A Little Bit of Softball

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

     
     Lauren has taken the plunge into travel softball, and as her family, so have we!  This was not a decision that came quickly or lightly.  It was thought over, prayed over, and cried over.  Lauren has always played soccer in the fall and softball in spring, but in thinking forward to high school (just a year away), she decided to hang up the soccer cleats and pursue softball for a full year.  
     We had planned to have her on a specific team with a specific coach with specific kids...a coach we knew, a coach whose style we liked, kids we chose and loved, and a team where Lauren would most likely get lots of playing time.  Did you see all that??? We chose, we chose, we chose!  Somehow none of that worked out...BUT Lauren's long-time coach pursued her!  He told us flat out she'd get minimal field time for tournaments. 
     We said, "Thanks, but no thanks!" 
     He said, "Think about it." 
     We said, "Yep, we did, and no thanks."
     Lauren went to a try-out, and little did we know, most of the teams were previously formed this was just a formality.     Every time we prayed about what to do with Lauren, a phone call from this coach would follow...literally 3 times in one week!   Finally, we all agreed to give this a shot for six months.  (We all did, but there were many tears over our plans...well thought out ones I might add... not working out from a couple family members.)

     Here's are some of the crazy things:
1)  Lauren is LOVING her 6 times a week workouts...sometimes 7  AND she's asking Mike to take her to them!
2)  The facility from which the team works out is run by a man whose daughter plays for a local Christian college. 
3)  Even crazier....that local Christian college wears jerseys from this guy's facility! 
4)  Even crazier still...we had just been introduced to that college's assistant coach...who attends our church!  She asked Lauren to sign up for their fall camp because they are often looking for great players, but even more importantly great hearts!  My girl has definitely got heart!!! 

God sees our tears, He's got bigger better plans, and He's in the details of everything.