Some of my most treasured childhood memories revolve around time I spent with my cousins. I have three wonderful cousins on my mom's side, and two wonderful cousins on my dad's side.
This week, I'm particularly thinking about my paternal cousins, because we're about to get to spend some time together--hooray!
For many years, it was just the four of us girls. Ginger, Abbie, Debra, and Ellie. We had SO many great times together. We were like little stair-steps....four little girls all in a row.
(Several years later, we were all thrilled with the arrival of my two little brothers.)
One of the things we girl cousins did was form a cousin club. We named our club GADE. (First initial of each of our names.)
One of GADEs activities was to re-create one of our favorite scenes from one of our favorite movies. The movie? Sound of Music. The scene? The part when Captain Von Trapp blows the whistle for his children and they all come running. They form a line, stand at attention, and then take turns stepping forward and introducing themselves, and then stepping back into formation.
The members of GADE would practice our introductions in the other room, and then indicate to our parents that we were ready for them to whistle for us. (Bless their hearts for humoring us by doing the whistling.) When we heard the whistle, we would rush into the room, line up in birth order as quickly as we could, and do our introductions with nary a smile on any of our little faces. (just like the movie, of course.)
Fun memories! My children haven't even seen that movie yet--now that's something I look forward to. (They already know the songs, because we love the soundtrack.)
Sidenote: Have you ever loved a soundtrack before watching the movie/play? I had that experience with Wicked. As much as you enjoy the music before going to the play, it cannot compare to AFTER.
After you go to the play, the words are so much richer and full of meaning.
My $0.02 is this: Living the life of faith is sort of like knowing the soundtrack of a movie before you see the movie. When Jesus comes back and brings full restoration to His creation, we'll understand everything so much better! We love the songs on the soundtrack right now (God's great goodness and love, our dependence on Him, how our hearts are made to worship our Creator, our need for community)....but one day....we'll really understand all of the lyrics so much more fully!
1 John 3:2, The Message paraphrase
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My uncle spent some time recently digitizing lots of old family photos. We're all so grateful to him! They're so much fun to look through. Some of the pics I've never seen before.
Here's one of me & my cousins at the Memphis Zoo. Ellie, I think this was taken before you were born! That would mean this pic is c.1978 or so.
I love my cousins! Can't wait to see them soon.
