What a Team

Cam has been blessed to play on a baseball team where winning isn't everything. His team wins most of their games, they are really good. But, winning isn't everything. Cam joined the Mustangs at the beginning of last season. I can't begin to tell you how much he has learned about hitting and fielding. More importantly, however, he's learned what it means to play hard, but fair; play with a good attitude, win or lose; encourage your teammates; listen to your coaches (sorry, but he still looks over his shoulder occasionally on those drop 3rd strikes while running hard to 1st :) ); and how you can be a great coach and not yell at your players and argue outrageously with the umpires. The Mustang coaches are excellent role models and we are thankful that Cam has been able to be with the team for the past 2 seasons. Head Coach Jeff authors the post-game write-ups which we look forward to every night (or early morning)! Here is the latest -- it's worth the read (Thanks Mustang coaches, players and families, you ARE the best! God Bless):


HAND TO RETIRE FROM THE MUSTANGS
6/26/2008
HAZELWOOD, MO – Citing a desire to be closer to his family, Cam Hand recently tendered his resignation to the Mustangs ownership group. Team officials reluctantly agreed to Hand’s termination effective 11:59PM, June 27. At that time, Hand becomes an unrestricted free agent and will likely seek a team in the Atlanta, GA, area.

“We really hate to see him go,” said a clearly saddened Coach Shultz. “He’s been a great part of the team for the past two years.”

Hand joined the Mustangs via free agency for the 2007 season. In the 2008 season, Hand is one of only three players to play in all 12 games. He scored or drove in a run in all but two of the games.

Cam has the third highest walk total for the Mustangs and is fifth in runs scored. His season on base percentage is an even .500.

“Cam did a good job of getting on base so the guys behind him could bring him home,” noted Coach Shultz.

Hand’s best offensive game of the season came on May 29 against the Red Hawks. He was 2‑for‑2 with a walk and scored three times.

Although willing and able to play just about any position, Hand’s favorite spot was second base where he turned in several fine plays during the season. Hand was also one the Mustangs pitchers. He appeared in four games where he struck out four and threw 48% strikes.

“While we all appreciate Cam’s contributions at the plate and on the field,” concluded Coach Shultz, “what I will miss most is his positive attitude and fun personality. Cam was always eager to play and ready to do whatever we asked. He seemed to always be smiling. I like that.”

“We all wish him the very best. It was a joy to have him on the team.”

Despite still having two games remaining in the regular season and as many as three games in the playoffs, salary cap restrictions prevent the Mustangs from replacing Hand in 2008.

Chuck Swindoll: (23 June 2008)

"Worry about nothing, pray about everything."

What do you do with all of your time now that you are not worrying? Rejoice!

Feed your mind with positive thoughts!
Focus your attention on encouraging models. (Paul had a lot of things he could worry about, but he didn't: he chose joy)
Find God's peace in every circumstance (focus on the essentials, not the non-essentials)


Philippians Chapter 4

Completely Pooped!

Just a quick note -- I need to get to sleep -- It's been a busy day, busy week. Assuming my computer keeps working as I test new programs, today was my last day in the office for awhile. It was kind of sad, but I got thru it w/o too many tears. I am "leaving" some great people and I will surely miss them, but am looking forward to still working with them virtually and coming back to the office periodically. I'll post some pix later.

Celebrating Father's Day...

Wishing all of the fathers out there a very happy day. I have chosen a few pix to share of some of the fathers in my life -- now, I will say, however, some of you need to come visit me more often so I can take more quality photos of you (you know who you are :)) - others of you...please remind me to take photos of you when I see you :) Next year I will have a wider selection to choose from, I promise. Despite those little facts, you are all special and I hope you enjoy your day...even if you are driving from STL to ATL with all of my boxes from work -- that makes you even more special in my eyes (you know who you are!) :)

"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope."

~Bill Cosby

I am pretty sure we used to give my dad soap-on-a-rope...probably from Avon! I laughed when I read this.

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."

~Clarence Budington Kelland

I think my dad is still like this -- and I am thankful that he has been a godly example.

I love you Dad!

SPIKE!

I thought this was funny the other day, so I grabbed the camera. Jewel spotted something on the back deck...something that got her tail wagging...she just couldn't stand it...she was being taunted! She watched...watched...had to get a better perspective on the situation and changed her location, as you can see...upstairs she went...

It was SPIKE! The neighborhood cat -- Jewel's nemesis! Normally when Jewel sees him, especially at night, you would think there is a baby crying, loudly, in the house -- it scared me to death the other night. The kids and I were watching a movie down the basement and Jewel jumped up and hit the sliding glass door and let out a huge cry! On the other side...SPIKE! It was like he was saying, "yeah, I can get out whenever I want to...and lay on YOUR deck!...take THAT!" Poor Jewel -- she loves to get outside whenever she can...she would have loved to have chased Spike off of HER deck!

After

I WISH I had the "Before" pictures, I don't, but take my word for it: Maybe a month ago, mom, do you remember when it was? Anyway, about a month ago, my mom "trimmed" these beasts back to about 6 inches high. I have never seen anything grow so fast as these 2 plants -- it's shocking...take my word for it. Can you believe these mom? You better get back down here before they take the whole yard over!

My Desk...

The kids came to work with me yesterday (I will post those pix later, I didn't take too many). I had the camera and thought I would take a few pix of my desk (since after tomorrow when I go and start cleaning it up, it's going to look a lot different, at least Connie hopes it does). I got interrupted, but I did manage to get these 2 pictures -- I am especially proud of the 2nd one, can you guess where I am? I am proud of it because it was a great opportunity for me, and I was skinnier then, so I like that - ha!, but also because I am with one of my favorite people, my job-share partner, Connie. We've worked successfully together for 13 years -- hard to believe. I could have never asked for a better partner and we became good friends -- I can always count on her. I am thankful that I will still be working with her, even if it is 500 miles away. If you didn't know, we were born 1 day apart. Yeah, I'm older, but...I'm the nice one, despite what anyone else says. :)

Ok, if you couldn't guess, we are in front of Air Force 1 !!!! A few years back, we were fortunate enough to be invited to Lambert when the President was in town. It was a great experience. Did you know that the airplane has different colors of carpet and depending who you are, you are not allowed to cross certain colors? We got to see his personal bedroom/bathroom (the bathroom is MUCH SMALLER than I expected), the office (remember it from Air Force 1, the movie?) and President Bush' Air Force jacket was even on the back of his chair. It was cool. Anyway, I love these pictures and wanted to share them. (The first picture was taken, I think by Connie's uncle (she's related to A LOT of people, so could have been her first, second or third cousin, I forget :) -- President Bush came to his business for something or other and he got this picture of him).

A New Look for the Blog

Hi -- well, I am going to try a new look for the blog. I don't think I have settled on this one, but it's late and I will work on it a little more later. Hope you like whatever I end up with :) Happy June!