Thank you, God, for everything!

Tonight I, Fun Angie, am recording a storybook for the fabulous Emma Kate.  I cannot wait to see her face when she realizes that not only is this a story that contains an adorable cat...but it's a storybook with the voice recording of her beloved Fun Angie.  I caved and told her mother about the gift.  A recordable storybook...it was my very own Christmas epiphany!!!! 

A week ago, I was having a sad sort-of week...lots weighing on my heart...and on Wednesday or maybe it was Thursday, I went to my mailbox and found an envelope addressed to me, Fun Angie.  Inside the envelope was a beautifully colored Hello Kitty coloring page and a note from Emma.  It began...  "Fun Angie, I love you to the moon and back."  And I have to be honest, it made my day!!! 

Every year I am going to start a tradition with the special little children in my life. I'm going to find an ornament that either makes me think of them or reminds me of something fun we've done together in the previous 12 months. 

For Emma, this years ornament is this cute, delightful jingle bell monkey.  The monkey's adorable smile reminded me of Emma's smile that brightens my day in so many ways.

This past year, my favorite Emma moment was a voicemail that she left me...  Sara handed her the phone and Emma asked "Fun Angie, what are you doing?"  (She paused.)  Repeated the question.  She then got extremely frustrated, "Fun Angie, why won't you talk to me?" 

More recently Sara asked Emma to say something on my voicemail and I overheard Sara say, "Remember, Emma, this is a message.  Fun Angie isn't really there.  Just talk to her."  It must be difficult for children to grasp the concept of voicemail.  When I was a kid, we didn't have voicemail...(sigh)  The beauties of getting another year older and wiser.