June 1 – “You had five …?”

I have a new favorite baseball player name.  No idea how to pronounce it, because the sound was turned off on the TV.  Here it is … Austin (good Texan first name) Bibens-Dirkx.  Yep, that’s it.  I looked at it twice on the back of his uniform.  Welcome to America, Mr. B.

Speaking of baseball, we went to Jachin’s last game of the season last night.  They played one of the Galveston teams here in town, so we didn’t have to drive into Texas.  The game didn’t turn out so well for the Hitchcock boys, but kudos to them all for a good season.  They even played through a brief rain.  Guess it’s time for the proverbial cry to begin … Wait until next year.

While at the game I had a conversation with Noa.  Here is part of it for your enjoyment pleasure.

Noa: “Hey, DadDad, I was here once before.”

Me (Foolishly assuming she meant the last time Jachin had a game on this field): “Oh, you have been here?”

Noa: “Yes, Silly.  My kids were here with me.”

Me: “Wait.  You had kids?  How many did you have?”

Noa (Holding up fingers): “Five.”

Me: “You had five kids?”

Noa: “Yes, but, well, only three or two of them were playing baseball on the team.”

Me: “Ah.  And what were the others doing?”

Noa: “One was playing soccer.  And one was playing softball.  That’s because she was a girl.”

Me: “Ah.  And girls play softball.  I get it.”

Noa: “And her name was Cailyn.”

Me (Just nodded at that one.  Of course, her older girl cousin is named Cailyn, and she plays softball)

Noa (continuing): “And Cailyn was very angry.”

Me: “What?  Why was Cailyn so mad?”

Noa (Gingerly placing her fingers to her lower lip): “Well, you see, one of her brothers was playing rock tackle with her and he threw a rock at her and he hit her right in the mouth with a rock.”

Me: “Oh, no.  Did she have to go to the doctor, or was she all right?”

Noa (Dropping her head and looking particularly sad): “Hospital.  She had to go to the hospital.”

With that, the story abruptly ended.  She danced merrily on her way to the next thing, playing on her Mom’s iPhone and jabbering to her other grandmother.  I certainly hope the docs were able to take care of young Cailyn’s mouth.  Gotta love the life and times of a three year old little girl.  So dramatic one moment and so carefree the next. 

Hebrews 12:7 says, “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”

Father, thank you for Noa and her crazy imagination.  Be with Jachin and his teammates as they start getting ready for next year.  Amen.