Day 2,385

The New Firsts

Milestone met: all three Conley kids are buoyant! Ella Mae is nearing her ISR graduation and with smiles as huge as hers while she floats, this Daddy and Mama sing Mrs. Gina praises for such delicate and passionate instruction of our babe. 

So the kids can all float, but I bet you didn’t know that Bearett can fly?!
He can. With just a little help from Dad. 

So grateful for all the smiles surrounding me. These sweet people bring my life such joy, regardless of what’s going on around or outside of us. Yesterday sent a shock wave through me with the news that Adam was optioned to AAA to begin this season. He has one “option” left (each player has three “options” once they begin their major league career, meaning that they can split time between the minor leagues and the major leagues an unlimited amount of time each year, but only for three seasons before another team can “claim” them for themselves and put the player on their team. This is Adam’s third year splitting time - his third option), and they decided to use his last option in order to get him more time working out all his new mechanics and hand grips in a more controlled setting. And so, he’s going back to NOLA to polish his skills and reassert himself as the hard throwing and funky southpaw who can strike just about anyone out (my words, not his - he’s snoring next to me, totally passed out after his first day back in minor league camp where the running is increased and the calories melt away - anyone have a super fattening recipe I could use daily these next two weeks?!). We face some hard times ahead logistically with the family and how we’re going to make it all work, but praise God, this has not been nearly as difficult a transition as it was last season. We’re far more mature and grounded in our faith and realize more clearly than ever before that no circumstance can rob us of our joy. New Orleans is definitely not our preference - far FAR from it - but if this is where the Lord is directing us for the next however long, then who are we to argue? And why would we (I) lose our (my) joy over it? We won’t. That’s about all we know for sure. Well that, and the fact that for the first time in two years, Adam is throwing the ball with life and velocity, of which has been eluding him and changing his game to nearly unrecognizable. He’s gained an incredible amount of confidence this spring, changed SO MUCH in regards to his mechanics in a very short amount of time, and finally, he’s seeing results. All the video, all the weight gain, all the squats and early morning workouts, all the days of catch, all Pete’s airline miles, all the conversations, all the food, and almost no hunting - all worth it if he’s back to throwing 92-94 with a fastball that can get up to 96 and two off speed pitches that can get swings and misses. He’s going to NOLA to put it all together. And though the heartache of missing him will be great, the Lord is who we choose to trust and so, we have great confidence. Thanks for the support and encouragement. We’re grateful and we’re doing well.