Proud - Because I really never played.

I am VERY proud of both of my kids because they do things I rarely did. Tonight was a great example: sports.

Now, before I get too far, let me say that I played basketball in 5th and 6th grade. Rather, I was on the team. I am not sure it qualifies in any sense as me "playing." Likewise, I played soccer for a year or so when I was younger. I had a coach that decided to practice us in full uniform inside on the gym floor. A few days later, my knee was messed up and it stayed that way. So, I have participated in sports, but I would never claim to have played them.

Tonight, my son received three awards: his Letterman's jacket, Most Improved Baseball player, and All-District Honorable mention. That blows my mind. He played baseball from the time he was 4 or 5 and stuck with it until 9th Grade. He sat out for two years and then, as a Junior, decided to give it another whirl. This season, he found his rhythm - turning TWO unassisted double plays, making some flat-out crazy catches in foul territory along the first base line, and showing a vastly improved hitting percentage.

My daughter has been steadily improving in each of her chosen sports, too. She is on a competition cheer squad and gets better and better every practice. She also plays softball, and tonight while her mother and I were at my son's awards banquet, she scored at least three times, had a 2-run RBI with bases loaded, and made a 3rd out plat at third base (each of these feats were relayed to us by her grandmother who helped us out by going to the game while we attended the ceremony).

I am very proud of my kiddos for stepping out of their comfort zones to try things out. I am very proud of them for sticking with sports, any sports, as way to build a team spirit, working with others, and get some exercise in the process.

I thank my God every day for my children. Some nights that seems harder to do than others. But, on nights like tonight, I give Him all the praise, glory and honor. Because we ALL know their father had little to do with their sporting accomplishments!