Strawberries and Toast

Now you have to feel close to that child that loves the same things you do.  It is like - if you pour milk over cake and one of your children pours milk over cake then you kind of feel proud-like.  Incidentally, it gags me to eat soggy cake with frosting!  But soaking homemade buttered toast in a bowl of bottled strawberries and juice is another thing all together.  I grew up on strawberries and toast and so each harvest I make certain I have bottled an ample supply for the winter months.  Now I make certain that I have bottled strawberries for the son who loves them just like me.  But it isn't just the love of bottled strawberries that we share - we have a bond that is kind of like a sixth sense;  we understand each other.  I know why he is private and doesn't share every single thing about what is going on in his life or in his thoughts, why he would rather go without if he can't have the best, why he doesn't give the shirt off his back like his dad or brother do, loves to have money, work with sums and figures, be in charge, work hard and play hard, be totally loyal to those he feels close to, be content with life but always looking for a better, more efficient way to do things.  I know these things because he is just like me with a  few good character traits that he picked up from his dad and brother and sister.  He is my child that was, and is, best friends with his brother and best friends with his sister.  Is it normal to take your sister to the "Prom" just 'cause it would be so fun?  And another thing, is it possible to reach 6'4" by just eating cold cereal?  Apparently!  I crack up every time I remember the gray felt floppy hat he insisted on wearing the first three years of his life.  

I am endeared to each of my three children in different ways but that last baby - the one you finally conquered the nursing challenge with, the one everyone spoiled and loved and gave him everything he ever wanted, the one that hung around when the others were gone, the one who continues to honor and bless your life and check on you every few days, the one who loves strawberries and toast.  Yea, that one!

When You Wish Upon A Star

The first time the ship's horn blew out the notes to "When You Wish Upon a Star" I knew we were going to have a great time.  I grew up with the films, music and magic of Walt Disney.  However, I was a mother with three children by the first time I  actually went to Disneyland.    I was a little surprised to find out that it was just a theme park with rides like a carnival but it didn't take long to get absorbed into the vision of Walt Disney.  I often wonder if he even had a clue how immense his dream would become.

We decided that if we were going to go on a cruise for our birthdays then we might as well go on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas.  Hence, the Bahama Mamas was conceived.  We started saving and planning a year in advance.  We asked our husband's to give us money instead of gifts for every holiday we could think of including Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, 4th of July, etc.  Half way through the cruise and out on the open sea we wished we could have wired home, "Send More Money!"  There were so many things that we wanted to do.

Snorkeling was on our to-do list along with bicycle riding on the islands, sitting on the shore with our toes in the sand, trips to the ship's spa, watching live Disney performances and movies on the big screen and indulging in delectable foods and tropical fruit smoothies.  We laughed 'til we cried, shared our fun with others and dropped into our cabin bed, exhausted, at the end of each day.  You ask, "Were there any kids on the cruise?"  "Yup...Us!  Mother and daughter!  It was a trip to remember".