Her Own Trophy Case

Well, it seems like it's time to build Grace her very own trophy case.  After all, she came home with her very first one today!

For the last few years, Kyle has covered a special invitational golf tournament at Indian Springs Golf Course, where some of the area's top golfers compete for cash prizes. Kyle has worked closely with the event's organizer, Jim Odle, on before and after coverage for the paper of this successful tournament.

Today's adventures took us to Indian Springs Golf Course, where Grace was the honorary starter.

As they started planning this year's event, Jim asked Kyle if Grace could be the tournament's honorary starter.  Once again, we were so honored and humbled in the way the community has reached out to our family and allowed Grace some truly amazing opportunities.

And fortunately, Jim was agreeable to Grace's schedule, allowing her to be the honorary starter of the second round, instead of the first. Why you might ask? Because the first round officially teed off at 7:30 a.m., and everyone in our house was still in bed!

Grace got her very first trophy at today's tourney!

Although, we didn't really know what to expect, we headed out to the golf course, just outside Coffeen, around lunchtime.  The food smelled great, so we had some lunch while we waited for the golfers to come in.  We loved the food, and the club's owners, Wade and Natalie Fuller, even treated us to lunch.  They also donated to the INAD study, and after donations from the golfers too, they gave us more than $500.  We continue to stand in awe of the generosity of this awesome community.

While we were waiting to finish up with our lunch, one of Grace's physical therapists, John Mekala, came over to greet us.  He was playing in the tournament that day, and said he hoped Grace would be his good luck charm.

Although she was a little skeptical he was going to make her work, Grace still had a big smile for one of her physical therapists, who was golfing in the tourney.

After lunch, Jim invited us to the practice putting green for a special ceremony. He presented Grace with her first-ever trophy, naming her the 2015 Honorary Champion of the tourney. Oh, and the trophy is pretty awesome too.  

Then, he asked Kyle to help Grace with a putt to officially start the second round.  They came really close to sinking it into the hole, but it rolled just to the side.  Everyone cheered, and we felt so honored to be there.

Grace and Kyle came REALLY close to making their opening putt!

Before taking off for their second round, many of the golfers wished us luck on our journey and said they would be praying for us.  We didn't know many of the tourney's golfers, but we are so grateful to each and every one of them.

Just before heading home, the Fullers brought us a golf cart to take a spin around the golf course.  With the wind in her hair, I truly think that was one of Grace's favorite parts of the outing, as she giggled and giggled.

Grace had time to pose with her fan club before we left too.

The tourney wrapped up this evening, and Kyle called Jim for the final results. The two talked briefly about the tournament, and Jim told Kyle he was one of the winning golfers and donated part of his winnings to the INAD study. Some of the other golfers did as well.  

Our humble thanks to ALL those who have joined us on this "Grace-filled journey." That's what I call a real hole-in-one.

MLH

Not Just Another Day

It started out as just another day on this awesome "Grace Filled Journey," but it turned out to be a day to remember.

One of the reasons that Kyle and I started this blog was to share our experiences with Grace. However, when we began, we thought that would be trips to the zoo, the movies, preschool and maybe a few other special things along the way.

We were so honored to "Step Up to the Plate for Grace" today!

But somewhere along the way, the communities in this area have truly made this such an amazing "Grace Filled Journey."  And today was no exception.

I was so excited to help Grace throw out her first pitch today.

We arrived in Morrisonville just before the start of the baseball game between the Mohawks and the Lincolnwood Lancers.  And Grace got to throw out the first pitch.  It would be her fourth and final first pitch of the high school baseball and softball season.  Her very first pitch was the game between these same two teams in Raymond.  It's just awesome to see how much love and support these kids and their families have for our Grace.

How cool is this!!!

When we arrived at the park, both teams were wearing specially made shirts that said, "Step Up and Take the Plate for Grace."  Morrisonville was wearing shirts with red sleeves and Lincolnwood was wearing shirts with orange sleeves.  Since this game was at Morrisonville, their team had graciously provided shirts for us to wear to the game, even if Kyle did take a bit of a ribbing for not wearing orange.  He was a pretty good sport about it, although I still think he's going to try and find an orange shirt.

Kyle has asked me for the last two games if I wanted to help Grace throw out a first pitch, and I said no the last time.  But I figured this was my last chance to help her with one of them.  So, I said I would give it a try.

Check out Grace's cool new commemorative base. We are planning to hang it up in her room.

They called us out to the field, and the first thing I noticed that they had written "Step Up to the Plate for Grace" on the actual home plate. How cool is that!  We were really impressed, and fortunately for me, Kyle didn't take Grace's stroller all the way to the pitcher's mound.  I didn't have to help Grace toss the ball very fall, which was good, because it still bounced in the dirt before it got to the catcher.  But I'm so glad I had the chance to help her with one of her pitches.

After she threw out the pitch, the Morrisonville coach talked to the crowd a little bit about our story and presented Grace with another shirt matching ours, except more sparkly. She also got a Morrisonville baseball and a commemorative base donated by Schutt Sports and decorated by Lela Ferrill.  We can't wait to hang it up in her room.

Grace's biggest fans, MHS teachers Janet Walch and Patty Christian brought her all sorts of goodies.

Then we settled in to watch the game with Grace's fan club, including Grandma and Grandpa Galer, Grandpa Herschelman and her cousins, Kayley and Kensey Armour, who doted on her the entire time we were there.  We also enjoyed many goodies from the concession stands, and the team was donating 50 percent of the proceeds to the INAD study.

Kyle (with some help from Kayley and Kensey) take their shot at the fundraiser.

After the third inning, they had another fundraiser planned.  For $1, anyone could buy a small baseball and then toss it onto the field, trying to be the closest to the base near the pitcher's mound.  We got three, and Kyle, Kayley and Kensey had fun throwing them out.  It turns out that Grace's Grandpa John has a really good throw, and he won and donated the money back to the study.  And he was really excited to win.

Grandpa John takes his pitch at the fundraiser, and he won!

Both teams also had another fundraiser, they had pledge sheets where you could pledge a player for how many singles, doubles, triples and home runs he would hit during the game. The teams are planning to present checks from both special games at the upcoming regional tournament in Lincolnwood within the next few weeks, and it will be very well used in the research study.

We are SO honored all these players and coaches have joined our journey.

But whether the donation is $1 or $1,000, we feel so honored that these teams have asked us to be part of such special games this year. To be able to make such amazing memories with Grace is something we will always remember.

We will always hope that one day Grace will be able to run across home plate on her own!

Yup, just another awesome day in this "Grace Filled Journey."

MLH

Throwing Out Another Great Memory

It seems like Grace is getting to be an old pro at pitching in high school games!

The senior Lady Redskins gave Grace a teddy bear and a signed ball.

We have been so honored that Grace has been invited to throw out the first pitch at several high school baseball and softball games this season.  Each one has been a unique experience, and we've made memories that we will always treasure.

Earlier this season, one of the Nokomis Lady Redskins' coaches, Bruce Cox, asked Kyle if Grace could throw out a first pitch at a softball game this season.  Kyle looked at the schedule and picked the Morrisonville game, since the Mohawk family has sort of adopted us as well.

Hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Galer before the game.

Monday was just a gorgeous day for a softball game, and the Lady Redskins and the Lady Mohawks treated us like we were royalty.

The princess is all ready to throw out her first pitch!

Before the game started, the senior members of the Lady Redskins presented Grace with a signed yellow softball (I think she's going to need a display case for her growing collection of sports memorabilia!) and a Redskin teddy bear with a red outfit on.  Grace just loved snuggling with the bear.

Grace snuggled with her daddy and her new Redskin teddy bear!

Then, all three of us had the chance to line up with the team along the first base line for the singing of the National Anthem, which was something we hadn't done yet, and really cool!

Lining up with the team for the National Anthem.

Then Bruce Cox got the microphone and began to share our story.  He said the team had "something brewing" and would be collecting donations in a coffee pot throughout the game.  They also passed out purple "Gracelets" to anyone in the stands who wanted one.  The team ended up raising $260, which will definitely be put to good use for the INAD study.

After that, it was time for the big first pitch!  With a little (or a lot) of help from her dad, Grace and Kyle took the pitcher's mound and made the toss.  Kyle pitched the ball up in the air several times first, much to Grace's delight.  They made the toss, and everyone cheered.

Here comes the pitch!

As we made our way back to the dugout, I noticed one of the players had her "Gracelet" tied to her ball glove.  The players couldn't play with them on, but she wanted to make sure she had it with her during the game.

We are so honored by those sharing in our "Grace filled journey."

As Kyle took his spot along the fence to cover the game, Grace and I made our way to the bleachers to watch the game and cheer for both teams.

Grace's busy social schedule certainly keeps us on our toes, but we feel so honored that the communities in this area have adopted our family and given Grace so many experiences this year. We'll never, ever forget the kindness shown to our family.   We love you all!