baSebAll.

summer is always the highlight of my life.

really.

i love the weather.

the flowers.

the kids being off school.

no set schedule.

it being light out early.

and light out late.

the sounds.

the foods.

vacations. the beach.

and baseball.

yep.

we are still playing baseball.

by "we" i mean Kaden...

but "we" his family are in it 110% also.

family time has looked a little different the last couple months.

it is not sitting around the dinner table, like i crave.

it is certainly not ideal. in my opinion.

it feels like i toss food to Matt and Kaden as they head out the door to practice each night.

leaving the girls and i to fend for ourselves.

or there is cooler packing to keep the girls settled as we sit thru another game.

and keep our tummies happy thru the high's and the low's.

or...there is always cereal or drive-thru's or snack bar's to pull this mama thru.

and car rides.

let me tell ya.

we are mastering car rides.

which actually, is how i like it. :)

we could drive seperate, which would buy me at least another hour at home.

but...we make the sacrifice to ride together.

and that's where we talk about disappointments

high's and low's of our days...
or the game...
or me telling matt to slow down :/

that is where we HAVE to get our family time right now, 

or let me tell ya, 

it just wouldn't happen.

so mama's out there.

do not lose heart.

there is always a way to fit it in.

it's often not ideal.

or even my pick.

but, find a way.

and make it happen.

this is Kaden.

catching.

playing Buster Posey, as he chooses to be number 28 each post season. 

[during the regular season Kaden is a starter. a starter at catcher most of the time.

sometimes he pitches and sometimes he plays short stop...but most of the time he catches, 

and has the last few years].

there have been a couple year's of Kaden sitting on the bench most of the all-star post season.

and when he did get the chance to play, it was out of "his position"

that means he was playing the outfield.

those season's were hard.

hard, character building, character defining season's.
(i am choosing to believe)

but to watch Kaden this post season.

has been a beautiful, fun thing.

to look back on the boy he was. and now the man he is slowly growing into.

i am thankful.

and grateful to be his mama. 

and watch this ride.

thank you Karen and Robbie...for these pics.

It is great to have friends who have awesome camera's and take pictures

while you, one of the cheering mama's can focus on that...cheering. :)

if you follow me on instagram (melissa_erin14) 

you know that we suffered our first loss this post season, in our first sectional game.

and it was a bruiser.

we lost 11-1.

we came back yesterday afternoon, in the blazing heat, and had a 10-3 victory.

6 home runs. 

2 of those home runs hit by Kaden. :)

i have a hard time figuring out if sports are really good for kids.

the stress is monumental.

the pressure to perform.

fun is lost in the losing.

it just is.

and i remember. i was not a jock by any means...

but i played field hockey thru high school and a few years at the college level.

it's so easy for the fun to get lost, 

in a bad play

in a bad quick decision

in a loss.

And let's mention my son is not always "on point".

who is?

he made a really bad throw during the first inning of the game.

the first baseman didn't catch the ball

and the runner, Kaden was trying to pick off at first,

 made it to 3rd,

on his quick, rash, bad throw decision.

But he got over it.

Love that part.

Picked his head up. And moved on.

And he had one of his best games yet.

the above picture is Kaden rounding 3rd after his 2nd home run of the game.

that face.

mama knows that face.

(he is crying).

and it was a tear jerking moment for his mama and grandma too.

i hope everyone gets to experience their son in that moment, 

a moment just like that...and it's different moment's for each child you have...

but know, that not everyone will.

and that's tough.

hang in there mama's.

i hope your time comes.

be ready.

because when it does. there is nothing like it.

it cannot be replicated. anywhere.

and when your dad is an assistant coach

well. that makes things all the harder.

maybe?

it was a good redeeming game.

now for tonight. :)

win or lose.

no matter.
(winning is always more fun, right?) ;)

as i pray over Kaden, each game, before he gets out of the car...

I can do all things thru Christ, who stengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

and his usual response is, " I know mom. I know."

something I have started praying over my kids, and me too...

I pray their weaknesses drive them to God, 

and I pray that my children's strengths draw other's to the Lord.

Regardless...this whole game of life.

it's a battle.

to God be the glory.