Tuesday, June 6th, 2023
Hello Friends ~
A few days ago, I was am sitting in a hospital room with my dad, he had been admitted due to health concerns with his breathing. He suffers with COPD and emphysema. I found myself sitting in the dark with only the glow of medical machine lights glowing green and red. In the room , a soothing noise could be heard, the bubbling of water that was providing him with moisture with his oxygen intake. Admittedly, it is very relaxing and I’m thankful that dad is resting comfortably.
It’s always interesting to me the seemingly random thoughts that surface when I allow myself to “be still.” Or, it could be sleep deprivation catching up on me (!), as I’ve been awake for nearly 20 hours. Either way, it doesn’t really matter because remembering my favorite things is like good medicine.
When I was a kid every Memorial weekend we would plan activities around listening to the Indy 500 race in our front yard. Dad would always have this AM/FM radio on and we would tune it into the race. Some of the activities we engaged in were washing and waxing the car; having parked in in the yard under a huge tree for shade. We had a metal and plastic swimming pool and the grill would be cooking burgers and hot dogs. And, my mom made the best homemade macaroni salad and potato salad, dessert would be her favorite chocolate sheet cake. This is one of my favorite things!
🇺🇸 ⭐️ 🌭 ❤️ 📻 💙 🍔 ⭐️ 🇺🇸
I learned to drive at a very young age, dad would let my brother and me sit on his lap when we were young and steer the car/truck. When we were tall enough to reach the pedals and steering wheel at the same time, mom & dad, both would let us drive on gravel country roads. I learned to drive a Ford truck with 3 gears on the column as well as 4 on the floor. Those were fun times! This is one of my favorite things!
One of my not so favorite things growing was Saturday house cleaning. But, good things come to those who wait (and work). After all the chores were completed, my mom and I would take baths and put on clean clothes and go grocery shopping. Yep, that was a treat! We would often take the car through the car wash and mom would buy Persian donuts and we would share them on the ride home. This is one of my favorite things! Also, as I think back on look Saturday’s I am forever grateful for them. Those days taught me many valuable lessons that have helped me in and through adulthood. This is one of my favorite things!
I was fortunate that my parents introduced me to team sports early in life. I began playing on a girls softball team when I was just 5 years old. I have so many fond memories of playing, winning and losing games, and all the wonderful girls/women I met along the way. I played the game I loved for over three decades. My biggest fan through it all was my mom. My dad also when work and time allowed. My mom drove me all over the state of Indiana during my teen years. She would drive over 4 hours to watch me play when I was in college, to say I was loved & blessed is an understatement. This is one of my favorite things!
My favorite family vacation growing up was the summer I turned 13. We, (my parents, my younger brother and me) traveled for two weeks and we camped every night at KOA campgrounds. Our trip took us through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. The highlight of the trip was seeing Mt. Rushmore. We cooked all our meals and slept either in a tent or in our van. My parents let us stop at most of the souvenir shops we ask to see. The saddest day of our trip was the last day, we stopped by a store about an hour from home and we hear the announcement on a speaker that Elvis Presley had passed away. I guess I will always remember when and where I was on that day. The trip…This is one of my favorite things!
Truth is, these are just a few of my favorite things; it would be impossible to list them all. I am thankful to have been raised by loving, caring and responsible parents. Growing up we had what we needed and at times things we wanted. I am grateful my parents loved me enough to discipline me when I needed it and praised me when I deserved it. We may not have had lots of money but in my eyes we were the richest people I knew. This is my favorite thing.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise: “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
~ Ephesians 6:1-4
“Start children off on the way they should go,and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
—Proverbs 22:6
“Hear your father’s teaching, my son, and do not turn away from your mother’s teaching. For they are a glory to your head and a chain of beauty around your neck.”
~ Proverbs 1:8-9
~ Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
DISCOVER 
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