A few weeks ago a local orphanage in the Clemson area went to watch a game. DK was pitching that night and word got back to him that an 11 year old girl had fallen in love with #47.
My son later found out that this little girl had been removed from her home because the parents were both drug addicts and she had been neglected.
This morning my son went to visit the little girl, with signed ball in hand, to have lunch with her in the school cafeteria. Although she was pretty speechless most of the time, my son said she was the cutest thing he had ever seen, how sad to think that someone had neglected her.
Dave called me immediately after the visit, to tell me that he was so proud of himself for bringing joy to this cutie pie. He told me that it was a greater feeling than winning the toughest game, or compared it to a better feeling than being awarded for the things he had worked towards and gotten.
There comes a time when a parent wonders when their son will become a man, the daughter a woman. Today, with tears streaming down my face after the story, I realized that he had crossed the line a little further from adolecence to adulthood. He finally realized that although he may have less material things than many of his friends, what is important is the love and support of your family and friends, nothing else matters. To be a special person, you have to learn to give of yourself with not expecting anything in return. Although these were values we instilled in our kids, one never really knows if it sinks in or not.
He also realized today, the impact that just being a "college baseball player" can have on a young child. That being a role model was more important than being a young stud!
We always post about how proud we are of our boys' accomplishments on the field. Today, for me, I also realize that he has accomplished much more than being a good pitcher or an excellent student.
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Little boys...gotta love 'em...especially when they grow up right before your very eyes! 
