1. I was 7 years old. Our family cat, Smokey, had her kittens and I got to pick my very own, which I named Crawley. I had her until I was 22. She was my best friend growing up.
2. Spending the summers going to my granny's house to play with my brothers and my cousin. My mom would drive us out there most days, and we'd each pray on the way, do memory verses, and sometimes listen to some Southern Gospel. I am still fond of the Kingsmen to this day. When we'd get to my grandparent's house, I'd want to immediately make sure my cousin was awake (she wasn't), and then proceed to talk her into playing endless hours of Barbies and Monopoly.
3. Cloud 9 Ranch. For those of you that don't know that this blissful place is, I don't have enough time to explain it. It was a place I looked forward to going to with my brothers and grandparents a few times each summer where we stayed in their travel trailer, swam most of every day, played hoops and mini golf, and went to the restaurant when we wanted a change from the hot dogs and hamburgers we cooked each day. When I close my eyes, I can still see it all clear as day. I can see the dirt roads and four-wheeler trails, and I can even remember the smell of the pool house on those hot summer days.
Yikes, this is shaping up to be an extremely long post...I better cut these down!
4. Horseback riding at the farm. Being able to get away from everyone and everything and just spending time in nature made me (and still does) feel so much closer to God.
5. Endless summers at the Feed Store practicing hoops and working like a dog (sometimes). I don't know how to do this one justice. I spent days and days with my dad, working and learning, practicing and talking, and truly believe I'm a better person because of it. And boy, those burgers from the Café were delicious!
6. That birthday when my mom ended up buying me 3 cakes just to make me feel special. They were some of the ugliest cakes I've ever seen, but they were tasty, and her kindness on that day has stuck with me.
7. Driving the battery-operated car, and later a four-wheeler, around my granddad's garage while he worked on cars with my uncle. I loved the smell of that place, and I loved climbing into his boat and acting like I was driving it too.
8. Gulf Shores. Being probably 6 years old. I can still remember leaving late of an evening, and my dad having a thermos of coffee as we headed out. Arriving in Alabama at sunrise and making friends at the pool and hot tub with a bunch of adults because I was never too shy to talk to someone. (a little scary nowadays!)
9. When my mom bought me my first razor and shaving cream. She sat there patiently with me and showed me how to shave my legs. It was one of those moments that made me feel closer to her.
10. Getting my braces on...and then off! Getting braces the same day as one of my closest friends in junior high, only to get them off 2 years later. They aren't lying when they say it gives you confidence. I am so thankful my parents sacrificed so that I could have that opportunity.
11. Dressing up as Batman and Robin with my younger brother. There are pictures to prove it. We played so much when we were younger, and these memories always make me smile.
12. Watching Saturday morning cartoons with my brothers. Mine was Bugs Bunny. Boy, I could still watch hours of that, and I'm not ashamed of that at all. The cartoons these days sure aren't what they used to be, and I'm thankful we were able to watch cartoons that didn't spiritually scar us. And seriously, just spending that time each week with my brothers. I didn't understand the significance of it at the time, but I sure do now.
13. Backyard hoops with other families. Also proof of this on VHS somewhere. My parents had a concrete pad poured in the backyard, and we would have a couple different families come play basketball, where sometimes it was recorded. Sweet times.
14. Feeding bottle calves, especially with my older brother. Of an evening, we'd often be doing this by the light of a flashlight. My dad would slip outside and hide in the shadows to scare us at the perfect moment. It never failed. My brother and I had many good conversations during these nights and would also point out constellations that we could find.
15. Christmas Traditions. From as far back as I can remember even until now, there are just things we always do. Movies we always watch, cookies we always make (thanks, Mom!), music we always listen to, Bible stories we always read, and gifts we always give. Precious, precious moments. Some of the best, really. Of my whole life. We've continued to add to tradition, especially now that we have our own family.
16. Basketball, in general. It's been a part of my life for forever, it seems. I love the sport. I love the friends I've made playing it. I love the memories made traveling for it. I appreciate the time and energy our family put into it. I learned so much from my coaches, both in the game and in life. It's still my favorite sport, and I often miss playing it.
17. Bank picnics. My mom has always worked at the bank in town. We went to the "bank picnics" several times when I was younger. They included hayrides, cookouts, and games. I came to love these picnics, and often think of them when it's time for a hayride.
18. Becoming Mom. Fitting this is number 18, considering that's how old I was when I became pregnant. 9 months of being pregnant with my most precious gift. I swear I sang to my tummy each and every day. I couldn't wait to hold and snuggle him. He was(and still is!) the sweetest baby in the world. Becoming a mother was definitely one of the most defining moments of my life.
19. Accepting Christ with my mom sitting on my bed. Remember this like it was yesterday. I finally came to the realization that I didn't want to go to hell. That I did, desperately, need a Savior, and that I couldn't live the rest of my life without knowing Him more. Best choice of my life.
20. Many, many, MANY weekend shopping trips with Mom and Landon. I can only imagine the money I'd still have in the bank account if we hadn't gone shopping what seems like every Saturday, but the memories we made far out-weigh the cash we spent. Some of my most favorite of days were spent with these two people.
21. My first weekend with my husband. He barely fed me. Seriously. We watched football. And then more football. And then I took a nap. And then more football. Maybe it sounds awful, but even then, I knew this guy had more potential than he was letting on.
22. First day of Kindergarten for Landon. I didn't shed too many tears. I tried to stay strong. He was so adorable in his little uniform and cheesy grin. He still wears that uniform, and he still has that cheesy grin.
Boy, I'm running out of numbers! How do I choose?!
23. Summer nights with my family. We fished, we swam, we camped, we played, we laughed, and we loved. How truly blessed I am.
24. Singing with Mom. This brought us closer together. So many afternoons and evenings practicing songs, changing arrangements, and crying over some of the tender lyrics. She has a way better voice than I do. I was just along for the ride. We did it for the Lord, but He blessed us through it.
25. Landon's Birthdays. Spending time with him on his birthday each year is one of the sweetest days we have. He picks most of the places we go and things we do and food we eat. But the conversation, the jokes, and the smiles are what make these fun-filled days so cherished.
26. Wedding Day. I know you were wondering if I was going to mention it. Of course I was! This was a special day for so many reasons, but the particular moment that sticks out to me is when my husband prayed with me during the song. Sure there were people just staring at us, but we bowed our heads together, and he prayed the sweetest prayer I've ever heard from him. God joined us together in that moment, and I'm forever grateful.
27. Adoption Day! When my husband adopted Landon, it was the moment that all the pieces came together. It was God blessing our family and making it whole. He was protecting Landon. He was blessing Derek in making him a Dad, and He was answering my prayers in the process. Words really can't do this one justice.
28. Weekend Getaways. For as long as I can remember, we would take random weekend getaways to different places. Arkansas, St. Louis, Kansas, etc. Since becoming a mom and wife, we've taken our own getaways which have given me so many sweet memories.
29. When Landon accepted Christ. We were on our way to KC before he started school. It was life-changing for both of us. He's never looked back, and I've been forever grateful to be able to pray with him and witness his salvation.
30. Derek and Landon getting baptized together. My father-in-law was able to baptize both Derek and Landon on his official day of retirement at the church he pastored for over 30 years. What a day!!
There's no way that I can name all the wonderful memories I have from the past 30 years, but I can honestly look back and say I'm truly blessed. I really, really am. God has been with me all along and has shown me great favor in so many things I didn't deserve. My family is so dear to me, and I've met so many fantastic people along the journey, some of which have spoke into my life in real ways.
I'm reminded of a line in a movie I saw years ago where the character was giving a speech at his birthday celebration..
"I'm going to break precedent and tell you my one candle wish: that you would have a life as lucky as mine, where you can wake up one morning and say, "I don't want anything more." Sixty-five years. Don't they go by in a blink?"
It hasn't been 65 years, but it sure has gone by in a blink, and I'm thankful for every moment.
Abby
"You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11