An Awesome Day...

I drove the kids to Southlake on December 30th to meet my parents, brother and his family and my sister and her husband.  The drive was AWFUL. We ran into horrendous, stand-still traffic in Grapevine. I had two children who had to use the restroom including my three year old, Jovie. She was in tears because she had to go potty so badly. There wasn't anything I could do because we were stuck. We finally got out of traffic but I had to drive through DFW Airport to do that. With the help of my brother and his navigation system on his iPhone we took some smaller roads that led us to Southlake....an hour and 1/2 later! When we pulled up my sister, Kari, and her husband, Martin, grabbed the kiddos out of the car for the much needed bathroom break in Wich Wich. We then sat and finally ate lunch on the patio at Wich Wich. As we were on the patio, Kari made a comment about a huge truck that had just pulled up and parked in the front parking space. We didn't think twice about it but then Martin noticed Josh Hamilton from the Texas Rangers go inside Wich Wich with on of his daughters. My son saw Josh and I knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet one of the best baseball players and great role models. I think his wife overheard us talking about Weston meeting Josh because she walked in a few minutes after Josh and his daughter. We really didn't want to impose on the superstar but just as we were opening the door to go find him so that Weston could meet him, Josh came out, knowing that Weston wanted to meet him. I am assuming that his wife had told him that there was a boy outside that wanted to meet him.

Josh spent time with Weston, with his hand on his shoulder the whole time. He asked him his name, what sports he played, what positions he played. When Weston told him that he played a lot of different positions, Josh called him "the man." Josh asked Weston who all the people were that were with him. At this point, it was just me, Weston and Kari talking to Josh. My parents, Martin, Karli and Jovie were across the parking lot playing in a grassy area. Weston told Josh that he was with his family and that he had two sisters. Josh waved over to my family. Josh then told Weston to treat his sisters right because they look up to him to do the right thing. He told Weston that is what he tells his oldest daughter. Josh told Weston he liked his jersey which was Sam Bradford's #8 St. Louis Rams jersey. Josh asked Weston if he knew what I am Second was and Weston said yes that that his dad liked it too. Josh shook Weston's hand and then let us take one picture on Kari's iPhone. I thanked Josh for his time and thanked him for being a role model for my family. He said "this is what it is all about."

We were floored with Josh's genuine personality. He went out of his way to make Weston's day...a day that Weston will never forget. I think about the awful drive over to Southlake, how we were 1 1/2 hours late but just in time to meet Josh Hamilton. God works in funny ways.

I went to Borders today and bought Josh's book, Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back. I am looking forward to reading it. If you haven't heard Josh's testimony, you can watch it here:  http://www.iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Josh_Hamilton/