12-13-14

All in all it was a really sweet day. Breakfast at Dixie Cream, pedicures, perfectly practical presents.... Actually we dragged this birthday out for a couple of days. That's the way we do it - any time we can.

But, it wasn't the same. The week was so busy that we never had Daddy's famous steak and mashed potatoes.  Sometimes I wonder if it was that squeezing around my heart that kept me from it.

Karin was daddy's girl for sure! They had quite the bond and the older they got, the more alike they were in so many ways.

Well, except for fire. She never liked it. At. All.   He had respect, but not fear of it. He could tame it, bring it under control.

I think one of her peaceful places is his swing. It was his peaceful place.

Children are such a blessing. You love them so much, yet you also can love each differently. It is so remarkable the way each child is a unique blend of the parents. When Karin and I would 'butt heads" it was generally over the way we organized things, each of us OCD in a unique way. If Karin and Roger ever butted heads, it was because he woke up with his feet hitting the floor, lights on, action all around him.  She and I like it quiet until about 10 AM.  Soft awakening, we call it.

But, that was about it with butting heads. She and Roger were alike in so many ways. Practically perfect in almost every way, so to speak.

I'm sure this day was particularly hard for her.  He was one of her very best friends, her protector, her provider of wise advice. And they loved sharing their coffee together!

And though in the early days of our lives together, he felt that being an 'only child' was practically perfection and would have been perfectly satisfied with only one child. Ah....then Karin arrived and he learned what perfection for him was really all about.  Sisters who love each other deeply and are best friends in the very best way....he could never have asked for more.   Daughters who loved spending time with him anytime, anywhere.  What a life! What a blessing!

I realized today that it is 12-13-14. For 'numbers people' those things are fun. Fun, because they don't roll around so often. There will never be another in our lifetime.  Lucky Friday the 13th, is what we always called Karin's birthday.

I'm not sure we can call 12-13-14 a lucky day, but for sure, we can call it a unique one. Unique because there won't be another. She will never have to face another 'first' birthday without her daddy here with us - but hopefully can remember that we carried on his tradition of making any day that is a special day, special forever.

Thank you Lord, for the blessing of Karin. Forever young. Forever joyful. Forever trusting you for what is best and wonderful in her life. Even if we still can't understand it.

Roger's Lesson:  I bet he is wondering how I am going to ever pull of steak and mashed potatoes. (AKA, a little potato with your butter).....but I know we were remembered....we got a shield penny with our Panera soup!  He would tell us to keep making special days special!

Special forever. Just like him. Just like her.  Just like 12-13-14