"Americana: Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Apple Pie"

(Monday, February 22, 2010)

"Americana: Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Apple Pie"

We discovered several weeks ago that Andrew’s opening day ceremonies for T-Ball were on Saturday, February 20, only three days before I go into the hospital.

Fortunately, Andrew has inherited his athletic prowess from his father, David, who has done a great job teaching him about baseball and developing in him a love for sports of all kinds.

This would be his first baseball team. I really wanted to be there. He and I share a little baseball history. I come home from work and Andrew and Patra will be in the front yard playing baseball. When I get out of the car, he says, “Grandpa, I will be the ‘batter,’ you be the ‘pitcher’ and Grandma be the ‘glover.’

“Do you want a fastball, curve or slider.” He always yells - “S W Y D E R!” Every time he says “swyder” my pitching arm strengthens – I could throw that plastic ball a thousand times to hear “swyder.”

Because the opening day ceremonies were so close to my hospitalization, I was probably the only person at the park who had received medical clearance to attend.

Andrew was well supported. In addition to Patra and me, his mother, father, sister, cousins, uncles and aunts were there to cheer him on.

It appears that Andrew’s favorite part of the game is his uniform. There is no rookie in any spring training stadium in Florida that will have more pride when he puts on his uniform. He also really liked the free hot dogs that the league provided – as did the rest of the family.

My medical staff is pretty smart. I bet they knew how much it would cheer my heart to be there.

Since getting my diagnosis, it has been my goal not to miss any lesson that God wants to teach me through this process. As I thought about the day, I imagined God smiling at me. Beautiful weather, baseball, my family – Yes, God smiled at me that day. And as I was thanking Him for smiling on me, I thought, “God, are you grinning? Did You just wink at me?” I am convinced that my gratitude for His blessing pleased Him.

Bob’s lesson from T-Ball: As important as the blessings of God are, the most important thing is our response to His blessings. His blessings are a gift to us – our response is a gift back to Him.

I pray that everyday during this journey I will think of His blessings to me and respond in a way that will give Him praise and glory. I don’t want these “nasty little diseases” to prevent either one of us from receiving the gift of the day.

Americana: Baseball, hot dogs… “Patra, I don’t know why, but I have this strong craving for a little apple pie… maybe heated up a little … and maybe just a little scoop of vanilla ice cream.” After all, it’s the little things in life that mean the most, including little league.

David, Megan, and Andrew


Andrew ready to play


Grandpa and Andrew enjoying the "little things"