Nothing like it!

I'm still "training" (BAHAHAHAHA, this is hilarious to me because my sad attempt at getting in "warrior dash" shape is PATHETIC), so this will be a quick post unless the words can't be suppressed (sometimes it's like an erupting volcano when I write and no matter how badly I want to stop, the words keep spewing out like hot lava).

Anyways, nothing like it...

• The first time your baby is placed on your chest and you get to gaze at them.
• The first dance as a married couple.
• The greeting from your monsters when you arrive home from work (this never seems to get old for me:)).
• Unexpected surprises in the mail...the little things.
• Your first kiss

Ok, so my first kiss was not that magical.  Actually, I walked into the girls locker room, yanked about a mile of paper towel out of the dispenser, scrubbed my tongue with the paper towel, and acted like it was the most disgusting thing EVER, but you get the idea, right?

Those moments that can't be compared to anything in the world?  The "Nothing like it" feeling that you get when you experience a moment that can't be described?

Well, I said "yes" again and I'm so happy that I did.   I'm going to attempt to explain why I'm so happy that I haven't been practicing "no" lately, but I don't think it's something that can truly be explained in words.

I sighed as the WYO president asked me to step into the roll of head coach. I rolled my eyes through the mandatory coaching meetings (I HATE meetings). I flipped through the jam packed planner and managed to select a few dates to practice. I checked a couple websites and dusted the cobwebs off my glove. 

By happy chance, I learned to play softball from quite a few wonderful coaches during my youth.  I was fortunate enough to play ball under the direction of Coach Lee and his knowledge of the game can only be described as amazing.   The hours that he spent perfecting our softball game, playing with line-ups, teaching signals, encouraging us to dig deeper, didn't go unnoticed.  We had the record to show his dedication to the game year in and year out.  From the day of our first practice, he demanded respect.  He was giving his all to this team and expected every player to do the same.  He sometimes stopped us in the middle of the game and many times after the game, even after disappointing loses, to point out that this time, these years, each inning and every at bat, would be some of the most wonderful times of our lives. Only much later in life did I truly grasp what he was saying.  Now I would give anything to play in just one more softball game with my high school teammates under the wings of Coach Lee.

With all of the things that I learned from him, I feel much more comfortable as a coach on the softball field than I did on the volleyball court!  I liked coaching the high school girls and learned many valuable lessons from them, but coaching these young girls on the softball field is a completely different experience!  At the first practice I didn't know what to expect.  For more than half of our team, this is the first time they have played organized summer ball.  I know many of my players since they are Lilly's classmates, our neighbors, or they attend our church.  I figured if nothing else, this would force one-on-one time with Lilly.  At home her brother and sister demand more attention from Mommy.

When I said yes to taking the team, I had absolutely no idea how rewarding it would be.  The girls anxiously wait in the on deck circle.  Some of them ask me "If she gets out do I have to wait another inning?" or "When is it my turn to bat again?".  They nervously step up to the plate not wanting to disappoint their cheering teammates.  They turn toward the third base line to make sure I'm still there.  Encouragingly, I yell to them what we have practiced. They swing and connect; many of them for the very first time in a game!  They run as fast as their little legs will take them and they beam with pride as the reach first base.  As Katrina would say,  you can almost hear their heart beating out of their chests! The look in their eyes is indescribable.  To say that they are sparkling doesn't quite do it justice.  I can look into them and instantly I am back at my first high school practice, listening to the wise words of my coach: "These will be some of the best moments of your life!"

So, thank you again to the parents that have sent me nice messages and facebook posts, but honestly I should be thanking you for allowing me the pleasure of coaching your beautiful little girls.  To watch them get their first hits, to watch them slap hands with each other when they make an out in the field, and scoop them up and throw them in the air when they run to me and tell me that they did something well.  There is nothing like it.  The look in their eyes is worth more than a thousand thank you's!  There's just nothing like it!