Special needs baseball teams at the YMCA in Onalaska, WI will be joining the Miracle League and getting a customized field. Plans were announced at a press conference where the orignal 9 league players were joined by major league baseball players: Minnesota Twins hall of famer Harmon Killebrew and Milwalkee Brewer & Arizona Diamond Backs local great Damian Miller.

The new league has almost half the money needed to complete the project. The Harmon Killebrew Foundation, the Miracle League and many community organizations are helping to fund the new field and give more children the opportunity to play baseball.

Do you ever wonder why you're doing it? Why you're spending so much time, energy and money on activities for your kids? Yes, your kids benefit, but sometimes it's easy to wonder if it really matters.

My gymnast daughter is a very stoic competitor. She is extremely focused. About the only emotion we see during a meet is anger or frustration when she's having a hard time, otherwise she shows sheer determination, or nothing. Meet after meet I wonder if it really means anything to her.

Then there are those moments . . . I had one this past weekend.

She's been struggling with a particular skill. In her last meet, she stuck it. Yes, she fought for it, but she held it and for a brief moment when she moved into her arms-up ta-da pose I saw a smile cross her lips. I actually grabbed the mom sitting next to me and exclaimed, "My kid smiled!"

I have replayed that over and over in my mind. I want to remember it because it may be a long time before I see her smile about her accomplishments again. But I know. I know her sport means something to her. I know she recognizes her accomplishments. And I know every dime, every minute, every mile is worth it.

Girl Scouts of the USA introduced the first of their Leadership Journeys this fall (2008) as part of their transformation and updated program, the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience. I've spent a lot of time with the materials and although I am a bit unsure about the Leadership Journeys, have opted to go ahead and work through it with my Junior Girl Scouts.

Last night I introduced the Journey to my Juniors and we jumped in to begin our trip. It was a little awkward trying to get the girls to think about themselves and open up, but overall I think it was a positive experience.

• Read the Introduction to our Agent of Change Journey
• Read about our first session with Agent of Change, a Journey for Junior Girl Scouts.

Check back over the next few weeks to follow our experience with Agent of Change, a Junior Journey in the It's Your World, Change It! series.

With the Salmonella outbreak in peanut butter, both Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Smart Cookies are assuring consumers that their peanut butter Girl Scout cookies are not contaminated and are safe to eat.

Little Brownie Bakers makes Do-Si-Dos, a peanut butter sandwich cookie, and Tagalongs, a chocolate covered cookie with peanut butter center. Both are popular cookies in my council, supplies by Little Brownie Bakers.

ABC makes Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies and Peanut Butter Patties (similar to the Tagalongs).

Both cookie companies and GSUSA have published news releases stating that they do not use peanut butter is not from the Peanut Corporation of America, the company being investigated. They assure the public that their products have been thoroughly tested and exceed industry industry standards.

So, enjoy your cookies without worry. I know I will.

• Learn more about Girl Scouts
• Little Brownie Bakers peanut butter statement
• ABC Smart Cookie site -- click the "Peanut Butter Cookies are Safe" image for their statement

Well it's hard to believe, we're barely into January and I've already started seeing signs around my town for Little League baseball sign ups. I know many of you are looking out your window at snow, but I guess spring is fast approaching and with spring, baseball.

If your child likes to play, or wants to learn, it's time to start looking at your local options. Other than the banners sprouting along roadsides, here are some places to look for teams:

• Little League Baseball and Softball: Ages 5 and up. The little ones play T-ball. Older kids play baseball and softball. Local play, plus state, regional and national tournaments. And don't forget the Little League World Series.
• PONY Baseball and Softball: Baseball and softball for ages 5 and up. Plus tournament play/
• USSSA - United States Specialtly Sports Association: A mult-sports organization offering baseball and softball to kids of all ages.
• AAU - Amateur Athletic Union: a multi-sports organization offering baseball and softball to kids of all ages
• Little League Challenger Division: Baseball for challenged children, a division of Little League baseball.
• Miracle League: baseball for special needs children

And don't forget to check your local YMCA, community center or parks and recreation department for more options in your area.

Some councils have already begun selling and others will be selling shortly, but it is definitely that time of year -- Girl Scout Cookie Time!

Cookie sales is the major fund raiser for the Girl Scouts of the USA organization. Girls across the country will be selling them in 2 stages:

1. Pre-Orders: The girls will be calling Grandma and Auntie Jane. They may be knocking on your door all dressed up in uniform. Mom or dad may help out with orders at work. Choose some cookies and place your order for delivery. Your Scout will let you know when you can expect them.
   
   
2. Cookie Booths: It won't be long before you see the Girls with their leaders outside your local department store or grocery store, maybe even a video rental place, with a table full of tempting boxes. Stop by and grab some.

Your purchase helps Girl Scouts at all levels. Each troop gets a portion of what they sell. They can then use the money for anything that benifits the troop from craft supplies to field trips, even overnights. Each local council gets a portion to help them fund and develop programming for the girls in their area. And of course GSUSA gets a portion to help them keep going, too.

In the last few years, Girl Scout cookies have gone through some changes -- removing trans fats from many varieties, adding sugar free cookies. This year there are a couple new ones to try in addition to old favorites, so you're sure to fine one you'll like.

If you don't want to purchase cookies for yourself, many troops participate in the "Gift of Caring" program where they donate cookies to a local charity of their choice or send the money through to purchase cookies for "Operation Cookie Drop" which sends cookies to our military men and women overseas. The Girl Scouts still get their funds and in addition someone else benefits, so this is a great option.

One major point to remember -- Girl Scouts are not supposed to be selling cookies over the internet. Yes, if you personally know a Girl Scout she may send you an e-mail asking you to buy some cookies, but you should not see cookies being sold on Web sites. Girls aren't supposed to sell them on personal or family sites, places like My Space, or any auction sites. GSUSA takes online safety very seriously, so while it's definitely tempting to buy cookies this way if you see them -- yes, I'm an internet geek, too -- please buy your cookies personally from a Girl Scout.

And enjoy them!

The Pee Dee area of South Carolina offers a great program -- Junior Explorers -- which gives Boy Scouts (just the boys, not the girl Venture Scouts) from 14 years old the chance to learn about firefighting. The youth can take certain SC Fire Academy classes and they participate in a rank system group similar to an actual fire department system.

These kids even respond to fires, helping with the hoses and equipment. They are First Aid and CPR trained so they can help if a firefighter gets injured, but they aren't allowed on medical calls until they are at least 18 so they may be more prepared for the scenes they may witness.

Reportedly, many of the kids go on to become firefighters themselves. I'm sure even those that don't have a greater appreciation for the job these men and women do and are better people themselves for participating. It's a great opportunity for Boy Scouts in the area. I hope other areas are offering it. If your child is interested it wouldn't hurt to ask.

As part of a major Girl Scout realignment, GSUSA is merging 309 councils into 109. At least that's the plan.

The Girl Scouts of Manitou Council isn't so happy about it. According to an article in the Fond du Lac Reporter, "The realignment would have split the Manitou Council three ways and redistributed assets." Manitou Council is believes they would lose their campgrounds and other properties they've put time and money into. More importantly, they believe it would not produce a good outcome for their members and volunteers.

The Seventh Circuit Court in Milwaukee ruled in favor of Manitou Council, prohibiting GSUSA from forcing the merger. GSUSA will proceed with the matter and has a status hearing set for January 5.

• Girl Scouts Win Court Appeal (fdlreporter.com)
• GSUSA plans for realignment
• Council Mergers and Other Changes to Girl Scouts
• Girl Scout Basics

Gymnastics is an intense sport, perhaps the original "extreme" sport. Kids run, flip, fly and swing higher, faster, harder. It's really no surprise gymnasts get injured from time to time

As a gymnastics mom, I wait for that call from the coach. Although she's come home with ankles, knees or wrists taped from time to time my daughter's not had a serious injuries. Yet.

Now a new study by Dr. Dwek and Dr. Chung of the radiology faculty at the University of California, San Diego reports a new problem among gymnasts involving the bones in the hands and wrists. They suggest the injuries may cause the kids problems in the future. The sample group was small, only a dozen gymnasts in a group of 125 children, but it is always something to watch.

As always, the best preventative for this, and any sports injury, is to make sure your kid is training at a safe facility with properly trained coaches and that she understands the safety rules. If her coach recommends braces or supports, such as the Golden Hands wrist supports my daughter now wears for her wrist complaints, be sure to get them. They are well worth the cost.

Junior Achievement is holding their annual Excellence through Ethics Essay Contest. The winner will recieve a $5000 scholarship to the accredited college or university of her choice.

Contest details are on the JA Web site along with a story that lays out an ethical dilemma to which the student must respond in his essay. You can also read the winning essays from 2007 and 2008.

Junior Achievement and Junior Achievement Afterschool provide business education for kids in elementary school through high school.