The Date

"So I went on a date you know!"

Lets take this back about a week.  Isabella was invited to a school friends birthday party at "Pump It Up".  This would be one of the first parties she would go to with out Alexandrea.  To help Andi get over the disappointment we quickly gave her the choice of going on "a date".  I told her she could go on a date with Mommy or go on a date with Daddy.  To which she responded "or I could go on a date with Austin"!  She has her Dad's quick wittedness and she was proud of her comeback.  She thought she was pretty funny.  As the week passed she decided she was going to go on a date with Daddy, which is no surprise.  The day came and excitement filled the air.  She knew when she woke up this was the day for the date.  That morning we went to brunch with close friends and on the way home we agreed to get the house in order before we went our separate ways. While removing her shoes she asked where to put them because "I'm wearing them on my date"!  Finally it was time.  She got on her shoes and was ready to go when we remembered we needed to clean out the oven.  Walking back in the kitchen she tripped and scraped her cheek on the open oven door.  Oh there were tears, a little blood, a good bump and soon to be a nice bruise.  As she lay on the couch with a towel and a pack of frozen peas I offered to stay home and sit with her but she wanted that date with her Daddy.  Joey was helping me get Isa all together for the party when Andi just started to wail.  She thought he was taking Isa and leaving her.  "I want my date"!  Her little tear-filled eyes shone when Joey reassured her he was just helping Mommy and they would be leaving soon.

I texted Joey from the party to see how things were going.  My heart sank for Andi when I read the text.  We have a flat tire.  John is on his way to pick us up.  About 5 minutes into their date the tire was flat.  As they waited on the side of the road she wore Joey's Jacket and kept the conversation going.  Soon Uncle John showed up with cookies and snacks and they were off to Discount Tire.  After discount tire it was time to go home.  We had company for dinner.  At one point in the night, Andi looked at Lance with a big smile saying, "So I went on a date you know"!

How many times have I let my circumstances ruin wonderful company.  Things just weren't perfect so why bother.  This wasn't what I had planned so it's not any fun.  I'm learning from Andi that life is more about the people your with then the situation you're in and a little perspective changes everything.  

Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.  

Philippians 4:11-13 The MSG

PS.  In case you were wandering, Joey will be taking her on another date in the near future