A WHY?? and a WOW!!

DS 4 is officially in the tween years. He turned 11 a few weeks ago. I have to say that these years (between 10 and 14) have not been my favorites for any of the guys. It's such a time of transition for them. I've been thinking a lot about how each of the first three navigated these waters and praying especially for DS 4 as he takes his turn. And, of course, it makes me reflective!

Today I was at the store with him. He was spending his birthday money from his grandparents. While there, he wanted something and I said "no". He's definitely mastered the art of trying to persuade. In fact, I was thinking today that this skill should serve him well on our state writing exam in the 8th grade where he'll likely have to write a persuasive essay. Still, like most of us, his list of "reasons" can often sound like whining.

Like any younger sibling, they LOVE to throw the "But so-and-so got such-and-such and you didn't say no..." While listening to it (and practicing the art of not feuling it) I saw a young Mother stroll by with three kids in the cart. The one in the front looked to be an older toddler or even young preK child. He had a HUGE pacifier sticking out of his mouth. I confess my FIRST thought was "Wow, he seems to be a bit old for THAT!" Followed quickly by this thought, "Why don't they make a pacifier for the tween set?" At least I might be able to elicit a little peace and quiet when it's needed.

Honestly, right after that I could only imagine how many times someone might like to have one for ME! I am sure there's times the boys would like for me to just be quiet. And likewise I'm sure DH has had that thought a time or three or four! Add to that my friends, my extended family, my colleagues and God. While I try not to do it often...I know that we all have our "whiny moments" when we are behaving like the child we used to be---pleading to have things just our way.

I prayed then that God would help me recognize it when it rises in me. I also whispered a prayer of thanks that my kids really ARE past that age. I know that no age or stage lasts forever---thank goodness!

And in the WoW! department.

While we were out shopping, I took back an iPod player that I purchased a few weeks ago back to Target. Here's the deal...I couldn't find the receipt. I didn't have the box, the instruction manual...or anything else but the player and the little things that came with it. It seemed to be working fine on all accounts BUT when you put the iPod in it, nothing comes out. Soooo...I went with the purpose of having someone help me with it or calling the company so I could figure it out.

I didn't even KNOW which credit card I used!

I packed up all the pieces I did have in a pampered chef box and took it to customer service. The lady at the counter said, "You need to go back to electronics and find the exact model and then I can look it up on one of your cards." DS 4 and I found it on display, but no boxes. The girl back there wrote all pertinent information down for me. We picked out an alternate model and returned to the front desk.

I gave the lady the number and she found it in about two seconds flat! She scanned the new machine and I was out the door in about 15 minutes total! Not ONE question asked. AMAZING!

Soooo....there ya' go a WHY? and a WOW! from my neck of the woods! Happy Saturday!

In my yard...In my life...

Things have been crazy (as usual) around my house this Spring/Summer! The kids are all busy with different things and I DO want to give an update. I just had to share these other pictures first.

We have been watching these little baby sandhill cranes for a few months now. In the photo below you can see how much they have GROWN! It's been fun to watch them change. Each time the four of them "drop by" for some food, I am amazed!

OK to update you on the family:

DS 1 finished his Basic/AIT training for Army National Guard. He is home now and will start school at University of Florida in the fall. He looks great and I LOVE having him here! I'll tell ya' though, he came home a different young man. Not that there was a lot to change, but it's a pleasure to know he's on a path that he is enjoying.

DS 2 just finished a very intense week of acting/modeling/talent competition. He got six call-backs and may be doing some local work for advertisers here in the area. It was a fabulous experience for him! DH and DS 3 accompanied him for the week-long event. Their day started at 7:30am and they were rarely done before 10:30 or 11:00 at night. It was an amazing event for all of them. DH and DS 3 went to classes and served as an extra set of eyes and ears for all the learning that took place. It will be neat to see where this takes him.

DS 3 is doing quite well. I don't know if I blogged it or not, but he was selected the sophomore class president for next year. Hard to believe that the first high school year passed so quickly. He flew with DH out to DS 1's graduation in Texas and had a great time.

DS 4 is doing quite well also. He was selected as a news anchor for our school's morning news next year. It's amazing to me that this little man (who was just a baby when I started working there) only has one more year of elementary school. He won a fishing charter at our end of the year carnival. DH, DS 1 and he went today. He caught a redfish and was so happy to be out on the water.

I wish I had photos of all of them to stick in here, but I don't. I'm between computers and I'll need to dig up some from other computers. Soo...the cranes and DS 4 will have to do. I'll add more as I can.

Is this the little girl she carried??

Do you remember the song, "Sunrise/Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof? A portion of it goes like this:

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older.
When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be this tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?

Sunrise, sunset.
Sunrise, sunset.
Swiftly flow the days.
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.

Sunrise, sunset.
Sunrise, sunset.
Swiftly fly the years.
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.

Last year, I watched as DS 1 graduated High School. It was hard. I was weepy! Heck, I'm still weepy at times as I see him taking on more and more as a young adult!

Tonight I sat with one of my dearest friends whose daughter is leaving her this weekend to go off to college. I still remember leaving for college myself! How can it be that we have kids old enough to do this? She's weepy (and for good reason)! I'm not sure I had any words to say...but then I don't think you need words in moments like these. You need to know that as the sands of time shift...and one season follows another...that there are things that are steadfast. You need to know that no matter what happens, God is in control, and that you have family and friends who love you no matter what.

I realized that DS 2 is really not that far behind my first-born or my friend's last-born. He, too, is "growing up"...it's hard to watch. And it's so true....swiftly flow the days!

I don't remember growing older, when did they?

Thanksgiving Memories....

Since I'm Counting My Blessings this week, AND it's Monday Memory time, I thought I'd share some Thanksgiving Memories with you.

As a child, I remember traveling to Georgia a few times on Thanksgiving to visit my Grandparents. We usually had some other extended family there...Aunts, Uncles, Cousins. It was always cooler there than it was in Florida. I loved the "crispness" of all of it. The day was always filled with parades, food and football (both indoors and outdoors).

I can picture Grandpa sitting in "his chair" right next to the sliding glass door. He was always ready to let a kid or the dog in or out. He'd play "Ladies go pace, pace, pace" (or as he said it, "paize, paize, paize") with the youngest children in the room....or he'd "whisper" in your ear...which meant a great deal of laughter was coming. I miss him so much.

As we grew older, we celebrated in Florida more often and Grandma and Grandpa would come down here. The day was always the same though...the same food, the same parades, the same football...and the SAME FUN!!

I still remember the first year DH and I were married. We traveled to Georgia for Thanksgiving. I was a couple months pregnant and didn't feel good. It was an emotional rollercoaster for me...and probably HORMONE H#!! for my DH. Thank goodness he didn't just turn around and "run"...instead he loved me as he always has...he put up with the rollercoaster and was ever-patient with my emotions. Now I look back and laugh at that year...trying to be the perfect "just married/just pregnant" couple...who were we (OK who was I) trying to kid?????

We have traveled to Tennessee twice in the past decade or so for Thanksgiving. This is always fun as it puts a whole new "spin" on the holiday. We again were able to meet with our extended families and enjoy the crispness and delights of the holiday together.

I have "hosted" Thanksgiving in my own home several times in the past few years as well. I enjoy the preparation...I enjoy the fullness of the house...the love and joy that permeates every crevice as we converge on the holiday. It's a holiday that really has no expectations other than to enjoy (and be thankful for) those you love and the blessings you have.

For us, there are many....and those make the BEST MEMORIES!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK, EVERYONE!!

Brand New Meme

Marytagged me with this interesting and meaningful meme:

1. Favorite memory of your mother? My Mother is pretty spontaneous. I think one of my favorite things that makes me smile is thinking about her hearing sirens and saying, "Let's go see what happened!" Or, all the times we just stayed home and laughed and enjoyed each other. One thing we used to do at home is sit together on the piano bench and play and sing through the hymnal. I loved that! I am so glad that she took the time and felt the conviction to raise us in the church. I know it has set my entire life on a path that is filled with blessings.

2. Favorite memory of your father? I think family vacations would have to be my favorite memories here. We'd travel and listen to Eight Track Tapes (some of you aren't even old enough to remember these!) and sing and laugh. I also remember when we'd ask what time it was, he'd reply, "What time do you have to be there?" His likes to make sure people around him are laughing and having a good time. If this meant that HE needed to provide the humor, he would (and does).

3. What one skill would you like to wake up tomorrow and be able to do (though you'd never learned it)? OK this is kind of strange. I wish I could have learned to do a cartwheel. I tried. It wasn't in my genes, I guess.

4. Which one of your dreams has come true?Besides my wonderful husband and family (which is definitely my #1 dream come true...I have been able to be in a career to which I felt called. I have not only been able to touch a small class of kids, but have seen God expand my horizons by letting me work in classrooms and schools all around the country.

I'm tagging: Heather (when she's feeling better), Dan, and Lynn (I'm hoping that Dan and/or Lynn tag Greg--hint, hint!)

A Big Ol' Ah-Hah!

I went to the doctor yesterday. I was supposed to have a birthmark removed from my face. Now, I have had this thing since I was little. It doesn't really bother me. My dermatologist just suggested that I go ahead and get it taken off because now I'm in my 40's. (I won't even go there.)Because of its proximity to my eye, I had to go to a plastic surgeon. I'd never met him before. I was told that they would evaluate and do the surgery on the same day.

At 2:00, I walked into the exam room. At 2:10, this KID walked into the room. OK he was the doctor, but he looked like he could be my son. He took a look at it and told me, "If it were my eye, I wouldn't do it." He gave me a couple of reasons. Told me it was OK. I thanked him and left. No charge.

One month ago, I had to get a new dermatologist because mine moved. The PA in the office saw me on my first visit. She is a YOUNG lady who acted more like a high school cheerleader than a medical professional.

About that same time, I was watching our local news when they got a new sports person. He, too, looks like a BABY!!!

Last night, this was obviously on my mind as all of these incidents were merging in my mind. I was at the PTA meeting at my school and this BOY walked into the room. He looked dissheveled and truly like he didn't belong there. My assistant principal thought perhaps it was a neighborhood kid there to start trouble. My principal walked up to him. Imagine our surprise when he announced that he was a reporter with our local paper there to cover our meeting!

I was stunned.

On the way home, I realized something. I don't FEEL older, but I must be getting OLDER. I'm crossing a line of sorts where the new work force are actually kids that I may have taught in my first years of teaching. I may have changed their diapers as a baby sitter before I started teaching.

As I watched people much older than me in the doctor's office yesterday, I wanted to ask them HOW they get used to it. How do you get used to the fact that the "professional" could be your child...or worse, your grandchild? And how do you get your mind to trust them to do their jobs?

And the question that is most heavy on my mind....

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

Did I Ever Tell You About....

How I spent my weekly allowance?

When I was young, we lived in a neighborhood that was quiet. It was one of those places that you could walk or ride your bike around and no one was going to worry that you'd be taken. There were many many kids in our neighborhood. At the edge of it was a small "mall". Back then the mall had a few stores and just meant there was an indoor corridor. The "anchor store" at this little tiny mall was Zayer's. Now for those of you who have never heard of Zayer's, it was the precursor to Walmart and Target...kind of the KMart calliber.

Every Saturday, I'd get a dollar from my Mom. We'd hop on our bikes and ride up to Zayer's. The front wall was lined with 45 records. Again, for those of you too young to remember, this did not mean that there were 45 (as in the count) records but records that played at 45 RPM's (rotations per minute) on a record player. They cost 49 cents. Every Saturday, my friends and I would buy a 45 and bring it home and play it again and again and again on a small (non-stereo) record player. I remember buying The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Locomotion, Everything I Own (by Bread), Little Willy, Seasons in the Sun, and Crocodile Rock.

After we had our records, my friends and I would practice singing and dancing to them and plan neighborhood variety shows. It was great fun. Those were certainly simpler times....that make me smile even now!

Have a GREAT week!!

Monday Memory

Did I ever tell you about the time(s)....

We'd go to the lake? Every year when I was about 5 - 7 years old, we would go out to the "Lake" for extended visits with friends. I don't know what lake it was. I know it was (is) somewhere in Florida (near the Tampa Bay Area). But, if I wanted to find it today, I couldn't. I also remember that it seemed to take us forever to get out there and now it's only about a 25 - 30 minute drive from my childhood home.

The Thompson's owned the property. We would go out there with three or four other families and all their children. I think there were about 10 - 15 kids and 8 - 10 adults. es. The Moms (all stay at home) would take us out during the week and then the Dads would join us on the weekends after work.

The property housed a trailer. I can't remember if it was double wide or not, but I know we crammed in there for sleeping purposMost of our days at the lake were spent swimming and fishing, though.

We used to build sand castles called "dribble castles". We would dribble wet sand on our masterpieces for hours until we had a work of art.

We fished for bream using bread or hotdogs for bait. We scooped up minnows into cups and determined we would take them home to put into our own aquariums (I don't think this ever happened).

We swam and swam. There was a floating dock and a rope swing near the shore. We would play "King of the Mountain" on the floating dock. Everyone would stand on the dock and try to not get knocked off. The last person standing was the King of the Mountain.

One of the Dad's, Mike, who was a prankster loved to go "get" a creature from the bottom of the lake and bring "her" up to scare us. He would go to the bottom, cover his entire head with seaweed and grass from the bottom then come up and talk in a funny voice. I think I was scared of this at first, but soon came to LOVE "her" visits!

I remember eating my first pimento cheese sandwich there and okra (not necessarily at the same meal). I didn't really like either of them. I also remember waiting VERY impatiently after every meal the "required" 15 minutes so we wouldn't get an "upset stomach" from swimming. I don't think I have ever made my children do this, but we sure had to. It was painstaking and long.

I don't know why we don't have any pictures from these visits. There were so many of them, and to my knowledge, none are recorded in photos. I can still see it though. I can picture the shore where we played. I can almost smell the fresh water. I can hear the laughter and giggles of children playing for hours upon end (with no TV or game system)and adults who were genuine friends and enjoyed just sitting and gabbing with each other.

In the words of an old song...."Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end..."

Monday Memory

Since I pretty much gave you all my weekend window as a play by play, I have decided to do a Monday Memory for my blog today. In honor of going back to school this week (for teachers) and next (for students), I thought I'd do a memory of my own school days.

Did I Ever Tell You About My Elementary School Teachers?

I attended a small school in Tampa. The school, Riverhills, was a neighborhood school with VERY few students bussed in. I started there as a first grader (no mandatory K back then) in 1970. I went there all the way through Elementary until I was bussed to the sixth grade center.

I remember all my teachers. I'd love you to meet them:

1st Grade: Mrs. Hudson was my teacher. I loved her! I learned to read in her room. I remember our textbook had a character named "Mark" in it. I loved the story about "Mark in the park after dark." Do you think I learned phonics?

The special thing about Mrs. Hudson is that she also let us read "real" books. We got to read Dr. Seuss books to partners. The person who read the most books got a prize at the end of the year. I won! I still have the little "Bookmouse" that she gave me. It was a prized posession!!

2nd Grade: Mrs. Wadsworth came along early in the school year as the original teacher had to leave. She, too, was such a great teacher. I remember doing my first book report in there on Dr. Seuss's McElligot's Pool. That year, I had an intern: Mrs. Beverly Lewis. Oddly enough, I would teach with Beverly many years later!

3rd Grade: We were in a pod during this year and "moved classes". The teachers in the pod were: Mrs. Alonso, Mrs. Woodruff, and Mrs. Hunter. I had Mrs. Hunter most of the time. I went to reading with Mrs. Woodruff. She loved to do extracurricular things with us. I remember eating "Japanese style" with kimonos and all...and taking a trip for Tacos after reading about Mexico. We also made 8mm movies with her. It was great fun.

4th Grade: Mrs. Brewer was my homeroom teacher. She loved to say funny little poems like this: Itty bitty fly upon the wall, Him got no friends at all, Him got no one to comb his hair, Him don't care, him got no hair!" I don't know why I remember that! I also went to Mrs. Almand for reading during that year. I would later go to high school with her daughter. Mrs. Almand was my language arts teacher. I made my first diorama in her class for the book, "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell. I also remember Mrs. Brewer reading "Old Yeller" to us and all of us just crying!

5th Grade: I had Mrs. Pate. She had a reputation for being a tough teacher. And she was. But, she also had a soft side. I remember doing state reports that year and having to make floats representing the state. I also remember cooking foods from "around the world" as part of social studies.

Riverhills was a very special place. The teachers genuinely seemed to like their jobs and kids. They weren't under the same pressures we are today as far as teaching and learning goes. But the common thread that makes good teachers has not changed...they must be passionate and love kids!

And that, my friends, is MY Monday Memory!!

We're BACK from our long weekend...

Thursday Thirteen #23

Thirteen things SUSAN remembers about July 4ths and Summer Vacations in the 70’s and 80’s:


1. July 4, 1974/5—We went to Riverhills Park for the city’s July 4th festivities. This used to include a parade followed by a day of entertainment and food and ending with fireworks. Because I cannot handle loud noises (including popping balloons) I would go across the street to my friend Judy’s house every hour on the hour to avoid hearing the giant cannon that they would fire.

2. Summer, 1976—I remember traveling to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Virginia and West Virginia for the Bicentennial year. We visited many historical places and learned a ton about the birth of the United States.

3. July 4, 1977—My friend, Susan W., was at our house. I bought earplugs for the first time and went to the fireworks in Riverhills park. In years past I simply plugged my ears with my fingers until they were sore. The earplugs worked OK, but I still ended up holding them in with my fingers. We went swimming at Marie H’s. after the fireworks. I remember the water being hot (almost like a bathtub) because the outdoor temperature was SO HOT!

4. Summer of 1977—I am pretty sure this was also the summer we went to Atlanta to see Stone Mountain. We camped in a pop-up camper on top of a hill. There was a storm that seemed as if it would throw us right down either side of that hill. The thunder was the loudest I EVER heard as it echoed off of Stone Mountain.

5. Summer of 1978—My Mom took us to Ohio for a visit. I remember missing my friends at home so much! It was those awkward teen years when you really would rather be anywhere but with your family. I had a Burt Reynolds tee shirt that I wore much of that summer. We stayed at my Uncle Ron’s house…and I soon got over missing my friends and enjoyed visiting family.

6. Summer of 1980—I turned 16 in August and had a 16th birthday party. We held it at a friend’s condo pool and clubhouse. Several people from school came. There was a DJ spinning---YES---45 records! (For those of you who are too young to remember those, it was a type of record NOT the number of records).

7. July 4th, 1981—I worked at Busch Gardens as a ride operator. It was this day that we went to the beach and I fell asleep out there. I was burned to a crisp! It was one of the most painful sunburns I ever had. I was also taking a summer class, Problems in American Democracy (which was really a class on Communism), at my high school.

8. July 1981—By the end of the July 4th week, we realized the reason I had fallen so soundly asleep on the beach is because I had mono. I had to go to my Grandparent’s house to rest because my Mom said the phone was ringing and I wasn’t able to sleep and get the rest I needed. I learned to cross-stitch that summer at Grandma’s as I sat and watch Lady Diana marry Prince Charles.

9. Summer, 1985—I drove with two friends straight through from Florida to Pennsylvania for a Christian festival called Creation ’85. It was several days of teaching and bands playing. We camped out in a tent. It was a great event that I truly enjoyed attending…although I can’t believe we drove like that up barren I-95 with NO CELL PHONES or real contact with home. I am sure I gave my Mother a few gray hair’s that summer!!

10. Summer, 1986—I went on my first cruise with Dad and Carolyn. We went to celebrate my college graduation. It was Premiere Cruise Lines (the Big Red Boat)—which does not exist anymore. The cruise went to Nassau, Bahamas and also to some out islands. It was great fun.

11. July 4, 1987—I had just moved to Lexington, Ky. to be closer to my fiancé (now husband). We went to watch the fireworks in downtown Lexington. He was sweet enough to park far enough away so I could sit in the car and watch them from there. I remember it was VERY HOT…but the fireflies were out and it was perfect in so many ways.

12. July 1988—Dh and I were still living in Ky. We had a newborn baby (only eight weeks old) and we decided to go to Mammoth Cave. I have pictures of DH carrying DS 1 through that cave. DS 1 was great inside the cave…but when we brought him out…he wailed the rest of the afternoon! I am sure it had something to do with the heat outside (over 100 degrees) and the cave temperature (a constant 54 degrees) playing with his body temperature. We were young, what can I say?

13. July 4, 1989—We watched the July 4th fireworks in my hometown from the parking lot of Zayer’s. I could sit in the car and enjoy while the rest of the family could watch them like “normal” people do. I was 7 months pregnant with DS 2…and while I don’t remember the particular heat of that day…I am certain it was blazing hot in that car!!!

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Monday, Monday!

It's Monday and I am not going to do a weekend window since you've been peeking in my window all weekend anyway!!

I thought I'd do a Monday Memory....

Since Graduation has been on our minds this weekend, I thought I'd tell about my own high school graduation.

I graduated in 1982. I was a member of a class of 648 students (actually, I was #123 of the 648). The day I graduated, I got a name plate necklace. These were really popular at the time. The necklace had my name written in gold script on it. I also got my first pair of diamond earrings from my Dad. We graduated in the Sun Dome at USF...so the place was packed. There were no limits on the number of people who could attend with you. I know in addition to my immediate family, both my Grandparents, and one or two Aunts and Uncles were there.

I don't remember speeches. I don't remember the details of the ceremony. We came back to my house, where more family and friends gathered for an open house celebration at our house. I received many special gifts that prepared me to leave for college in August. More than the gifts, though, was that feeling of love and support that was woven throughout the day.

I know we cannot relive our lives through our children, but it was my prayer all weekend that DS 1 would feel the same at his graduation: supported and loved. I think the mission was accomplished.

Monday Memory

Since my weekend was pretty much already posted on my blog, I decided to share a memory of sorts. I found this Evolution of Dance on another blog. I figure since I lived through most of these dance crazes, I would pass it along. It truly is funny.

And just so I can be true to the whole Monday Memory thing....

Did I ever tell you about the recitals we used to do when I was a kid? We would all bring old costumes from ballet and tap classes...choose music...and put on shows for hours! The music we chose was usually found on our parents' old LPs (those are vinyl records for those of you who don't remember them). I remember dancing to "Hang on Sloopy" and "Leader of the Pack" and "Bye Bye Blackbird" probably HUNDREDS of times. I also remember "I Got You Babe" and "Dark Lady" by Sonny and Cher (well Dark Lady was only by Cher).

Personally, I think it was more fun than video games and computers.

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday

Thirteen Things about SUSAN'S Childhood 1. I attended the same school system straight through: K - 12 2. I had stitches when I was four 3. I tried to sell dead leaves to the neighbors as a child (Mom made me give the money back) 4. I took one year of piano lessons 5. I went to the same church for about 24 years and was married there 6. I was in the marching band (color guard) 7. We loved traveling in the summer 8. Christmas was (and still is) my favorite holiday 9. I loved climbing the tree out front 10. I sunbathed on our roof that was covered in pebbles 11. I had mono when I was a junior 12. I worked at Busch Gardens 13. I babysat A LOT!!! I loved playing school with my little charges!! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Monday Memory

Many of the blogs I read include a Monday Memory. There's evidently a code, but when I click on the link for the code, it says "bad URL". So I thought....hey, you can do a "Monday Memory" without the cute graphics....drumroll please....Here's MY FIRST MONDAY MEMORY!


Did I ever tell you when I learned the phrase: "Stay RIGHT There!"

I was almost four years old and living in Ohio with my Mom and Dad. Mom and I were going to go get Dad from work. He worked at GTE Data Services. The year was 1968 and it was the winter. I don't remember snow on the ground, but I do remember being bundled. I know there was at least ice out there...but I am getting ahead of myself.

Mom brought me out to the stoop...we don't call them that in Florida....but it's the steps and the landing that lead outside a door of your home. Ours was a small concrete landing with about three steps down to the ground. I don't know why, but Mom said, "STAY RIGHT THERE!" and she went on to the car and was going to come back up and help me.

I suppose even at this young age, I was a bit stubborn...OK a lot stubborn. I had an "I-can-do-it-myself-thank-you-very-much" attitude. And while she was turned around doing whatever she was doing, I took a step. That step was NOT a good decision. I split open the back of my head and had to go to the hospital to get stitches!

I still remember screaming. I still remember the feel of that hospital. It was kind of like being surrounded by terrazo floors, stainless steel, and lights. I remember there being a doctor and a nurse in there. I also remember my Dad meeting us over there at the hospital...luckily, his office was right in front of it.

I am sure that was the first of many times I didn't heed the words, "Stay right there"! Instead, I would set out to do whatever it was on my own.

Tonight, while in Target with ds 4, I realized that I have passed this same gene on to him. He insists on pushing the cart. I needed to get something and he was ahead of me...rather than having him back up the cart in the midst of people and displays, I said, "Stay right there!" He didn't. He insisted on turning around and following me. Luckily, his choice to move didn't cause him pain....but I am certain this may not always be true.

Then I thought to myself...I wonder how many times God has wanted me to "Stay"...."Rest"...."Stop"...."Wait"....and I have said, "No-thank-you-I-can-do-it-myself!" And even more than that, I wonder how many emotional falls down the stoop I could have avoided if I simply would have said, "OK"!