What makes me a winner?

I would like to report that I came home victorious yesterday, having just logged my first win of the season.

I did not.

I would like to say everything ran like clockwork.

It did not.

I would like to say that I appeared to know what I was doing on that field full of 22 girls and many parents, friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters, and coaches.

I did not.

But you know what?

I don’t care.

Because I did it. I learned some things. I learned alot of things.

Like…

• make sure you make all your girls go to the bathroom before the game begins.
• And don’t assume that because your game is scheduled for 3:30 that you will actually get on the field at 3:30.
• Additionally, don’t make plans for seven assuming that your game will start at 3:30.
• Make sure your daughter team knows that even if the cutest boy in the school is in the stands watching the game next to yours that under no circumstances are they to leave the dugout.
• Always have an extra pen.
• And make multiple copies of your field rotation and batting order for those that graciously offer to help you with the girls so that you will not be scrambling at the last minute to copy everything over to scraps of paper 10 minutes before the game.

See? A learning experience.

But I did it.

And we got spanked. 14-4. Of course, I didn’t share this with the girls.

But see, what I learned in church this morning was the quote that I posted just a few hours ago… “It doesn’t have to be perfect to receive God’s blessing…”

and God’s blessing was ALL OVER yesterday.

It was supposed to thunderstorm all day…know when they started? The moment I pulled in the driveway.

We had the right line up so that no one had to switch out batting helmets with a runner and the girls were happy.

We played a good game and some girls made some plays that I never in a million years thought they would make.

No one got hurt.

I kept myself together even though, on more than one occassion, I felt like I had no business coaching these girls.

But you know what?

Even though the score said we lost, we didn’t.

Because when a little one comes up and tugs on your shirt and says, “Coach Heather…. did you see that hit? It went all the way to the grass.” and their face is lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree, you feel good.

But when they follow that with, “You were right. I was using the wrong bat.” it makes you realize that maybe, just maybe, you’re doing an okay job.

And so, I’ll leave you with some pictures of opening day….

White Sox rule!

Seriously, Mom… we’ve already been introduced, so why do we have to clap for all these other teams?

You know what would be a great idea? Let’s play in the dirt so we can get all messed up right before our pictures…

Let’s think about this…

I’m ready… my hair is not, but I am…

Perhaps if she moved her visor up, or if her mother made her cut her bangs, she would see that there’s someone running right by her…

I made it to first!

Next stop… home… won’t it be great if I could be the first girl to score today?

But Mom! I only went over to say hi to him!!!!

Whatever…

Until next time…