September

my sweet boy is 7 months and crawling all over

I have been so bad about posting! I guess thats a good thing, means I have been busy! My parents came to visit us for 2 weeks in August, and we had a lot of fun showing them Seoul! They arrived, and then two days later we were able to get the orphanage to come to a game and was the highlight of my time here so far. To see all their faces so excited was amazing, and a night i’ll never forget. I’m so glad my parents were here to enjoy that with us. We loved our time together with my parents and went by too fast. I have tried to travel as much as possible, and visit other cities. Jake has been pitching overall really well. He has had a few very bad games in there, but the last two has pitched 14 innings and no runs (one game striking out 11.) I feel like the few bad ones Jake had a lot of pressure of trying to finish strong, get to the playoffs, and win a job for next year they even shortened his day of rest. They are only doing that to him and Andy which I felt like put pressure on and really needs that rest. I am relieved to see him back at it working hard and pitching good to finish the season on a great note….We can’t believe Sunday is the last day of regular season for us, and Jake will again pitch on the last day!! 

everyone loves babies here

Jake absolutely loves it here. He loves his teammates, and has made some really good friends. Everyone knows our kids at the field, and think they are more famous than Jake haha. I have tried really hard at the field to get to know the staff, and they all play with Stella “in her kingdom” as she calls it (the dome.) Stella has made a really good friend at the field.. They cant speak to each other, but it has been so sweet watching them night after night play together, and have a blast! It is so amazing they can’t even speak the same language yet can love on each other, and play so well together. Last night was the last night at our dome (unless we make the playoffs) and the amount of gifts fans brought to us the entire game was so nice and overwhelming.. I will miss the fans a lot, and the people in general. Again like last year it’s been a very humbling year in a different way. We cannot say enough about the culture, and how much we love the people….I have a few I am planning on taking home with me. 

I hit the jackpot with the other foreigner’s wife on our team. They have been here for 6 years, and he is the ace of our team.. The guys get along great, and at first I was very nervous because I knew they were a big deal, and she was leaving in 9 week so whats the point of trying to get to know this newbie… we are like two peas in a pod! She has been amazing to my kids and I helping me on road trips, and just loving on my kids every single day hanging out. I have never laughed so hard (or cried) and we have had some very fun memories traveling South Korea together. Unfortunately she went home yesterday, and it was so hard saying goodbye knowing I have a little over two weeks here (which sounds like nothing, but it is…) Last year I didn’t really talk about it, but I had a very hard situation with the other foreigners. It made me very nervous knowing I can have the same situation here, and on top of that we are the ONLY ones… so kind of stuck together night after night. I am so grateful for Alina, and the time I had with her. This is my 10th season, and definitely top two favorite girls I have met in this game… She gets me so much she knows I’m home alone for 5 days  she called me for over an hour because she knows how lonely it is, and knew I needed to tell her about real housewives of Mokdong..—our city and just talk... I will miss my time with her!~ 

 Life over here has been challenging…. I feel like I have no passion or schedule except most exciting thing of our day is go to the game. It’s been very hard as I see life goes on back home of course, but some of my favorite things started back, and I am not apart of it. I can’t have my child play a sport because everything is filled up and we don't get home in time, she misses her family, friends, cousins, school, etc… I do not for one second think I am making a mistake staying here with my husband, but I do have plenty of guilt and feel like sometimes I am.. I know that if we come back next year there is some stuff that is crucial in order for me to be able to feel like I have a normal life.. All things that can be achieved since I will be here longer, but know I have to get us plugged in here *IF* we do come back overseas.

One of my daily routines and excitement for the day is going to the playground. We live in a very wealthy building. I literally look like the kid’s nanny at the playground compared to all the other moms who are dressed to kill every single day.. I have struggled because everyone stares at me, but no one would talk to me.. I get it.. I’m not going to walk up to their group because I don't know who knows speaks english or who doesn’t. One day after being down there for over an hour a lady came up to me who spoke perfect english saying she noticed Stella was struggling making friends, and could her daughter play with her.. I had to hold back my tears because it meant a lot to me that she cared.. Well I now have two friends down there who speak perfect english and no one is trying to be rude, its the fact that they are nervous/shy about their english even though its perfect! Come to find out most do speak english especially the children. Stella has really come out of her shell making some friends over the last couple weeks that she gets to play with daily. I have really enjoyed learning about Korean life over here, and asking questions. It makes me think about that mom sitting at the playground now back home, and I am so glad it has happened to me because before I would never think twice..

Her scooter, and ears at the playground

Like I said before our season is over on Sunday, and unlike the states in Korea and Japan they have make up games after the season for all the rainouts. Since we are in a dome we only have 6 games, and other teams have up to 11. We will start playing those next week, but only play twice a week or so and wait for all the teams to finish. We are the last wildcard for the playoffs along with 2 other teams all just 1 game apart of each other. We will have to wait until all the games are played to even know if we made it or not. That’s hard because of flights, but we are going to just book one to come home, and if we have to change it we will. I’m looking forward to the downtime and exploring Seoul before we leave. I can’t believe the season is almost over!! It’s been an amazing time full of so many adventures and stories!! 

I am praying for everyone back home who still does not have power (my parents and sister included) and those affected by Irma..I was so sick all day watching the news on (my) Monday until the storm passed. I am so glad no one was hurt or any serious damage took place to any homes!