Baseball and Softball News

Both Michael and Katie are having a great time in sports this year. Last Thursday, Katie hit a milestone by hitting a double down the left field line. Unfortunately, Sandra, Michael and I missed it. We were at the Inter-City Baptist High School graduation (Michael sang in the chorale). But never fear, Grandma Miller was there with the camera!! Katie has been doing very well in both the hitting and fielding departments.

Michael's team played this past Saturday and won two games to become the district champions! They will be playing this Saturday in regionals. Though Michael's playing time has been limited as a freshman on the varsity team, he's done well. The last game that Michael pitched, he came in as a reliever and did a great job. He even fanned a few batters. (That means he struck them out.)

Katie / Flat Rock Girls Softball

Michael / Inter-City Baseball

Michael's Baseball & Katie's Softball

Both Michael and Katie have been busy on the ball fields. Michael got his first win as a Freshman pitcher last Friday. He was pretty happy to say the least. The team lost this Tuesday by one run in extra innings. Overall the game was well played. There were a few mistakes in the end, but it was a hard fought game.

Katie's first softball game is this Saturday. All the Saturday games start at 7:30 at night. Personally, I think that is kind of dumb to have the games so late, but oh well. Katie is excited about playing. So far in practice Katie's coach has had her playing third base. She's got a great arm and can throw all the way to first base better than anyone else.

I'll try to get some pictures on the blog soon. I keep forgetting to take the camera to Michael's games.

Discovery Bible Clubs and ProTeens are almost over and plans for summer church ministries and activities are taking shape. We're looking forward to the warm weather.

Back From Kentucky

We had a great time in Lost Creek, Kentucky with the Salem Missionary Baptist Church and Pastor Michael Wilder and his family. We were blessed with a good trip down, though it was interesting driving down a narrow, two-lane road in the fog. Bro. Wilder gave us perfect directions, though, and we made it to the church without any missed turns or detours.

I've known Bro. Wilder for several years without ever having the opportunity to really get to know him. Well, we took care of that this week. We hit it off right away. It's such a great blessing to get to know other pastors and their families who are earnestly contending for the faith. Michael and Katie got to know two of the Wilder's children: son Kristopher, who is a year or so older than Michael, and daughter Mikayla, who is a year younger than Katie. They had a great time!

The meetings were blessed with good singing and great fellowship, and I pray that the messages were a blessing to the church there. They have a Christian school as well as a great ministry called "Seedline". This ministry is all about assembling a booklet of John and Romans, and distributing them out to a lost world. It is fantastic! The folks at Salem Baptist are wonderful people and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them.

We came back on Thursday (4/3) and went to the Tiger baseball game on Friday to see the tigers lose to the White Sox. We haven't given up on them though; the season has just begun.

This is the view from the top of the drive from the road.

The church building

This is their "gym". On the left end is the new addition
they build to house their "Seedline" ministry.

This is the parsonage. The main living area is upstairs.
The prophet's chamber is down below - wonderful accomidations!

Kentucky Trip / Health

Next Thursday we are leaving on a trip to Kentucky. Sandra will be speaking at a ladies conference and I'll be preaching revival at Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Grayson. Meanwhile, I've been down with a bad cold (sort of pneumonia) since last week and it is getting old! This is the third time this season (since October '07) and I hope it's the last! Both Michael and Katie have been fighting off the soar throat and sniffles. Michael seems to be getting hit pretty hard with it right now. We're praying that the Lord will allow Sandra not to get it. I would hate for her to get sick at the time she's suppose to speak at the ladies conference. Please pray with us that the Lord will permit us to be "sick-free" during our trip. Our times away come too few and far between and we would like to enjoy ourselves. This is not a vacation, but it is a time "away" and it can be a time of spiritual refreshing. It would be good if we are not physically down.

Ready For Spring!!

The Hugans are ready for spring. Although the kids have enjoyed the several opportunities to go ice skating. Wednesday was a snow day, yet it was perfect for ice skating at the frozen fountain at the Flat Rock library. Michael shoveled off the ice and he and Katie and a few friends from church skated for what seemed like a couple of hours. Even Sandra got in on the action.

Over the last few weeks Katie was attending another volleyball class. She's getting ready for Jr. High volleyball at school next year. She's signed up for girl's softball through the city for this spring as well. Sandra looked at the uniforms and the shorts are modest. She ordered a size too big so that the length and fullness would make them look like culottes. Bring in the waist and they will be perfect.

Michael is getting ready for school baseball. This year he'll be one of the starting pitchers. The coach has been working with him a lot and he's even had a few private lessons from a former major league pitcher. The things that Michael has learned recently have really helped him improve.

The Bible Institute classes are going well. I'm hoping some of our high school seniors will consider taking some classes next year. I'm prepared to teach a specific "one year" study for high school graduates to attend prior to any secular school they may be planning to attend. I've always believed that even if a graduate is not going to four years of Bible college, they should take one year first, then go to a community college for their career. I have the right courses for them to take. I pray they will take advantage of them. The worldly minded would say that would be a waste of time. Truth says, it's a solid investment to help prepare them for what's ahead.

Anyway, that's the latest scoop from Bob and Sandra's place.

Pictures from Cabella's

A few weeks ago, while the kids were off school, we drove over to Cabella's. We looked around, grabbed a snack, and looked around some more. Here are some pictures from that day.

The Holidays Are Over!

Though the days went fast, we had a good break. We shared some good times with family and friends, and even took some time to have some time just to ourselves. As usual, the kids started to get a little board near the end.

<<<--- Buddy's a ham!

Now that the holidays are over, it's back to the grind. The kids are slowly getting used to the reality of getting back to work at school. Michael started right off today with a 6:30 a.m. basketball practice. With all the trips back and forth to school, I'm wishing I could win one of those "free gas give-aways" I hear about every now and then. It's worth all the sacrifice to be able to allow the kids to get a Christian education. As the commercial says... "That's priceless!"

4 By Grace in 2008