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St. Patrick's Day

I remember celebrating St. Patrick's Day as a kid in school. One year, I got to "pinch back" several people because the back of my ponytail was sprayed green and unless you were behind me, it wasn't noticeable. It was such a thrill to hide your green so that you could grab a wad of skin and give a tug. Green socks, green undies or green toenails hidden by your shoes were always a popular choice.

As I got older, I realized that drinking was a huge part of St. Patrick's Day. Shirts with green beer seemed pretty popular. Since I did not drink, none of this appealed to me. I still played it safe and wore a splash of green on that day.

My St. Patrick's Day changed forever on March 17, 2003 in the early morning hours. I had endured an extremely difficult pregnancy and was now in the hospital, with a baby that was 7 weeks early and in distress. I had just been told "we have to do an emergency c-section. It's a very dangerous situation." I was being taken back RIGHT THEN. It was 3 something in the morning. I replied
"So... I will have St. Patrick's Day baby?"
After about 10 seconds of piecing together what I had just said, the doctor understood.
"Yeah, you will."

I knew from the moment Keirey Isabell was born that someday she would love the fact that her birthday was a holiday. Not a BIG holiday, but someday she would enjoy the green-ness and fun-ness four leaf clover part of her day. I've always said, from the moment I first saw her, Keirsey is my "little four leaf clover." My very own little charm.

This year, she has blossomed. She's discovered that while she very much enjoys the girlie things about being a girl, she also loves to pull her hair back and get dirty, climb rock walls, play soccer, talk about Transformers, read Spiderman comics and have lengthy conversations about what it would be like to fly or go to school while still in bed.
I'm not sure many soon to be 8 year olds can be so thoughtful and that's reflected in her school work when I get notes from her teacher saying "What a wonderful little girl!" Her heart was broken when she learned about the recent wild fires and she said several prayers for the victims on the way to school.
Her thought process astonishes me sometimes.
"Mom, where are those people living? Can we bring them here? I can share my bed."

Most recently, her thoughts have been on what she is going to do with her life.
With tears in her eyes, she came to me about a week ago and said,
"I don't know what to do with my life. I try to copy you, but I think I'm suppose to do something else, too."
I jumped at the chance to share with her that right now, God wants her best in school and it's ok to start praying about her future by simply asking Jesus to "show me what you want me to do with my life."
Moments like that are some of the greatest times of being a parent. To know that my 2nd grader is already considering where her life is going and what she can do for other people.

This upcoming birthday has turned out to be "the one." The year she wants to incorporate St. Patrick's Day into her birthday. Her cupcakes will be in the shape of a four leaf clover and although they are strawberry with cream cheese, they will be green!

The discussion a couple nights ago was
"Mom, does everyone celebrate St. Patrick's Day?"
"Well, no, not everyone."
"Do YOU celebrate St. Patrick's Day? What do you do?"
"Baby, I celebrate YOU on St. Patrick's Day. All day. Every year. For the rest of my life."

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone. And Happy Birthday to my Keirsey Isabell Maupin!

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