As I interact with Vivian, I sometimes wonder if she remembers anything about her life before she was born. When she cuddles up close to me with her head on my heart, is the beat that she hears comforting to her? I like to think so.

And when she climbed into the bottom of her doll stroller and watched a movie with Ariana, did this contorted, fetal-like position actually feel natural or at least vaguely familiar?

“Any turkey can tango, any turkey can dance, if they only have the chance.”

These were the lyrics that replayed in my head all evening after eleven adorable children performed a talent show for us after Thanksgiving dinner.  A stark contrast to last year’s Thanksgiving dinner–gross, greasy grocery store deli cuisine eaten in a vacant mall parking lot on our way to the Tampa, FL airport–this year, we enjoyed a relaxing gathering with five other families who, like us, had decided to stay local.

Although both Bryan and I would have loved to be with our extended family on this special day, I am grateful for our faithful friends that shared their home, their time, and their yummy food with us.

An unknown phone number . . .  yet a familiar area code . . . and a voice from my past.

“Lori, this is Katie Miller,” the caller said. She didn’t even have to tell me who she was. Even though it has been years since we’ve spoken, I recognized that sweet voice of my high school yearbook advisor, English teacher, friend, and mentor.

As wonderful as it was to speak with someone who has had so much influence for good on my life, she went on to share the sad news about the passing of one of my dear friends, Mikel Husband. As I’ve spent the last couple of days learning about Mikel’s post-high school achievements and have read comments posted across the world wide web by those that knew him, I am touched by the legacy that he has left.

Isn’t it strange how princes and kings,
and clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
and common people, like you and me,
are builders for eternity?

Each is given a list of rules;
a shapeless mass; a bag of tools.
And each must fashion, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block, or a Stepping-Stone.

~R. Lee Sharpe

Mikel Husband is a stepping stone.

Katie Miller is a stepping stone.

I hope that someday someone somewhere will be able to say the same of me.

The other night when our family was at the Frisco Family Fitness Center for Family Home Evening, things just weren’t going our way.  Bryan forgot his shoes, so he had to wear flip flops with his gym socks.  The power kept going out in the treadmill area, so I had to keep moving from machine to machine.  And just when I was getting in a groove, a worker from the Kid Zone sought me out because Vivi had come unglued and was sobbing uncontrollably.  When I went to reclaim and comfort her, I noticed a big mass of stickiness in Ariana’s to-die-for hair.  I think that we both almost started to cry when she told me the sad story of accidentally getting a wad of gum in her hair.  Thank goodness for Goo Gone!

I’m at a swim meet, waiting, waiting, waiting for my events. And then I have to go to the bathroom. BAD! Rush there, rush back . . . and then realize that I’ve missed all three of my events.

With a bad dream like this, you’d think that I was the one swimming in my first swim meet the next day. Thankfully, Guppy seemed to get a better night’s sleep than I did. And her performance at the Flower Mound B/C meet showed. I couldn’t have been more proud of the progress that she’s made and the effort that she put forth as she swam her events:
4 x 25 yard relay (2:15.12)
25 yard freestyle (29.35)
25 yard backstroke (36.39)
50 yard freestyle (1:12.36)
It was a family affair. Bryan got off work early enough to see Guppy swim all of her events, and Vivi chanted “Go! Guppy, Go!” halfway home that evening. Very cute!