This little girl filled our days with so much joy, and the laughter echoing through our home became the soundtrack of our lives. Watching her grow for the next year and being her mom made my heart so happy; each milestone was a precious memory etched in my mind. By this time, I was a stay-at-home mom, a role that filled my soul with thankfulness and immense gratitude towards my husband. He worked hard to provide for our little family, and I appreciated every late night and early morning he dedicated to his job. I was your typical stay-at-home mom, tending to the housework while navigating a whirlwind of activities that kept us on our toes. Our busy schedule involving our little one included mommy and me classes at the library, where we immersed ourselves in stories and crafts, taking her swimming, splashing around and giggling in the water, and just savoring every beautiful moment of motherhood. Each of these experiences reinforced my belief that this year had truly proven to me that being a mom was the most fulfilling duty I could have ever experienced! Then came baby #2! Shortly after our daughter turned 1 year old, that unmistakable baby fever started to hit me hard, an overwhelming desire to expand our family. The minute I thought I might be pregnant, I rushed to the drug store and took that test, my heart racing with anticipation and hope. I knew my body so well and recognized all the changes it was going through in those first few weeks; every little twinge felt significant. Once confirmed, I discovered I was just 6 weeks along, and the joy of the news consumed me. We eventually had the ultrasound that joyfully confirmed we were expecting another girl. Dad was once again outnumbered with having 2 little girls, and I could already picture the bond they would share. My second daughter’s birth was smooth, easily navigated with no complications and no scary moments to mar the experience. She had a head full of black hair that eventually fell out as she grew, a charming reminder of her newborn days. She was so tan, as if she had been basking under the sun on a beach in the Bahamas, an early hint of the lovely complexion that would mirror mine. I have a lot of Cherokee Indian descent running through my family, so this little one came into the world looking strikingly like me. We both have dark hair, dark eyes, and a complexion that most girls dream of—smooth and tan! This child was only 19 inches long but weighed almost 8 lbs, a delightful mix of traits and features. Her tiny little rolls and chubby little cheeks were so kissable and hard to resist! She was a beautiful baby, and I often marveled at how both my girls were beautiful babies, just completely opposite. Our oldest was starting to grow out of her vibrant red hair, a fiery hue that was transitioning into more of a lovely blonde, with captivating blue/hazel eyes and a very fair complexion that made her stand out even more. Their differences were a testament to the unique personalities developing within them, each bringing their own special light into our home.

Motherhood was easy for me and just felt natural. I had our days planned meticulously, my girls were on a schedule that I didn’t stray from very often, creating a sense of rhythm and stability that I felt was important. I felt confident enough to start a little babysitting for some friends who needed a trustworthy person to care for their children, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. It was a joy to have little kids running around, their laughter and their energy infusing our home with life. I planned a lot of outdoor activities, like nature walks and picnics in the park, came up with unique crafting ideas of my own, and added a little preschool curriculum to our days, teaching them simple concepts through play. Each day was a new adventure, filled with learning and exploration. I loved being at home with my girls; the atmosphere was constantly buzzing with creativity and enthusiasm. I adored having the house full of kids, the delightful chaos of playtime–listening to their laughter and watching them be little busy bees as they navigated through toys and games and creating little friendships. The experience not only strengthened my bond with my daughters but also deepened my understanding of the joys and challenges of nurturing young minds.

Soon after my second daughter turned about one and a half, that baby fever hit me again! I soon found out that I was pregnant with baby #3! And when we discovered that we would be blessed with yet another little girl, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, the joy overwhelming me with excitement. I grinned from ear to ear for days upon days, reveling in the thought of the love that was to come. I was going to have a total of three girls! My husband took in each little moment with grace and beautifully embraced fatherhood, often reflecting on how our family was expanding in such a wonderful way. He was gentle and kind, fully realizing he was completely outnumbered with four women in the house, yet he wore his role with pride and joy. Our third daughter was the final piece that completed our family of five. She came into the world with no complications, enriching our lives in ways we had yet to imagine, and her arrival was probably the best pregnancy out of all three. While I was pregnant, we spent a lot of time swimming, almost every day! I am almost positive that swimming helped ease my back with my growing belly, given the back troubles I had with my first two pregnancies. But this pregnancy felt like a dream, characterized by minimal sickness and only slight body aches; it was truly a delightful experience. This beautiful little girl was born BALD! She had just enough hair to reveal the color, which was destined to be blonde. As she turned about nine months old, her eyes transitioned into the most gorgeous shade of blue, reminiscent of the sky on a perfect summer day, along with her light pale skin that replicated her older sister. The girls all looked different but shared some of the same features, creating a lovely blend of personalities and traits. The older girls were the sweetest big sisters, often forming bonds that I cherished watching grow. Our oldest, with her nurturing spirit, was very motherly and loved to help with bath time, meticulously rinsing her baby sister’s hair and giggling at her reactions, and, of course, holding her baby sister every chance she could get, which brought smiles and laughter into our home that would always echo in my heart.

We eventually moved to a country home with lots of yard to play. My grandfather created 2 very large gardens for our entire family. This was on my mothers side of the family, my grandparents were very much involved. I found myself calling my grandma throughout the years to learn how to freeze the corn and beans from the garden. When my grandpa would pop over to tend the garden, the girls would run out to him with a glass of fresh ice tea made from the sun. They would walk around the garden looking at the vegetables growing and I assumed grandpa was trying to teach them how to pick the beans off the vines. Such fond memories watching them interact with my grandpa, he was a hard working man with a gentle soul that loved the Lord with all his heart. We pretty much had a grocery store in our backyard! Corn, beans, turnips, potatoes, watermelon, peppers, tomatoes, and pumpkins for Fall. I’m sure I am forgetting some of the things he planted out there, but it was fully stocked for everyone to enjoy.

As the next few years went by, our girls grew, and soon it was time for our oldest to start school, marking a significant milestone. My husband switched jobs, which landed him on a second shift schedule, a change that would have its challenges and rewards. I eventually saw an opportunity to possibly head back to work, a prospect that both excited and intimidated me after years of focusing solely on motherhood. After a heartfelt discussion about finding a job, we decided the extra income would come in handy as the needs of our girls grew, from school supplies to extracurricular activities. So off to work I went, navigating the emotions of leaving my girls for the day. I ended up going back to a phlebotomy job just 10 minutes from our house, a short commute that helped ease my guilt of leaving them behind. I was sad to leave my girls and all the things I missed about being a stay-at-home mom, from the spontaneous play-times to the quiet moments of reading together. However, I knew this was good timing, and my husband would be at home with our girls in the morning while I would be there in the evenings, creating a rhythm that felt manageable for our family. So for the next five years, we settled into this new normal, balancing work and family life, and although it was hectic, life was content. Our oldest was about 10 years old when she decided to dabble in sports. She tried everything from gymnastics to cheer-leading to basketball, exploring different avenues to find her passion. I tried my hardest to encourage the gymnastics and cheer-leading route, believing those activities would foster her physical strength and confidence; after all, that’s what I knew most about. Yet, despite my encouragement, it just wasn’t in her heart, which I can definitely respect, understanding that every child has their own unique path. She tried t-ball when she was around five years old but cried her precious little eyes out on the field, a heart-wrenching moment for me as a parent. I really didn’t think that five years later she would be interested in softball at 10 years old, but I gave it a second try at the concept of the sport. I had my old glove that I had kept over the years from when I played summer softball and bought her a cheap mitt with a ball, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over me. I explained the game to her and said we could practice throwing and catching the ball to see if she would be interested in possibly playing summer ball. From that moment on, she never put down the mitt and constantly wanted to play catch, a passion igniting in her eager spirit. She had gotten pretty good at it after about a month, showcasing a natural talent for the game, and without hesitation, she played her first season of summer ball that year, starting in June. From there, she flourished, and what I could see was promising talent blossoming before my eyes. As the summer went on, she practiced every chance she could get, dedicating herself to improving her skills and enjoying the thrill of the game. She soon started asking about travel softball, a concept that excited me as well; I assume she heard other kids talking about it at school or maybe a teammate discussing the excitement of competition. We checked into some local organizations around our area and found a few teams that we agreed to let her try out for, feeling a mix of hope and nervousness about the journey ahead. Well, that Fall season marked the beginning of the next nine years of our travel softball journey, a whirlwind of experiences that would come to define our family life. Between Summer rec ball and travel softball, we lived at the softball fields from May to November every year, surrounded by a community of supportive families who shared our passion, forging friendships that would last a lifetime.

I wouldn’t trade those days for anything. My favorite pastime is to watch this kid play ball like it was the only thing she knew how to do! This girl became an incredible softball player, diving into plays, sacrificing herself to win that out and catching pop-fly balls in the outfield with remarkable precision and agility. Her talent was astonishing to watch; with every game, she seemed to elevate her skills, bringing a new level of excitement to the field! We did notice that she was struggling at the plate with her hitting, as her confidence wasn’t quite that big at the time, leaving her hesitant and uncertain. She was about 13 years old when we decided it was time to find a hitting coach who could refine her abilities and bolster her self-esteem. She saw her hitting coach once a week, and through dedicated practice and encouragement, she just kept getting better and better. It was inspiring to witness her transformation unfold—the way she soaked up every lesson and incorporated it into her game. To this day, she is known for her powerful hits over the fence in high school and dangerous line drives that soared over the pitcher’s head. Just about every game, she hit a home run, much to the delight of her teammates and the dismay of her opponents. Coaches and other players grew nervous when she stepped up to the plate during games, aware that her presence alone could turn the tide in an instant. As a sideline mama who watched just about every game she ever played, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride and excitement when I saw the opposing team’s coaches animatedly telling their players to back up, fully aware they were facing a formidable hitter who could send the ball flying out of the park at any moment. She hit 3 home runs against a local team in high school in one game alone by the time she was 17 years old. Travel softball games were no different. We enjoyed travel ball season.

After realizing what we were in for with sports with our girls, we made the decision to move once again. This time we found a nice house in town with a lot less yard work to be done, which was a relief. The thought of endless weekends spent maintaining a large property was overwhelming, especially with our busy schedules. We just didn’t have the time to keep up with our home in the country, as the yard work alone took a full day every week. We didn’t want to tie our girls down with outside work; instead, we wanted them to grow up happy, doing the things they loved most. So we bought this house, packed up our lives, and moved for what we believed would be the last time, finally finding our forever home where we felt we could truly settle. As we settled into our new home, travel ball soon took up most of our weekends, transforming our entire family dynamic. My husband found a new hobby in getting involved with coaching travel softball teams, which formed a deeper bond with our daughters. Eventually, our middle daughter followed in her big sister’s footsteps, finding a love for the game just as big. You couldn’t keep these two girls off the dirt! While our oldest daughter dedicated her time to playing all positions except pitcher and catcher, our middle daughter found her love behind the plate as a catcher, safeguarding home base and also enjoying her time in the outfield. Summer rec ball was spent playing with kids they went to school with, creating wonderful memories, while travel ball was an exciting opportunity to play with kids from all over Ohio. Our girls formed friendships that blossomed brilliantly from one end of the state to the other, joining in laughter and team spirit. Our oldest daughter had talked her best friend into joining her travel softball team, and so they played together for the next few years on both teams, always pushing each other to improve. We ended up growing very close with our two families, often traveling together for games and sharing countless laughs and experiences that enriched our lives. We had nothing but laughter, and we all got along really well, sharing stories and creating tight-knit bonds. Eventually, we started planning travel ball weekends together, then vacations together, which spilled into us all becoming best friends, forming a united front. But this friendship took a turn that no one saw coming, leading to a situation no one could have predicted, unveiling unexpected challenges that would test our relationships and commitment to one another.

We ended up purchasing a camper after growing tired of hotels and driving long distances for travel ball tournaments. Camping seemed to be the most logical and cost-effective thing to do, providing us not only with a place to stay but also an opportunity to connect with nature. One time we even took our camper to Florida for a whole week to save on the cost of hotels and such. Despite my initial apprehensions about camping for an extended period, I had my doubts but trusted my husband and took his lead on the decision. We made so many cherished memories camping and spending time as a family, as it allowed us to bond in ways that hotel stays never could. We cooked delicious dinners over the campfire, sharing stories and laughter, and went swimming after games, relishing the warmth of the sun and the refreshing water. Every evening was a new adventure as we gathered around the fire, roasting marshmallows and reminiscing about the day. There were many times that we had to go in opposite directions with the girls due to our hectic schedules. I would go with our middle daughter, cheering her on from the sidelines, while my husband and our oldest daughter would head off in the other direction because he was on the coaching staff. Despite this, we made it all work by finding a campground somewhere in the middle, ensuring that we could support both daughters while also enjoying our camping experience. I am very grateful that we were able to do this and come together at the end of the day as a family, sharing our daily adventures and still creating lasting memories that we will carry in our hearts for years to come.

Even though our days were busy working and busy helping our girls follow their dreams, we were very much a couple through these years, nurturing the bond that kept us connected despite the chaos. We probably could have made an effort to make a little more time for our marriage, but there didn’t seem to be any major issues doing this life together, as we navigated through the ups and downs with laughter and mutual support. My husband wasn’t perfect, but who’s husband was and is? We shared a loving partnership that was grounded in understanding and companionship. We had a good life with three very energetic girls, each with their unique personalities and interests that kept us on our toes. The winter months were always magical, as that’s when we focused on family game nights, baking yummy treats, and cozy movie nights inside, watching the snow fall outside our window. Each November, we always planned a big Christmas shopping trip with each other, strategically brainstorming and collaborating on what we would get for our girls, making it a thrilling and united endeavor. They would get an abundance of girly clothes and accessories, ensuring they felt trendy and confident, but we never forgot to leave out those crucial softball needs for the following year to support their passions. The one thing we always loved to do was spoil our girls at Christmas time every year; we meticulously wrapped each gift with colorful paper and bows, and, as tradition dictated, we would make them wait until Christmas morning to unwrap all of their presents. The excitement and anticipation on their faces made it all worthwhile. We did spend a lot of time with our best friends, and even involved them in the Christmas gift giving each year, which was always a family gift of a game or gift certificate for dinner, enriching our shared experiences and memories. We loved hanging out with this family; there was never a dull moment when we were together, filled with laughter, storytelling, and creating cherished traditions that we all looked forward to year after year. Until one day our worlds came crashing down one day at a time for what seemed like eternity.