Back to Softball

Since everyone agreed that T.J. would not be happy if he knew everyone quit playing softball, the team agreed to keep on playing. The league that Mike played in with T.J. played on Thursday nights at the fields at Kent State. They planned a prayer service and times of silence for the first Thursday after T.J.'s accident. They had time for the prayer service but a storm rolled in at the end and all the games got rained out. This Thursday brought much cooler, but beautiful weather and we were all at the fields. I have had a hard time bringing the kids to the games the past few years because often they are past the kids' bed times. This year we had Corban's t-ball games on Thursday nights, so we couldn't make the earlier games, but Mike would go for the later ones. Thursday's games were at 7:30 and 8:30 so I decided to bring the kids up for at least the first game. Mike's step-mom ended up getting back into town right after the second game started so we stayed for both. Everyone really made an effort to be there. The ride up was tough for me. I kept thinking about how Mike said the week before he found himself looking for T.J. in his rear view mirror because they often ended up following each other up. A special moment was when we were listening to Jesus Saves and I looked in the rear view mirror to see the kids' tiny hands all raised in the air, singing along! I am honestly not sure how I drove through the tears!

T.J.'s family, Tim, Mary, Shana and Jeremy have been amazingly strong and faithful through everything. They all came to the games Thursday night. It was so wonderful to see them there. Tim wasn't planning on playing but he ended up helping coach and even pitched and hit!

Here is Mike up to bat. Doesn't he look snazzy in his ball pants? ;)

If you look closely you can see T.J.'s ball shirt with his number 3 hanging on the dug-out fence.

Towards the right you can see Mike rounding 3rd base and Tim cheering him on.

Sydney, Corban and Jared watching the guys play.

Tim pitching:

One of my best friends, Andrea, also came. Her husband Brent plays on Mike's team, too. Andrea also has 3 kids, so we really didn't get to watch a whole lot of the game, but we tried. Andrea's oldest, Addison, is Sydney's age. They are great friends and call each other cousins. We have given up trying to correct them. Can you tell they are both loaded with personality? :) So adorable!! (And this is really cute: Both girls look just like their daddies)