets 40-50 mpg. So for a first car that I was buying, I went for it. Now it's fun confusing people, because they can never tell when it is started.

If I had my pick, I'd still be driving Ol' Gray. I highly doubt he would make it to Webb City, even if he did, I'd probably be calling friends for rides frequently. He's had a lot of TLC over the years and now must stay close to home.

What is your favorite car you've owned?

As the Need Arises

Earlier this week when I was struggling with writer's block, I asked my friend what 10 things people should know about me. By the time she responded, I had come up with something to write, so I saved her list for when I needed it. The need has arose, so here it is. Some things are "well, duh!" moments, others are less commonly known facts.

1. I was very involved in FFA in high school.
Thanks to my older sister, I got involved right off the bat my freshman year. I earned the highest honor a freshman FFA member can earn, Star Greenhand. It's given to the top 1st year member. I was completely shocked when my name was called at banquet. There were several other students in my class who were much more agriculturally involved, so it's always been an extra special award to me.

2. I have 2 college degrees.
I earned an Advanced Associates in Bible and Education from Ozark Christian College and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education - Math from Missouri Southern. Three of my college years were spent going to both schools.

 

3. Apparently, I eat weird foods. *Insert eye roll* I'm not sure if she meant because I have eaten horse and I love sushi. Or if she meant the foods I choose on a daily basis are weird. I'll let her clarify.

4. I did gymnastics.
I did gymnastics for 6 months in Kindergarten. Then picked it back up in 3rd grade and continued on until I graduated high school. I can still do a back handspring. 

5. CARDINALS
I thought that one should be written word-for-word how she sent it. Brianna, myself, her husband, her brother-in-law, and her husband's best friend have an ongoing text group in which we have nicknamed ourselves the Council of GM's. (GM = General Manager). We believe we would make a fantastic council of GM's for the St. Louis Cardinals. We're all very passionate about baseball.

Due to lack of time, needing to pack, and future travel Brianna's 6-10 will be posted throughout the next week. Some of them also take more than just a quick little blurb, so I'll make short and sweet posts versus long and tedious readings. I'm sure you will be waiting in eager anticipation!

Space Jam

Music makes me smile. Music makes me laugh. Music makes me dance. Music makes me cry. Music makes me sing (in the shower).

Music inspires people. Music moves people. Music helps people pour out emotions.

Music gives me a beat and motivates me to run. Music takes me back in time. Music brings back memories. Sometimes they're happy, sometimes they're sad, and sometimes they're victorious.

The following songs are listed in chronological order by the memories they bring back. Some happy, some pointless, some sad, but all of them remind me how far I've come as a human. A few would make my list of favorite songs, but certainly not all!

1. Fast Cars and Freedom by Rascal Flatts
   When I was in 8th grade, this song got me listening to country music again. It's also why Rascal Flatts will always be my favorite country group.
   
2. Would You Go With Me by Josh Turner
   This song sealed the deal on my love for Josh Turner. Maybe one day it will play at my wedding.
   
3. Should've Said No by Taylor Swift
   After getting my driver's license, this was the song playing on my first solo drive. My parents told me not to mess with the radio, so I put my T. Swift CD in and moved it to a track that had several in a row I liked to get me to my destination.
   
4. Complicated by Avril Lavigne
   After YEARS of trying, this song was playing when I successfully did an aerial cartwheel for the first time.
   
5. Summer Nights by Rascal Flatts
   One day during high school my Ag. Advisors sent me and a friend on an ice cream run during class. We listened to this song on repeat on our entire 30 minute trip.
   
6. Story of Us by Taylor Swift
   I ran many a mile to this song when a boy shattered me. I could relate to every lyric. It helped me get out frustration. I think I relate to T. Swift on many levels.
   
7. Open Skies by David Crowder Band
   After losing a young child at my home church one difficult winter, this song gave me hope. Spring came early that year and I blared this song with the windows down.
   
8. I Wonder by Leeland
   When my Granny passed away on my 21st birthday, I was in a wedding 300 miles away from my family. After the wedding, I sat outside my friend's house, talking to my best friend on the phone past midnight with this song on repeat in the background.
   
9. Oh My Dear by Tenth Avenue North
   This song reminded me of God's grace when I needed it most as I cried into a boy's arms.
   
10. Space Jam by Audio Push, Lil Wayne
    My friend, Brianna, made sure I played this while getting ready my first morning of student teaching. She knew I needed to get out of my own head and loosen up. (The jump from 9 to 10 also made me laugh.)
    
11. Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
    A personal victory. I can now listen to this song without skipping it on a playlist. Not chronological, but I also got to see Ed Sheeran in concert at Busch Stadium with my sister.
    
12. I Will Be Undignified by Rend Collective
    The entire Good News album takes me back to Spring Break last year. I bought it after hearing Rend Collective in concert with Emily. We went to a lot of Christian music festivals in high school and it made me feel like we were kids again.
    
13. Girls Like You by Maroon 5
    The current beat and song that motivates me to go outside and run.

What songs take you back in time?

Baseball Cards

This week Mrs. Crouch had her students make cards for our high school baseball team. She wanted to give them some encouragement before their first game today. Somehow, she forgot to include the freshman roster, even though her own son is on the freshman team! I eagerly volunteered my Cardinal Time students to make cards for the freshman.

While she got the list of names ready to give to me, I asked if I could make the card Coop, her son, would be getting. (Not that I needed to ask, it was more of a formality!). As she started reading names to me, she said, "Oh! DuPree is on the team!" I quickly snatched his name for myself as well. She kept reading off names and once again said, "Oh! Kolton is one of them, too!" And again, I grabbed his name, too. My card list went from 1 to 3 as my students' list shrunk to 11.

The freshman class are my "babies." Although I am way too young to be their mom, I feel like an overly proud and protective mother over them. They were my first group of kids. Oh, how I miss them. We were in Pod 4 all by ourselves at the time. If I needed anything, I didn't have another teacher to run across the pod to, I'd have to go to Pod 3. Luckily, my first homeroom was a great group of kids. I'm not sure how much I taught them as far as writing that year, but we learned a lot together. Each one of them will always hold a special place in my heart.

Coop was actually in Mrs. Cox's homeroom. However, he is Mrs. Crouch's son, so I see him often. He's turning into an impressive young man.

Kolton is a St. Louis Cardinals fan. We bonded quickly over that common interest. Each day we would talk about how the Cardinals played the night before.

Pree is the first student who ever called me mom. I also still have my desk calendar page where he wrote "My Favorite Student's Birthday." So I usually refer to him as my favorite student.

I really didn't/don't have the time this week to make baseball cards. Oh but those kids have my heart. They will always be my babies and for them I will always make the time to let them know their 6th grade teacher still cares about them and loves them like they were my own.

Got Me Going Crazy

Last year I made a list of random facts about myself that people might not know, because contrary to popular belief there is more to me than being an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan! So here's 10 more facts. We'll see if I can make it through without mentioning my love for baseball...

I'm near the center getting ready to flip backwards.

1. I was a cheerleader for 6 years. I almost didn't tryout at the end of 6th grade, because I got scared. But my mom told me she thought I would regret not giving it a try. Mother always knows best! My cheerleading squad made it to Nationals in high school. We didn't make it out of prelims, BUT we got to spend a week at Disney World while the rest of our classmates spent a week at school in the middle of a snowy February.

2. I'm still in love with the Jonas Brothers. The reuniting of the brothers paranoid me, but Sucker has got me going crazy. And hello beautiful, Nick, he will always have my high school heart burnin' up.

3. I have a scar under my bottom lip. When I was 2, I liked to climb on a little wooden rocking chair in my room. Apparently my mom always told me not to, but what adventurous 2 year old listens to their mom? I fell off, bit through my lip, and now I have a faint scar that no one notices. (I also continued to climb on that rocking chair)

4. I don't like heights. (Ironic considering my younger climbing escapades) However, I refuse to admit to having a fear of heights. I'm stubborn, so when presented the opportunity to climb I do. It was the most gratifying feeling and breathtaking view, looking over the top of a mountain in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 

5. I own every season of Smallville. I started watching it in Jr. High when it came on ABC Family. I was hooked from the pilot. Aaaand, Tom Welling wasn't too shabby to watch every week. Neither was the Green Lantern when they added his character. Lucky for me, Justin Hartley has returned to me weekly as Kevin on This is Us.

6. I don't like The Office or Parks and Rec. I know, I know. I've tried. That kind of humor just isn't my cup of tea. Please, don't try to make me like either, that'll only heighten my stubbornness and refusal to watch them even more.

7. I usually know when I get a new freckle. My podmates tease me about it, because I have a lot of freckles. I myself am not sure how I am aware when I get a new one, but I typically am.

8. I play the flute and piano. I was in band for 7 years and marched in the front row all 4 years of high school. My piano skills are weak, but I can still play by heart: Beauty and the Beast, Addam's Family Theme Song, and What Child is This.

9. I hate Science. Hate might be a strong word... I like agriculture and took 6 credit hours of Ag. Science in high school. "Normal" Science I only took for 2 years. In college, I took Biology online to avoid it face-to-face as much as possible.

10. I will travel to the United Kingdom and New Zealand someday. This summer I'm going to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to work at an orphanage. However, U.K. and New Zealand would just be for my pleasure. My mom and dad lived in England for 2 years, so I grew up hearing stories. In New Zealand, I want to go to the Shire. Which gives you a bonus fact, I love The Hobbit and LOTR, both the books and movies.

Your Enthusiasm Shocks Me

Oy with the poodles already.

One of my favorite TV shows, the first show I truly binge watched, the most re-watched show on my Netflix, is Gilmore Girls. I love the fast-paced, witty dialogue between Rory and Lorelai. No matter how many times I watch the series, it still makes me laugh and manages to give me all the feels. If you ever hear me say a random phrase, chances are I am quoting Gilmore Girls.

Last summer, my best friend and her husband were going to Boston for a "babymoon" and asked me to join. (I have really great friends!) Boston was our home for the week, but we traveled the East Coast during the day. Brianna, the one who got me hooked on Gilmore Girls, had added to our agenda the town that inspired Amy Sherman-Palladino to write Gilmore Girls.

Most of the day was spent in the car driving from Boston to New Haven to Washington Depot, CT and back to Boston. It might not sound like an exciting day to people who don't love the show, but we were like giddy school girls.

Our first stop was New Haven. We wandered around the streets of the Yale campus. We found Handsome Dan, the Yale bulldog, saw a picture of The Whiffenpoofs, and walked through two libraries. I now understand why Rory gets overly enthusiastic when describing the libraries of Yale. Because, whoa... They have a copy of The Gutenberg Bible!

Next we made our way to Washington Depot. The town of Washington Depot is small. It's a one stretch road out in the middle of nowhere. There's a grocery store much like Doose's Market. There were very few restaurants, but G.W. Tavern was perfect. It wasn't like Luke's Diner, but we did have coffee, and there was a gazebo out back, so it tickled our fancy.

I need coffee in an IV.

Jory circled us around the town a couple times, so we could find the Mayflower Inn. We drove into the parking lot and right back out. WOWZA! I'm still scared to look at how much it would cost to stay there. I highly doubt Lorelai's Dragonfly Inn cost as much as that place.

Brianna and I frequently talk at each other like Rory and Lorelai, so our verbiage that day was extra on point. Jory is the epitome of Luke without the flannel and backwards baseball cap. Also like Luke, he loves Brianna enough to spend an entire day of vacation driving her and her best friend around a non-tourist town simply because they love a TV show.

I've seen pictures of people touring the old set of Gilmore Girls at Warner Brother's Studios, however, I prefer our adventure around Connecticut. Fitting to the show, it was spontaneous and a little unorthodox. It was quite an in omnia paratus kind of day.

Copper Boom.

Bitten by the Travel Bug

I am a small town girl. I grew up in a town of 4,800 people. Actually, I grew up 6 miles outside of town in the middle of nowhere. My heart will always belong in a small town. However, I love to travel.

Big cities are exciting to me; I enjoy trying to navigate my way through the chaos and bright lights. I like just being another face in the crowd. I also love the mountains, canyons, oceans, really any part of nature. The distinct beauty of each reminds me of how much God must care for each one of us if He so intricately planned creating the Universe.

Favorite Trips I've Taken:

1. Hong Kong and Mongolia
2. Cooperstown, NY, Boston and Salem, Mass., New Haven and Washington Depot, CT
3. Indianapolis and Chicago
4. Washington D.C.
5. New York City
6. South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado (twice)
7. Omaha, Nebraska (College World Series)
8. Florida (Disney World)
9. Waco, Texas (Magnolia Silos)
10. Holland, Michigan

All in all, I've been to 31 states and 2 countries. (I wish layovers counted, then it would be 35 States and 4 countries!) I've taken somewhere around 28 flights all since I was 16. Growing up my family vacationed every summer, but we always road tripped. By the end of this year, counting layovers, I'll have added 2 new states, 4 countries, 2 continents, and 10 more flights to my list. 

I hope I eventually make it to all 50 states, even the few that seem really boring (sorry, North Dakota and New Hampshire!) just to say I've been to all 50. I would also love to check off 6 of the 7 continents. (I'm not sorry, Antarctica!) 

I'm not sure when I was first bitten by the travel bug, but I certainly have been. Even if it's just a quick weekend trip to a nearby city (usually St. Louis) or surrounding State, I thoroughly enjoy any trip I get to take.

Where are some favorite places you have visited? Where are your dream locations?

Three States, Five Houses

For the past 5 years I have gone to visit my childhood best friend, Emily, during Spring Break. She and her husband, Bart, have kept me traveling all across the United States. It has always been the perfect combination of sight seeing and relaxation.

The first two years were in Rhode Island. We went to several places in Boston, the Vanderbilt mansions in New Port, and plenty of coffee shops between Boston and Providence.

The third year was in Phoenix, Arizona. That year was unique. Bart and Emily welcomed their baby girl, Ainsley Ida, into the world while I was there. I became Aunt Cait for the first time. After them, I was the first person to ever hold Ainsley. God's timing was perfect, and I will forever be thankful that Bart and Emily still wanted me there for Spring Break. They graciously let me use their car to do some sight seeing while they spent most of week in the hospital.

Last year, Spring Break took us to Idaho. Bart is the Worship Minister at a church in Boise. Ainsley had her first birthday that week, so I got to help Emily with party preparations. To end my stay, the church Bart works at was having a concert by Rend Collective. It was a fun surprise Emily had kept from me. Such a refreshing, and joyful, way to end my week!

One week from today, I will be back in Boise. All of the other years, Emily has made a summer and/or Christmas trip back to Missouri. However, this year time didn't allow her annual trip back. So it has been an entire year since we have seen each other in person. That is the longest we have ever gone without seeing each other our entire lives. (We met in the nursery at church when we were months old.) As if I weren't ready enough for a break from school, the anticipation of being reunited with Emily makes me all the more eager.

I'm also excited to see the house they bought last month. Plus, the purchase of their new house means we are keeping up with another Spring Break tradition. While a couple years have been in the same State, each Spring Break has been spent in a different home. I think after moving 5 times in 5 years, and considering they have now bought a house, maybe our 6th Spring Break we'll finally have a repeat home.

Off My Rocker

This week I had a student ask if I could put in a counseling request for them.

Before I forgot, I went straight to my computer to send it in. I typed it up, submitted, and went on with class.

A few hours later during plan time Robyn Trueblood came into Fonda's room and asked which student I submitted a request for. I told her the kid's name.

She hesitated, but then laughed a little. She responded by saying, "I wondered when the request came through and it said counseling request for Caitlin Bever, submitted by C. Bever. I mean we will talk to teachers, too, but they don't have to submit a request for it."

While this year might have me tipped off my rocker, I did not mean to submit a counseling request for myself.

My Monday needed a good laugh. I didn't intend to provide it for myself and at myself, but it is what it is.

Spring Break come faster, please. Until then, you can find me in the Counselors Office.