I am way behind on summer memories! One of my favorite moments that will stay with me always is one of Daniel's last baseball games of the summer. It was the bottom of the 6th, (last inning) one out. Daniel dinked a ball into the infield and and beat it out for a single,still one out. Next batter up, Daniel steals 2nd on the first pitch, and advances to 3rd on a ground ball that produced the 2nd out. I look over at Daniel. I know the Jackie Robinson steal home stance, and he's got it, along with the look in his eyes. Every parent around me knows that in order to win this game, Daniel has to steal home. Coach told him if he thought he could do it, go for it. I have no breath left in my lungs. The ball is pitched. It lands in the dirt, and rolls to the side of the catcher. Before the catcher even knows it. Daniel is sliding into home. Safe! Atwater wins the game! The crowd roars, the players pour out of the dugout, and I breathe and cheer at the same time, I think. I just know that it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Daniel is my hero, my humble hero. He knows that all the gifts he has been given are from God, and he uses them the way God would desire. He never struts, he always smiles, leads with encourgement to others, and plays his best with all his heart. There is no halfway for this ballplayer of mine. Play to win. Live for Christ. I love you son, and I am so proud that you stole home to win the game, but I am prouder of the young man you are becoming.
