If you have ever had a lab, you will know that they will go to the ends of the earth to make their owner happy. I remember seeing Sweetie with icicles on her whiskers hunting with my dad. She ran with me for miles never stopping or complaining. She obediently worked through her own pain to do her job. I loved that dog!
Meet my little Lab....JLS. This child is in a league of his own when he plays baseball. I like to compare him to the likes of a kid playing superheroes combined with, what he calls, ninja moves, and raw talent. This child has talent, but even more so, DRIVE.
When Grammy asks if JLS did anything exceptional in a game, my reply is that JLS just did what he does. JLS never stops playing, retrieving, running...he just never stops. Truly...that is his norm.
In this one particular game, (which may have been the same night as the parking issue) JLS was playing his usual Short Stop. While JLS was backing up third base, the ball took a bad bounce and popped him in the chin...hard. He stayed on the ball and got it somewhere...at that point I lost the game and was more concerned about him. He was trying so hard not to cry, but kept holding his chin. With tears forming in my eyes, I ran to the fence trying not to be "that mom", but worried to death for his sweet face. The coaches made sure he was OK, asked him if he wanted to go to the dug out and he refused....thru tears that he couldn't control anymore.
He returned to his position with his chin still quivering and tears still visible down his cheeks. The very next hit came just to the left of him. This child DOVE for the ball, caught it and from the ground threw the runner out at 1st base. He never missed a beat. The stands were on their feet cheering for the wounded bird when he got hit. Can you imagine the stands now? Somehow it has caught on that our side yells, "Luuuuuuuuke" in a low guttural way each time he takes the plate. It is so funny to hear. When he threw that kid out from the ground s/p a sturdy pop on the chin, the stands went nuts!
"Luuuuuuuuuuuuke! Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuke!"
A week later he still has marks where the stitching on the ball met his face. Ironically, this week he practiced with a select team and, I kid you not, another bad hop and popped him on the other side of his face. He just had to even it out.
After all the reveille and how great he performed on the field, he is still my baby boy. He crawled into my arms and asked me to carry him to bed that night. He would snuggle for hours if I had the time! No one would ever know what a softie he is on the inside....but his Momma knows!
If you have ever had a lab, you will know that they will go to the ends of the earth to make their owner happy. I remember seeing Sweetie with icicles on her whiskers hunting with my dad. She ran with me for miles never stopping or complaining. She obediently worked through her own pain to do her job. I loved that dog!
He returned to his position with his chin still quivering and tears still visible down his cheeks. The very next hit came just to the left of him. This child DOVE for the ball, caught it and from the ground threw the runner out at 1st base. He never missed a beat. The stands were on their feet cheering for the wounded bird when he got hit. Can you imagine the stands now? Somehow it has caught on that our side yells, "Luuuuuuuuke" in a low guttural way each time he takes the plate. It is so funny to hear. When he threw that kid out from the ground s/p a sturdy pop on the chin, the stands went nuts!
So, we all unloaded and I went to open the back of the car to get the chairs when the gate hit the telephone pole and bounced back down. I was clearly perturbed when this little angelic voice said, "Mommy. You aw not having Jesus in yur hawt!" He stopped me cold in my tracks and I just stared at him probably thinking of an excuse that wasn't there. I looked at my MIL and then at WHS again and said, "Load 'em up!" Without a word, we all loaded back into the car, feeling totally convicted by my four-year-old and parked in a proper spot....a long way away!
The Big Seven-Zero. I so wish I could be there today to give you a big hug. A monumental day, indeed! No words or gifts really do justice to how lucky (and blessed) I am to have a Dad like you. You are my MD, RD, BD, often {O}CD, even known as DD {Duck}, sometimes LD (only with computers:)), & called me PD. You are also our Check-List Man, a teacher, a leader, & an encourager. You may have been accused of practicing without a license, I think you are practicing “Dad” with multiple accreditations.
When I think of growing up, I think of you showing me how....to ride a bike, to mow the lawn, to play soccer, to play tennis, to drive a car, to tie a knot, to work hard, to do it right the first time, to be productive, to be efficient, to clean up after myself, to make smart decisions for myself, to keep a check book, to stay within a budget :), to buy a car, to buy a house, to change my oil, to kick the tires, to hold the flashlight, to keep my car logs, to shoot a gun, to throw a football, to tie a fishing line. And so many more...but everything you ever taught me was a valuable life lesson. And everything you ever taught me was with extreme patience and love. I want to be more like you.
I love that my friends know and love you. I love that Spencer warned John about you. :) I love that you are rational, forgiving, and loving. I love that you taught me to be independent and confident and to care about the things that are truly important. I love that you are always teaching, always leading and always sharing your knowledge and always laughing. I want to be more like you. 
It has been an emotional week. Being that our move was a choice, I have MANY times over questioned if we were doing the right thing. It's agonizing knowing I am changing my kids' school, friends...totally changing the direction of their lives, really. But then, I rest in peace knowing that Babe and I committed this decision to an unbelievable amount of prayer and our prayers were answered in some pretty obvious ways. I know that God has big plans for us and that he is in control. That said, we are SUPER excited for our future in our new house with new friends and a new school. BUT...we have such treasured friends and neighbors that we love and are leaving behind. We were truly blessed to have the kind of neighbors we had. It takes time to build neighbors like that...if ever...and we are so fortunate to have them as our friends.
