Do you still think of Jennifer?

Yesterday Leslie (my 10 yr. old daughter) asked me, "Do you still think of Jennifer?" I told her "I think of Jennifer every day!"
I could have added:
When I want to call her and tell her my frustrations and compare parenting notes.
When I have some good news I want to share with her.
When I go shopping and I see a card or cute something I would normally buy her.
When I go shopping and I see things that say "best friend" - I need to look away quickly or I will tear up.
When I see my lilacs budding and I wonder what is blossoming in her yard.
When I wish I could ask her advice about a tough decision I am trying to make.
When I see the cute card she sent me in 2006 and has been on my desk ever since.
When I think of Aidan and wish he could feel his Mommy's hugs.
When I go back a few pages in my e-mail and there are e-mails from her.
When we pray for Jeff and Aidan every day.
When I see the birthday card I bought her a few months ago because it was perfect for her and now I don't know where to send it.
When I put on Escada Rockin Rio (I love it!) that she gave me for my birthday a year or two ago.
When I hope that she will see my new grandson who will be born anyday.

There are just too many ways that I think of Jennifer and I always will! I hope each of us will cherish the memories we have of her.

Jennifer's Green Thumb

I saw my little shamrocks coming up the other day. They reminded me of a funny Jennifer experience: Jennifer loved to garden and grow things. When I visited Jenn and Jeff in Raleigh years ago I admired some of her plants including some mint she grew. It was actually pineapple mint and smelled really nice. So in her usual Jennifer style she generously gave me some cuttings to take home. We wrapped them in very wet papertowels and put a plastic bag around them. I put this in my carry-on bag so they wouldn't get smashed and would make it home to Washington OK.
Needless to say as I went through Security they pulled me aside. They asked me to take out the plant. They looked at it, felt it, and smelled it all the while observing me. It was then I realized they probably thought it was marijuna or an illegal plant! I forthrightly told them it was pinneapple mint, but I didn't say anything else. I was sent on my way, but couldn't help laughing inside. The mint made it home but eventually died for some reason or other (I don't have a green thumb).
The shamrocks are another story! Jennifer sent a snip of shamrocks home with me on my last visit to Little Rock in October 2007. Yup the shamrocks made it through Security and they are growing strong in a little planter on my back porch! I remember last year about this time I remarked to Jennifer how great they were growing. They are another sweet reminder of the little things she liked to do to make others happy.