Batter Up!

It's baseball season.

 And it's our first season of little league. My son has never been an athlete and hasn't shown much interest in sports until fairly recently. He has developed a love for baseball. He is a brain, the smart kid (the really smart kid). So, I'm excited and proud of him as he is stepping out of his comfort zone and trying something new. Last night I was snack mom. Anyone who knows me, knows I like, no, scratch that, I LOVE to make little goodies and things for my boys to share with their friends. I wanted to do something a little fun and different. I'm all about making it easy and simple as well. So, I made a trail mix and pretzels snack bag. (We have no food allergies on our team.) To make it a little fun, I printed some kid friendly baseball jokes on sticker paper and stuck them on the baggies. Let's face it, at the end of some games, we could all use a little laugh.

Like I said, it's our first year for little league. I've seen tears and frustration at every game from so many of the boys. They can be so very hard on themselves. They are learning every day.  They will make mistakes and a lot of them. I want my kids to love the game, to learn with every mistake made, to encourage each other and have great sportsmanship. And most of all, I want them to have fun. 


HE'S JUST A LITTLE BOY
by Chaplain Bob Fox

He stands at the plate with his heart pounding fast;
The bases are loaded; the die has been cast.
Mom and Dad can not help him; he stands all alone.
The ball nears the plate; he swings and he misses.
There's a groan from the crowd, with some boos and hisses.

A thoughtless voice cries, "Strike out the bum!"
Tears fill his eyes: the game's no longer fun.
So open your heart and give him a break.
For it's moments like this a man you can make.
Keep this in mind when you hear someone forget.
He's just a little boy, not a man yet.