New Day - Author Unknown

This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind…let it be something good.

What every Mom needs to Know

From: We are THAT Family - you know the ones by Kristen Welch

Every mom needs to know:

——————————THEY ARE NOT ALONE

Every mom needs to feel:

————————–LOVED WITHOUT EXPECTATIONS

Every mom needs to be told:

——————————-THEY ARE APPRECIATED

Every mom needs to believe:

———————————THEY ARE ENOUGH

Every mom needs to remember:

———————HE IS ENOUGH, WHEN THEY AREN’T

Emily's future plans

Emily is amazing. She told me today that she plans inventing things and becoming an entrepreneur and instead of being a millionaire she going give to wildlife charities and cancer charities.

3rd grade interview

Interview with Emily at age 8

What is your dad really good at?
Swimming, no, making sand castles

How are you like Mom?
I like Barbies.

How are you different from Mom?
I hate pickles.

What did you and dad do together that you’ll always remember?
Went to the water park

If you could have one superpower what would it be?
Speed so that I can brush my teeth in a minute

What was the last movie you saw at the theater?
Ramona and Beezus

What food would you like to eat every day?
Macaroni and cheese but there’s no answer to that, I will get sick of it.

If you could choose a different name, what would it be?
Kathryn

Is your room messy or clean?
Both

What’s your favorite restaurant food?
Chinese

If you had a million dollars, what would you buy first?
A kitten

What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas because I get presents

What’s your favorite cereal?
Coco Pebbles

What’s your favorite TV show?
Sponge Bob

What’s your favorite book?
Dr. Seuss

Question

What is the best thing money can’t buy?

My answer: The sound of Emily’s giggles.

What's your answer?

For the love of pickles

I love pickles as much as well, Emily hates them. I have loved pickles my entire life. Pickles were the first food that I ate so much of that I got sick, and yet I wanted even more of them. I don’t recall meeting a pickle that I haven’t liked. But poor Emily, she hates them, she loathes them, and she despises them. She even hates it when I talked about them. I sometimes wonder if that child is really mine. If she didn’t have freckles I would seriously wonder. But since she also dearly loves cats and bunnies, she probably is mine.

Here are some interesting pickle facts for the June 2009 issue of Real Simple:

Aristotle praised their healing effects is 350 B.C.
Julius Caesar fed them to his troops, supposedly believing they lent physical and spiritual strength.
Cleopatra insisted that eating them enhanced her beauty.
Christopher Columbus brought them to the New World on his 15th century voyage.

Personally, I eat them because they taste so yummy.

Anyway

credit: Mother Thersea


People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, alterior motives;

be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies;

succeed anyway.

If you are honest people may cheat you;

be honest anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the end, it is between you and God;

it was never between you and them anyway.

Normal Day

by: Mary Jean Iron

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Last night Emily was describing a little boy's craft project and she stated that it was crooked as a dog's leg. I had to laugh, I do say that a lot.

Crystal Light

Crystal Light, I love it. However, I didn't realize that some of the Crystal Light flavors came with caffeine. I was up until 3:00 this morning. Although, I should have been cleaning something, I choose to look at every single scrapbook that I have done. There are quite a few of them plus I made some decisions on two of the old size Creative Memories books that are work in progress because this is the last month to purchase those sizes.

Looking through these books, I can't help but wonder how lucky I am to have such a happy little girl. With the exception of the infancy books, there aren't any pictures of her that isn't portraying her happiness. I wonder, did I just avoid taking those pictures? I thought about that for a while. But I really don't recall her not being overall happy. I remember there was a phase in toddler hood that she would get mad and all Hartford had to do was point his finger at her and say, "don't you laugh!" and then her giggles came.

Last weekend she dressed up and we played by taking pictures. We have been doing this since she was an infant. I didn't realize until I saw all the books how much we have done this activity over the years.

There is always something to do and someplace to go. I don't know how but I must slow down and enjoy Emily more. She is a precious gift from God.

10 Ways to Soar Through Life

Paraphrased from the book Unstoppable Me! by Dr. Wayne W Dyer with Kristina Tracy

Ten Ways to Soar Through Life

You’re Great - No Matter What

You are worthwhile. Learn from your mistakes, value yourself and all what you are.

Persistence Pays Off

It’s not about talent or if you are smart; it’s about never quitting. Don’t tell yourself that you can’t or dwell on mistakes. Patience and determination are really all that it takes.

Welcome the Unknown

Change is a good thing; it happens every day- don’t fear change, embrace it instead and life will be an adventure and you’ll look forward to what’s ahead.

You Have a Choice

Be true to yourself, don’t look to others to say you’re okay, you know it-so believe it! Don’t blame others for the things you say or do. Every choice that you make is all up to you.

Farewell to Worry

When stressful thoughts attack, remember positive actions on your part are the best way to fight back.

Peace Begins with You

Don’t let anger in your heart, take anger and let it go. When you’re mad and let it change the things you say and do, not only do you hurt yourself, but those around you, too.

Enjoy the Here-and-Now

Take pleasure in the here-and-now; don’t always be on the run. The road you take to reach your goal should be part of the fun.

Healthy Me!

Your body responds to what you think. Good thoughts and good humor are truly the best start for a super-healthy mind, body, spirit, and heart.

Creativity is the Key

Find your own way to meet the challenges life brings, stay true to yourself and let your ideas shine.

What Can You Give?

See goodness and beauty everywhere you turn, take every experience in life as a chance for you to learn. Don’t wonder what you can get, wonder what you can give.

I've printed this out and put on Emily's board that is in her room. Second grade is just around the corner and I want her to have the tools to successfully face the challenges. Oh, I'm not concerned about the subjects that the teacher will teach, those come easy to her. I'm concerned about her giving up too easily, holding grudges, thinking of only herself, her worrying, and her blaming of others. When situations arise this coming school year, I want her to encourage her to begin learning these words and applying them to her life. I've got to remember that she is her own person and I can't fight her battles and more times than not, I need to listen with my mouth completely shut and just give lots of hugs.

For Today: July 10th

FOR TODAY July 10, 2009

Outside my window...a little Tykes green circle bottom swing hangs in the huge tree by a yellow rope.

I am thinking...about getting ready for the upcoming consignment sales.

I am thankful for...Emily's light that shines from her soul. Her innocents and her giggles and her playfulness.

From the kitchen...leftover homemade lasagna and homemade carrot soup that Hartford made.

I am creating...a Disney Dream Vacation scrapbook, and a Remember When scrapbook.

I am going...to Kim's house tomorrow night to scrapbook.

I am reading...Duma Key by Stephen King.

I am hoping...that Hartford finds a job soon.

Around the house...Emily's Littlest Pet Shop toys are spread out in the living room. She has played with them all week.

One of my favorite things...is playing dolls with Emily.

George Crown

George Crown died tonight. The Christmas magic George brought to so many will be fondly remembered. I hope Emily remembers him when she grows up, regardless I will tell her the stories of the joy that he brought to her. I will tell her of her excitement to see Santa Claus sitting in church worshiping our Lord. I will tell her of her excitement to discover Santa serving the Lord by volunteering at vacation Bible school while he was on summer vacation. I will tell her about her excitement when he spoke so kindly to her. I will tell her how well she behaved after he spoke to her. I will tell her how he always carried the Christmas spirit no matter what month it happened to be. I will tell her how he was the best Santa Claus ever!

The spider

Since Hartford is now working downtown, I get the privilege of walking Emily to school in the mornings. I love our walks together. The walk is short but it is always filled with excitement. I can never guess what subject or subjects Emily will talk about. She is a hoot and I often head back home shaking my head and wondering where she comes up with some of the stuff that she says.

Emily only allows me to walk her to the corner where the street sidewalk turns into the sidewalk to the school. For several weeks, this spider has been keeping our interest. One morning there where three kids and three Moms looking at it together when a school bus driver opened the door of the bus and inquired what everyone was looking at. She seemed unimpressed once one of the Mothers stated that it was a spider. One of the students told the driver that it wasn't just a spider, it was a beautiful garden spider. Emily added, "yeah, and it's going to have babies if it's a girl." I'll say one thing for the spider, it has spun an amazing web. It almost makes me want to watch Charlotte's Web one more time.

We Pray for Children By Ina J. Hughes

We Pray for Children

We pray for children who put chocolate fingers everywhere,who like to be tickled, who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants,who sneak popsicles before supper,who erase holes in math workbooks,who never can find their shoes....

And we pray for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, who can't bounce down the street in a new pair of sneakers,who never "counted potatoes,"who are born in places we wouldn't be caught dead,who never go to the circus,who live in an X-rated world.

We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions, who sleep with the dog and bury goldfish,who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,who cover themselves with Band-Aids and sing off key,who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,who slurp their soup....

And we pray for those who never get dessert,who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,who watch their parents watch them die,who can't find any bread to steal,who don't have any rooms to clean up,who pictures are not on anyone's dresser,whose monsters are real...

We pray for children who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,who like ghost stories,who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub,who love visits from the tooth fairy,who don't like to be kissed in front of the school bus, who squirm in church or temple and scream in the phone....

And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime,who will eat anything, who have never seen a dentist,who aren't spoiled by anybody,who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,who live and move, but have no being.

We pray for children who want to be carried, for those who must, for those we never give up on, for those who don't have a second chance, for those we smother....and those who will grab the hand of anyone kind enough to offer it.

~ Ina J Hughes

I've been tagged

I’ve been tagged! My cousin from http://www.frugalbookworm.com/
has tagged me.

First, here are the rules:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you

2. Mention the rules on your blog

3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours

4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them

5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.


Six Unspectacular Quirks About Me:

1. I don't eat chicken just because I don't like chicken however, I adore chicken flavored items such as rice or noodles.

2. My two front teeth are fake.

3. Before Lasik surgery, I wore bifocals.

4. I have double jointed elbows.

5. I would rather clean the bathrooms than to wash the dishes.

6. I have been 5 foot 3 and 1/2 since the 5th grade.


And tag! You're it!

1. Karen from http://alwayscarin.blogspot.com/
2. Staci from http://maddiboo.blogspot.com/
3. Beth from http://beth-amomslife.blogspot.com/
4. Jennifer from http://jennwa.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=50
5. Antique Mommy from http://antiquemommy.com/
6. You!

Reading

I read to Emily a lot. I started reading to her early because I wanted her to have a love for books. I didn't love books as a child. Actually, I hated them. Even in my tween years when I read a few books, I hated them. How I made it through college without the love of reading in way beyond me.

It wasn't until after college and I was married that that I began reading for enjoyment. The first book that I read and truly enjoyed was "To Kill a Mockingbird". It took Hartford months to convince me that I would love it, if I read it. Reluctantly, I finally agreed and it is one of, if not, my very favorite book. Since then, I have found a love for reading.

However once Emily came along, there wasn't much time to read all the best sellers. But I discovered a blessing with sharing my love for reading with her. We have bonded even more by not only sharing time together but also sharing a common interest that I hope that will continue for a lifetime.

From the very get go I picked out books that appealed to me. I wanted her to feel my excitement and not my dread in reading them. For the most part, it has worked out wonderfully. However, it doesn't matter how much a person enjoys a particular book, it will not be a pleasurable experience every time you read it when you read it a million times. Luckily, Emily knows better than to ask me to read books about dinosaurs, trolls, or Sponge Bob. She knows to go directly to her Daddy for those books. Likewise, I don't force Hartford to read books to her that don't appeal to him.

Mrs. Bliss, Emily's Pre-K teacher introduced the children to first chapter book. I am so thankful for Mrs. Bliss for this as well as so much more. Since then, Emily and I have stepped up our reading level. It has become our mission to seek out books. Mrs. Bliss would always go the the public library and check out a bunch of books. Emily would tell me or show me the titles and I would also check them out from the library.

A new stage has developed in our book time since Emily is now reading books to me. I am so proud of her and I enjoy seeing her confidence grow as she learns new words. I will admit that there are times that she absolutely drives me bonkers when her mind and mouth wonders wildly. I try to never make her read a book that she doesn't want to read. Reading at home should be fun. Currently, we are making a reading chain. She is very proud of this and keeps her more focused.

I plan on reading to her as long as she will allow me to read. I don't foresee me reading to a teenager every night, but I plan on trying to sneak in a book here and there every once in awhile and maybe even a snuggle. Wish me luck. I know that only time will tell.

Nerve Deafness

The cross that I bear is called nerve deafness. I've carried it since birth and will carry until death. The amusing fact is that I didn't even know I was carrying it until I was 29.

I know all too well that others bear worse crosses than I. Thus, I am truly grateful that my cross is only what it is and I can call it by name.

I don't make it a habit to tell people that I have hearing issues. However, there are situations that require this information. For example, I would hate to think that one of my close co-workers would think that I was rude to them by not answering them or, I really, really wouldn't want them to think that I'm just plain stupid because I interrupted something that they said completely incorrect.

Sometimes, when I tell someone, they ask me questions about it. I like it when people ask me questions because I get to tell a story. And bless their hearts, they will get a couple of stories if I'm in a talkative mood.

The number one question that I'm asked is along the lines of how long have I had hearing issues. I respond casually and say, "all my life" and then chuckle and add, "but, I didn't know it until I was 29." If they look shocked, I figure that they are thinking how in the world could I have not known or how could no one else have not known. At this point in time, I chuckle and admit that I was good at just making up the stuff that I didn't hear. Most of the times, the questions stop here.

Occasionally someone, usually with kids, will state that they thought that the schools tested kid's hearing. I smile and tell them that I recall one year that a special group was brought into our school and tested the kids in the library. I vividly remember sitting at the end of the table in the middle row with broken head phones on my ears. Brian Owens (oh la la) was sitting in the next row directly in front of me. I figured that since he was raising his hands that his headphones worked so I copied everything that he did. I didn't want anyone to figure out that my headphones were broken. I was sure that I had somehow broken them and I didn't want to get into trouble over it.

The top second and third questions are along the lines of what is nerve deafness and can't something be done about it. Nerve Deafness for me means that I can't distinguish certain constant letter sounds from another. Therefore, I have to hear words in a sentence to literally figure out what words are spoken. There isn't a cure for it, but hearing aids help.

A common misconception is that hearing aids will fix hearing issues. Wrong, wrong, wrong, hearing aids help, they do, but they are not a fix all. When I am wearing my hearing aids, I don't have to concentrate to hear the items that I normally strain to hear and I mainly need to concentrate on the constants in the words that I can't distinguish. Thus it's easier to interpret the conversation. However, I sometimes hear things that I wouldn't normally hear. No, not people whispering so it isn't possible for me to ease drop without the person noticing me starring at their lips. The sounds are usually the sounds of running appliances or the sounds of nature. One time when I first got my first pair of hearing aids I heard Missy purring and the frig running at the same time and I thought that life just couldn't get any sweeter.

Once in a while there will be someone to ask me how I found out I had nerve deafness. Now, that's a funny story. The short version is that my husband threatened to divorce me if I didn't go for a hearing test and I wanted to prove him wrong and got a hearing test.

Here's the long version of the story. Hartford and I were beginning to fight over things that he said he said and the things that I knew he said. During these little fights, I often would tell him that he was mumbling worse everyday. He often mentioned the blasting television and often displayed his annoyance at always repeating himself. One day he made me so mad by saying that he was going to divorce me if I didn't get my hearing checked. Let me just tell you that made me so mad. Not the divorce part because I knew he didn't mean that, but the fact that he thought that I had an actual hearing problem. Well, I thought, I'll just show him and go get a stupid little hearing test and then he'll know that I was right and he was wrong.

When I went for the hearing test, I let everyone know that I was not there because I had a hearing problem but to prove that my husband was wrong. I even told this to the receptionist.

Amanda was my audiologist and she seemed nice. She listened very understandingly as I told her all about the things that my husband was saying to me and how clueless he was and how I was going to gloat in my victory. Then, she put me in a sound proof room and hooked me up. She told me to repeat the words that she said and then she left me alone. Then Miss Nice Amanda turned mean. She would say one word and one world only. Although, I could see her, she purposely covered her lips. The nerve of her to do such a cruel thing and after a few of these so called words that I needed to repeat, I just told her that I didn't appreciate her rudeness in covering her mouth and that there was no way I could repeat a single word to her unless she said it in a sentence. Bless her heart, she was a true professional and handled the situation well. Still, I had no clue that I had an actual hearing problem.

I didn't think the testing was ever going to end. When it was finally other, I could taste the sweet victory. Amanda tried to break the news to me gently, but I was just as heartbroken as I could have ever been that Hartford had won. He was right and I was wrong. Darn it, he had won. What an idiot I had been and now everyone thought so as well. I was crushed.

When I came home, I told Hartford and he did the happy dance because he was right and I was wrong. Then suddenly, it occurred to me that I couldn't hear and I started crying. He stopped dancing and held me in his arms and told me how sorry he was and how he really wished he hadn't been right.

For 29 years I did not hear properly and I had no problem with it what so ever. But as soon as I was told that I had hearing loss, I couldn't hear anything. Life was turned upside down. I couldn't figure out how in the world that I was ever going to live with such a terrible thing. The fact was totally funny to me, however, I couldn't stop this feeling. I believe if no one have ever told me that I had a problem, I wouldn't have ever figured it out.

It wasn't long before we got an equity line on the house so that I could get my first set of hearing aids. I had no idea that they were so expensive and that the insurance companies wouldn't pay for them. They were $5,000.

For $5,000, I figured that all my problems would be solved. In reality, a whole new set of problems came about. For example, the day I walked out of the doctor's office with my new hearing aids in my ears, I literally thought that I was being attacked by thousands of singing birds. I knew that some birds sung because I had some, but wow, I had never heard such racket made by birds in my whole entire life.

On my way to back to work, a semi-truck passed me on the highway. Let's just say, I thought I was going to die as I jerked out $2500 from each ear.

It wasn't much better when I got to work, people were shuffling paper and it sounded as loudly as gun shots. I called Amanda. Amanda, my new best friend and I saw a lot of one another during the adjustment period of my aids. Unfortunately, she was never able to adjust them so that all my problems were solved. One day, she finally broke the news that hearing aids were not a cure all. Why she didn't tell me that before I forked out $5,000 is way beyond me. But...I guess I would have forked it out with the grand hope that they would be worth it.

I really don't consider it so bad that I can't hear well. Because frankly, I've never been able to hear well. However, the Tinnitus that comes with the hearing loss may indeed drive me into complete and utter madness. Some years ago as we were traveling over the mountains in North Carolina my brain decides I should be hearing sounds that I wasn't hearing. Therefore, it decided, without consulting the rest of me, that it will just make up sounds. Thus, since that moment I have been hearing ringing 24-7. I sometimes wish that I had Tinnitus all my life so I would naturally be accustomed to it.

I am well aware that I am not alone and that others have it much worse than I do. This does not comfort me and I suspect that it never will. Although I am glad that it isn't any worse than it is, at times I don't think that it could get any worse. However, the truth is that it will it never go away, and it will only get worse. There is absolutely NO hope. At least with hearing aids, there is a little improvement with hearing but there is nothing other than false hope with Tinnitus.

The very worse pain that comes with hearing loss is the pain in my heart. It causes me to feel stupid and alone. Moreover, my heart breaks from the annoyance that I cause Emily and Hartford. Sometimes I can't understand them and I ask them questions or ask them to repeat themselves. They become obviously annoyed and they say it in their tone or worse their silence. My heart just bleeds as if it has been ripped from my chest. More times than not, I pretend to understand to avoid their annoyance which in turn hardens my heart.

But it is what it is and I accept it for no other reason than it is what it is. And I have praised the Lord over and over and will continue to praise the Lord that Emily hears and hears well. There has been a number of specialist to confirm that she is completely free of nerve deafness. God is awesome.

61 Things I love / 61 Things I hate

In celebration of my 61st blog I give you my love/hate list.

In no particular order:

I love:

1-Dolls
2-Scrap booking
3-Daisies
4-Being a parent
5-Pickles
6-Mom's Christmas jello with topping
7-Cats
8-Pizza
9-Blogging
10-Purple gel pens
11-Hartford's French toast
12-eBay
13-Black and White photos
14-Goody Powder
15-Fresh picked blackberries
16-Blackberry dumplings
17-Mill gravy, fried taters, and corn bread
18-Finding clothing with adjustable waist for Emily
19-For Better or Worse comic strip
20-Supper on the table
21-Grayson branch of the Gwinnett County Library
22-Consignment sales
23-Yard sales
24-Pay Pal
25-Clearance Sales
26-Southern Living at Home merchandise
27-Living so close to everything
28-Plays
29-Classic Disney characters
30-Fenton glass
31-Making others laugh
32-The Tom-Tom
33-Looking at beautiful pictures that are simple and profound
34-Silence
35-Christmas Eve candle light service
36-Sleeping through the night
37-My fake two front teeth that are smaller than the originals
38-20/20 vision (thanks to Lasik)
39-The Walton's
40-Familiar church songs
41-Coke in a glass bottle
42-XM Radio
43-Praise
44-Good customer service
45-Computers that work
46-Home & Garden network
47-Home grown cucumbers
48-Taking pictures
49-School/office supplies
50-Being the 1st into the office
51-My thick Snowman dish towels that I use all year round
52-Aunt Sue's chocolate eclair
53-Hartford's homemade breakfast on the weekends
54-Hearing Missy cat's purring
55-Socks
56-Unique looking trees
57-Napping on the beach
58-My Sonic Toothbrush
59-Roller coasters
60-Handmade items that are well made
61-Smiles

I hate:

1-Seedless grapes with seeds
2-Exercise
3-Hating that I hate exercise
4-Nerve deafness
5-Packing
6-Cancer
7-Swimming
8-Hating that I hate swimming
9-Worrying
10-Whining
11-Calories
12-Freezing
13-Trivia
14-Cooking
15-The taste of Goody powder
16-Cussing
17-Skinny people telling me about their need of weight lose
18-Being treated like a peon
19-Scrabbled eggs that are ready just fried eggs that have been chopped up and not really scrabbled at all
20-Lemon in my water (if I wanted lemonade, that's what I would have ordered)
21-Sponge Bob
22-Cartoon Network
23-Having Yard sales
24-Singers in the office that can't sing
25-Wearing sandals
26-Hating that I can't comfortably wear cute shoes including sandals
27-The price of Southern Living at Home merchandise
28-Being made fun of because of my accent
29-Lack of funds
30-Depression
31-Low self-esteem
32-Regret
33-Traffic
34-Crowds
35-Gas prices
36-Decisions
37-Scams
38-Junk e-mails
39-Getting older
40-Elevators
41-Fat Man Squeeze at Rock City
42-Small Talk
43-Finishing a job that was started by someone else
44-Scent of cigar smoke
45-Most magazines
46-Know-it-alls
47-Bad hair cuts
48-Criticism, especially the constant kind
49-Songs by Willie Nelson
50-Negative people
51-Disrespect
52-Bad customer service
53-Visits to doctors & dentists
54-Washing dishes
55-Working late
56-Forgetting passwords
57-Litter in public areas
58-Running late
59-Sun burns
60-Cooked cabbage
61-The smell of skunk

Promises

Currently, I am on the top of Emily's favorite people list. Oh, how I am enjoying it. But alas, I know that my glory will not last. I have promised myself when that time comes, that I will not cry but laugh to myself as I tell myself, "I told you so." I know her rejection of me will be a natural reaction to growing up and a part of the process of stretching her wings to fly.

Also, I have promised myself comfort when she is becomes impossible by remembering that what comes around, goes around.

And lastly, I have promised myself that I will not be jealous, but relish the sight of her soaring to great heights.