Wow! It's been a while since I've updated Garrett's Journey. We've had such a blessed year, albeit with some challenges. Garrett has had a tremendous year, is growing like a weed and turning into such a fine young Christian man. I could not be more proud of him.
We have now crossed quite a mile stone, as it's been more than 12 months since we've had to spend the night in a hospital!! Darren's heart continues to beat strongly, proving that our God is GREAT!
Garrett, Jessi and I got to share some "field" time during Spring Turkey season, and it provided more memories to cherish. "Dinger" will have quite a story to tell his grand kids some day about the time when a bear decided he wanted our blind. It was pretty exciting for about 20 minutes as the ol' boar stalked and "whoofed" at us from only 10 feet away! I convinced him to go away...temporarily.
As the "Boys of Summer" came about, Dinger was ready. True to form, Garrett took the field in baseball again, being chosen in the top 10 during tryouts. While the team didn't win too many games, a few of the boys really shined. Garrett was noticed by a AAA club who recruited him to play travel ball this fall. It was a tough decision, but Garrett decided to try and play AllStars here so he could finish the season with his buddies. He had a really good tryout and was again chosen in the top of the AllStar athletes. While he wasn't as happy with his hitting this year, his on-base percentage was still very high and his fielding shined! What really honed this year was Garrett's pitching. Although his momma isn't too high on him pitching, he's really got a gift and it really showed in the first game of the AllStar tournament. Garrett was asked to start on the mound and he delivered! He pitched the entire game, not needing to be sub'd. That saved the other pitchers for the rest of the tournament. I'm including a picture of him pitching during that game, in a downpour (no; the picture's not out of focus. It was just raining that hard)
The tale of the stats were that Garrett pitched 7 innings in a winning effort. He averaged just a little over 12 pitches per inning and had great control of his curve ball. I won't let him throw a traditional curve, but it's a "football" curve that does not put the normal pressure on a growing elbow. Throwing upwards of 64 mph with his fastball, Garrett led the team to it's opening victory.
The rest of the year has been extremely busy as we sold our place. It's not what we'd wanted to do, but in an effort to try and get control of out of control medical expenses and help my mom's expenses in her retirement community, it was what was needed. We're starting over again....sure is a little spooky. But, we hope and pray for a chance to one day again own our own place with some acres for horses and kids to play, and know God will lead us. We love this place, but the super blessing is that our place was purchased by our Parish, so from now until far into the future, this land that has been so loved by us, will now be used to Glorify our Father and his Son. Jessi put it best; she said, "daddy, you always said this place was a gift from God. Now it's a gift to God." How wonderful is her assessment of our blessings and it really put things into perspective. My children continue to teach me. She too, has stayed busy trying to rodeo when she can and really wanting to find a replacement for her aging barrel horse. Again, we're asking God to help us make that happen.
The luxury of spending evenings at home ended in May when I transferred back to patrol. The "trenches" have grown more dangerous and ugly, and my kids are old enough to see and understand the news. They're not happy about daddy being out there, but catching bad guys is a good thing and leading honorable men and women is a responsibility and blessing. I just wish I could be home to help them with their homework.
A recent call I took at work has shaken my core and also driven home the many blessings bestowed upon me. After 28 years of seeing man's inhumanity to man, this scene startled my soul. It happens once in a while. A beautiful young lady of 10 years and mature beyond what is right, was introduced to me through a horrific event she and her sibling had to endure. The essence of innocence and unbelievable emotional pain hung in the air. But I see Christ in her eyes and know God brought them into my life to help me remember how truly blessed I am to have a whole family who deeply love one another, and that even in our challenges, we still need to reach out to help others who have less. That is one of the remarkable honors of my job...the chance to help those who are truly in need, and working with some amazingly professional and caring folks.
I cannot go into it any further, but please pray for her family. They have seen things they'll never be able to un-see, heard what they cannot un-hear and experienced life changing drama that is burned into their memory. Wounds do not need to be seen, to know they are severe and deeply in need of intercession. They have a long road ahead, but the obvious determination in their hearts will be fueled by God's love and a strong external family support system. I will never forget her, or her very tender broken heart.
Don't forget to hug your kids every day and let them know you love them. Let me tell you, I could not wait to get home and love on my family like I never have before. And if you get the chance to show God's kindness to another child who just needs to know that there are adults who won't hurt them, do that too.
God bless you all. More to follow.......promise.
JD
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