Well, I returned from beautiful Maui and had a great trip at my sister's wedding. I love Hawaii
and enjoyed relaxing on the beach and the beautiful scenery all around. A few days was not long enough, but I had to get back to all my boys, Tommy included!
While I was in Hawaii, the Softball Gold Medal Game came on at 12:30am, so I stayed up to watch my former teammates. I was so stunned and shocked when Japan went ahead and in the 6th inning my heart started to pound a little. I could imagine how they were feeling after playing in the 2000 Olympics when we were down
1-0 to Japan in the Gold Medal Game. I still felt that they would pull through, it was just a matter of who would get the key hit! But it didn't happen that way and the USA Softball Team lost to Japan 3-1. I am disappointed for the girls and the coaching staff. I know how hard they train, and I know how talented they are. It just came down to a couple pitches. Usually, the US takes advantage and all it takes is one swing, but not this night. Silver is still a great accomplishment, and Japan is a talented opponent who worked so hard to one day beat the USA Softball Team, but for the USA the standard is gold. The hardest part is that there will be no gold medal to win in the 2012 Olympics. The USA Team was simply amazing at this Olympics. Things just didn't go the way they expected in the last game and that's the only one that truly matters in this kind of competition. I pray that softball gets back in the Olympic Games in 2016 when they vote next year. I want that for our sport, but more for all the softball players who dream of representing our country on that stage! With all that being said, God knows what will happen. God has a plan for each and every person on this earth. We are the ones who choose to follow Him and His path or walk on our own and leave everything up to chance. I know God's plan for me was to have 3 Gold Medals. His plan will always bring glory to Himself. My gold medals are the platform that God has given me to share about what a great God I serve. One last point, many of these girls have so much going on in their lives and a handful want to have families, so I know that when that happens and they hold their own babies in their hands, it will be better than winning 10 Gold Medals!!! I wish them alll the best and look forward to seeing what the future holds for each of them. And to Laura, my roommate for so many years on USA Softball, "I am so very proud of you. Even though it isn't gold, it's still a 4th medal and I know how hard you worked and what a team player you are. You're the best!"
Play with Passion, Live with Purpose. . .Jeremiah 29:11 Leah Amico
