All things happen for a reason

Have you ever had the most amazing week ever, but also the week from hell?!? That was my week last week! I mainly talk about Jake, but I need to complain and get some sympathy here and there! HAHA..Its a LONGGGG season!

Jake is 2nd guy 

 I will start with the negatives and then get to the stuff that REALLY matters in life! I have been very fortunate to travel A LOT with Jake this season! Most of you reading the blog last year knew I only traveled twice at the end, but we have been fortunate enough that I can travel, do my glasses on the road, and be together. Last week we were in Corpus Christi (7.5hr drive.) The weather was great for the first 2 games, and after the game a terrible storm hit.. I wait for Jake to come out of the clubhouse..He usually takes 25-45 minutes depending on what he needs to do and get his plate to go.. Okay in the 20 minutes I was sitting in the car a terrible storm hit..Winds up to 95 mph, hail hitting my car so bad I thought the glass was going to shatter, and tornados touching down a few miles away from us. I was petrified!!!!!!!! I was texting Jake about every second for him to hurry because I was having a panic attack, and he thought I was exaggerating until he stepped outside! Okay.. I didn't have a panic attack, but it was close to being one! None of the guys could believe it! The roads were completely flooded, and I couldn't see the street at all! Luckily our hotel was only about 2 miles and we made it back safely! It took me a good hour to calm down, and some good sleeping pills to help me sleep!

After that Friday the weather was perfect! I had met a girl from PAO, and she was sweet enough to let me sit with her, and all the wives/gf on Corpus Christi side (YES the team gave me crap about it the entire visit!) I had a great time, and at the end of the day we all are somewhat on the same team! :)

Then Sunday Jake headed to Midland, I decided I would head home and drive back with Sophie for the 4 days. I came down with a stomach bug late Saturday night, and woke up throwing up and everything else.. It was terrible! Jake had to go to the field, our checkout was at 11 am. I extended it until 2 if needed, and finally felt like I just needed to get on the road for the long car drive alone throwing up and all... I had a coffee cup and ice bag that I would throw up in when needed.. I got stuck in terrible traffic in all the major cities, but finally made it home after 8 hours and went MIA for a day! That is by far the worst day in baseball history in my books! Glad its over!!!!

 On a different note that doesn't involve vomit.. A boutique in Arlington purchased my wine glasses and are giving them a shot! I now have them in two boutiques, and very thankful and excited!!

On Thursday I was out looking for some glasses in Dallas, and ended up getting in a car accident. No one was hurt luckily, and as disappointed as I was to mess up my fairly new car, it is just material and still drivable since we only have one car out here! It was equally both of our faults, but the lady wasn't so nice to me at first..once she made me cry I did get an apology (she was screaming at me at first...I'm glad Jake wasn't there or my dad!!)


 That's all the negatives and now onto the EXCITING stuff <--It gets good I promise! :)

When I was in CC I was just browsing different blogs (I never do that) and came across this story about this little boy with Leukemia. He is 6 years old, Grayson Hughes. I HAD to find out where this family was! I had no idea they were in Texas, and come to find out they are in Frisco!!!!! I honestly couldn't believe it, and knew immediately I needed to email them-not sure what to say, but I knew I needed to and NEVER do things like this...ever......!

The Hughes

Grayson announcing Chris! 

I had emailed Kalee wanting to know more about their family, and Grayson. I was getting a little discouraged not hearing back for a few days, but they also have 3 other kids and a child sick...My mom told me to be patient, and to pray about it! Kalee wrote me on Wednesday so excited and filling me in on Grayson.. I had been talking with the PR team with Roughriders seeing if they came out yadada. Come to find out last Friday was Cure for cancer with kids!! I was trying my best on Thursday to get the Hughes to come out for that event! They were able to and beyond excited (huge baseball fans!!) Jake went and got the 4 kids shirts made with their names on the back (what a sweetie.) They got there at 6:15 and got to go tour the clubhouse, go on the field to play! The team was awesome and gave them a signed jersey, and another player gave them a bat signed! Grayson got to announce one of the players on the dugout during the game as well (CLICK LINK ABOVE THIS PARAGRAPH)

They all had a great evening, it was one of the best nights in our relationship for us as well! The Hughes are deserving of any blessing that comes their way, and are such a sweet family! We cannot wait to get to know them more getting to spend some time with them during our time in Frisco! I am asking for many prayers for Grayson, and his entire family these next few months as he undergoes a lot of Chemo/spinal taps weekly. He has gotten through the worst part, but still is not cleared and has a long road ahead of him...I was trying my best to understand, and learn.. but it was way over my head!  They are really needing help with meals since they are at the hospital most days. I am hoping I can get some of the wives involved out here, and more people will sign up..I hate cooking, but Jake promised me he would help and we have signed up for 4 nights next week!

The boys matching on Saturday Guns and all! 

Anyways as hard as baseball is sometimes what we got to do last week made it worth every minute of the hard 7 months of the long season! When we get to use our platform for the good, and people listen because of what Jake does is amazing along with the families involved! We are one big family, and stick together! It's amazing having girlfriends who want to hop on board to help others in need who aren't even in Frisco! I am so excited to see what is in store for us for the future!

This season as many of you know has been in Jake's favor.. Overall he has done very well! He feels great, and is hitting his spot often. We absolutely love Frisco, and being back in Texas! We do miss our families back home, but couldn't ask to be in a better town if we have to be apart! Sorry so long, but I had a lot to say this time! :)

He is in the lead for most innings pitched in all of the Texas League (Roughly around 100) and second in lead for most Strikeouts!! Thats very awesome, and I had to brag!

JAKE BRIGHAM FREE TO PLAY PAGE!

GREAT NEWS!! We got a page customized for Jake and his strikeouts for you to donate! It is very easy to do, and takes half a second! Login and on the right bar it says "DONATE NOW" Let me know if you have any issues at all! We want to thank all of you who have pledged with us to make a difference!

Jake is in lead again for most strikeouts of 47 in 50.2 innings pitched!! I will try to post each time and can help keep track if you need me to! :) Thanks again!!

http://grouprev.com/jakebrigham <-----DONATE HERE


If you forget the page I also have it on my blog on the top right under Free To Play

FREE2PLAY

I am so sorry, I have not gotten back to you on how you can donate. As of right now, they are working on an app for you to be able to do in the player's name, and only have it up and running for major league players. They are working hard on getting one for the minor league. 

http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/free2play/

You can go to Donate here and do a one time donation. So far Jake has struck out 34 hitters! He had the most strikeouts as of last week, but is in the lead with another player! You can also mail in a check to 

Not For Sale

270 Capistrano Road, Suite #2 

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Here is his team's website that you can keep track her game, or all together his stats.
Frisco Stats

Tomorrow Jake will be pitching against Corpus Christi and will be shown on MILB.TV for any of you who may have this http://www.milb.com/milb/multimedia/milbtv.jsp

Also! My girlfriend is the photographer/graphic designer at the field, and I was telling her a little bit about some things we were involved in a few weeks ago! She told me the other day they want to interview me to do a feature on their blog/website about Not For Sale, and why we got involved! They said they may put a spread in the programs too which is about 15,000 programs printed! I am so excited to spread the word, and hopefully get people involved with this great organization and cheering Jake on for strikeouts!! 

I have some other exciting news I will be sharing about my wine glasses, once I get an okay! Last week was A CRAZY week since mother's day! I am so grateful, and have sold over 140 glasses in the last month and half!!! :) This has been so great to have especially since jobs are so tough, even more so than last year! Even though I did have one girl steal my idea from head to toe, and start selling them we know who had the original idea and hopefully I will keep selling as many as I have! 

 Happy Mother's day to all the sweet mom's reading this! We miss being home with our mom's, but glad we got to spend time with them in Frisco, and give them their gifts! 

It doesn't get better than this..

Jake has had a great first month of the season! He is glad to be back, and starting again! He had overall really good outings, a few okay ones in there too!

I got to go on the road with him to Corpus Christi! Last year I only got to go on the last two road trips! I am going to try to go as often as I can, and enjoy this time with him. I have been very busy with my wine glasses for mother's day, and very thankful! I haven't had luck with finding a nanny job yet.

Jake has had a few articles written with a lot of positive stuff ! Here are some updates on his stats. As of right now he has the most Strikeouts, and innings pitched!

Individual Stats (Pitching) (click column headers to sort)
Player	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	HB	BB	SO	WHIP	HLD	GF
Jacob Brigham	2	1	3.11	6	6	0	0	0	37.2	30	16	13	6	0	10	34	1.06	0	0

AA: at Frisco 9, Corpus Christi 4
Record: 15-9, +2.0

Jake Brigham (3.41 ERA) struck out 10 batters in seven innings with a very reasonable 93 pitches.  Brigham allowed four runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk.  He's reached double-digit strikeouts before; in August 2010, he fanned 10 and 12 in back-to-back starts. (http://www.newbergreport.com/article.asp?articleid=2592)


"Right-handers Barret Loux and Justin Grimm have been outstanding at Double-A Frisco, Jacob Brigham is starting to come on with some of the best pure stuff in the system and Carlos Pimentel, back in the Roughriders' rotation, is showing signs of re-establishing himself as a legitimate prospect.-TR Sullivan


Here are a few pictures of our new place! We are staying at a different complex than last year! We really like it, and feel very safe where we are located now! 

They travel a lot during the month of May, and I'm excited a few girls are moving out here for the summer! We have a few wives here now, and makes the games enjoyable especially our 5 hour game last week!! 

The season is back!

The season is in full swing again!! I had a great visit home with my family and friends! It felt so great to be home for a few weeks before the craziness started all over again!

My parents and I left on Easter Sunday to begin our 20 hours journey to Texas! We took about 3 days, and finally got there! Jake got in at 4 am Wednesday! We love our new place and is really nice compared to last year! The front office was a bit of a nightmare, BUT we are in! We got a two bedroom, but our roommate that was planning on staying has to take a few weeks off with an injury so we are enjoying having our "own place" Jake's parents also came in on Thursday for the first home series! It was a busy, but really fun weekend with my parents and his! Jake pitched on Saturday and did very well! He has had two great outings as a starter again.

love this picture of Jake warming up in BP (in the background)

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=t540&t=p_pbp&pid=502010 He has had 8 strikeouts so far! We are still waiting to get a special link for you to donate if you are interested in joining us for the "FREE TO PLAY" to stop human trafficking! I will post it on here as soon as I get the link!

I am still looking for a nanny/babysitting job, but I am doing so well with my wine glasses I can barely keep up with those! I am very thankful to have this hold me over until I find something. I am wanting to go on the road as much as possible with Jake this year too.

Saturday night

Time flies by!!

I am very grateful for the responses I have heard of people wanting to get involved and know more about Not For Sale! I am waiting to hear back from Dave about the best way to donate and make it easy for everyone during the season! I will post it on here, that way if you want to stay anonymous that is always fine too! I will keep you all updated! :) They are hoping to get it all situated by the beginning of April for the season!!

We had a great visit with the Horton family, and enjoyed having them out there and seeing our precious Kyler! We are so excited that Rachel and Michael (Jake's sister is expecting a little one in September, and enjoying some more nieces and nephews!!!)


 BASEBALL UPDATES!!!!! Jake was sent down to minor league camp on Monday, although we expected it lets be honest... It still is hard to go through, and this doesn't mean anything bad (he isn't a bad pitcher, getting released, on the chopping block!) When we got protected they have to put him in big league camp, and eventually will be assigned to a minor league spot along with the others on 40-man if they dont break camp, along with big league invites. Jake's first two outings were not his best, his nerves got the best of him and always the excitement of the new season. The next 3 he did pretty well! We are so glad for the opportunity and I am very proud of him for staying in big league camp for 3 weeks!

They told him they want him to go back to a starter again, and we are optioned for Frisco. He has pitched twice and done very well starting again! My biggest fear just happened and got hit with the ball on Saturday 90+ mph (Luckily only his Shin, but he has shin splints so that doesn't help, and is pretty bruised!) I have booked a place, and they are on the road the first series so my parents and I wont leave until the second week of April to make our journey out to Frisco! It will take us about 3 days to get to TX! My parents are driving me out there with our trailer and car (parent of the year award!) Spring training will end Saturday or Sunday, they will post roster up on Thurs or Friday (lots of time to plan! Thankfully I have my spreadsheets of all towns, and apartments for this last minute decision!) Jake will hopefully hitch a ride with a buddy, making the long drive to TX (it is around the same amount of time as us!)

Our drive in a few weeks

Texas Dinner

I came home for a few weeks, and SOO glad to be home!! There is no place like it! :) I miss my families, and bed! ha I have started a new business adventure (Jake calls this my 2012 business.) I feel so blessed how well it has gone! I had done it for a girls luncheon as a craft (boredom in AZ) and I posted it on my facebook, and got over 20 orders the first night! It was great to keep me busy the last few weeks out there, and I am hoping to continue it during the season since jobs or so hit or miss, and I feel that we will be moved more than last year! I am hoping to nanny/babysit again which seems to be the best fit for me, and with our schedule! It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to get a job! Who wants to hire someone who can be moved within 12 hours, and I am not willing to lie to someone about Jake's career.

My shop

 I have been doing my craft stuff while I've been home and thought some of you may like seeing these! This is a map of the places Jake and I have lived so far in the 1st year of marriage!

Jake's first big league ball

I will keep you all updated on our move, and where we end up! We are very excited about Frisco if that is where we are going! We love the town, and people! I am so grateful to have an amazing support system with my friends and family all over! Thank you all for the encouragement, and just know that we are truly grateful for each one of you and I am so glad to do this blog, when I hear the responses I get back! I don't think our life is interesting (it's crazy for sure) but feel weird talking about us. It makes me feel like it's worth it taking the time when I hear how much it means to you! So thank you for supporting us, and I am so glad to do this blog to share what is going on in our life! 

Not For Sale: Free to Play.

A few weeks ago, we went to a bible study and of course all the things in life were really fighting with us not to go, but 30 minute before it started I told Jake we needed to go (hoping to meet some couples, and change of scenery.)

http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/

This man, Dave Batstone spoke about human trafficking and how he came about starting this organization. I never realized how big of a deal this was until a few lifetime movies, and Taken. It made me sick hearing that most of the kids are only 10,11,12 years old. He took a year off to travel, and went all over the world learning about the process, and how it works. He made a promise with a lady who started to rescue these children, he told her he would build them a house for her and the kids to live in from his book he was writing (they were living in a tent.) A few months later this lady had rescued over 80 kids, and Dave book became very popular, ended up building an entire village for these abused children. This is how Not For Sale came about, he wanted to expand from that village. People from China (All over really) are putting these children in shipping crates, dropping them off 50 miles off of Cali and making them swim in? Can't you imagine?!

David Batstone-About Not For Sale  <---please take a minute to watch this!

A new program called "Free To Play" was started to help these children heal through sports, music etc..When he started talking about this and needed at least 5 more players to hop on board for the 2012 program, I knew IMMEDIATELY this is something I wanted to do. I feel that things that have happened in my life which I never thought I would get over, I HAVE overcome that dark time, and can help kids who have been abused as well. I believe everything happens for a reason and it's what you do with it that matters. Jake and I have a very strong passion for abused children, and hopefully one day can start an organization for children who have been abused, this is awesome and we are so so excited to get involved using our platform.

Free to Play <--CNN special about Free To Play

 Jake and I committed to donating a certain amount for his strikeouts for the season! If Jake is starting he could have up to 130 or (less strike outs--that would be very very good and most tops..) If he was in bullpen approximately 60-70 strikeouts (tops) We had someone match our donation for the season (Thank you for believing in what we are involved in, and hopefully Jake can strike out lots this year to raise money for these kids!!)

It could be .50 a strikeout, or however much you feel if this is something that interest you! Every little makes a difference to try to stop what is going on all over the world. CNN did a special on this when they got ahold of it, and Ellen has even talked about it! Anyways, we are so excited about this, and to see how God helps us spread the word! We are still getting information about it, and if this is something you may be interested in email me, and would love for you to help, and something exciting to cheer Jake on for this season and if it's not with money prayers are great too! Also for all my baseball girls if this is something that sounds like you and your man want to get involved with contact them, majors-minors it doesn't matter! You could do for every home run, strikeout! You can help! :)

Please take a minute to watch those videos! :)