...even Faith! I got a text this morning from Chandler that Faith read the blog and wanted to know if he felt the same way that I did about her never pitching again. DE-FLATE-ED! Whoosh! There goes the air from my lungs and the blood from my face. I am a big proponent for being honest with our kids...to a point. Where do babies come from, are you Santa Clause...sure, let's go get a latte and have a chat, BUT...mom, do you believe in me, do you believe that I will walk the same way after this and have the same abilities...well, honesty is gray in that area. How could I be so stupid? is my initial reaction. Then I take a breath, the color returns and I reason with myself. It's a good thing that I am at work and not home to panic and handle it poorly. I ask Chandler if she is ok. I am picturing her an emotional mess right now. He has told her that it will take a lot of hard work, but that if she really wanted to pitch again, we would help her. Prince Charming, that man! Well done! She has moved on, of course. I'm sure she barely missed a beat. I hope so, at least.
Appropriately timed, today was the day we had planned for Dallas Escobido, ASU's prime softball pitcher, to come and meet Faith at our home. Personally, I wouldn't have known Dallas from the next college senior, but Faith has a whole library of her photos and stats on the iPad and has been a big Dallas fan for several years now. So, her 5th grade teacher's husband, who is friends with Dallas's coach, put us in touch with her. I was impressed that Dallas was so agreeable to come out to Chandler from Tempe, given her busy schedule and considering that she is a well-known (just not to me) college athlete. I have to admit that I wasn't convinced that this would be all Faith was hoping it would be, or that she would even show up.
Faith wanted her friends, who are also softball players, mostly pitchers, to come along. She invited her 4 best friends and their siblings, as well as, Jalapeño Maddie and her family. I continue to be blessed with an employer and co-workers who get that sometimes you just gotta go, so I left work early to host this little party. I was starting to get excited. This is gonna be awesome!!! Jaime and I pick up all of the kids and attempt to get their hands washed and the front room ready with kids, snacks, and seating when Tatum squeals, "she's here, she's here"! She's early. A mad stampede of adolescence to the front door. Poor Dallas never knew what hit her! I push my way through the mass of little girls and give Dallas a big hug. She came! Exhale, she came. Half of the battle is over. Now what? The girls aren't quite sure what to do. Dallas was a little early, so we didn't have time to give instructions or advice to girls, but they did great. They all found a place to sit, got their snacks and then sat quietly, too quietly at first! Awkward! It was a slow start. I am guessing that the girls felt nervous and unsure of how to proceed, but Dallas was so warm and talkative that they began to relax and clearly enjoy themselves. It was nice to have this group setting of young ladies! She shared with them how nervous she gets when she is pitching in front of a big crowd and how many hours a day she practices. She told them about her military dad who worked her to the point of tears, tears she only shared with her mother because she didn't want her dad to see. Dallas admitted that she didn't get to go to very many sleepovers due to her hectic practice and game schedule. She illustrated all of the hard work and sacrifices she's made to be the best at what she does. Sounds like a real downer, but it wasn't. It was clear that she loved it and that she still does! Dallas shared with them that even on her worst day, she still enters the field in a good mood, resolute to keep her bad day to herself. Her stories and advice were all very genuine, heart-felt and uplifting.
This meeting was supposed to be for the girls, but I realized that I needed it to. It was so enjoyable to talk to her. She was so easy going and fun! It couldn't have been timed better, too. I was really feeling badly that Faith read my words of doubt that I had never spoken out loud to her. Perhaps those words had left her feeling a little uncertain about her future, too, but if she was she forgot all about it. At least for the moment. I hope that Faith will remember what Dallas shared with her about hard work and determination. She will need it in her back pocket to pull out when she feels like giving up. I will need it, too!
Faith wanted her friends, who are also softball players, mostly pitchers, to come along. She invited her 4 best friends and their siblings, as well as, Jalapeño Maddie and her family. I continue to be blessed with an employer and co-workers who get that sometimes you just gotta go, so I left work early to host this little party. I was starting to get excited. This is gonna be awesome!!! Jaime and I pick up all of the kids and attempt to get their hands washed and the front room ready with kids, snacks, and seating when Tatum squeals, "she's here, she's here"! She's early. A mad stampede of adolescence to the front door. Poor Dallas never knew what hit her! I push my way through the mass of little girls and give Dallas a big hug. She came! Exhale, she came. Half of the battle is over. Now what? The girls aren't quite sure what to do. Dallas was a little early, so we didn't have time to give instructions or advice to girls, but they did great. They all found a place to sit, got their snacks and then sat quietly, too quietly at first! Awkward! It was a slow start. I am guessing that the girls felt nervous and unsure of how to proceed, but Dallas was so warm and talkative that they began to relax and clearly enjoy themselves. It was nice to have this group setting of young ladies! She shared with them how nervous she gets when she is pitching in front of a big crowd and how many hours a day she practices. She told them about her military dad who worked her to the point of tears, tears she only shared with her mother because she didn't want her dad to see. Dallas admitted that she didn't get to go to very many sleepovers due to her hectic practice and game schedule. She illustrated all of the hard work and sacrifices she's made to be the best at what she does. Sounds like a real downer, but it wasn't. It was clear that she loved it and that she still does! Dallas shared with them that even on her worst day, she still enters the field in a good mood, resolute to keep her bad day to herself. Her stories and advice were all very genuine, heart-felt and uplifting.
This meeting was supposed to be for the girls, but I realized that I needed it to. It was so enjoyable to talk to her. She was so easy going and fun! It couldn't have been timed better, too. I was really feeling badly that Faith read my words of doubt that I had never spoken out loud to her. Perhaps those words had left her feeling a little uncertain about her future, too, but if she was she forgot all about it. At least for the moment. I hope that Faith will remember what Dallas shared with her about hard work and determination. She will need it in her back pocket to pull out when she feels like giving up. I will need it, too!
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