the masters

Today was an especially enjoyable one from start to finish--for me, because it started with a quiet, peaceful early morning run, and for the boys, because it ended with golf!

I squeezed my run in before any of the boys were awake, and when they awoke upon my return, I cooked breakfast and then joined my mom and sister for a walk. The temperature was cool (in the 50's), but the sun was bright, so it was a perfect day to exercise.

This afternoon our friend, Kim, brought her daughter, Chelsea, and her grandson, Jordan, over for a visit. Jordan is a month and a half older than Bennett, so they had a ball playing on the play set in the backyard and in the playroom. Before they left, Jordan even gave Bennett a hug on his own intiative. It was precious! Sadly, Jordan will be returning to his home in Massachusettes on Tuesday, so it will be awhile before their next play date. This was our first time meeting Chelsea (Jordan's aunt), but she will be going to school here next fall, so we look forward to seeing her a little more once she moves back home with her mom.

Around 4:30 we left for the golf course. No inspiration was needed from the Masters Tournament which has been playing on our televisions all weekend long. The boys were all excited to be golfing and because I was going to be their cheerleader and cart driver.

We said that we were going to record the date of this family golf outing for posterity because it was Bennett's first time (outside of the womb) on the course! And you know we are all betting he will be a great golfer! :) He took his Fisher-Price putter out and was thrilled to hit his ball down the fairway and across the greens. He also loved driving the golf cart and scribbling on the score card.

Anderson amazes me at how well he plays golf. Paul spots him three strokes on each hole, and he and Anderson play against one another. Even though Paul shot one under, Anderson beat him by one stroke. He is really going the distance with his shots. Paul said he hit the ball 200 yards on Friday when they played.

It is always fun to watch my husband play golf. He makes it look so easy and effortless, and he looks mighty fine striking the ball. He truly has a God-given gift. Not long ago, his mom found a list of goals he had written when he was a young boy that he wanted to accomplish in his life, and this is what it said:
1. To be a great golfer.
2. To have no more than two kids.
3. To be liked.

Amazingly, by age 31, Paul had accomplished all of those goals.

Tonight, we watched as South African Trevor Immelman put on his green jacket as the winner of the 2008 Masters Tournament in Augusta. I admit I had tears in my eyes as I watched his parents, wife, and young son celebrate his victory. And I couldn't help but secretly dream that one day I would be hugging my husband or sons as they finished their 18th hole and were declared the next Masters champion. Of course, Paul doesn't really aspire for that goal for himself as he has found that as much as he loves golf, he really enjoys the career he has established. But I know that he may live vicariously through his boys should they decide to try to become professional golfers.

Even if my boys never win the Masters or any other professional championship, I could be no more proud of them and thankful for them than I am at this very moment. Paul won my heart on our very first date, and my sons mastered it the moment I first discovered I was going to be a mom. There is no question that they are already "masters" to me.