Changes

This is our 17 year old son, Trent.  He LOVES baseball.  It is not his whole world, but it is a big continent on his world.  He has played since he was a little guy, 5 years old, every summer.  Even before that he would dress in little baseball pants, little, bitty Nike cleats, and a very oversized "extra" game jersey and be the batboy for his older brother, Ty (4 years older), loving every minute of running out in front of the crowd and getting the bats.  He's a lefty.  He's passionate about pitching.  He has been working hard to get "noticed" and get to play college baseball.  He would give up college and go straight into the draft if recuited, he LOVES it that much.  He gave up basketball after his Freshman year in high school to concentrate on getting ready for baseball season during the winter months.  He has worked and worked, strengthening his arms, legs, and core.  He had a great Jr year season.  Lots of people noticed that his hard work the past year had paid off.  He was so much stronger, confident, knowledgeable, and a true leader on the team.  One week ago, going into the 1st round of the Regional Tournament as the 2nd seed, playing at 7:30 pm, he was the starting pitcher.  His team had to win this game to get to go the State Tournament.  Trent knew the importance.  He was cocked and ready to roll.  He approached the mound with confidence.  He was one strike away from the end of the first inning (0-2 count) when two fingers went numb after a pitch.....he shook his arm out...stepped up and threw another pitch....and he felt something snap in his pitching elbow.  Just like that he was finished for the game.....

Since then he has seen doctors, had an MRI and ultrasound, researched elbow injuries, researched doctors and surgeons, heard losts of talking, and replayed many scenarios.  He has kept his composure.  He realizes what this injury means to his immediate future.  Possible surgery immediately with extensive rehab will be first. If that is the case, then his summer will be completely different than it's been the last 12 summers--no baseball playing. 

This was THE summer he has been waiting for.  In his mind he has worked to improve and strengthen his baseball skills so that he can "get noticed" this summer.  He was hoping for a baseball scholarship based on his Jr high school baseball season, and this summer season.  He had recently received notice that he made the summer team of his choice. He had dreamed of (and worked for) recruiting trips, recruiting phone calls, playing baseball all summer in big places--college fields around the state and in surrounding states.  Things were going along as he had hoped.  Until that one devastating pitch....

There will be none of the above if surgery is the answer.  But not only baseball, but a whole different Sr year as well.  No football workouts, football practice, football playing  his Sr year.  The dreams of being a respected running back and linebacker are not to be reality.  Would he have had an unbelieveable football season?  He would have given it his very best effort!  This was THE football season he's been waiting for.  No basketball playing his Sr. year.  He laid out his Soph and Jr years to focus on baseball, and had recently tried out for the Sr high team and made it.  He was even talking about playing on the golf team.  It was going to be a big year in sports for him.  His sister, Tara, two years younger had recently made Sr high cheerleader, and was excited to cheer for him her Soph year, his Sr. year.  His whole family was in excited anticipation for next year with sports being a big part of the excitement.  It's really hard to believe that he's already played his last Wildcat football/basketball game.  He plans to get back for his Sr baseball season even though it will look much different since he will not be pitching yet. 

These changes are hard.  It seems to be coming at a really unfortunate time.  All of a sudden the future looks very different.

As a family we are relying on God and His wisdom and plan for Trent and our family.  We trust that He is in control, and we know that His ways are better than our ways.  Only He knows the future.  We will all adjust and let Him lead us through the valley.  Our hearts are open and ready to be led.  Our future has changed, and a new future is before us in this life.  We are thankful that our future after this life never changes.  Eternal life with our Father is ALWAYS in our future.   

Well.....I wanted to start by telling the story behind this wonderful picture of my family. That's my husband and I with our three chirldren at the beach last week. We were visiting Clearwater Beach near Tampa for our Spring Break. We have never had a real "beach" vacation with our children. Oh we've taken them to the beach on numerous occasions, but the "beach" trips before were always associated with a business trip or baseball tournament. Those trips were fun, but not relaxing. A beach trip SHOULD be relaxing! This trip was relaxing (minus the day we spent at DisneyWorld, but I'll share that story another time)! Although the water was a bit too chilly to swim, we enjoyed seeing and hearing it, and watching some brave ones get in for a short dip. Back to the picture....my sweet husband researched and got the name of a local photographer to come and take the pictures of our family on the beach because 1-he knew that I have always wanted those beautiful beach pictures of our family, and he's so thoughtful that way, and 2-he wanted one of just the two of us from behind holding hands at sunset!!! How romantic is that? He can be guilty of really spoiling me! And I love it!

I am so thankful for these pictures! I know that at any time this picture can change. There are lots of different circumstances that might cause that change. You can use your own imagination. But for now I am just thankful that I now have my family beach pictures from our "beach" vacation. They are very precious to me! The ones in the pictures are my dearest on Earth!