My husband loves baseball. It’s his happy place. Watching a baseball game (in person) destresses him like nothing else. I like baseball. I’ve followed the Texas Rangers since childhood. My family of origin as well as Jeff and I and our kids have lots of fond family memories of baseball games.
So after our Texas Rangers won the World Series in 2023, Jeff decided he wanted us to go to Spring Training again. We hadn’t been able to make such a trip work for the past 8-10 years. And he decided to act on a desire he’d had for a while—to take his dad and step-mom with us.
His dad loves baseball, too. He and his wife often go to games in their small town or travel a few hours by car to watch Little League World Series games. So even though the Rangers aren’t their teams—the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies train in Florida—we knew they would enjoy the baseball. And the trip to Arizona. They haven’t traveled much out of Pennsylvania or the East Coast, except for trips to Texas, of course! And 2024 will mark Jeff’s dad’s 80th birthday, so there was that, too.
We made the reservations and gave them the trip for Christmas.
It really was a great trip, although 5 games in 5 days does push my limits. But I love my husband and his parents, and so I endured. 🙂
We were able to see the Rangers play the Rockies, the Diamondbacks (a rematch of the World Series!), the Royals, the Dodgers, and the Cubs. We got to watch some of our World Series heroes as well as some of the young prospects. But my favorite part is always the interactions between the players and their younger fans, the kids asking for autographs. Spring Training games give them easy access to their baseball heroes—and the ones who will become their baseball heroes.
And then there was the weather. Except for one day when it was cold and rainy (yes, in Arizona!), the weather was gorgeous—sunshine and low 70s. My daughter gave me a Rangers World Series Champions windbreaker for Christmas and it was the perfect accessory for every single day.
We stayed in a very comfortable AirBnB near the Rangers’ stadium in Surprise, where we ate in and watched college basketball in the evenings.
While it was good to get home again on Monday, it is a trip we will long cherish—both the baseball and the time with my in-laws.
I just finished reading your book “At Every Turn” and I absolutely loved it! I have to read the large print books because of my macular degeneration. I get my books from the Library. This is the first book I have read of yours, but I will be reading everyone I can get of yours in large print. I love God too & your book was so refreshing with so many Bible verses in it. Is there anyway I can get a list of your books that are in large print? Thank you for going me the pleasure to read such a great novel that glorifies God! God bless you!
This makes me so happy, Lee! I have 3 other books in large print. I hope you enjoy them just as much!