Favorite Childhood Memory

What is your favorite childhood memory?  Some of us have terrible memories and can't remember yesterday.  Whether you had an amazing childhood or one that was full of challenges, I believe everyone has one stand-out great memory.  Often the things that were most special were the things that were free or that cost very little.

One of the most special things I remember was all three of us kids laying on the living room floor and my dad reading a story.  My favorite was "The Secret Garden."  I don't remember how many weeks it took to complete it but we loved it!  That was a precious time of gathering together and escaping to another world.  We all used our imaginations to conjure up what the characters looked like.  Another favorite book was "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle."  Dad is an awesome reader and still today reads to some of the classes at my twin nephews school.

Another favorite memory was all of us making dough ornaaments at Christmas time.  Dad always made the coolest ones.  For years when we would put the Christmas tree up we would recall making those dough ornaments. 

We would take family vacations in the station wagon and it seemed like we were driving forever.  Every parent has heard the famous question, are we there yet?  Dad would make up the most awesome stories.  One was based on the road sign "falling rock."  He would tell a long drawn out, very entertaining story, about Falling Rock, the famous indian brave.  We loved hearing those stories even into our teens.  It's a shame none of us ever wrote any of them down.  I'm not sure any of us remember them well enough now. I'll have to ask my brothers.

Another favorite memory was when I was about 5 or 6.  We were driving to Dallas to dad's office.  Back then that drive seemed as if it took a whole day, not the 30-45 minutes it really took.  We were all dressed in matching shirts and we were young enough that we didn't catch on.  Maybe my older brother did, but not the two youngest of us.  Anyway, dad made this big stink about taking a wrong turn, oh we would have to turn around and the trip was going to take longer, etc.  Then he said something like, "oh no, we turned in to Six Flags.  We are in the parking lot now, I guess we'll have to go to Six Flags for the day!"  We all squealed with delight.  I don't know what was better, that we got to go to Six Flags or that is was a surprise.  I remember believing for a long time that we got to go because dad took a wrong turn. 

In today's society I think parents try to give their children so many material things.  We work long hours trying to make lots of money to buy them the perfect toys, give them the best vacations and education.  The things we provide for our children are fine but I believe often we would bless them more if we would work less, have less, and spend more time with them.  Seriously, when you look back at your favorite memories are they of extravagent vacations and gifts or are they memories of people you loved spending TIME with you? 

Giving the gift of time and attention is one of the most precious gifts we can give.  Sadly it is also becoming a very rare gift. 

I would love to know what are some of your most precious memories?   Please share with my readers and myself.  A great conversation to have a your dinner table with your kids tonight, what is their favorite memory with you?  You may be surprised.

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Abundant blessings,

Tami