An Ode to My Family...

Since it's Father's Day...and since I'm feeling a bit nostalgic, I'm going to do a blog entry about my family. We've been through a lot over the years. However, I don't think I could ask for a different life. I have very fond memories of my childhood involving my parents, grandparents, and siblings. In fact, I have memories from the time I was about two years old. My earliest memory would be having to wave out the window every day when my dad drove off for work. At this point, I had to have been about two. The only explanation I would have for remembering this far back was that it was something I did nearly every day and the repition probably helped me remember.

Since my Dad is the man of the hour today, we'll start with him. I believe myself to have been a Daddy's girl from the start. It's a fact that girls are closer to the father and boys are closer to the mother. When it comes to my brother and I, I believe that pattern to be true. I remember my dad teaching me songs to sing at church with him and his general dedication to the ministry. Having a dad who is a Children's Pastor is probably one of the funnest lives to lead as a kid. Dad always knew the newest songs and coolest games. I remember many times when Dad would try his new finds on my brother and I as kids. This was probably to ensure the children at church would enjoy them. We thought of dad as magic. I mean, the man could remove his thumb and reattach it (a trick I have yet to perfect). When I went off to school, dad was helpful in walking me to the bus stop during bitter winter days and having me climb into his snow suit to stay warm. When the bus came, I'd simply climb out (still all toasty) and be off to school. I remember the day my dad told me that he and my mom were getting divorced. I know he probably thought I was crazy for the way I reacted with a matter-of-fact "okay" and a skip out of the room. At around 9 years old, I knew what was going on and was firm in not letting it affect me. My fondest memories of my dad happened after this point. My brother and I began to be able to spend quality time with dad including trips to a local indoor zoo, Saved by the Bell telethons with macaroni and cheese lunch. There were three things my dad was good at. That was macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, and do-it-yourself personal pan pizza (with hamburger buns). Even today, I find my dad to not be only a great father, but a wonderful friend. My dad and I understand each other and are a lot a like in many ways. I'm proud of that. People could try to put down my mannerisms all day long. But if they are like Dad's, I'm happy. From Dad I learned the importance of ministry and how much more fulfilled your life is when you help others.

My Mom, on the other hand, was a keen combination of disciplinarian and nurturer. When I was sick, she's the one that would quickly come to my aid. In my early childhood, my mom worked outside of the home. However later on, she started a home daycare. It is here that I learned to become great with children. My favorite thing to do was to help with the kids (and hold the babies). I'm sure I turned my mother's hair grey throughout my adolescent years. Mostly because I was (and always have been) very independent. Because of my mother's nurturing ways, she had a hard time sitting back and watch me suffer. She learned to let go mostly because I didn't give her much of a chance. I do remember my daily need for her to kiss me goodbye before she left for work. If she dared to leave the house without waking me up to tell me goodbye, I'd be incredibly upset. She also learned very quickly, however, that I'm not good at remembering things in the morning. Her verbal list of chores would often go undone because I was simply too asleep to hear and remember. She soon outsmarted me and started writing it all down. Because of her, I now scrub my floors on my hands and knees (it cleans better).

My grandparents were cornerstones of my family. My Papa and Grandma were people I spent most of my life with. I'm very close to them even to this day. Papa pastored our church all throughout my youth. I remember having to walk with him to the back of the church when he dismissed to help him shake hands with the different parishoners of the church. From him, I learned how to interact with church people...and to this day take joy in shaking hands with the many people I come in contact with in a church setting. I was most certainly a social butterfly in our church and counted many of the members family. My Grandma taught me to love girly things. I loved to sit at her vanity and play with her makeup, jewelry, hair accessories, and perfume. My grandparents often took me with them on vacations including my first trip to the beach and Disney when they took me to Florida. I remember the first time I preached in front of them...my Papa was beaming ear to ear. I can't tell you how wonderful that smile of pride was to me!

My Grandma Bev and Grandpa Bob lived away for a bit in my life. However, when they moved to Saint Joe, I spent lots of time with them as well. Grandma Bev taught me how to cook. She often let me help her with her baking and I always licked the spoons! She is also the person responsible for my love for coffee (she'd let me have some when mom and dad wasn't looking). Grandpa Bob was always good for a game or two. We'd play scrabble with him all the the time. He's a pro at scrabble and so we never won. Until recently, however, when I finally beat him at his own game!

All these wonderful people taught me things that are priceless to how I live now. If it hadn't been for my family, there would be no way I could have accomplished what I have to this point. I'm thankful today for who I am and who they are. I could not think of a group of people more deserving of an ode...or my praise. They are, indeed, treasures!