Step Up to the Plate for Grace 2

When it comes to stepping up to the plate, we know an awful lot of kids who know how to do it just right.

This week, we celebrated the second annual Step Up to the Plate for Grace games between the Lincolnwood High School Lancers and the Morrisonville High School Mohawks.  Despite some iffy weather, the teams managed to get back-to-back games scheduled on Thursday and Friday, and we were so humbled.

Coach Montgomery presented us with a new commemorative plate, designed by Lela Ferrill.

The fundraiser was started last year by the two schools in April, and we were so excited when they decided to do it again this year.  Last year, Kyle and I got red (Morrisonville) shirts for the games, so this year we got black ones for Lincolnwood.  My collection of Grace shirts is steadily growing, and I wear one nearly every single day! 

Throwing out the first official pitch!

Catcher Johnny Davidson gave us the ball, and then all the players signed it!

The first of the games this year was schedule in Raymond on Tuesday, but an afternoon thunderstorm postponed the game.  And despite a very wet Wednesday night, Coach Bob Montgomery said they were going to do everything in their power to get the field ready for Thursday's game.  

Both teams ready to Step Up to the Plate for Grace.

Grace was written just behind home plate.

And true to his word, it was ready to go on a beautiful Thursday afternoon.  Grace was scheduled to throw out the first pitch on Thursday, and we arrived JUST in time for the start of the game. Actually, I think they might have been waiting for us to get there.   But we made it!

Grace and I snuggled during the National Anthem. We loved seeing the players in their Grace jerseys.

We walked onto the field, and they had painted Grace's name in chalk just behind home plate.  Coach Montgomery gave me the ball, and told me the catcher, Johnny Davidson, had been waiting all day to catch Grace's toss, which definitely made this momma smile.  Since Grace can't really toss the ball herself, she and I walked about halfway to the pitcher's mound, and I set her on my knee, and made the toss, which only bounced slightly in the dirt before being nabbed by the catcher.  Davidson gave us the ball, which we asked the Mohawk team to sign, so we could add to Grace's collection.

After posing for a photo with both teams and the National Anthem, we made our way to the pavilion to watch the game.  It was a nice spot in the shade, and Grace and I hung out while Kyle took some action shots for the paper.

Kyle and Grace watching the agme.

In addition to the first pitch, the team also hosted several fundraisers for INAD research, including shirt sales, concession stand sales and a 50/50 ball toss after the fifth inning.  We quickly picked up five balls for the ball toss, and held onto them in Grace's stroller.

Midway through the third inning or so, Grace, who opted out of a nap that afternoon, was starting to get tired.  Shortly after pulling her onto my lap, she managed to fall asleep, and we snuggled for the rest of the game.  Kyle was gracious enough to throw all five of our balls during the 50/50 toss (and said he only threw his arm out a little).  He also brought us some delicious dinner from the concession stand.

The first night, it was the Mohawks who took home the win on this Grace-Filled Journey, and we loved being a part of such a special game.

Since Tuesday's original game was rained out, Lincolnwood and Morrisonville did some schedule changes, and decided to play back-to-back games. So, on Friday, we headed to Raymond for the second half of the Step Up to the Plate for Grace games!

Throwing out the first pitch at the Lincolnwood game!

Once again, we arrived a little too close to the start time, but they were ready for Grace and I to throw out the first pitch to team captain Reese Snyder.  For the second day in a row, Grace and I walked about halfway to the pitcher's mound, and although our pitch still managed to land in the dirt, everyone cheered for us!  We're going to add the ball we pitched out to her collection.

Both teams ready for another Step Up to the Plate for Grace game.

As we made our way to home plate for another team photo, we saw the team had spray painted #BeatINAD in the grass behind home plate.  It's so inspiring to us to see all the people who rally around our beautiful little girl, and to help us raise more awareness about this terrible disease.

For this game, my mom and dad had a chance to come and see us throw out the first pitch, and Kyle's dad came a little later, and we all enjoyed watching the baseball game together.  Grace sat on Grandma Susie's lap for most of the game, and really seemed to enjoy herself. And for the second night, the Lancers picked up the win!

Snuggling with Grandma and Grandpa Galer.

Hugs from PaPa Randy!

The Lincolnwood team also offered shirt sales and half of its concessions proceeds to benefit the INAD research study. Both teams plan to present a check to us during regional play later this spring.

And if these two games weren't enough, we had another surprise awaiting us.  Earlier this year, Marty and Kara Steffens bought enough of the county baseball tournament Grace shirts for the entire Purdue Calumet college softball team, where their daughter, Tessa, is a freshman.   The team planned to use them for warm-ups this season.

Members of the Purdue Calumet softball team before their Grace game this week.

We found out just this week that the team was also planning a special Grace-Filled Journey game on Thursday.  Since they play all their home games in Hammond, IN, it was a little far for us to go this time around, but we definitely enjoyed the photos they posted on Twitter after the game.

Marty brought Grace a poster and a signed helmet!

Grace was really excited about her new helmet, and we read all the names to her!

And as another surprise, Marty showed up at the baseball game in Raymond to present us with the poster they made for the game, as well as a signed helmet (donated by Schutt Sports in Litchfield), that had the names and numbers of all the girls on Tessa's team.  You won't want to miss Grace's sports memorabilia display when we get the living room fixed up this summer!

Life on this journey can be hard. But I'm here to tell you, that thanks to our community of wonderful, loving, generous people, the good days WAY outnumber the bad ones. Thanks for stepping up to the plate for our Grace. We'll never forget it.

MLH

Teammates Off The Field

Sometimes, your fiercest rivals are those that live the closest to you, especially those within your own county. Growing up as a Hiltopper, I knew how important it was to beat the Litchfield Panthers, and with Kyle as a Lancer, he had some of the same feelings about the Nokomis Redskins.

On the field, these teams may be rivals, but off the field, they're definitely teammates.

So, the county high school baseball tournament is always exciting. Every single player for all four county teams wants to be the ones that come out on top, and best their county rivals.

But for a few brief moments on Saturday, April 16, every player, from all four schools was on the field, and they were smiling.  And we couldn't be prouder.

You see, this year's county baseball tournament was the culmination of a Litchfield High School Student Council fundraiser for Grace. Last winter, the Student Council sponsor Jo Brummet and her students set up a temporary license plate program with the state of Illinois. Participants could pay $30, and the plates would be valid for two months in the spring.

We opted to use the Princess Grace logo from the 5K event last fall, and each license plate could have four characters on it.  Kyle and I were quick to decide that we wanted BEAT INAD on our two vehicles, but it was fun to see what everyone else chose.  My mom and dad chose HOPE and PRAY, while Kyle's mom and dad chose EP28 (for a favorite scripture verse) and PAPA. Other family members chose LOVE, LOV3, BSBL and GLH 7.  All total, I think they sold about 50 of the specialty plates.

We LOVED our BEAT INAD plates!

I think the best part for me was driving around the county and seeing the plates, trying to figure out whose they were and what they stood for.  And even though he lives out of state, Kyle and I ordered a set for the INAD researcher, Dr. Paul Kotzbauer, who already has his hanging in his office at Washington University.  

Grace couldn't wait to give Dr. Kotzbauer his plates.

As part of the fundraiser, the Student Council planned a culminating event at the county tournament and also sold T-shirts.  I can't tell you how much I love all my Grace shirts, which now number more than a dozen.  I practically live in them (so it's definitely a good thing I have so many!)  And every time I see others wearing Grace shirts, I know they have a chance to raise even more awareness for INAD. 

We really liked these shirts too, as they had the team logos for all four county teams on them, and all the school districts have done so much for us.  We are especially looking up to the second annual "Step Up to the Plate for Grace" when Lincolnwood and Morrisonville baseball teams play each other this week.

Grace and the Nokomis Redskins

Grace and the Hillsboro Hiltoppers

Grace and the Litchfield Panthers

Grace and the Lincolnwood Lancers

Kyle's almost always a fixture at the county tournament, as he covers it for work, but Grace and I were excited to go with him this year, and share the experience with our families as well.  Kyle's sister and her husband brought our nephew, and some of his cousins came too, and we always enjoy a chance to catch up.

Jo Brummet presented us $2,000 for INAD research.

Shortly after we arrived, Jo Brummet and her son set up photos for us with each of the teams wearing their new Grace shirts. Then, when the first game was finished, we were invited onto the field with all the teams for a HUGE group photo and check presentation. We were blown away when Jo announced that they raised $2,000 for INAD research. 

Just chilling with her grandparents.

Grace with the members of Kyle's family who came to the game.

It also gave us a chance to say thanks to the teams and coaches for their love and support, as we continue in the fight against INAD. Each team also signed a baseball for Grace and the Lincolnwood coach, Josh Stone, got a really cool display case for all four of them.  Our next living room renovation includes some shelving to put all her autographed balls on display, which will be such a testament to the love and support of this community.

Kyle and Grace show off her new display case and autographed baseballs.

We stayed for a bit of the second game before heading out to lunch with some of Kyle's family, and felt so blessed to be a part of a tournament with such history in Montgomery County.  From Lancers and Redskins to Toppers and Panthers (and Mohawks too), it's truly been a special part of this Grace-Filled Journey. They may be rivals on the field, but off the field, they are ALL teammates in the fight to #beatINAD.

MLH

When You Don't Know The Whole Story

Meet the wolf. Alexander T. Wolf to be exact. And he has a story to tell.

As I combed through Grace's books this month, trying to decide on a column idea, I came across one of our favorites, "The TRUE Story of the Three Little Pigs" by Jon Scieskza. It was a gift from Kyle's aunt, Kathy, to Grace on her birthday one year.

Everyone knows the story of The Three Little Pigs. Each one builds a house, one of straw, one of sticks and one of bricks. The wolf comes to visit each one, and by "huffing and puffing" manages to blow down the first two houses rather easily. However, he can't manage to blow down the brick house, and the moral of the story is that you should build your life on a firm foundation with solid materials.

And that's exactly how this book starts out, "Everyone knows the story of The Three Little Pigs. Or at least they think they do. But I'll let you in on a little secret. Nobody knows the real story, because nobody has ever heard my side of the story."
Alexander T. Wolf goes on to introduce himself to readers, and questions how the whole "Big Bad Wolf" rumors got started.

"Maybe it's because of our diet. Hey it's not my fault wolves eat cute little animals like bunnies and sheep and pigs. That's just the way we are. If cheeseburgers were cute, folks would probably think you were Big and Bad too."
Al goes on to say that the real story is about a sneeze and a cup of sugar. You see, he's making a cake for his "dear sweet old granny's birthday," when he runs out of sugar. So, he goes to his neighbor's house to borrow a cup.

"Now this neighbor was a pig. And he wasn't too bright either. He had built his whole house of straw."
Upon arriving, Al finds that no one will answer the door. Just as he is about to leave, he feels a sneeze coming on, and the whole straw house falls down. And in the middle of the mess, he finds the first little pig, dead as a doornail.
"It seemed like a shame to leave a perfectly good ham dinner just lying there in the straw. So I ate it up. Think of it as a big cheeseburger just lying there."

And wouldn't you know it, but the exact same thing happens at the second neighbor's house, so Al eats him up too.
When he arrives at the third little pig's house, it's made of bricks, and this pig won't loan him a cup of sugar. After besmirching the name of his "dear sweet old granny," Al goes a little crazy. He starts huffing and snuffing and sneezing and making a real scene.

By the end of the story, poor Al has landed himself in jail, still without his cup of sugar, and has been officially labelled as the "Big Bad Wolf."

"That's it, the real story. I was framed."

Whether or not you choose to believe Al's version of the story, it's a great reminder that there are always two sides to every story. We shouldn't be so hasty and rush to judgement about someone or something, based solely on what we hear or read on Facebook.

Maybe Al made the whole thing up. Maybe he's rightly serving his time in jail, still awaiting that cup of sugar. But it's still not our place to judge Al, no matter what we really think of him.

We live in the age of instant news, and not always reputable news sources. Some media outlets jump to conclusions just to be the first to share a story. And while stories can be corrected, most times the damage to someone's reputation can't be undone.

As I go about my daily life, I sometimes find myself quick to judge someone else about their choices. When I stop to remember the love and compassion that Jesus showed to everyone, it's a little easier to take a step back and remember that I don't always know the whole story.

Instead of being quick to judge someone, I'm going to practice stopping to say a prayer for them and their particular situation. I know that's what I would want someone to do for me.

MLH