We kicked off the new year in true family fashion—surrounded by sports. Bella, now a sophomore in high school, played varsity basketball through the end of February. Her team made it to the playoffs but lost in the first round to Benson High School, who went on to take second place in state, falling to South Medford in the championship.

Meanwhile, Ben was deep into winter baseball workouts, preparing for his senior season, which started in early March. His team played a doubleheader against Silverton and Roosevelt at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer. They had a fantastic season, finishing 17-12 and making it to the second round of playoffs before losing to a tough South Salem team. Ben’s highlight of the season was beating Ida B. Wells on their home field in the first round of playoffs—an absolutely incredible game.

After the season, Ben earned Second Team All-Conference honors for first base. He led his team with 26 singles and ranked third in total hits and RBIs during the regular season.

February brought some hard moments. My ex-brother-in-law, Ernie, passed away. He had a difficult life, but his loss was still hard for family and friends. Sadly, he was the first of three people close to us who passed away in 2024. Our dear friend Roxanne went to be with the Lord in June, and another friend, Fay, passed away in August. They are all deeply missed.

On a different note, I spent much of late 2023 and early 2024 wrapping up my book, One Last Sermon. After years of writing and rewriting, I finally put the finishing touches on it and released it to the world. Checking that off my bucket list felt like a huge accomplishment.

Bella tried track for the first time this year. She had stepped away from softball after her freshman year and decided to give javelin a shot. For a first-timer, she did incredibly well—so well, in fact, that she was named Rookie of the Year for all female track and field athletes at her school. She also shined in shot put and is already looking forward to competing again in 2025.

Summer was a whirlwind for all of us. Ben graduated high school in June with a 3.8 GPA. At the same time, he played AAA Legion Baseball for Post 58 out of Stayton. Despite dealing with knee pain all year, he had a strong summer season.

While Ben played summer ball, I coached a developmental Legion baseball team. It was a new experience for me, and I learned a lot about Legion baseball. I’m looking forward to coaching the developmental program again this coming summer.

In August, Melissa and I celebrated 22 years of marriage—that’s 192,852 hours! It’s wild to think that at 44 years old, we’ve been married for as long as we haven’t.

Bella also had a fantastic volleyball season. She earned a spot on the varsity roster and saw a lot of playing time in the middle. It was a great experience for her, especially as a sophomore, building connections with the other sophomores and juniors. She absolutely loves volleyball—more than any other sport—and it’s been a blast watching her grow this fall.

Speaking of fall, our baseball program, the Bat Boys, fielded three fall ball teams. It was a ton of work but equally rewarding. The boys made tremendous strides in their skills and had a lot of success on the field.

And finally, Ben started college in September. It’s been quite the adjustment, but it’s good for him to step out of his comfort zone and work toward a goal, even as he figures out what the future might hold.

Looking back on 2024, it’s clear our year was filled with milestones, challenges, and a lot of growth. From unforgettable sports moments and new adventures to the loss of loved ones, we experienced a full year of life’s ups and downs. But through it all, we were reminded of the importance of family, perseverance, and embracing each season as it comes. As we head into 2025, we’re grateful for the memories made and excited for whatever comes next – knowing that, no matter what, we’ll continue showing up for each other and making the most of every moment.