"going to Carolina"

Well, work is off and going! I'm back in North Carolina! Unfortunately, without Patrick for a few more weeks :( I've been working a lot lately and doing stuff for the wedding...it's in 4 months! I'm so excited and getting more and more excited with each passing day! I can't wait for Patrick to be my husband and for me to be his wife! Sometimes I just sit back and think about how blessed I truly am to have met such a wonderful man. God is so good!
Well, speaking of Patrick...he is finishing up with the season. It's looking like his team will make the playoffs..so it could be the middle of September when he gets back. Of course, the middle of September is when Candace's wedding is...so he is cutting it close!
I just finished up with orientation for UNC Healthcare this week. I officially start on the unit next Monday. I've also been doing on call work for the Women's Birth and Wellness Center, here in Chapel Hill. It's such a wonderful place. I love it.
Just wanted to update everyone. Life gets busy, and I forget to update, so I'm very sorry! I'm currently looking for my cable to upload pictures (you know what happens when you move!) so there will be some updates on pictures soon! Hope everyone is doing well!

Holly

here's what's happenin

So ladies and gents:
This is my final week in California for this baseball season. It's crazy how this season has gone by so quickly! Patrick will be spending about another month out here and then heading back to NC. It will be so nice to be back with our families and friends. I'm already planning on when to see everyone! However, I'm planning on being very busy with work through the next few months so that we can be saving for our wedding a little more. I officially start a job at UNC on August 11th. It's gonna be wonderful because I'll be working with a lot of close friends. I'm also going to continue working for the Women's Birth and Wellness Center in Chapel Hill because I LOVE IT! It's so awesome getting to be part of births that are completely and totally natural! Wonderful, wonderful place! The wedding planning continues to go smoothly. I can't wait! Well, I'm off to the gym (so that I can fit into that wedding dress!) I'll be posting from NC very soon.
Holly

"rollin', rollin'...."

Hola to everyone! Just got back today from a roadtrip down to Lancaster,CA. We were there for a few days, then traveled to Bakersfield for another stretch of games. I, however, had to come back to Stockton because I have an interview for a per diem job tomorrow! Yay!
We had a lovely 4th of July (obviously spent at the ballpark). The fireworks were very nice and I met some interesting people. We've gotten a lot accomplished lately with the wedding. We even booked our honeymoon! So exciting! I just got everything together today for all the invitation stuff. Things are moving along smoothly! Five months to go!

Holy cow!

So whoa! The past two weeks have been absolutely insane. It's all living the minor league baseball life!! So here we go....
Monday, June 23rd Patrick called me around 4pm and said that I needed to pack up all of our stuff because we were driving back to Stockton, CA. Fortunately, we actually got to drive, because on a typical day Patrick would've had to be there the next day and have to catch a flight out very quickly. However, it was all-star break and the Stockton team had 2 days off. Thank goodness I didn't have to make that drive by myself.
So, we left at 8pm and drove all night to Las Vegas (we didn't win any money), but we did have a great time. Wed. we finished the drive to Stockton.
I have to say that we were both a bit disappointed to be moving back down to Stockton, but both realize that this is just God's way of shaking up our plans. This is obviously where we are supposed to be right now. My job in Midland is still open so that when we go back (hopefully soon), I'll go right back to work.
Patrick is doing very well here, and just working on getting back to where he was 2 months ago. Baseball is really a roller-coaster ride.
Currently, we are in Lancaster, CA (about an hour outside of LA) on a road trip. I'm sitting here listening to Patrick and his friend argue about how one has a better baseball card collection than the other one. How old are we?? Anyway, I'm outta here, but thought I'd let everyone know what the heck is going on!! Take care!

just an update

Hope you guys enjoy the latest pictures. I spent last week in NC getting wedding stuff done and it was so much fun! We did the cake tasting, I got my dress (thank you tremendously Annemie!), figured out my flowers, and got invitation stuff done. On top of that, I got to see all of my amazing friends and family. It was great to see everyone and to just catch up on what's going on in all of our lives.
Well, today I have been doing wedding stuff as well. I'm working on getting my save-the-dates done and updating our wedding page. We just finished registering. We registered at sears(wonder who's idea that was!), Macys, and Target. Planning the wedding has just been a blast. I just can't wait to get married. It is gonna be amazing.
This morning, we participated in a walk/run that the Midland Rockhounds sponser to help raise money for cancer. It was awesome. Steph and I actually participated in the event, and the guys rode around in a golf cart handing out water...wonder what was harder..haha! The event kicked off last year, when one of the players, Jed Morris, was diagnosed with leukemia in the middle of the baseball season. However, this year, Jed is a healthy cancer survivor and has returned back to Midland to continue playing.
Speaking of baseball, it has been so much fun being able to go to the games. However, Patrick has had a frustrating month. I guess that's the way baseball goes, but I would really appreciate your prayers for him. It's just very easy to get frustrated over it. We both realize that God is in full control and has us where we are right now for a reason. We understand that God has given Patrick such a wonderful talent, but it still proves to be difficult sometimes. Patrick continues to play hard and I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of him. We are very optimistic that this season will go very well.
I have some more pictures that I'm putting in a slideshow that should be up shortly. Hope everyone is doing well and having a great summer!

On the road again

"the minor league lifestyle"

Hey everybody! I'm finally figuring out how to get my pictures to come up in a slideshow, so I'm just including a whole bunch of pictures from California. Hope everyone enjoys them. They're quite random. Some of them are from when mom and dad visited and from carmen and casey's visit.
Anyway, just wanted to update everyone. Life is good in world of the minor leagues. Patrick and the team are in Oklahoma currently. However, I have some wonderful friends that are here to hang out with. My friends Missy and Steph are absolutely fabulous. They are also here because of there significant others. Missy's husband is the shortstop Cliff Pennington, and Steph's boyfriend is Anthony Recker, the catcher. I am truly blessed to have wonderful people to hang out with. Missy and I have had dinner together quite a few nights this week, and Steph got here on Thursday. It's so nice to know people that are in the same boat. It seems that God always gives me people that I can relate to. Like last year, I really got to know my friend Laura, who's husband plays for the Marlins organization. She continues to be such a wonderful support. Missy, Steph, and I are constantly joking about the "minor league life", especially as we're all standing around Missy's bar eating because we don't have a kitchen table, or when Steph had to drag her air mattress into the living room of their apt. because the only chairs they have to watch tv on are lawn chairs! It's not always glamourous, but we love and support our boys! Oh the things we will have to tell our children!
I'm very excited to be flying home in about a week and a half to do tons of wedding planning and get to see my family. It's gonna be a blast. Hopefully I'll have some new pics...and since I've figured this thing out, I'll actually post them! Hope to post again soon!
Holly

so I'm a slacker...

I know, I'm really really slacking. Wow, what a week! Well, I'm here in the Midland/Odessa area and loving it. It has been totally fabulous spending time with Patrick! Just wanted to let everyone know that I have not forgotten about the blog. I'm at work right now, so don't have much time, but planning on updating pictures tomorrow...and I mean it!

fighting the battle

I just want to ask all of you guys to pray for a good friend of our family. My mom's best friend since she was in second grade was diagnosed with breast cancer last week. Today she saw her surgeon, who informed her that they will not be doing surgery for the time being, but that she will be on 3 different types of chemotherapy for the next 6 months. Also, there is a possibility that 2 lymph nodes are involved. She will have a biopsy of one of her lymph nodes tomorrow in the hope that it is not involved. So, please keep her in your prayers, seeing that there is no other way to successfully get through this.
This has proved to be a very emotional time for me. For those of you who don't know, Patrick and I lost a very close friend to cancer on Dec. 14th, 2007. Katie Ball was a very close friend of ours from college who fought a very difficult battle against a very rare form of cancer. She was diagnosed at the end of the summer last year. Fortunately, I got to spend a lot of time with her during her battle and she will forever be the the strongest person that I have ever met and my personal hero. I have included a link to her caring bridge website on here so that you guys can see what a remarkable person Katie was. It just feels like cancer has really hit us from all sides, so please pray for Nancy in this new battle, and also for Katie's family as they continue to experience a great loss.
On a positive note, I'm leaving for Texas in just a few days and I'm really looking forward to it! Pictures are still on the way!

the final stretch

I know all of you are secretly yelling at me about how I have not updated my blog. I promise that I constantly think about updating, but never get around to it. My new goal is to update at least every few days! Hope that will help all of the blog stalkers out there (by the way...I'm one of those, too!)
So, you ask, what is going on in the lives of Holly and Patrick? Well, a lot! I have been in the process of packing so that I can move to Texas on Friday! It's a 1500 mile drive (with a cat)! As crazy as it sounds, I'm really looking forward to having the time in the car. I think it just gives you time to reflect and realize just how good life really is! I'll be making a pit stop in Phoenix to visit with my friend Steph! Her boyfriend also plays on the Midland Rockhounds...his name is Anthony Recker and he's a catcher. Thought I'd throw that in there just in case anyone is into following stats.
Life here in CA has been really great. I really wish that Patrick could've been here to share more of it, but we are ecstatic that he is where he is. We feel so blessed that his career has been going so well and we are both very thankful for everything that happens!
My grandmother just left this morning. She arrived last Wednesday, so we got to spend some good quality time together. We visited San Francisco, Monterey, and Carmel. A few baseball games got thrown in there as well! If she couldnt' get out here to see Patrick play..the next best thing is at least being able to see the field and meet the people. Speaking of the people, I've met some of the most fabulous people out here. There are a couple of host moms that just take the cake! If you aren't sure what host moms are...they are women (or families) that take in 1 or 2 players during the season. They house and feed the players and (of course) provide them with moral support. Judy, is by far, one of my favorite people these days. She is a host mom to one of the players on the Ports. In my opinion, Judy is just an amazing person, who has such a wonderful outlook on life. She is at all of the games and is such a fan. She has really taken me under her wing since even before Patrick left. Also, Terry is another host mom who is just a blast and a half! Martha Stewart would get a kick out of her. Every Sunday, when the guys are home, she makes a HUGE dinner and just about anyone is invited. She's a first grade teacher, and is just hilarious! I'm gonna miss them so much when I go to Texas because they have made my stay in California so wonderful!
So now that I've written the longest paragraph in the history of blogging...we'll move on to what's going on with Patrick. He is doing so well in Midland, and really enjoying himself. Currently the team is in Frisco, TX and from what he says, the field is just fabulous! I'm hoping that I'll get to go on some away trips to see it! There are two more games in the series and then it's off to San Antonio, once again. We are both getting so excited that I'm gonna be there on Saturday...just in time for his birthday, which is on Monday. To top it all off...Sunday is an off day!!!! We get to spend the whole day together...which is a huge deal in minor league baseball...because off days come few and far between!
I hope to update in a few days and put some pictures of the latest adventures up. Be ready for my squirrel friend's picture...just wait..you will laugh your head off!

"take me out to the ballgame.."

So, just sitting here listening to Patrick's game on the computer and getting ready to head to work. Thought maybe I should let you guys know what the heck is going on with us. Well, Patrick continues to do well in Midland, TX. He's been on the road for a little over a week, playing in San Antonio and Corpus Christi. Tomorrow the team heads back to Midland for an 8 game home stretch. He's really enjoying being in double-A ball! If not for anything else...the hotels are much nicer!
I'm just finishing up my last 15 DaYS here in California, then taking a trip (with my cat, Molly) to Midland. I officially have a job in Odessa, which is basically the same thing as Midland. I'm continuing in labor/delivery there, but the hospital does less deliveries than I'm used to. It might be a welcome change! I'm so excited to get to hang out with Patrick again!! It's gonna be a blast, and I'm gonna make it down there 2 days before his birthday..yay!
Well, I hate to be short with this update, but it's almost time to head into work. Lots of fun to come!

the minor league strikes again...

Well, it's been quite a long 24 hours for both Patrick and I. I've been working the last couple of nights..and I always get a phone call from Patrick after the game. Last night was a wee bit different. Patrick pitched well last night in a very heart-pounding kind of game and after the game was told that he was getting moved up to the double-A team in Midland, TX. So, for those of you who don't know how crazy minor league baseball can be, he was told around 10:00pm and expected to have everything packed and ready by 3:45am to go to the airport for a 6:00am flight. Can we say whoa!! Unfortunately, I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to him :( So, long story short, he was in Stockton for all of a week and a half and got moved up. I am so proud of him, because this is a really big move in the minor league system, and he has worked very hard to get where he is. If anyone deserves this, it's him!
So what does this mean? It means I am going to be in California for 3 more weeks and then it's off to Texas...and not just anywhere in Texas...but Midland (aka "the middle of nowhere") But you know what they say..it doesn't matter where you are, but who you're with. I'm already ready to be there. I miss Patrick already and he's just been gone today! Yes, I know, I'm pathetic! Haha!
We've been really blessed with the way things have worked out. In fact, I was planning on signing another contract to work in California at the beginning of this week. Thank goodness that this move up came when it did! I would've been really upset if that would've happened. I'm getting very excited about the move. There are some other girls there to hang out with that I know. My friend Steph, that I met last season, will be living in Midland at the same time, so we'll be able to stay busy when the guys are at the field.
So, things are really looking good for Patrick's career. We are so excited to see what the future is going to hold for us! Stay tuned for updates about how things are going. I'm going to add the new link for the Midland Rockhounds so that any of you that want to keep up can do so.
Expect updates soon!
Holly

it's been a fun week!

So, things are starting to wind down and we're really getting in the swing of things. It was very sad to see Carmen and Casey leave early this morning. The time just flew by while they were here. We really had a blast. We got to do all sorts of things. Alcatrez being one of them. It was so awesome. For those of you who haven't been, I highly recommend taking the tour. Unfortunately, my camera took a trip to North Carolina and is having to be shipped back, so there are no pictures available right now. But fear not, they will be up as soon as I get the camera back!
Baseball season is well underway, and Patrick has had three appearances on the mound. He has been doing great! Once again, you can keep up with his progress through the links on the page. We just ended a home stretch of quite a few games. For the next week or so, the team is playing locally, but not at home. The night games have been very cold so far, and sometimes hot chocolate is the only thing that keeps me going...along with numerous blankets. We had a day game yesterday, and Patrick says that I now look like I have a reverse tank top on because I have major t-shirt burn lines on my arms. Should have put on sunscreen:( It's getting nice and warm during the day and this weekend I think we are supposed to hit 85!! It's almost pool time!
Well, gotta get ready to head to work tonight...but wanted to keep everyone updated. Stay tuned for some cool pics from this past week's adventures!

And we're off...

So, sorry it has been so long since I've posted, but it's been a little crazy with work and all that jazz. Patrick got home Monday and of course that has been a blast and a half!!! I am so thankful for him and the love that we've been blessed with!
Opening day came and went yesterday, but with lots of fun. Latisha and I went to the game and had a great time. Patrick did a fabulous job pitching the last innings of the game. Unfortunately, the Ports lost, but we're always happy if Patrick does well. Feel free to follow along with how his season is going by going to the minor league baseball link and all you have to do is search under "Currin". That's only if you're into stats and things like that! I have a feeling that this season is gonna be the best yet! It's so much fun to go the ballpark on opening night. There were tons of fans and it was wonderful to see so many people from last year!
My matron of honor, Carmen, is on her way here right now...so this next week is gonna be full of excitement and wedding planning! Things are going really well with planning even though I'm doing it from all the way out here. I'm really surprised that I've gotten so much stuff done!
Well, I'm out for now, but expect lots of updates now that season is underway!

workin the night shift

Ahhh..I'm in a stretch of night shifts right now! You're probably not gonna hear a lot from me in the next few days, but I wanted to update everyone on Patrick's status. There were a few roster moves this week, and Patrick is now expected to begin the season in CA. Although we would have been very thrilled to see him go to Double A in Midland, we get to be near each other and we are THRILLED about that! I am anxiously awaiting for March 31st, when he gets back!! Finally, some baseball games that I actually get to go to! Last year was quite a bit different with me flying back and forth to California and only getting to visit 3 times in a 6 month period. I have been so blessed by a job that lets me go anywhere I want to!
So,needless to say, I feel like jumping up and down everyday because it's one day closer to being with Patrick. Opening day is April 3rd, so be prepared for plenty of updates on how the season is progressing!

spending time with the fam..

So, Mom and Dad are here and we've been spending the last couple of days making our way around northern California. Today, we went to San Francisco. It was great. We had clam chowder breadbowls for lunch..and if you've never had one of these, you are truly missing out on one of life's delicasies. From there, we took a ride on the cable car up to China town. Latisha(the friend that came out here with us) was with us, and she is always amazed by how you really feel like you are in China. We would really love to try out a restaraunt there,but you really don't know what you're getting since all of the menus are in Chinese (go figure). We moved on from China town to a lovely trek up to Coit Tower (mom and dad huffing and puffing all the way :) We went from there to the Golden Gate Bridge, which never ceases to be an amazing site.
Needless to say, it was a wonderful day. The only thing that could have possibly made it better was if Patrick could have shared it with us :( We're still waiting to find out where he will end up for the start of the season. Everyday, when we talk, I'm waiting for some news..but it hasn't come yet. Baseball season starts very soon..and I'm ready for some games!!

A quick update...

Hello everybody!! Just wanted to give a little update about what we are up to over here on the west coast.
For those of you who don't know, Patrick is continuing his career in baseball this year. He was drafted by the Oakland A's in 2006 and has played in Vancouver,BC, Kane County, IL, and Stockton, CA. He ended the season in Stockton last year. He is currently at spring training in Scottsdale, AZ until the end of the month. This month has proved to be a great one for him. He has had a few appearances pitching and has done very well. He's actually on the preliminary roster to go Midland, TX! We are very pleased with this, seeing as it is the next step up for his career. We will continue to keep you updated in the next week of what is happening and hopefully we will know for sure where he will be for the start of the 2008 season.
Holly is also traveling this year, but as a traveling nurse. She is currently in Manteca, CA, which is right outside of Stockton. We were kind of thinking Patrick would start the season in Stockton, so this made sense...however, now, since Patrick has been doing so well, we don't really know?? If you keep up with this blog, you will quickly understand how unpredictable minor league baseball really is! Holly is really learning how to "go with the flow". Anyway, Holly is continuing to work as a labor and delivery nurse and is still loving it as much as she did the very first day she started!
So, even with all of the craziness of traveling, we are in the midst of planning a wedding. We are getting married December 13,2008 and could not be more excited! It is going to be so wonderful being husband and wife! We will also be keeping you updated about all of the plans surrounding the wedding. We have a lot of things planned already and know that it is going to be a very fun time.
So, stay tuned! Holly will be doing most of the updates seeing as Patrick's schedule is a wee bit crazy! We are very excited about the next year to come.