Sweet Flowers & Ketchup Packets

TJ picked the most beautiful bouquet of flowers for me!

Sunday evening or Monday morning, our internet went out. Just like that. Well, I do a lot of work from home and after trying everything to get it up again (not by my own efforts...I had Tim on the phone with me from Raleigh), I called it quits and packed us up for the zoo. We had the greatest time there...but we were both pooped from the heat and the crazy crowds! That's what I get for going on Free Monday! Anyhow, we went to Bondi’s and Poppy’s after getting home and seeing the internet was still out. Yes, I used them for their wireless. It's okay because they know that. : )

After a little while, we went to McDonald’s because TJ wanted a cheeseburger before we went home. He actually said he wanted to go to a restaurant (huh?) so I suggested McD’s. He’s was pumped. He ate a good ¾ of his burger so I let him get an ice cream cone – and the funny thing is, he wanted to go up and buy it himself. He asked me to stay at our booth so he could do it. His sticky little hand gripped the dollar as he smoothly sauntered up to the counter, handed the money to the “buyer” and asked for a cone. He looked so little up there at the counter. Little and big at the same time. Hard to explain, but I’m pretty sure most of you get when I’m saying. A few seconds later, he walked back wearing a huge shark-mouth grin holding an enormous vanilla cone. I froze that image in my mind. Forever.

That boy has a confidence about him at age 3 that I am jealous of at age 32! I hope he holds onto that and I hope I can help. (I'm working on my own self to accomplish that. I've not been doing especially well at it lately though. Check my other blog for details on that. Someday.) I once had a moment like this at McDonald's growing up as well. Only mine was completely opposite. I'm giggling to myself as I write this. My parents made me go up and ask for an extra ketchup packet. Yep - and to me, that was a hugely gigantic ordeal. At the time, my little brain was thinking - 'you want me to WHAT? are you crazy?' But I think I did it after much encouragement. I had such issues with confidence and doing things that would seem non-threatening to the normal person. I was not normal. I hated birthday parties. Amber Knopf had a perfectly fantastic birthday party planned in 2nd or 3rd grade and I cried the entire drive there. 2 miles away. (Tim is looking at me from across the room as I'm laughing so hard that tears are starting to pour down my face.) More on this later. Seriously, more on this later...there is so much to write.

Back to TJ...I just can't wait to see what he becomes when he grows up. Not so much the occupation (but of course, I'm dyin' to know what that will be). But mostly what he does, if or how he impacts people, and what he thinks of his childhood. Whoa - that's a very weird thought. Callin' it a night on that note - I'm out!