I did it, Grandpa-HOME RUN NIGHT!

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Mitchel Henion.

Big M.

Red Helmet.

May 26, 2009.

Clover Hill Athletic Complex.

Yankees Junior team.

Dad & Coach Leon Layne.

6 o'clock game.

Opponents-Diamond Backs.

2 Doubles. 1 Walk.

6 RBI's.

1 HOME RUN!

With the sky threatening an imminent downpour, we head to the fields to get this standing game in and done. The Diamondbacks formally noted after our last meet up that they weren't trying to win and didn't realize it was a standing game. Well, here we meet again-not a ray of sun in the sky.

My son had been having  a great night all around. He's been working hard at the batting cages nearly every day after his workouts, just to get some swings in-he says, just to build back some of his confidence-I say.

Mid way through the game he'd put two doubles under his belt and a walk against 2 of their pitchers. Stepping back up to the plate...

Mitchel blasted a HOME RUN....BEAUTIFUL! It was so exciting to witness. The whole thing was great. The second the ball left the bat, we knew, even before he umpire's hand went up: that one was OUTA HERE! Trotting around the bases, he & his coach on 3rd let out a little collaboration of excitement, his team surrounded him at home plate, fans from the games all around peered to see it, grinning (and grimacing alike) Coaches relived their own baseball years, and some of the other team's parents and coaches waited in the parking lot to congratulate him! What a FUN night. It's late now, but tomorrow night we're taking him out for a celebratory dinner. I am so proud of him chasing that dream and doing the work to make it a reality. I'm so happy for him and he's over the moon! I'm sure he'll sleep all night with that smile glued to his face, if he sleeps at all. Congratulations my Son! I am proud of you and I love you.

A Bird's Eye View

It appeared that we'd made it through the storm unscathed. And we did,  the nearby bird was sounding an alarm as her once beautiful song was replaced by a screeching siren. She saw us before we heard her. My sons' excitement when finding tiny aqua eggs scattered across our driveway over took her warble. So beautiful! It was amazing to behold those four delicate eggs, yet we sadly realized that it was their demise that allowed us this opportunity. 

Searching high and low, Mitchel tried to find the nest that once tenderly held these babies safe in its care. Nowhere in sight. I think Momma Bird high on the roof's peak knew, but we couldn't help her. 

Not wanting to drive over the eggs, we collected them up and placed them under a bush. It was the best we could do. My dad always told my brothers and I that a bird would not return to nurture her eggs once it was touched by human hands. Is this true? I don't know, but for my boys it was a good deed done. The eggs were so fragile. Even Nicholas' small hand could easily nestle three of them. On the contrary, showcased in Mitchel's' huge hand, one looked not much bigger than the specs of dirt it collected while rolling across the ground.  But here is where God caused my heart pause.

The second my eyes saw that wee form sit on my son's hand, my heart was flooded with the renewed sense of God's enormity. Unlike the passionate yet helpless momma bird, God's eye view is backed with His ultimate greatness. What a huge relief to know that I never have to worry about being blown about in life to the point that my heavenly father has no choice but to look and me and cry out in hopelessness. No, He is so great that my security in Him is both unassailable and eternal.

John 10:27-30 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one." 

 

Home

Too many years making us one,

So much to think about but not while alone.

You go away for awhile 

My smile unwillingly fades.

Loving our boys and keeping so busy doesn't help,

without you feels so wrong.

It's the empty space on our pillows,

The bedside prayers that go unsaid.

Missing the greatest father ever, 

though silent, in their actions you sure can tell.

So many ordinary things; I don't know what it is

that I yearn for the most.

A kiss in the dawn or the same in the night, or a hand hold, a hug-

the absences of which just are not right.

Conversations on the phone:

Listening to your voice- for now it will suffice.

I know you'd too rather be here than away-

home rather than the office anywhere; for both of us it's that way.

Is it your voice?

Your smile?

Your touch?

My security and hope goes with you on nights like this.

Endless nights and longer days leave me dreading the restless slumber.

My mind fills as my heart floods void of our ordinary.

Of all that I wish for,

It's your presence. 

Just you being here and nothing more.

Come home and make it home to me once again.

I love and miss you, Babe. <3

More please!

Yesterday, 

Nicholas 

comes

running 

into

my 

room 

to 

make 

his 

announcement of the hour. 

Holding 

up

his

hand 

high 

he 

exclaimed,

"Next time you're at the grocery store or somethin' like that, I need more of these." 

pause.

deep breath.

"I

just 

ran 

out."

A

careful

second 

look

revealed

the 

great

mystery

in 

his 

hand...

his last pair of new socks.