When I was a little girl, my daddy taught me to ride a bike in the driveway of a 2 bedroom house we moved into, rebuilding our lives after our house burned. I can remember him holding the back of my banana seat as I tried to pedal independently. I wanted to ride freely, like my sister and brother. In those few days, my dad and I talked about growing up and that one day I would be “double digits.”  Even now, I  remember every detail.  The smell of the wind hitting my face once that freedom was gained, the crunch of pebble and dirt as my tires glided down that seemingly infinitely long driveway. Those memories resonate, if I just close my eyes and listen. 

I learned how to ride that pink and white bike, and I gained that tiny, yet enormous, amount of liberty. And, when I rode, I would shout, “One day, I will be 10! I will be double digits!”  And, magically, one day, in the blink of an eye, I was. The day of my 10th birthday, my daddy came into my room and whispered in my ear, “You made it. You are double digits today. You will never be a single digit again.”  I was so thrilled at this accomplishment– this day that I had yearned for. 

As I type now, I smile as I reminisce of those simpler, little girl days. We didn’t have a ton of money, but my siblings and I had a daddy who loved us and taught us and hugged us at bedtime each night. 

Maggie will be 10 years old in just a few days- her own double digits await. I want to tell her to not rush. Hold on to your bike riding days for as long as you can. Enjoy your own daddy guiding you through childhood, and remember the sounds and scents of your days of simplicity and unadulterated inhibition. 

Even now, I miss that daddy of yesteryear, but I am so very thankful to have him in the present. And, whenever I think of him, I can still feel his hands steadying me for those challenging days that would come. And, I know he will never truly let go- not even when my double digits are 37. 

Happy Father’s Day, Dad. 

Maggie finished her 4th grade year on such a great note. She medaled in the science fair and won the mathematician, scientist, art, and manners awards for her class. She was so excited, especially for being voted  Miss Manners by her fellow classmates. I am thankful I was there to see her precious smile. 
   
 

She is excited about VBS, Sibling Week with Samuel at his therapy facility, and her birthday weekend coming up. I am happy to have her home with me during the summer while Sam has to stay in therapy all year. 

Samuel has been busy growing and learning more and more. He can say “uh oh!” And he learned this week how to climb onto the couch. He is behind, but he is becoming more mobile daily. His gross motor skills have improved immensely. He is still pretty much non-verbal, but he knows how to hum “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” It is so sweet. I am still praying for the day that “Mama” escapes his little mouth. Here is a video, in our disaster of a living room, of him climbing for the very 1st time. Glad I caught it!

Scott’s company put in a bid to a Denver company wanting them to build another project. If Scott’s bid is approved, we will be moving to Denver for a couple of years. We should know something in the coming days. I am determined not to think about all the things that will need to come together for this move to happen, until we know for sure. 

I have not blogged in a while. It almost feels foreign to me. This past month has been pretty rough for us as a family, but I will touch on that later, when the words come together in my head.  For now, I am grateful to be here and to see my husband and children every day. Thankful for my life.