Another coach in the family?

Back when the days were still chilly and the skies were grey and there were no leaves on the trees, a certain little fellow signed up to play a little T-Ball.  This grandmother asked his dad whether he was planning to help coach and got this as a response, "I think I'm going to just watch and see how things go. It might not be the same here as it was where I grew up playing and I can learn how things are done here this year."  This grandmother smiled.

Then, ball practice started.  This little fellow had a bit of early coaching at home from dad.  So, he sort of knew a wee bit about what to do on the ball field. 

However, when all of the team gets together, that back-yard coaching sometimes flies out the window and chaos ensues!  Players rolling in the grass, fighting one another for the ball, and other general preschool fun takes over.  So, even though there is a head-coach and an assistant coach, other auxiliary coaches are needed to step up. 

When this grandmother asked the ball player's dad how practice went and called him Coach Dad, I was immediately corrected with, "I'm not coaching, Mom.  I just help out a little bit during practice."  Once again, this grandmother just smiled.

Call it what you may.  But, I think I see Coach Dad out there on that field giving a little instruction and playing catch with the team.

Look at that pair in the background.  I'd bet somewhere in there is a phrase about squaring up your feet and your shoulders as you face the ball.

Now, I know Coach Dad feels a responsibility toward this player as seen in the background but I really had a little suspicion that the coaching didn't stop there.

Somehow, I really believed the coaching went a wee bit beyond this player and improving his fielding and his batting. You know, maybe Coach Dad might be helping some of the other little sluggers as well as our own favorite.

Maybe it was just a gut feeling on my part.  Somehow, in my mind, I kind of thought the other little players might be getting just a wee bit of Coach Dad's coaching as well.  But, this grandmother just smiled as Coach Dad protested.  Then, the first game came along...

I called to find out how things went and talked to Coach Dad.  I was told that our little slugger walloped the ball!  This grandmother just smiled and listened to all the details.

I asked how the ballgame went when the little players were executing defense and who was out in the field with them during that time.  The response went something like this, "Gosh, Mom.  We all were out there.  It was just chaos.  There were three or four of us standing in the field with them and nudging them into positions and telling them to get baseball ready. Then, the batter would hit the ball and we would have to tell some of them to stay near a base or to go cover home plate and nudge them in that direction.  It was sort of like a three-ring-circus.  They would fight over the ball and everybody ran after the runner no matter whether they had the ball or not. Then, it was nudging them back into position to get ready all over again for the next batter and be baseball ready...  It was a lot like herding cats!"  And this grandmother just smiled.

I asked about a couple of our little slugger's friends whose names I could recall.  Coach Dad's response was, "Aw, she did pretty well.  She has a lot to learn but she is just the sweetest little thing!"  And this grandmother just smiled.

So, I said, "Sounds like Coach Dad is doing a pretty good job." And the response I got was, "I'm NOT coaching, Mom.  I'm just helping out a little bit."  And this grandmother just smiled.

Me thinks he doth protest too much. 

We are glad to have another coach in the family!

Springtime!

Like lots of other folks, we've had a busy spring!

The oldest grandson kicked off spring in early April playing baseball.  I've trekked over to watch them play a couple of times and it is pure entertainment!  There was a big opening day jamboree with a kick-off ceremony introducing the teams.

We were excited to see this cute little Cubs T-Ball team - especially that little slugger on the far left in front of the girl with the red hairbow.  To us he was the All-Star Player!

The head coach really did a good job of teaching the little ones the fundamentals of the game - well as much as you can teach a group of four-year-olds! 

When playing defense, before every batter, the little fellows would be sent to a position with the instruction to get, "baseball ready!"  

Number six had played some back-yard ball with his dad and his cousins and he knew that when he heard those two words, he needed to get that glove down and watch for the ball.

Baseball ready!

The batter on the other team would hit the ball and off they would go after it with all the energy pent up in those moments of baseball readiness.

On contact they all headed for the ball.  And, most of the time, I do mean ALL of them ran for the ball!  They would run from all over the field toward the ball and even wrestle with one another to get the ball.  

After all of the opposing players batted, it was time to head to the dugout to play offense!

Boy!  Let me tell you, that dugout is loads of fun as well.  This fellow seemed to like to stand on the bench and goof around with all his buddies.

Look at that face!  Can't you tell that dugout time is pure joy?

I don't know if it was all the back-yard ball, the fact that he had a huge cheering section, or if he truly is a slugger, but our favorite usually served as the clean-up batter.  Nope.  That doesn't mean he was fourth batter in the line-up.  That means he was the last batter on the team.  

You see, if anybody was left on base, the last batter in the lineup had the task of hitting a long ball and running like mad.  The last batter simply hit the ball and tore out running and kept running till he was tagged out or crossed home plate.

Sometimes it might seem like a close call but with fast running legs and a bit of cunning, the runner might zig and zag and wiggle by the defensive player with his charm and make it all the way to home plate!

Of course the cheering section is important and plays a vital role in the game.

Everybody has an important part toward playing the game.  Cheerleaders are just as much a part of the action as players on the field and this little one really did her part cheering for big brother.

After the game, the slugger had to pose with the prettiest girl at the game.

Of course, a little public relations with some of the other fans is always a good idea as well.

At the end of the day, it is off to the team bus we go with all our gear!  We headed home in the sunset in order to play a little back-yard ball each afternoon to prepare for the next week's game.  Ah!  Springtime!

Not a good patient

Friday morning I realized that my home decor has looked like this for much of the summer.

In the den the pillows are stacked on the corners and there is a bed pillow and snuggle quilt strewn across the seat - usually over me!

In the bedroom, a quilt is piled on the ottoman at the ready for when I wallow or sleep in the chair.

I had sinus surgery in mid-June and have been recovering..

I am not a very good patient.

I have no patience when I am the  patient.

I have had a very good nurse - Mike.  He is more patient with me than I deserve.

I really got sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I thought I would snap back far faster than I have.

The last couple of days are the first that I have felt semi-normal.

Maybe my patience will improve soon!

Memorial Day 2018

Remembering those who gave their lives so that my family can live in freedom.

We are grateful

Happy Birthday, Lydia!

Hope this is your greatest year yet!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day and like many other days during this past year, I have looked upon three young women who are doing the hard job of mothering day-in-and-day-out and are doing it beautifully.  

They are patient, loving, and still forceful.  They continually teach while they also learn from their children.  They soldier on when they are tired and can hardly muster energy to take care of their own needs but see that their children have the things and the care they need.

 Their children are happy, healthy, and well-behaved because of all they do as caretakers, teachers, and nurturers.  I am very thankful that our grandchildren have such role models.  Sometimes I get tired just watching and thinking of all that these women do.  I well remember being in their shoes with toddlers or with pre-adolescents and all the energy and work that takes and I wonder how they keep going and doing all that they do.

 Today we salute them.  We bless them.  We are grateful for them.

Happy Mother's Day to Bridgette, Jessica, and Bonnie!

Happy Mother's Day!

to our moms!