Our Garth is once again chasing one of his dreams. He's taught us well. He's been a constant source of inspiration to us. He's sung about it. He's talked about it. He's believed in it. Now, he's doing it. He's doing something for the children who are our future. He's doing it by living out one of his dreams.

So what's the problem? Well, many have doubted his decision. He did say that this was to be a year off. This was to be a year to concentrate on family and getting back to the basics with his writing and to pursue the film projects.

There have been some who have felt a bit, shall I say, betrayed, by his up and joining Spring Training with the Padres. Some have balked at the idea that once again, he'd ask Sandy, Taylor, August, and Allie to disrupt their lives for him. What those people need to ask themselves is, who are we to judge what is best for them? How are we to know what they want or do not want to do with their lives? When did we become the ones who decided what is best for them, in their marriage, and in their child-rearing skills? How can we possibly know what their personal long term goals are for their marriage, for each other, and for the girls?

Sure, I've said it myself. Garth Brooks, do you, can you, comprehend what it means to relax? I've said it jokingly and with love. If relaxing to him, means running himself into the ground doing wind sprints. If relaxing to him, means getting hit in the head till he's dizzy. If relaxing to him, means dealing with a sore arm and ribs that ache from a hit from a ball. If relaxing to him, means swinging a bat two hundred times a day and then picking up all the balls. If relaxing to him, means encouraging others and trying his best. If relaxing to him, means standing at a fence when he's so tired and would just like a hot shower, but instead signing autographs for two hours. If relaxing to him, means he's chasing a lifelong childhood dream and promoting a children's charity. If relaxing to him, means he knows in his heart that it's his name and not his ball skills that got him where he is. If relaxing to him, means that he can give his girls the experience of having a Daddy who can be a man but who has the heart and soul of a child. If relaxing to him, means he walks into the door and falls into Sandy's arms exhausted and is surrounded by little girl giggles. Then, Garth, by all means...keep on relaxing!

I cannot fault the man for pursuing a dream. And, the very reason I can't is the statement I've heard him make in numerous interviews. He's not kidding anyone. He's not kidding himself. He knows it's his name that got him where he is. And, in my opinion, if he can use that name, if he can go to Spring Training and use it to promote the Touch Em All Foundation, then it is a very honorable deed. If more athletes, entertainers, corporate sponsors, and other high profile people would only do the same, can you imagine the amount of money, not to mention awareness, that could be raised for the children?

I've never doubted that Garth's intentions were true with this. I didn't get mad when he went to Arizona and the media jumped on it like stink on um...well...you know! I read the articles. They were what I expected. Some called it a publicity ploy to string along the fans while he decided whether he still wanted a music career. Some called it an ego trip. Some called it a ridiculous gesture to reclaim some lost childhood fantasy. Some called it an embarrassment to baseball. Some called it a power play, just another grand gesture to throw his name around and get what he wanted...just because he could.

Me? I just call it a "Garth thing to do." Garth, he calls it "time to put up or shut up." Personally, just between us Garth, I think we're both right!

To me, its just like Garth to take time off, to NOT take time off. I expected as much when the tour ended. I expected him to move onto different things. I expected there to be music projects, possibly some film projects. I expected him to play some baseball, do some writing, and for there to be some time spent away from the public eye with Sandy and their girls. I expected him to get this dream off the ground to help the children with the Touch Em All Foundation. I didn't expect him to go sit on GBhill and watch the hay grow for a year. That, is just not Garth.

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. I'll probably say it a million more. Garth is nothing...if not...unpredictable. That is the only predictable thing you can count on with Garth, is his unpredictability. He's a man of extremes. We've all seen it. With Garth, it's all or none at all. He'll hit you with what you least expect, at the most unexpected moment, and it's one of the reasons we love him like we do.

He's a dreamer. That dreamer is mixed with just enough realism to know that getting this Foundation for the children to work, is going to take a lot of work. It will take making himself accessible. It will take an extreme amount of focus and attention. It will take a lot of personal time, effort, and sweat. Possibly it will take some pain and some tears. It will take making an example of himself. Being willing to put himself on the line. Being able to put his reputation on the line. He's more than willing. He's proven that already.

Now, I must say that I'm beginning to see a different direction in the interviews and published articles about Garth and his "silly" dream to play ball. Suddenly, it doesn't seem quite so "silly" anymore. Suddenly, it doesn't seem quite so egotistical anymore. Suddenly, it doesn't seem to be such a publicity stunt anymore. Suddenly, it doesn't seem to be so unrealistic anymore. Suddenly, it seems, dare I say? Almost admirable?

Garth Brooks has once again did for me what he's done so many times before. He's made me proud. He's made me proud to call myself a "believer." He's made me proud of the man who sings the music that speaks to the deepest part of my heart. He's made me proud of the man I humbly call my friend. He's made me proud of the man who chased a dream. He's made me proud of the man who was willing to put his own reputation on the line if it meant helping needy children. He's made me proud of the man who along with Mr. Dudley "Bo" Mitchell was Co-Founder of a charity that will benefit the future of the children who live in our world. He's made me proud of the man who was willing to take a chance. He's made me so proud to call myself a fan. Not just a fan of the music...but a fan of the man himself.

Most of all, Garth Brooks has made me proud of the legacy that he will someday leave behind. I saw something yesterday that made me smile. It made me cry, tears full of happiness, inspiration, and pride. I read that Garth saved his first three broken bats for Taylor, August, and Allie. He wrote on each a personal message. The essence of each message though, was the same. "You CAN do anything you want."

One day, all too soon, those girls will be grown. They will look at those bats and cherish them. They will remember the spring that their Daddy took a chance. They will remember the spring that he chased a little boy's dream. They will remember the spring that he launched a Foundation for children who so desperately needed a helping hand. They will remember a spring when they went to Arizona and watched Daddy swing a bat, throw a ball, run around the bases. They will remember a spring when the fans put the music aside but still supported their Daddy and his dreams. They will remember that this time, the fans didn't come for the music. This time they came for the man.

That is truly a legacy that speaks for itself.

Touch Em All. Yes, Garth you can. Yes, Garth you will. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.

It's a strong message, one that carries a lot of responsibility. It's a message that we all need to hear. A message we all need to believe. A message we all need to support.

Granted, few of us have the financial capabilities to support Touch Em All with donations like the ball players, entertainers, and corporations can. But, what if we went to our employers, what if we told them about Touch Em All? What if we gave our own monetary support, in whatever capacity we could? What if we volunteered our time to do what we could to help spread the word that Touch Em All was a worthy contribution? What if we encouraged local small town ball teams to make donations? What if we encouraged our own children to take part in Touch Em All in whatever way they can? Small things I know. But, every big dream once started small.

Ask yourself, what can YOU do to support the Touch Em All Foundation? Together, WE can do anything. And, just think, of the legacy it will leave behind.