When Words Might Not Be Enough ...

Where do you start to write the goodbye that you don't ever want to say but you fear is standing right in front of your face? How do you begin to say thank you for someone who does so much?

I don't really know. And my words aren't likely to be eloquent or brilliant like so many others are. But I've got to say it. I've got to get something out before I can't even speak.


Dear Ian,

We've watched you grow up before our eyes. You've gone from being just a short stop to being the heart of our team. You've made DC a priority and you've made people a priority. We love watching you play. How you give your all every single time you take the field. How you play every single day. When the team is doing great you support them. When they're struggling you carry them. There is not ever a day I've watched you play and thought that perhaps you could have done more. You never hold back. You never shy away from telling people like it is, or from owning the struggle when it's yours. You talk to the media, face down the hard times and set an example for everyone. You allow others to shine. You make people feel welcome. You embrace the new guys and sing their praises. Even when it might be the very player who eventually takes your place on the field. There aren't many men who do that.

It's a joy to watch you play and to know that when my girls look up to you, they see someone who does it right. Who always takes the high road and who puts the team first. That's a legacy of which you can be proud.

But for us... For me... It's more than just baseball. I'm so honored to have had the chance to work with you. To stand alongside you and make a difference for people beyond baseball. The work you've done at the Nationals Youth baseball academy is tremendous. The kids in DC love spending time with you. Thank you for giving so much of your time to be in the community. Thank you for making these kids feel at home, safe, welcome, and for encouraging them. They notice. You've changed lives.

Closer to home for me: thank you for the gift of hope. You used your time, your resources, and your name to make a difference for those fighting the battle of a life with NF. The campaign last May raised so much money.... And it spread the word. We can't fight what we don't know exists. There are good people doing good work to find a cure and the #EndNF campaign that you started here is helping with that. Not only the money and the time last year though... The event you hosted on the field in Atlanta. Thank you for letting those kids come down, hang out, take in BP and meet you. Thank you for taking time out of your day and your routine to spend some time with them. Thank you for providing passes and access and for being genuine with them. For asking about their circumstances. For sharing a moment with each of them.

And thank you for giving me the gift of a friendship with Ethan, Jan, and Rick. I may never have met them, except for the #EndNF campaign last year, and today I don't know where I'd be without them. Ethan challenges me to think differently, and he's the bravest young man I know. I am blessed to know and love him. You made that possible.

As I watch what may be your last game wearing the uniform of the team I love, please know that wherever the Lord leads you next, you'll always be loved here in Washington. We are proud to have had you as a leader on this team. I'm a better person and a better servant in the community because of you. Thank you for everything, both on and off the field. My kids and I wish you, Chelsey, and the boys the best of luck and much success always. You're in our hearts forever.

With love from Natstown,
Jen
@vandygirl1998

Favorite (Five Minute Friday)

Welcome to Five Minute Friday where I write on the wrong day of the week about the prompt provided by Kate - and then link with all the folks who wrote on time to share our thoughts. Five minutes, raw and unedited.

This week the word is FAVORITE. And while I will still pour my heart out for a few, I might not stop at 5 minutes this time. Because I want to tell you about my favorite baseball player.

Lots of my friends love baseball. Lots of people love baseball. Some have favorite players and some don't. And reasons people pick their favorite are as varied as the people who walk the face of the earth. Some like players who hit, or ones who throw untouchable fast balls. Some like players with personality, pizzazz, or ones who choose particular walk up music. There are folks who like players for their good looks or for where they played college ball, or just because they're on a particular team.

My favorite player is liked for a lot of reasons by many people. For me, it's his heart. Ian Desmond, shortstop for the Washington Nationals has the biggest heart of any baseball player I know. Last year Ian led a campaign to raise money for the Children's Tumor Foundation. (I wrote about that here. And in that post are links to all the back story of Ian's friendship with Ethan and how everything got started. Hop over and have a read).

It could have stopped there. The campaign raised over $30,000 and that is amazing. But Ian did it because he cares about the cause. Because Ethan is his friend, and like a little brother. I've become friends with Ethan and his family as well, and this whole year I've seen posts about the time Ian makes to check in and see how things are. To make sure Ethan has what he needs - to offer advice about girls, and to offer advice about friendships, and to offer wise counsel about where to study in Scripture.

And it could stop there. But it doesn't. Last week I organized an outing to a Nationals-Braves game in Atlanta. We did it through the Georgia chapter of the Children's Tumor Foundation. The Braves were gracious hosts and made sure we could get our seats in the shade, with wheelchair access if needed. We had a group of 17 people come to the game. A few of us flew down from DC. Some drove in from South Carolina and Alabama. And a few were Atlanta locals.

I reached out to Ian and let him know we were trying to get a group together. And Ian, with the Nationals, hosted us at batting practice before the game. Every single person in our group was able to get down on the field to watch BP. Ethan and his family joined us, too. 21 people in the BP crowd. But it doesn't even stop there.

Ian came out onto the field well before the Nationals were even due out to warm up. He came over to our group. He took photos with us, signed balls and programs, for way more people than he should have had to. But more than photos and signing, he took time with us. He stopped to visit with all the folks in our group. He engaged the kids and talked with them. Not cursory hellos, but thoughtful conversation. "What's happening. What's your name. (and then he used their names for the rest of the conversations). How are you. Do you have NF1 or NF2. Tell me your story.  Tell me about your family." And on and on.

Great to see this group from @ChildrensTumor, guests of Ian Desmond, rocking Curly W's here in Atlanta! #Nats #EndNF pic.twitter.com/vFNBNYmwlE

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 30, 2015

The time Ian devotes to people - to investing in them. To making them feel special and important and welcome. To understanding what they are facing and making them feel included. THIS is what I love about Ian and this is why he is my favorite baseball player. We are lucky to have a role model on this team who puts his faith and his heart into action, and who shares that willingly and openly with the community. Because of how Ian speaks of Ethan and his heart to EndNF with the guys on the team, others on the team, including Bryce Harper and Dan Uggla, came over to say hello and visit as well.

Thank you, Ian, for making our group feel loved. For using your name to give a voice to a cause that needs more spokespeople, and for sharing your heart to #EndNF in Washington. (and Atlanta). (and across the world).

On behalf of all the folks who came out to the game last week: from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.



a few pictures from the evening are below.

 

Close (Five Minute Friday)

I was away last weekend, on a road trip with some super fun friends. And then I came back and it was a whirlwind week as we are in the home stretch for this school year. Come on summer!

So it's another Thursday and I had nothing on my mind all week related to the prompt. Close. I didn't even know if I was reading it close - as in near, or close - as in shut the door.

And then in the final minutes of the link being open, the final 2 hours, I am making time.

Go.
While I was away this weekend, my kiddos missed me more than they usually do. They hugged me extra tight when they got home from their dad's house. And held on extra long when I tucked them in for bed. I don't know if it is a phase they're going through, or normal growing pains that come with split families or what.Not that I ever object to extra snuggles from my girls!!

Every morning this week, my 9 year old has asked me to snuggle with her in bed. "Mama, can you come in a few minutes before normal wake up, just to hold me close?" I can't turn her down. I know all too well that in a few short years she'll be all grown up. She won't want to cuddle with mom in the morning before school. I pray she'll always at least want to hug me, but I don't think she'll want every one of these morning cuddle sessions by the time she's 16.

So I will cherish the time now, while she's asking for extra time for mom to hold her close. And praying every single minute that it helps form our relationship solid enough that when she's grown, she'll want to come back and have a little extra mom time. That the physical closeness we create now will bind us together and she'll be as close, or closer, as I am with my mom. Sharing all our thoughts as friends when we're grown, and with great memories of when she was my little girl.

Stop.

PS .. one other perspective on close. I posted 2 weeks ago, on our GRATEFUL day, about our campaign in May to help raise awareness about NF. The generosity of friends and strangers has exceeded all expectations and we are so thankful. And as the month of May draws to a close, we are so close to $30,000! If you'd like to be a part, it's not too late. Just click this hyperlink. And it is never too late to spread the word. Because even though the fundraising campaign will come to an end, NF is still here. My friend Ethan is facing some extra tough challenges this summer with another surgery pending in August. So, if you would, pause and lift him, his family, and his doctors before The Lord today. And whenever you see #EndNF come across your timeline. And whenever it pops into your head. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Also Linking to Five Minute Friday.

Grateful (Five Minute Friday)

 Today, I want to take a minute (or 5) to share my gratitude for a special community of people. Some strangers, some friends, but all united with a common mission.

May is Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Month. NF is a disease that affects roughly 1 in 3,000 people worldwide, and yet it's highly likely that you've never even heard of it. We're on a mission to change that. A community of people, brought together by a love of the Washington Nationals, has teamed up with Ian Desmond, Nationals' star shortstop.

 For the basic rundown on what NF is, you can read this post. Get to Know NF  (Thank you, Nationals 101!)  To hear the story of how the project started, you can read more: The Nats Blog’s follow up post, a post from Patrick Reddington on Federal Baseball, and Matt’s Bats post as well.  And  District Sports page has added their EndNF post.   

To join our team, follow this link and spread the word. Every bit helps. The first step to Ending NF is to know what it is.

We started with a goal of $10,000 in the month of May, and as of tonight we're over $18,000 with 24 days to go. There's some great perks available if you're a baseball fan or know someone who is. But even if you aren't, don't let that stop you.

NF isn't just "one of those things" for me. Ian Desmond talks about his friendship with Ethan. I had the privilege to meet Ethan and his family at Nats Park last summer and we've become friends.

It's personal for me. One of my dearest friends from college is now an NF advocate. Because it affects BOTH of her sweet children. Her kids are the same age as mine. And I see how they're fighting - every day. With faith and strength and courage. She's a mama warrior, and she's using her family's story to blaze a path. There's a lot of unknowns with NF as of today.  The path to knowing is paved by people like you and me. We can talk about it. We can share information with others. We give what we can financially - for some it's a lot, for some it's a little, and for some it's not possible, but we can ALL give our time. We can ALL spread the word. We can ALL retweet a tweet for someone else to see - to share the information in a bigger circle. That's the first step. And YOU can be a part of that. Reminder: here's where you do it.


Tonight I am grateful for Ian Desmond and the community of writers, fans, and friends who have joined forces to spread the word and make a difference. #EndNF.

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linking up with another great community - the Five Minute Friday crowd. For the full story on how it works, read here.  And to read this week's collection on GRATEFUL, follow this link.