Israeli Blogging

Hey Everyone,

I'm sitting in an Internet Cafe just inside Jaffa Gate in the Old City Jerusalem. Behind me lies the Citadel of David (not Hatfield, Silver, or Jinkins), and behind that place where Herod's Palace once stood. We're staying just minutes from the Temple Mount and have been all over the city the past 5 days. We just returned from the Israel Museum where we saw the Dead Sea Scrolls...amazing. We've hiked the Mt. of Olives, sat in the Garden of Gethsemane (while Gracie napped, much like the disciples). We've visted the Upper Room, the Western Wall is a nightly hike, and ate lots of great Middle Eastern food.

The weather's been amazing, Gracie's been even better (except some killer jetlag for the first 3 night where we ended up wathing movies an eating Cheerios from 2-4am). We're off to the Sea of Galilee on Thurs, then back to Jerusalem for a night at the famous King David hotel. The a day in Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean and back to SoCal!

Happy New Year to all. I guess we'll ring it in 7 hours before the MidWest crew and 10 hours before SoCal.

Much love,
Jacob

HEARTBREAK yet again...

They always seem to do it. And with the 2 min. drill about to happen and momentum swinging green and white,...the 4th INT. Ouch. But let's move on...

First things first....the bowl pool is closer than ever. With Jake (the SNAKE)...NEWSFLASH sniper, we're playing STRAIGHT-UP WINS here so you're 7-2 right now, SArah (make me eat my words...may be...) is 6-3, and the rest of the pack, 5-4...4-5....and the party has just STARTED!

Here's the way it will play out...I think we'll have this thing nailed down to 2-3 peeps by Monday so watch closely...here's where the 1/2 marathoners begin there push of seperation. And here's where your UPSET SPECIAL BETTER come through to make the move or you will be out of luck and gas.

Hold on tight, grab a fallafel JAke and a get to a sports bar, Sarah keep smilin', Wes crack open another (bag of chips), Norm turn off the TV with 2 mins. to go, Bill wipe off the saliva from the Go BLUE R-ROd news, Steve take some time off the ole' Greyson-Daddy header drills, and I'll hold onto that BARNES and NOBLES card as LONG AS I CAN...which could be tomorrow if Joe Pa doesn't come through for me.

And remember..ONLY RECORD COUNTS (as stated between myself and Wes on 12/23/07 I think) not PERCENTAGES etc.

Not surprised but disappointed again, ...but go GREEN!

Jeff

A Christmas Eve tribute to Dr. Steve Georgiou

I have been waiting for this day, the birthday of our beloved father, father-in law, uncle, doctor, friend, etc, Steve Georgiou. I want to share the video that I made for him after he passed away to be with our Lord and Savior. Feel free to watch and and even make a comment if you want to of how you remember Dr. Steve. Some of you have seen it already, but there is a new short clip at the end with Caleb. WE DEARLY MISS OUR FATHER, and on this evening we remember what a remarkable person he was to all of us. He will live posthumously through the lives he touched. If we can, could we have this blog run through Christmas Eve so people have a chance to see it. Thanks. xo

Love,
Jeff

The Wesleys

I love lists. Its a list time of year. Here are my 2007 favorites.

MUSIC: I didn't listen to a lot of new music this year but here are three I liked:

1. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga I wore this one out this year. It is fun from start to finish, great production and arrangements. My favorite track was "Black Like Me".
2. Explosions in the Sky - All the Sudden I Miss Everyone If there was a song that completely blew me away this year it was "Catastrophe and the Cure" by these guys. Worth 99 cents.
3. Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature Simple, beautiful songs and great guitar playing.

BOOKS: Three books I read that I recommend to you:

1. The Road - Cormac McCarthy About a father's love for his son as they walk down a road and try to survive after America has been torched in a nuclear holocaust. Eerily realistic.
2. Middlesex - Jeffery Eugenides Our first Fort Wayne Book Club book. Full of Detroit history, Greek history, and everything you never knew about hermaphrodism. Oprah loved it, Pulitzer loved it, I loved it.
3. Out Stealing Horses - Per Petterson Our second book club book. About a man in his sixties who moves to northern Norway to get away from a tragic past but ends up having to face it and relive a summer he spent when he was fifteen, the last time he saw his father. I can tell you're all salivating.

Quoteable: "I guess I'll party like a rock star if everyone else is" Gramie at Joel's wedding

Unforgettable:

• Wonderful week in Tahoe: (Andrew and Steve flip and stall jet-ski in the middle of the lake, polar bear swim, Caleb learns to hit a fastball, Buckdoefawn trivia, leave the kids with the grandparents for the day, come back and they all have massive splinters everywhere...hmmm....., look teepees real Indians (had to be in the car with Bill for that one)
• Four one year olds in one year, Dad's cake mishap at Grace's party was amazing, I'm so glad we got that on video
  
• IU v. MSU in the Izzone (not really, we were literally in the rafters) This year we'll be enjoying it Jeff's living room in HD baybee!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!!

Happy Birthday Cash

One year ago today William Cash 'lil C' Gaines was born! This has been one of the best years in memory, we can't imagine life without him! Happy Birthday son.

OH I love Technology.....

Thanks to my man, Jake, aka Rich Adams....we're going oNLINE for this NCAA bowl challenge. Jake, it's all good, I had Steph's cousin, Martino, on the first plane out to LA last night to have a lil talk with Mr. Glendora who "thinks he knows everything" but I have called off the dogs.

FIRST THINGS FIRST... go to:


http://games.espn.go.com/bowlmania/frontpage

and then create name (if not already registered with espn...do that) and make a NICKNAME!!!

join private group (search "Gaines-Lampi Mafia"

the password is "rob harris"

and then you can do the rest.

I have already put my Barnes and Noble goft card I got from a student last week on this bowl challenge and there's more to come.......

The next job is to SPREAD the WOrD to the INLAWS etc! Bring it! Let's make this a fun, engaging, healthy......whatever....ask for forgiveness up front.....I want YOU, BILL GAINEs!

Jeff

Guess, who's back, Lampshadys back, he's back again

Yo mis dos familias mas favoritas del mundo! It's that time of the year when good ole Jeff gets that little guy in his ear telling him, "go ahead, c'mon, you can do it, just get some $ out of Caleb's piggy bank, you're the man, you're good for it, just a few games, call your shots, what's it gonna hurt,.....etc" and THE GAMES BEGIN.

But I have yet again, gotten clearance from Steph to bring out the lil black book, spend a few hours making some calls and creating a most fabulous GAINES-LAMPI BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES PREDICTION COMPETITION!

What's new this year? Well, for starters, MY SPARTIES ARE IN! Secondly, everyone must have a NICKNAME (just for kicks). And I would really LOVE to have more extended family members (aka inlaws, etc.) this year. WIVES, PLEASE JOIN THE FUN! Although the girls usually sprint out in the lead with some of their outlandish picks only for so long then get smoked by the real men who play the game right. (aka SARAH)ha!

SO if you're in.......I NEED YOUR PICKS BY THIS WEEK SOME TIME. GAmes start soon. You can respond to the blog or an email I send out later. I still haven't thought of a PRIZE for the winner and runner-up...but I'll take suggesstions. One idea: the losers have to send an old tee shirt they have (one/family) to the winner??? I dunno. We can always do straight up CAKE ($ for those you don't gamble a lot).

Let the games begin....and I'm NOT PUSHIN baby BUGGIES here...you know what I mean...no holds bar.....,

Jeff xo

Winter is here!

We got over 4 inches of the white stuff last night. The flakes were over an inch wide. It's pretty, but then there's shoveling. Hope all is well. What a beautiful time of year.

7 WEEKS LEFT

Only about 7 more weeks until Jackson Gaines makes his entrance into the Gaines/Lampi Family. He is growing, moving a ton and getting ready for his debut. Becky has been an absolute trooper throughout this pregnancy and as you can tell in the most recent pictures, is looking quite amazing!

Triple Header at the Staples Center

Before the Clipper's game and the Laker's game yesterday, there was one more important game at Staples Center; KIPP: LA Prep vs. KIPP KAO. In our very first game of the year, we fell 42-30 to our sister school. I felt like Phil Jackson standing there on the sidelines coaching our team in a hard fought loss. Our kids played their hearts out, but in the end I think it was the demographic make-up of each team that decided the game: our school over 95% Latino vs. KIPP KAO over 95% African-American. After the game, shaking hands with the other coach, I said, “Let’s play soccer next time.”

Greyson enjoying some music

So daddy did a small gig at the church coffe shop and nobody cared because guess who was there. Mr. attention getter. It's all good, the music was average at best. Greyson showed off some of his sweet dance moves to everyone's enjoyment. He's got mad skills with the twirl and whirls. Hope all is well.

Qoute of the day: "It was a simple jack-knife!"
-Andrew Gaines: before getting Ben, Jacob, and Steve kicked out of the pool in Azusa. A memory that will never leave.

Interview with Wes

Heartland is coming out with a new CD in the next couple weeks, and Wes has two new songs on it that are really beautiful. If you want to hear snippets of the songs and a quick 1-minute interview with our main man, Click Here.

Concert at TVHS

Through a series of wild events, my school Temecula Valley won a contest for a concert by some of the new pop artists through the local Ryan Secreast radio station KIIS FM. On a two day notice, I had to scramble and prepare my school for such an event. So Monday morning, we hosted a concert for the students. Pretty wild brushing shoulders with Bow Wow and the kid from Sister Sister. Check out the pictures and the article in the local newspaper.
Article: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12/04/news/californian/temecula/17_52_0312_3_07.txt
Pictures: http://www.kiisfm.com/pages/jojojamphotogallery.html

Advent Sunday One

The advent season is traditionally a time to slow down and prepare ourselves for the coming of the Messiah. Each year it seems that more T.V. commercials tell us that this season is about getting what we want, and showing our loved ones we love them by giving them the "perfect gift". Its clearer each year that two "holidays" are celebrated during this season, one that worships consumerism and one that worships a savior who humbled himself and was born in the most lowly of circumstances. The verse in the gospels that states that one cannot love both God and money seems so appropriate. Can or should Christians celebrate Christmas in the way of the world? One way to be "counter-cultural" this season is to rediscover the practice of observing the advent season. A time to quietly wait and prepare ourselves, a time of repenting, confessing, longing, praying... Here is a liturgy for the first Sunday. Light a candle, make a wreath, and have a joy filled advent season!

Today we light the first candle of the Advent wreath. This is the candle of HOPE.

With Christians around the world, we use this light to help us prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May we receive God’s light as we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined.”
– Isaiah 9:2

Let us pray:
Lord as we look to the birth of Jesus, grant that the light of your love for us will help us to become lights in the lives of those around us. Prepare our hearts for the joy and gladness of your coming, for Jesus is our hope.
Amen

All I Want For X-Mas is a Fleece Track Jacket

So how's your holiday shopping coming? Abigail, Gracie and I were recently browsing our local Claremont American Apparel and happened upon our brother-in-law/uncle/youngest brother striking a pose in this vintage fleece track jacket. I thought Andrew's demonstration of the small side pockets was particularly effective and almost made the sale. Alas, we ended up getting Gracie a cute sky blue onesie. But Andrew, I must say I almost told the sales associate that I knew the model in red. It's good to hear you enjoying teaching. I think it fits you better! Happy shopping to all!!

Miracle

We watched the movie Miracle today and I had to hold back the tears. Here you can watch clips from the actual game and let it flow...

Yo BECKY!!!

So like this is a special request from my wife who for the past week...ok...month has been wanting me to ask Ben or Becky to blog a pic of what...you've guessed it...Becky's belly expansion. So if you have a second to blog some baby progress shot we'd (us from the midwest who last saw you in Tahoe) love it! Gracias B & B...and we are so pumped for you and the new lil' guy soon! Any weird cravings? Tires? Yogurt Mill? Arby's roast beefs (ok...stpeh's)

toodles,

Jeff (the messenger)

Look, Mom, Happy Feet!

Jeff, I ran across this little article that I think you might want to read (all the way down to the bottom). Sorry to have to break it to you. Oh, and Jeff, after you read the article, you might want to read this.

Bella

Ok, if you have not heard of this movie, visit www.bellathemovie.com. Becky and I had the chance to see it and listen to the producers at the Urban Youth Workers convention in May. The movie is great, check it out and then go see it this weekend.

Foothill Happenings

It's been awhile since I've swung into the blog, and after quite a busy week, I thought I'd give some updates on life as I've known it.

I think some of you know that I'm the faculty advisor for a club at FCS called Schools for Schools in conjunction with Invisible Children. We have a sister school in the war torn area of N. Uganda called Sacred Heart Secondary School. You can check our website out here where you can even make an on-line donation. Well, this past Friday night, the kids and I had our first big fund raiser. We had a benefit concert called Foothill Rocks for Invisible Children and it was a smashing success. We sold over 300 tickets and then sold t-shirts, bracelets, glow-in-the-dark everything (necklaces, earrings, etc.), and when all the dust settled, we raised over $6500! I was so proud of my students who really put their heart's into this great cause and are making an impact in the longest running war going on to date. We had some pretty sweet local bands. It was crazy fun, and now I'm exhausted. You'll see on our website that we're now in 8th place out of 120 some schools and the winning schools gets to send their teacher to Uganda!

On a much more sober note around the school. We found out last night that one of our 3rd graders was killed in a freak accident involving an off road quad and a train. His sister, Amanda, who was in my class for 2 years and is now a sophomore is in extremely critical condition in Phoenix. She has major swelling in the brain and is on life support. So, I'm asking all bloggers to pray for the miraculous in her life and for her parents who I know well and are already dealing with losing their son, Jacob. Amanda has been the only jr. high girl I've ever known to invite her Bible teacher to her 14th b-day party. She's a very sweet girl and our staff is taking this pretty hard. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Thanksgiving to all this week. We're headed back to Tahoe on Wed. to spend the holiday with Abigail's family. Seems like just yesterday we were all sitting on the deck enjoying the summer mountain air. The air this time around will be a bit more brisk. Much love!

What Cash has been up to.

We haven't shown you any videos of Cash lately, so here's a whirlwind tour of the past few months of drumming, teeth-brushing, kazooing, guitar-smacking, dog abusing, and walking (with help).

Shea/Chicago/Crowder...Three amazing things all in one.

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Originally uploaded by stevelamps

Shea and I finally ditch the grey man to get away for a bit and check out the Crowder show at the house of blues. Here is a pic of the venue. What a show, the best crowder yet. Hope all is well. Love you guys and see you soon.

Steve

Happy 27th Ben!!!

Today is a chance to celebrate Ben and his 27 years of life! What a wonderful husband, friend and father to be he is. Here is a chance for us all to say a very Happy Birthday to him.
Im not sure how to post a picture but I will try later:)

Los dos ninos Lampis rockin out some Crowder

Dance Dance Revolution ......kids took a break from dinner and rocked out to the latest Crowder.

Wes and Steve are Calebs' heroes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qqVEbb9Pbg

check it out

THREE PEAT

Incredible. Three years in a a row now that the Pirate Cross Team has owned the mitten! Read the story if you'd like. They are sick! The kid with the hat on got 1st overall with 3.1 miles in about 15 minutes.....you do the math....ahh...yeah.

http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071103/NEWS01/71103002

a few pics of a whirlwind month

Hey ya'll; thought I would share with you a few of our exciting moments this past month in pics. enjoy

Halloween = Caleb is Buzz Lightyear, Eden a frog,
New Kitchen = new crown molding, painted cabinets,trim, doors, walls, new dishwasher and stove, mantel pergo floors in kids rooms etc
Pool= adios.....now we have grass and a backyard....tears from jeff jk

Feliz Cumpleanos

Deaw Andwew,

Wemember times likes these when we had fun togethew? Yeah, me toos. I hope you have a pwetty good birfdays, and so does my famiwys. Sowwy about my poor spewing. I have a speach impediments, and it's hawd to type wif paws.

Happy Birfdays
Petey

Happy Birthday Andrew

Andrew, mom and I want to wish you a happy birthday in hopes that today will be "magical" (inside joke). We look forward to your homecoming in November and promise to train you on the round-a-bouts at Lee Road. Maybe we should have Sarah train you.

We love you and are very proud of your work at KIPP. Talk to you soon.

Anybody else carving pumpkins?

Pumpkins primarily carved by Wes "The Surgeon" Gaines

The View from Temecula

"Southern California Burning" was a headline I saw yesterday, and that is an understatement. As you all know the fires are everywhere, including Temecula. My school is an evacuation center for some 300 out of the 500,000 and growing residents who had to leave everything. As I was helping today, I couldn't even begin to grasp that feeling, of knowing your home and all of your memories are at risk of burning to the ground. A few of our teachers at my school have lost everything...Here are some pictures from our home of the Temecula fire, and the adjacent fire that is in Fallbrook.

Fire!

fire
Originally uploaded by famousscientists

This fire is crazy! I can hardly breathe outside, we had to keep our kids inside today and it doesn't look to be getting any better.

Saturday Breakfast

Saturday morning breakfast together has become a favorite in the young life of the Gaines family Fort Wayne Addition. This week we listened to a Hank Williams record and took breakfast portraits (normal day). Make your own breakfast portrait and send it to me. Here are ours:

Gracie's Birthday Week

Well, here it is. From the shores of the Pacific to the shores of Bishop we celebrated Gracie's first birthday in style. Take a look at some of the footage from both coasts and yes, get ready to see some cat-like reflexes by the ice cream cake delivery grandpa.

Autumn 2007

Autumn colors are finally arriving in Indiana, Cash and I went for a walk today and found this tree down the street. Here is a poem for the season!!

Etudes by Elaine Equi

Autumn is a solitude.
Winter is a fortitude.
Spring is an altitude.
Summer is an attitude.

Summer is a multitude.
Autumn is an aptitude.
Winter is a quaalude.
Spring is a prelude.

Spring is a lassitude.
Summer is a longitude.
Autumn is a gratitude.
Winter is an interlude.

Winter is a beatitude.
Spring is a platitude.
Summer is a verisimilitude.
Autumn is a semi-nude.

Weekend photos!

I (Sarah) added a new web album in the sidebar of photos from Gracie's first birthday weekend. I didn't end up taking as many photos as I thought, so somebody post more that we can add (Ahem, Jacob, we're going to need that video slow-mo, stat).

LOVE WINS

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3059155

Read the following story...it happened just 20 miles north of B-town. Ispiring...and get a box of Kleenex

Love you all,

Jeff

Happy First Birthday, Gracie!

We wanted to wish Gracie a happy first birthday, straight from the Fort! Cash had just woken up from a nap, so please ignore his lack of enthusiasm. He really wanted to play that drum, but he just couldn't muster the strength. Can't wait to see you this weekend!

Greyson playing soccer

Hey ya'll check out little man playing a little soccer if you have time at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3801068371294175188.

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Originally uploaded by stevelamps

and played some soccer. All in all it was a fun morning here in Midland. Hope everything is going well for you guys too. Miss ya.

Shea, grey and steve

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raked the leaves....

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went for a jog...

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ate dirt.....

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sat by the fire....

Fall morning fun

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Originally uploaded by stevelamps

Thought it might be a good morning to go and have some fun with Grey outside, so here's what we did.....

Home Sweet Home

Becky and I closed on our home today and received the keys. We are very happy and ready for this next chapter of our lives. It just so happens, this is homecoming week (probably the biggest week of my job) so we are planning on moving in on Sunday. Blessings on all of you!

Happy Birthday Shea

Happy birthday to the most beautiful mommy in the world. You are the best mom to one of the craziest little boys I've ever known, our son Grey. No one else could do it as well as you Shea. I love you so much.

Our Little Ballerina

Thought you might all enjoy a little laugh at Cash. We put these shoes on him, and he just kept doing this dance move over and over. Must take after his Dad.

Our Deepest Sympathies

Abigail and I would simply like to tell Stephanie, Jeff, and the boys how much we love and mourn with you at the loss of your father and grandfather. Our hearts ache as we think of you this evening and wish we were closer to sit with you in the time of grief. I was only with your father on a few occasions, but in those times I admired his strength and sincerity. We love you all and send our prayers.

the glass is half...

Like most UofM fans I couldn't wait for the maize and blue to redeem themselves this week, to quiet the critics, to show last week was a fluke...unfortunately, it wasn't a fluke, this years team is a lot weaker than expected. And unfortunately at Michigan one bad year is enough, so Carr will likely be forced out Steve Fisher style at the end of the year. I'm sticking with him though so here are five ways the season could get better...

1. We could win out and finish with the typical 2 L's (least likely)
2. We could go to East Lansing and pound an over confident Spartan Team (Jeff's getting red)
3. We could win the Big Ten and go to the Rose Bowl (2nd least likely)
   
4. We could beat the Buckeyes and ruin their undefeated season??
5. We can rebuild for next year by giving young players a lot of PT.

My pessimistic prediction though is that its as bad as it looks, our defense will have a hard time stopping anyone, we'll struggle to be 500 and if lucky win a Bowl game in December

First Day of School!

We can't believe it. Last Thursday, Caleb joined 18 other little boys and girls for PRESCHOOL! I have to admit, eventhough it's just 2 1/2 days a week, we got a bit choked up realizing this milestone for the eldest GL posse nino. WOW. Anyways, he did so good on his first day and his teacher (ironically one of Steph's friends) had great reports. He came home talking all about singing the B-I-B-L-E, staying away from the "blue boy" (t-shirt color we figured out) who was "trouble" and he really liked the "orange and black kid." And he reiterated (after recalling show and tell time where a lil girl shared her "unicorn") he said, "when I get bigger, I can be a girl and have a unicorn too." AHHHHHHH......


HEre are some pics of his first day with his buddies and for more hit up his blogspot calebhotspot.blogspot.com

love Jeff


Most significant, please say a prayer for Stephanie's father who we are with right now in the hospital. He is fighting pneumonia as a complication to lung cancer. Pray that God takes it away.

Catch of a Lifetime

So, here's the story: Monday night we all went out to the ballpark to catch the Wizard's last game of the season. Cash only lasted two innings, but it only took two for something magical to happen. The thing about the stadium is the nets don't really cover enough area, and you're constantly on the lookout for a fly ball. In the first inning, one hit a few rows in front of us. And suddenly, in the second inning, I hear Wes calmly say (in this weird southern accent, for some reason), "Here it comes." Since I was getting something out of the diaper bag for Cash, I didn't see the ball, so I just hid behind Wes. Next thing I know, he turns to me with this huge cocky grin on his face, and he's holding the ball in his hand!

Sarah: "What, how did you get that?"
Wes: "It bounced off the hand of the guy behind us (guy standing up with green shirt on) and dropped right between me and the guy next to me. I snagged it!"
Sarah: "Do you want to give it to one of the kids around us?" (Maybe one of the kids with his mitt desperately trying to catch the ball).
Wes: "What?"
Sarah: "You don't want to give it to a kid, do you? You want to keep it."
Wes: "I want to keep it for Cash." (Who he's holding as he catches the ball).
Sarah: "Riiiiight. For Cash."

That's how it went. Wes turns to the guy behind him (who is actually looking a bit disappointed), holds the ball up, and says, "Thanks." For a second the guy thinks Wes is giving him the ball and puts up his hands to catch it (no lie), realizes that's not happening, and just laughs. The guy next to us and his dad move seats. Wes is beaming. His first fly ball. In the car on the way home I heard him tell Cash, "No, Cash, that's Dad's ball." (I think he was joking, but since we got home it's been sitting on our shelf, out of Cash's reach).

So, we've been cracking up about this since Monday night. And today my friend Michal sends me an e-mail that her parents saw us on the front page of the Sports section Tuesday night, trying to catch a fly ball! I find the photo online and proceed to cry uncontrollably for about 5 minutes. Look at the little children desperately holding out their mitts for their first fly ball! Look at the child to the left of us looking so mad that it didn't come his way. The guys behind us who so badly want to catch that ball. Cash, oblivious to what is happening. Me, hiding to avoid a bruiser. Then the guy next to Wes--the guy he snagged it from--who at this moment is still thinking, "I've got it!" Then look at our boy, Wes, holding his son out of harm's way, mouth open in look of determination, hand overtaking that of the guy next to him, superhuman bicep bulging, a look that says, "I will catch this ball." Yep, that's my husband.