A History Lesson

May 29th another date on the calendar. On this day in history, Bob Hope was born in 1903. JFK was born in 1917. John Hinkley Jr was born in 1955. The song Travelin Man was number one for Ricky Nelson in 1961. The song Brown Sugar was number one for the Rolling Stones in 1971. The price of a postage stamp was raised from thirteen cents to 15 cents in 1978. On this day in history Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first people to successfully reach the top of Mt. Everest in 1953. On this day in history Yuma AZ experienced a major two day long snow storm in 1877. Texas Hill country received eleven inches of rain that caused over fifty million dollars in damage to the areas along the Medino, Hondo, Seco, Sabinal, and Frio rivers in 1987. And for all you sports lovers (A.K.A. my hubby), on this day in history Larry Bird beat out Magic Johnston as NBA rookie of the year in 1980.

But what we celebrate, and what I remember most, is that on this day in history a 19 year old young woman birthed into this world a little baby girl and named her Elaine. In previous years I anticipated my birthday and imagined all of the great loot I would acquire. I never really acquired LOTS of loot, but was always showered with love on my special day. Now that I am older--not telling how much older--the day has become a kind of quiet reflection.

The world doesn't stop. I`don't suddenly become more beautiful, or thinner, or smarter, or kinder. But I do want to reach those goals some day. You see I have learned that just because I am a mom of three, a wife of 13 years, the oldest child, and the popcorn lady for our elementary school doesn't mean that I have achieved all that I can. I am still growing. My birthday is proof of that. Maybe I am not growing taller, but I am growing. God is stretching me, there is so much more He wants me to learn. I guess when I have reached maturity He will call me home (where the calories from the birthday cake will never count). But until then, I pray that I can use the new years He continuously gives me to grow up. Each year is a gift in itself and that alone is all the loot I need.