...she is just a girl

She is just a girl that grew up watching TV, asking her Dad if she could stay up later and watch the first 15 minutes of Johnny Carson, hoping that he'd let her sit on his lap and then she could sneak some popcorn from his bowl and if he was not watching....she could run her fingers along the bottom of the bowl and soak up the extra butter that had dripped to the bottom.

She loved hopping in the car and going for drives on Sundays with her dad and mom to visit Aunt Gloria and Grandma and Grandpa in Beaver Dam.  She even wore those  short dresses as a 2 year old ..."it is her mother's fault"....

She grew up on a farm, had a dog - PJ and always felt her brother was the favorite until he got older -- then she knew  her sister and other brother were the favorites!   She had to wear hand-me-downs from her uncles??    She had beautiful strawberry blonde hair and delights in watching her nieces with that same color now -- and tries her best to 'buy' that color but the grey seems to win.

Her sister ALWAYS had to do whatever she was doing.  She ALWAYS had to include her sister when her friends came over and even if it was her birthday ...her sister got a present.  But when it was her sister's birthday -- she did not get a 'sympathy' gift, all she heard was, "you are the oldest, you are fine".   And every Christmas, as her sister counted the number of gifts ...it was a problem if she got one more than her sister.  ( Guess that could be a root of bitterness that needs to be addressed...)
Her mom loved to dress them with matching clothes -- little did she realize that her mom made most of those early outfits herself.
 And little did she realize how much she would come to love and respect that sister  --

She remembers learning how to 'polka' at a very young age and would be taken to the Turner Hall with her parents often to 'dance' while her dad tended bar or did his volunteer job.  So she got to know many of the band leaders and then 'dance' with the regulars who continually complimented her on her dancing ability ...thus - dancing became something she loved.  Her first crush was Donny Osmond.  She could relate....BIG family...and that TV again....as she reflected as she got older -- the TV taught her most lessons...

...Love Boat, Carol Burnett...
Fantasy Island, the Partridge Family...
...Electric Company...

Many summers were spent - very carefree and playing on the farm....pizza parlor, hay forts, Dodge County Fair and then various Farm Progress shows...and then of course there was 'babysitting duty'....The reason she has ONLY two children is cause....she spent MANY a summer night bouncing a baby on her knee while her mom was still outside helping to feed animals or milking cows while her dad was still in the field.   But honestly -- there are enough good memories from that childhood that would write SEVERAL books...

Childhood friends became so important, as we all went to ONE school for eight years.  Her best friends were the 'other Farm' girls...

Memories of doing chores before the school bus.
Pitching  "SH __" out of the spreader into the fields when it froze...
Getting home after school to head to the barn  before it got dark...
Summer jobs of 'unloading hay'....'letting the heifers out to find the fence'...or  'washing the barn walls'  are memories she laughs about now.

Going to Grandma's house was always a treat if "uncle Ralph" did not fuss at you  -- LOL.  She had the biggest and BEST apple and pear orchard -- which in later years ...turned out to be a small area of only 7-8 trees....
I guess that is why the story of "Ida B"...is such a favorite.
Going to Grandma's and having one of her cookies -- is still a memory that is treasured and MISSED.

It is surreal that the 'person' she could not stand at all as a teen....is probably one of the ones she wishes she could see more of....

She too went through the AWKWARD stage...braces...haircuts that were  done by a lady who 'felt she knew EXACTLY what you wanted... and why on earth did we wear overhauls?    She always felt she was JUST NOT that pretty.... silly girl.

Flash forward...she grew up, married the boy she fell in love with on the first day of Jr. High and they had a family.  They both agreed that they would make memories with their two kids and MANY memories were made and are STILL being made.   She is blessed.

   She is blessed.

Her daughter is amazing.

Her son is amazing too.
But, what really makes her smile these days.....  is watching how God is shining through her...and her husband and her family.

She has a birthday tomorrow -- she will be 48 years old.  And she really WANTS the next 48 to be even BETTER than the first 48......that would put her at 92 when she is ready for heaven...

Well...maybe.  She knows God is the one that will orchestrate that.
She really hated turning 30 but her husband eased the 'pain' of that by taking her to see her favorite tennis players in Palm Beach -- she bet John McEnroe, Jimmy Conners, and chatted quite a long time with Peter Fleming.

When she turned 40...she had one friend help her husband usher in the bIG 40 by sending her cards and letters for 40 days prior to the birthday.... and then spent the weekend with 6 other women at a Women of Faith Conference -- blessed!

And she is already debating 'how' she will celebrate her 50th...like Oprah?  LOL?   Will she finally make that trip to Las Vegas to see Donny?

But...seriously...she is just a girl.  That treasures each day now...looks to and asks God to guide it and take OVER her...

 she asks God ...to empty her of her..and FILL her with HIM...

And she wants her blessed life to SHOW just how MUCH LIGHT there is within it ---cause of HIM.

..she wants to be a light in the darkness...

......Cause HE restored her and redeemed her....and has said 'atta girl'.....
She wants to be a HERO for her Lord...and love her family unconditionally - each and ever moment.

She wants to leave a legacy for her children -- one that they will see her faith and know -- THEY want that too....

She is just a girl --
blessed beyond words....a blog could not convey HOW much she loves her Lord and is thankful.

Happy birthday to that girl - -- happy birthday to me.

I am so blessed -- when Brendan asked me today what I wanted -- I can honestly tell you -- nothing...

I will take a thoughtful card with some 'love stuff' on it - that I can read over and over...but -- I really don't NEED anything ....or WANT anything.... -- cause GOD has supplied it all.

Amen.