February 3

After a few rain-driven cancellations, Brady had his first Juniors baseball practice today: his last first day of a little league season.

The truth of that last statement didn't really hit me until I'd been watching from the bleachers for a few minutes, but when it did, it got me right in the heart.

I've spent years watching my boys play little league baseball. And now, after all of those years and all of those wins and losses and championships and heartbreakers and friendships, we're down to the last few months of our collective family experience.

So despite the wind that mercilessly whipped my hair and sent its icy fingers up the back of my too-thin shirt, I sat there a little longer than I'd initially intended taking in the drills and the laughter. And during my eventual brisk walk back to the car, I felt a strong sense of gratitude for the gift that little league has been to us over the years. It hasn't always been perfect, but it's always been good.