Where has the time gone?

THIS!

AND THIS

...is what it is all about.  Those moments when it makes everything worth it.  Some athletes experience more of them than others, but when you get that feeling of accomplishment, it keeps you going.  I remember the first camp that Gracie went to at Mizzou when she was still 11 years old... at a 7-12 grade camp.  She didn't skip a beat, even though she still had so much to learn.  I think she was 7 when she first put on a "Mizzou Uniform" to wear for awhile.  And now we are close to the end of regular season in her first semester at Mizzou, almost 6 years later (or 10 years after she discovered her love).  Yes, Gracie.  Little you would be so proud.  Keep making that 7, 8 or 11 year-old you proud and soak it all in.  There are still so many highs and lows left to come and I hope you feel it all, and keep thinking "this is worth it."  The process is what matters and provides so much fuel to keep chasing your dreams and goals.

Gracie's first hit at Mizzou softball stadium

Just enough to create some chaos and allow two runs to score.

It doesn't always feel like it, but coaches want you to succeed almost as much as you want it.

Pat on the head from her teammate

Getting a win in the SC series

Grandma Kate waited in line for an autograph

Another game, another AB

Found a spot in Fayetteville near a lake.

Really pretty on the other side of the dam.

Of course, I took zero pics again, but it was a great weekend.

April brought me flowers for my birthday, and 3 weeks later, they are still thriving.

Jaley's ride home was a happy one with her puppy chow

Mid-week vs KS

Nick drove over to Lawrence and I stayed to take Owen to wrestling.

Coach Dom hooked me up in the wrestling lounge area!

Got to watch the game on the big screen!

In other news...

Owen has competed the last three weekends in the KC area; KC Freestyle Championship, Fight or Flight, and Ultimate Freestyle Championship.  He earned 2nd place, 1st, and 2nd respectively.  This weekend he heads to Springfield for State Freestyle Tournament with a few of his teammates; Max, Peter, and Afton.  Bryce is also going.  I'm kind of bummed about not being able to watch, but I'll be here cheering Gracie and the Tigers on as they finish their regular season against Tennessee.  Nick and Owen will head down Friday night and competition begins Saturday morning.

The school board recognized the all-state wrestlers at their April board meeting.

Crazy weather during the past couple weeks.

We've spent a couple evenings in the basement while under tornado warnings.  We lost power for a couple hours about two weeks ago, but other than that the storms didn't get too bad and no damage from wind.  Nothing compared to what came through in September last fall.  Owen was fine, as his phone was still working.

I really can't believe this is the end of April and Gracie will be finishing up her first semester as a college student and first season as a student-athlete.  I thought the fall went fast, but this has gone even faster.  They have played 53 games since February and Gracie has embraced her role this spring.  21 games played and 21 plate appearances so far, mostly pinch-hitting.    She has had an at-bat in almost all of the games since the beginning of April.  Keep doing your thing Gracie!  In two weeks she will move out of the dorms and back home until August.  Crazy!  in the meantime, we will be attending grad parties - there are so many classmates and friends from all around graduating right now.  

And Owen... we are nearing the end of his sophomore year and he is thriving in school; maintaining As.  They took pre-ACTs about a month ago and he came home saying they were easy.  This = 22 score.  I still need to look at the actual results, but that's not bad for a sophomore.  He said he ran out of time for a lot of them, so had to work through pretty quickly to at least put in answers.  While he does well academically he is 100% motivated to do well and attend so he doesn't have to take any finals.  Hopefully he will have the same outcome this semester as the previous 3.  His summer activities will depend heavily on how the next few weeks go with wrestling.  There are lots of opportunities and he has been working pretty hard.  I can't believe in three weeks he will be a junior (but still unable to drive). 😆We'll see what the month of May looks like....