Dear Tim/Kim:

I was very excited about the opportunity to share my family's story with you and Kim. I am from the same area as you - was born and raised in Phenix City, Alabama and attended CVCC too and really think it's wonderful how much you and your family have given back to the community.

My family too loves the Braves and loves watching baseball. My son Peyton is 5 years old and already has played for 2 years with T-Ball and loves it.

Peyton seems to have a natural athletic ability and even his coaches make comments like, "Good Lord. How old are you" when he throws the ball and when Peyton gets ready to bat he saids "Alright kids, you better get ready because this boy means business," but what is most important is that he really loves it.

He has been hitting the ball over our fence for over a year now and our next door neighbor finally told us not to worry about ringing her door bell when he hits it over the fence but just to come on back anytime to get the baseball. 

Peyton has really just started watching baseball on TV the last 6 weeks and when you walk into the room he will tell you the score and if he can't read the team name will ask, "Mom, who is playing?" and then make some funny comments like, "I have a feeling this guy at ball is getting ready to SLAM it."

When Peyton comes home from school he either wants to go outside and play ball or watch a baseball game. We don't mind going outside to play with him but I keep trying to remind him that we live in one of the hottest places in the world and maybe we should wait until it cools off a bit.

When my husband or myself are pitching to Peyton in the backyard I ask him, "Are you ready?" and he always replies, "I was born ready."  

Our favorite baseball memory is a few months ago when I started following the news about Bryce Harper and his 502 ft baseball home run. I pulled him up on the Internet and they actually showed him hitting the ball and Peyton couldn't believe it. The next day Peyton asked me to take him to the ball park down the street to practice hitting and while we were there he kept getting frustrated and asked me, "Why can't I hit the ball over the fence like Bryce Harper or like I do at home?" and I explained to Peyton that Bryce isn't 5 years old and our backyard is a lot smaller than the ball field.

It really is exciting to see Peyton love the sport so much and my husband and I want to encourage him to play and to do his very best and to just enjoy it!

We watch you play a lot and I keep telling Peyton with lots of practice he could one day be a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves.