Blanchard

A year and a half ago our family was forever changed. Our babysitter brought over her "friend" Ryan for my approval. He seemed like a nice enough kid. Good manners, polite, wore his hat the RIGHT WAY! We all like him but with high school courtships, we didn't think we would see him a great deal more. I am so thankful we were wrong.

Ryan has become a role model in our home. Our three boys adore him! Ryan is a high school senior and he plays baseball. (He just signed to play baseball at ALABAMA!) He has a super busy schedule but he makes time to come see his little fans as often as he can. Mark and I could not as for a better teenager for the boys to look up to, especially Nolan. Ryan has taught Nolan so much about the game this family loves so much. His patience with Nolan as he explains his nerves at the plate, why he may be off at games, his dedication, determination, and drive are all things Nolan as seen and tried to implement in his own playing.

 Last night was a really special night for us and our friendship with Ryan. He stopped by to see how Nolan had played in is weekend tournament. While he was here one of the players from his team called and said they needed the song Ryan wanted played when he walked up to bat. Ok, this song is a BIG deal. It is Ryan's senior year and he had an hour to find it. Well, since summer Mark and I have been saying that he should use a Smashing Pumpkins song but Ryan wasn't too sure about it. So last night our WHOLE FAMILY is sitting in the living rooms rattling off songs. Nolan was excited as he came up with another super cool song. We had about four songs on the list, then it was two. At 8:58 pm, two minutes before deadline to turn in his senior song, Ryan picked the Smashing Pumpkins song! Mark had a smile on his face that I typically only see when Nolan is playing ball. That look of pride and excitement. I can not wait until the night we sit together with our guys and pick out the song that helps them focus and get in the zone as they are introduced at their high school games. Last night was a great preview for our family of what we have to look forward to. I know Nolan will remember last night and refer back to it when he picks his first song!

Ryan is all the things we hope our three boys are when they grow up. His manners are old school over the top. Ma'am and sir are a constant in his vocabulary. He takes his hat off at the table, he treats his friends with respect and he respects and loves his family. He takes time for our boys, throwing with them, playing Wii with them, and just hanging out. He has given up Saturday afternoons to play wiffle ball with a 12, 4, and 2 year old.....what senior in high school does that?

Last summer when we asked Ryan to join our family at the beach, I had to of course talk to his mom and assure her he would be ok. When we were talking she asked a question that I will always remember. She asked why a 17 year old would want to go to the beach with little kids. She hasn't met my boys so that was a totally fair question. I felt confident in telling her that Ryan just loved hanging out with the boys. I will never fully understand the relationship our boys have with Ryan, but I know that I am thankful for it. I know I love the look on Mason and Kades faces as they run to the door when Ryan gets here. I even love how he has taught them to say "Roll Tide". And I can not wait to watch the boys cheer him on for his last year of high school ball!

Being at the baseball field as often as we are, we have come to know a lot of  "baseball families". This weekend it was fun to hear families talking about how Dutch Fork has a kid that has signed to play at Alabama. We love Ryan like he is one of our own and we love hearing that other people see him the same way we do!