Wrapping up the week.....

Wow ! It's Friday all ready. It has been a week since I was in Brookhaven for my 20-year-reunion. A fun time was had by all and it was great to catch up with friends from 20 years ago. Our class decided to have a 25-year so I guess we will all see each other again in 2013.

I got to go to the Mississippi School for the Arts while I was there. I wish we had something that awesome when I was a growing up there. The darkroom is to die for --it is HUGE ! Here is a photo below of the campus and the view of Brookhaven from the 6th floor dorms.

While I was in Mississippi I got to go through some of Emily's things. It's funny because Emily and I growing up traded clothes all the time.So, it felt only right that I kept a few of her favorite pieces of clothing. I don't know if I will wear them but it makes me feel good to know they are in my closet.

I was telling my mom about a story from high school and she said"you never told me that" and I told her there were many things I probably didn't tell her back then because Em and I always kept each others secrets.

The weirdest thing happened on the way back to Washington and mad me think that Emily is watching out for us. After take off and we were above the clouds I look down out of the window of the plane and saw the strangest thing. In the clouds was a shadow of the plane....but around the shadow there was a bright rainbow that circled all the way around the plane. See the photo below. I know it might sound silly but part of me thought that it might be Em watching out for me and saying hi ! I have flown many, many times and have never seen that. Ok..maybe I am nuts but I do have faith that God and his angles touch us sometimes in unexpected ways.

In other good news -- Mike and many others survived the latest rounds of AOL layoffs this week - yea ! Sad news is that 11 people that he did work with in photo did get let go. His schedule is changing he is going more to a day shift during the week which I am happy about. Now maybe I will be less of a single mom and be able to workout every once in awhile.

But, there were some of didn't get laid off that actually complained when they had to switch departments or shifts. Which leads me to the Friday story -- people need to be grateful for all things in life. ;)

MY FRIDAY STORY

Rain Washed
Author Unknown

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said. "What?" Mom asked.

"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated, "Mom, let's run through the rain."

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories... So, don't forget to make time and take opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.