This post is going to be a little different, a little more personal.  Hence the title.  Since the genesis of this blog, I’ve debated whether or not to share this aspect of my life with you or not, but when a friend approached me to do an interview for her blog about this very subject, I decided just to go for it.  I have vaguely mentioned our life of travels, my husband’s job, and our frequent moves.  Some of you may have pieced it together, but some of you probably just think that we’re some weird sort of nomads or traveling circus folk.  Although my husband likes to think I’m circus folk because I’m so short and come from a family of shorties (whereas he’s from the Land of the Giants), in reality, I’m a baseball wife.

Okay, now some (or most) of you are probably rolling your eyes, thinking, “Why is that a big deal? Why keep that a secret?”  And you’d be right, it’s not a big deal.  My hesitation comes from years of experience in this life, where all of the sudden everything becomes about baseball.  People find out what he does and that’s all they want to talk about.  Not that that’s always a bad thing.  I’m extremely proud of my husband and what he’s accomplished in his career so far, but he and I both tend to shy away from the attention that comes with the proclamation that he’s a professional baseball player.  Although it may not seem like it to an outsider, he is so much more than just an athlete, and I’m much more than just a baseball wife.  That being said, baseball is still a huge part of our lives and dictates a lot of the aspects of every day life that most people take for granted.  Where we live, when we get to move, who employs us, who our friends are, what church we attend…the list goes on and on.

Honestly, the only reason I’ve really gotten away with avoiding all of this before is because, just a few short months after I started Glow of Grace, a shoulder infection landed my husband on the disabled list.  He was on IV antibiotics for months, had multiple surgeries, and couldn’t travel with the team.  So I spent last season as his nurse, and never had any reason to talk to you about baseball.  Now that he’s finally kicked the infection (Praise God), he is working on rehabbing his shoulder back to health.  He’s a starting pitcher, so this requires a lot more than it would for just you or me.  He needs that shoulder, and if you’ve ever seen an action shot of a pitcher throwing off the mound, you’ll know that their arms bend in ways that look anything but natural.  But he’s out for another season, so they’re allowing him to rehab here at home.  It’s been a blessing to be able to remain in our house, and have a break from all the moving, but it’s been extremely weird watching Spring Training happen from a distance.

So once again, I’ll have very little to say about baseball this season.  But I will say, this is really what being a baseball wife is all about.  It’s not all glamor, fancy hotels, or nice stadiums.  It’s about rolling with the punches, never knowing what’s just ahead, and for me, letting God work it all out.  I’m a planner, but I can’t plan our lives.  And, to be honest, you feel completely helpless when you feel as though your entire life is run by a game.  A GAME.  That’s why I constantly have to remind myself that it’s not run by a game, it’s run by God.

Anyway, that’s enough of an intro into life as a baseball wife.  I’m writing this post because a friend, Breanna Maruszak, asked to feature me on her blog Married To Baseball.  What an honor!  I’ve been following her blog for over a year, as she takes us through her adventures of “a life lived according to the rules of the game.”  I love that she too pulls strength from God to get her through this chaotic and unpredictable lifestyle.  So without further ado and rambling, here’s the interview that led me to write this post.

Current organization: Houston Astros

Years in baseball: Drafted in 2008 by the Boston Red Sox and traded to the Houston Astros in December 2011.

Do you travel with your husband? If yes, how long and what are the best/worst things about it? : Yes, but I wasn’t always able to! I worked in Columbus, OH all through our engagement and the first few months of our marriage, and I was only able to visit him one weekend a month if my work schedule permitted. It was so hard to be apart, and eventually I left my job in May 2011 to go on the road with him. I’ve been blessed to be able to travel with him ever since! I love being able to keep our little family (myself, my husband, and our two adorable cats) together all year round. It’s also been a great blessing to be able to support him from the stands, and witness great events, like his major league debut, that I probably would have missed had I still been working. The toughest thing for me has been adjusting to “not knowing”–where we will live tomorrow, what team he will be on, etc. I’m a Type A planner to my core, so I’ve had to learn to roll with the punches and just put everything in God’s hands. He will lead us where He needs us!

Tell me a little about YOU (not the hubby!): I was born and raised in Orange County, California and I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2009 with degrees in Chinese and English. Yes, I said Chinese! I studied abroad in Taiwan, and I speak Chinese fluently, although I’m quite rusty after a couple years of very little practice. I love to sing, and I’ve recently joined our church choir and praise band, which has been incredibly fun! Music was a huge part of my life growing up, so it’s really nice to get back in to it now that I’ve got the time.

Tell me about your blog and why you started it? : Last year was my first Spring Training, and I was looking for things to keep me occupied since I was no longer working. My mom suggested I start a blog and YouTube Channel to share some of my tips, tricks, and ideas for makeup looks. I’ve always loved to write and had a passion for all things beauty, so it made sense to combine the two. And so Glow of Grace was born. However, I wanted to do more than just write about makeup and beauty products because I think beauty truly comes from the inside. My faith is a huge part of my life and who I am, and I wanted that to shine through my words. I think women, and especially young girls, need more role models with good values and morals, so I strive to be a person that people not only look to for beauty advice, but for how to live a life that reflects the grace of God. My interests are also fairly well-rounded, and we are obviously blessed with opportunities to travel all over, so I’ve thrown in some reviews of different places and favorite recipes as well. I’ve actually debated, and continue to debate, whether or not to blog about our baseball life or not. I don’t think my readers and subscribers even know I’m a baseball wife! Sometimes I think it would be helpful for our friends and families to have a place to look for updates, and certainly helpful for me to have an outlet to keep sane, but I’m still undecided. And since my husband is recovering and rehabbing from a shoulder infection, I’ve got another season to make up mind.

Favorite product of the moment: Oh, this is so hard! I have so many! Well, Spring has definitely arrived here in Austin, so I’m going to have to go with my Maybelline Vivid Lipstick in Pink Pop. I actually don’t wear a ton of makeup on a daily basis, so I throw on a little mascara, maybe a little eyeliner, and this bright pink lipstick. It makes me feel put together and ready for Spring with very little effort.

Best beauty advice for those baseball ladies (or any ladies) who travel a lot: Invest in a train case! Life on the road means never knowing what kind of storage or lighting your next bathroom will have. A good train case will keep your makeup organized and ready for transport at a moment’s notice. I don’t ever bring my entire makeup collection with me on the road, but it holds enough to keep even makeup junkies like myself satisfied! Plus I find I use more of my collection when I can see it all clearly in front of me. I used to keep everything stored in makeup bags, and I’d always reach for the same few products over and over while the rest of my makeup lay forgotten. My train case is from Sephora and I love it, but I’m sure you can find other options at places like WalMart or on Amazon.

Be sure to check out the full post where she very accurately describes the close bonds wives form in this game, and while you’re there, have a look around.  It’s a great blog!  She’s in the midst of a series that features blogging baseball wives, and it’s a great opportunity to get to know some of the women behind the players.  I can’t tell you how weird it is to feel so connected to someone you’ve never met.  I regularly refer to these women as my friends in conversation, and then have to chuckle a little when I remember that I’ve never actually met them.  It’s okay though, in this life, we could be teammates tomorrow.  You never know.

Thanks for the lovely feature, Breanna!  I hope to one day be able to meet you in person! 🙂

Best & Blessings,