Day 51 - Baseball

Day 51 - It is baseball season.  This is my grandson and I am so happy I could make it to his first game of the season.  Hopefully I will be able to make it to most of his games.  He loves sports and he is fun to watch play.  As the first game kicked off last night it was fun to see the excitement in the boys faces.  Each of them were ready for their first opportunity to  bat and take the field.  There were a few in the group that may not have been as excited as the others that the season was beginning, but the guy in the picture above was pumped.

Baseball, or any sport for that matter is something that can be a big part of a kids life.  Some are destined to be athletes and then there are others that just don't enjoy it or have athleticism.  I enjoyed playing volleyball in jr. high and high school.  Was I good at it?  Not really good.  I played and didn't do too bad, but I was by no means an athlete.  I see in Kaden and am beginning to see in his younger brother, Kale, a true love of sports.  These two, and I am sure their youngest brother, Keaton, will be the same, love anything that has to do with a ball.  If they are inside they are shooting a small foam basketball into the hoop on the back of the door.  If it is nice outside they are throwing into the pitch back net.

As I watch these games, I am so thankful for my grandchildren.  I have always loved being a mom.  I feel I have been blessed with the three best kids anyone could ask for and now as my kids are grown I really get the opportunity to enjoy them.  As a grandma, I love when Kaden still gives me a hug without even having to ask for it.  I enjoy watching his sports and just spending time with him.  He has already grown into such a responsible, loving boy that I am so proud of.  I enjoy Kale's wit and enthusiasm for life.  We never know what he is going to say and do, but I love everything about him.  His smile and his comments remind me of my dad and my son, Josh.  He is so full of life and as Mom would have put it a little piss and vinegar too.  Keaton is almost one.  It is so cool when I see him and he gets excited to see me.  He is getting ready to walk and is at the age where he doesn't want to cuddle anymore.  When you are holding him he wants down and when he is down on the floor he wants you to hold him.  He will be out playing with his big brothers before we know it.

Baseball is probably my husband's favorite sport.  He loves watching it, loves coaching it and used to enjoy playing it.  As another baseball season gets underway if you have someone that loves playing it like my grandson does get out and watch them if you get the chance.  If your kid's grandparents aren't nearby send them some video and pictures of the kids playing.  I know I am thankful that my grandkids are nearby so I get to witness those glory moments and be there to comfort them after a bad game.  Being a Grandparent is one of life's most precious gifts, unwrap that gift every chance you get!

Day 50 - Farmers

Day 50 - My picture today was taken on my way home from work.  This field is located on the same road as my house.  I don't know what will be grown in this field this year.  Sometimes corn is there, sometimes it is beans.

I have a lot of friends that are farmers.  Some are beef farmers, some are dairy farmers, some are pig farmers and some don't own livestock, they farm the land, but I respect all of them.  I enjoy my Monday through Friday 8 - 5 job that if I don't feel well I can call in sick.  I also love the fact that, with my job, if I have something that I want to go and do, I can usually go, I don't have to worry about the weather, or being back in time to milk.

If you were to study years of Teutopolis basketball you would notice almost every successful team (and there have been many) included a at least a few farm kids.  I know Coach Dennis Koester always told us that many of his really good players were farm kids.  He said that part of the reason for this was because they were raised knowing what hard work was.  They had no problem busting their behinds to get the job done right.  He also said sometimes that he thought that those same farm kids made sure they worked hard in practice because if they didn't they wouldn't get to play in the games and if they weren't going to play in the games then maybe their parents would feel their time would be better spent on the farm.... and farming is even harder work.

I am grateful that there are people out there willing to put out the effort to farm so we can all eat good foods.  Without farmers we wouldn't have food and the little amount that would be available wouldn't be affordable at all.  One time my dad told me a story about a lady that told him that she was frustrated with the tractors on the road in her way.  My dad told her without those farmers there wouldn't be food - she commented back, "I don't need the farmers because I buy my food from the grocery store, not the farmer."  What is sad about that statement is that there are really those people out there and they are helping us pick our leaders and they are also reproducing.

As I prepare to go to the Effingham Performance Center to watch Josh do what he enjoys, (performing for others) I know that some of my dear friends won't be able to come to the show because they will be in the fields getting their crops planted.  I do understand completely and I appreciate the fact that they are willing to be out there taking care of business.

When you are driving and you get behind a farmer please have patience, trust me the reason they are on the road has nothing to do with trying to make you late or upset you, they are there because they have to be, they would rather be in the field than on the road.  Be careful during this farming season and keep the farmers and their families in your prayers.  Farming accidents happen all too often and when they do all of our prayers can make a difference.

To all you farmers, those that are such an important part of my life and those that I don't know, .... THANK YOU for all you do!