1
00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:05,160
Speaker 1: Welcome to Lively Lewis Stories. Buckle up because you're about

2
00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,119
Speaker 1: to join Levi and Ivy on an adventure. All you

3
00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:15,640
Speaker 1: need is your imagination and off we go Reavey Larous Stories. Hey,

4
00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,040
Speaker 1: they're awesome friends. Guess what, We're super thrilled to share

5
00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,520
Speaker 1: some exciting news with you. We've got our very own

6
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:26,040
Speaker 1: Lively Lewis merchandise. Who grab your parents and head over

7
00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,640
Speaker 1: to Livelylewishop dot com or simply click on the link

8
00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:37,200
Speaker 1: below in our show notes. Now, let's dive into today's story. Mollie.

9
00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,080
Speaker 1: Here's a pop up, called out Mollie's dad as he

10
00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,720
Speaker 1: threw a baseball high into the air. Mollie ran underneath

11
00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:45,320
Speaker 1: it and caught it without a problem in the glove

12
00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,240
Speaker 1: her mom and dad had given her last Christmas. Great job, Mollie,

13
00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,159
Speaker 1: nice catch, said her dad. Now throw it back to me.

14
00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:55,800
Speaker 1: Mollie always loved going to baseball games with her dad,

15
00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,840
Speaker 1: and as the years went by, he noticed she was

16
00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,880
Speaker 1: getting pretty good at playing in their backyard. She always

17
00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:02,480
Speaker 1: had a smile on her face when she was playing

18
00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,080
Speaker 1: baseball with her dad, and one day he had an idea.

19
00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:08,800
Speaker 1: You know what, Mollie, you've got quite the arm, and

20
00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:12,440
Speaker 1: your batting has really improved since last year, said her dad,

21
00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,800
Speaker 1: as they sat down on their deck to enjoy some lemonade.

22
00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:17,280
Speaker 1: What do you think about playing baseball and a real

23
00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,119
Speaker 1: team with some of your friends. Molly was only half

24
00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,679
Speaker 1: listening because her friends Levi and Ivy were supposed to

25
00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,959
Speaker 1: be over any minute to play. They had plan at

26
00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:26,759
Speaker 1: school that week that they were going to put together

27
00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:31,360
Speaker 1: a circus and perform it for everyone in the neighborhood. Yeah, sure, dad,

28
00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,320
Speaker 1: that sounds like it could be fun, said Molly as

29
00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,720
Speaker 1: she saw the backyard gate swing open. Hi, Levi, Hi, Ivy.

30
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,880
Speaker 1: Mollie jumped up and ran to meet her friends. Sounds good, honey,

31
00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,840
Speaker 1: I'll sign you up tonight, called her dad. He was

32
00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,440
Speaker 1: really excited that his daughter wanted to play baseball. It

33
00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,000
Speaker 1: was a special activity that they shared together and he

34
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,040
Speaker 1: was excited to watch her play. Maybe he would even

35
00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,360
Speaker 1: help coach your team. However, it turned out he was

36
00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,120
Speaker 1: the only one excited about it. Hi, Levi and Ivy,

37
00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,120
Speaker 1: said Mollie, running over to her friends. Are we ready

38
00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:08,000
Speaker 1: to put together the best circus this neighborhood has ever seen? Absolutely?

39
00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,400
Speaker 1: Exclaimed Levi. I want to be a clown, I tell joke,

40
00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,519
Speaker 1: spray water at the people in the crowd, and wear

41
00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,000
Speaker 1: silly clothes. That sounds like the perfect circus act for you,

42
00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,800
Speaker 1: Levi figgled Ivy. I'm going to be a tight rope walker,

43
00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,120
Speaker 1: just not so high up in the air, more like

44
00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,079
Speaker 1: I'll walk on a rope we lay on the ground,

45
00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,480
Speaker 1: but I'll be juggling while I do it. That sounds amazing,

46
00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,960
Speaker 1: said Mollie. And can you guess what I'm gonna be?

47
00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,320
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy didn't have to think twice before both

48
00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:41,000
Speaker 1: blurting out the acrobat gymnast. Of course, you're so good

49
00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:44,560
Speaker 1: at flips, cart willson tumbling. Everybody knows that, said Ivey.

50
00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,359
Speaker 1: I can't wait. This will be so much fun, said Mollie.

51
00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:52,840
Speaker 1: Let's get started. The three friends worked on their circus

52
00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,600
Speaker 1: acts all afternoon, only stopping a couple of times to

53
00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,840
Speaker 1: have some lemonade and a few chocolate chip cookies. Mollie,

54
00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,000
Speaker 1: can you tell Levi and I that their mom just

55
00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,160
Speaker 1: called and asked them to go home for dinner, called

56
00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,560
Speaker 1: Molly's mom from the back door. Sure, mom, said Molly.

57
00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,000
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy had heard her, and they said goodbye

58
00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:11,359
Speaker 1: to Molly, agreeing to meet the next day to continue

59
00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,560
Speaker 1: to work on the circus. Mollie ran inside and excitedly

60
00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,760
Speaker 1: started to tell her parents all about the circus they

61
00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,520
Speaker 1: were creating. She told them Levi was going to be

62
00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,600
Speaker 1: a clown and Ivy was going to be a juggling

63
00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,760
Speaker 1: tightrope walker. But before she got to tell her parents

64
00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:26,960
Speaker 1: that she was going to be the acrobat gymnast, her

65
00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,280
Speaker 1: dad interrupted her. Guess what, Mollie, I got you sign

66
00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:34,040
Speaker 1: up for baseball? Just in time, he said, excitedly. I

67
00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,160
Speaker 1: didn't know the last day to sign up was today.

68
00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,280
Speaker 1: You have practice tomorrow and you'll get to meet your

69
00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,000
Speaker 1: team and your coach. Molly looked at her dad a

70
00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,680
Speaker 1: bit confused. She had actually forgotten what their conversation was earlier,

71
00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:46,480
Speaker 1: and it took a second for her to process what

72
00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:51,840
Speaker 1: he was saying. Okay, thanks, dad, said Molly, signing a

73
00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,400
Speaker 1: little unsure. As long as I'm back in time to

74
00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,280
Speaker 1: practice for the circus with Levi and Ivy, we're running

75
00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,800
Speaker 1: through our acts again. Tomorrow. Practice is from three pm

76
00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,160
Speaker 1: to four pm after school, said her dad. You can

77
00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,080
Speaker 1: do your circus thing after that. I'm just so excited

78
00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,280
Speaker 1: you'll be playing baseball. Mollie's dad definitely seemed a lot

79
00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,280
Speaker 1: more excited than she was, but Molly didn't notice. She

80
00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,720
Speaker 1: was so excited about getting to show off her gymnastics

81
00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,440
Speaker 1: skills in the neighborhood circus that she really wasn't thinking

82
00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,000
Speaker 1: about too much more. She ran up to her room

83
00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,760
Speaker 1: and practiced her handstands and splits before dinner, and again

84
00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:27,320
Speaker 1: before she went to bed. Molly really loved gymnastics. The

85
00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,400
Speaker 1: next day, at school, Molly was talking with Levi and

86
00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,120
Speaker 1: Ivy about their circus when they asked what time they

87
00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,400
Speaker 1: should get together that afternoon. We can come over right

88
00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,560
Speaker 1: after school if you like, said Levi. Mollie quickly said yes,

89
00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:45,039
Speaker 1: but then she remembered that she had baseball practice. Oh wait,

90
00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,040
Speaker 1: I can't write after school because well, my dad he

91
00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:50,880
Speaker 1: signed me up for baseball and I have my first

92
00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:56,119
Speaker 1: practice today, said Molly. Sanni later side, you don't seem

93
00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:00,800
Speaker 1: too happy about it, said Ivy. It's it's okay. I'm

94
00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,560
Speaker 1: sure it'll be fine. It's just that I'm really really

95
00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,479
Speaker 1: excited about our circus, said Mollie. Just then the bell

96
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,839
Speaker 1: rang and they agreed to meet right when Molly got

97
00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,520
Speaker 1: home from practice. Mollie continued doing flips, tumbles, and twirls

98
00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,679
Speaker 1: as she walked back into school, which put a smile

99
00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,360
Speaker 1: on her face. In no time after school, Molly got

100
00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:21,279
Speaker 1: home to find her dad waiting for her in the house.

101
00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,440
Speaker 1: He was holding a big box that was wrapped in

102
00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:27,560
Speaker 1: paper covered in tiny baseballs. Is that for me? She

103
00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:32,240
Speaker 1: said excitedly. Is it something for the circus? No, Mollie,

104
00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,599
Speaker 1: it's for baseball, said her dad with a big smile.

105
00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,880
Speaker 1: Open it up. Mollie grabbed the box and opened it

106
00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,320
Speaker 1: up to reveal a new batting helmet, baseball bat, and cleats.

107
00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:43,640
Speaker 1: There was a baseball bag in the box too, to

108
00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,359
Speaker 1: carry all her new gear to the field. Molly just

109
00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,440
Speaker 1: looked at it now, realizing how real it all was.

110
00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,560
Speaker 1: She was going to be playing baseball. Thank you, Dad,

111
00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,279
Speaker 1: she said in a small voice. I really appreciate all

112
00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,560
Speaker 1: of this. Okay, let's get ready to go to the

113
00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:03,119
Speaker 1: field and try it all out, said her dad. Get changed,

114
00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,000
Speaker 1: I'll be waiting for you in the car. Mollie slowly

115
00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,159
Speaker 1: walked up to her room and got changed. In no

116
00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:09,880
Speaker 1: time at all, she was at the field with her

117
00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:14,760
Speaker 1: dad again. He was much more excited than she was. Mollie,

118
00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,880
Speaker 1: you're just nervous, said her dad as she reluctantly slept

119
00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,840
Speaker 1: out of the car. He could tell she wasn't happy.

120
00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:23,839
Speaker 1: You just need to get used to playing on a

121
00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,640
Speaker 1: team and you'll be fine in no time. Mollie didn't

122
00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,479
Speaker 1: want to disappoint her dad. Baseball was kind of their

123
00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,760
Speaker 1: thing together and she wanted to make him happy. She

124
00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,120
Speaker 1: walked to the field with him, dragging her giant baseball

125
00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,719
Speaker 1: dad behind her. Hi, you must be, Mollie, said her coach.

126
00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:41,720
Speaker 1: I'm coach Jen, and we're happy to have you join

127
00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,760
Speaker 1: our team this year. I'm happy to be here, said

128
00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,320
Speaker 1: Molly in a whisper. Her dad tries his best to

129
00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,760
Speaker 1: make her comfortable, but it just wasn't working. Mollie, what's wrong,

130
00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,280
Speaker 1: asked her dad. You always seem so happy when we're

131
00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,719
Speaker 1: playing baseball in the backyard. I know, Dad, this is

132
00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:04,159
Speaker 1: just it's just different, Molly began. I like playing catch

133
00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:07,000
Speaker 1: with you. I just don't know how I'll like playing

134
00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:10,160
Speaker 1: on a team. It's okay, just give it a try,

135
00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,480
Speaker 1: said Molly's dad, trying to encourage her. Mollie called out,

136
00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,680
Speaker 1: Coach Jen, you get shirt number one? That's a pretty

137
00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,280
Speaker 1: special number to have. That's great, Mollie, said her dad,

138
00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:24,120
Speaker 1: giving her a thumbs up from the bleachers. But Mollie

139
00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:27,040
Speaker 1: didn't think it was great, and finally couldn't hide it anymore.

140
00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,200
Speaker 1: Mollie ran off the field, crying and into the back

141
00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,640
Speaker 1: seat of her dad's car. Her dad followed her and

142
00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,400
Speaker 1: was worried that she wasn't feeling well. Honey, what's wrong,

143
00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:37,720
Speaker 1: said her dad, sitting down next to her in the

144
00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,600
Speaker 1: back seat. Mollie still didn't want to disappoint him and

145
00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,800
Speaker 1: didn't know how to tell him that she didn't want

146
00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,960
Speaker 1: to play baseball. She kept asking her questions, trying to

147
00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:47,720
Speaker 1: find out a way to help his daughter. When she

148
00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,280
Speaker 1: finally exclaimed, I don't want to play baseball, her dad

149
00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:55,040
Speaker 1: sat back, looking really surprised. What do you mean, Mollie.

150
00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,080
Speaker 1: You told me you wanted to play the other day,

151
00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,560
Speaker 1: said her dad, sounding confused. Well, that's the thing. I

152
00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,880
Speaker 1: wasn't really listening, dad, I was thinking about Levi and

153
00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,280
Speaker 1: Ivy coming over to put together our circus, said Molly.

154
00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:11,080
Speaker 1: It felt really good to finally be honest with her dad.

155
00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,320
Speaker 1: I was really excited about being the acrobat gymnast and

156
00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,320
Speaker 1: that was all I could think about. I'm sorry if

157
00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,920
Speaker 1: I hurt your feelings. I love playing catch with you.

158
00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,320
Speaker 1: I just don't want to play on a team. Molly's

159
00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,320
Speaker 1: dad was quiet for a minute and then gave Molly

160
00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:30,040
Speaker 1: a big hug. I'm not disappointed and I'm not upset,

161
00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,320
Speaker 1: he said. I always want you to be honest with me.

162
00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,760
Speaker 1: I never want you to do an activity that you

163
00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,000
Speaker 1: don't want to do. Your mom and I just want

164
00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,400
Speaker 1: you to be happy. Just tell us what you are

165
00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,600
Speaker 1: interested in. Molly hugged her dad and said, gymnastics. I

166
00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,400
Speaker 1: really love gymnastics. Do you think you and mom could

167
00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,960
Speaker 1: sign me up for some lessons? I never knew you

168
00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:53,240
Speaker 1: liked gymnastics, Molly said her dad. I'm sorry. I really

169
00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,400
Speaker 1: should have asked you what things interested you and not

170
00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,679
Speaker 1: assumed that you like the things that I like all

171
00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:02,360
Speaker 1: the time. Thank you, dad, said Mollie. That really makes

172
00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,160
Speaker 1: me feel so good to hear you say that. You

173
00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:10,040
Speaker 1: know we'll be proud of you no matter what you do, baseball, music, theater, gymnastics,

174
00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,880
Speaker 1: whatever you choose. Your Mom and I know that you'll

175
00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,400
Speaker 1: be amazing, said Molly's dad, And we will be there

176
00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:20,400
Speaker 1: cheering you all the way. Molly's dad explained what was

177
00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,480
Speaker 1: going on to Coach Jen and said that Molly wouldn't

178
00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,120
Speaker 1: be joining the team after all. Coach Jen was very

179
00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,640
Speaker 1: understanding and let Molly know that if she ever decided

180
00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:29,480
Speaker 1: to come back to baseball, they would be here waiting

181
00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,160
Speaker 1: for her and good luck with gymnastics. Molly got home

182
00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,440
Speaker 1: and told Levi and Ivy about what happened as they

183
00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,720
Speaker 1: practiced for the circus. That's great that you finally told

184
00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,480
Speaker 1: your dad what you really want to do, said Ivy.

185
00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,760
Speaker 1: Now you can concentrate on being the best gymnast ever.

186
00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,839
Speaker 1: We know you'll be great, added Levi. Now let's get

187
00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,040
Speaker 1: in some more practice so you can show your parents

188
00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,280
Speaker 1: just how great you'll be. That weekend, Levi, Ivy, and

189
00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,800
Speaker 1: Mollie performed their circus for their parents and some friends

190
00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,760
Speaker 1: in the neighborhood. It was a huge success, and the

191
00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:04,240
Speaker 1: star of the show was Mollie the amazing acrobat gymnast.

192
00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,680
Speaker 1: It was that day that Molly's parents saw the excitement

193
00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,200
Speaker 1: in her eyes when she was tumbling, twirling, and flipping.

194
00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,160
Speaker 1: They knew she had made the right decision to leave

195
00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,160
Speaker 1: baseball and focus on something She truly loved, and from

196
00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,680
Speaker 1: that day on, Mollie dedicated all her free time to gymnastics.

197
00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:33,920
Speaker 1: She loved every minute of it, and so did her parents.

198
00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,559
Speaker 1: Did you learn a lesson from this story? A sou

199
00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:43,040
Speaker 1: what was it? And parents, do your kids have a

200
00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,079
Speaker 1: story idea? Leave a comment on our Apple podcast review

201
00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,440
Speaker 1: page with five stars, the idea, and your kid's name

202
00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,280
Speaker 1: for a chance to join Levi and Ivy on their

203
00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,880
Speaker 1: next adventure. Until next time, thanks for listening, Come back

204
00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:05,320
Speaker 1: for more. Stu