Everyone has a story.   I’ve often thought when listening to various acquaintances and friends, “Wow, that would make a great story.”  So every Friday, I’m going to tell one of those stories.

It also makes me wonder what stories you all have out there. 

So, if you have a blog, you can tell your friend’s story there and let me know in a post so I can link to you from here so others can see your story.  Or if you do not have a blog just feel free to use the comments here to tell of one of your fascinating friends.

Note:  This blog was written on Friday September 22, but I was out of town doing a faith Lift conference (blog to come!( and there was no internet access where I was.  So it’s up today, two days late.

My Fascinating Friend is a 14 year old girl.  14 today in fact. I’ve known her all her life.  I was fascinated with her even before I saw her.  Fascinated when she made strange movements in my wife’s stomach.  Fascinated when she began to kick.

I am fascinated, in retrospect, that any baby could take 72 hours to be born!  Sweet-an-Lo decided that she wanted to come out facing up.  Sunny side up they call it.  Head first, but facing the ceiling.  Most babies are facing the floor.  Not Sweet-n-lo, she didn’t want to miss anything on the way out.  She was watching from the moment she entered the world and she’s been watching ever since.  Her eyes were turned upwards towards the heavens much as they are to this day.

I was fascinated when she taught herself to read over 10 years ago.  I was fascinated when she started using words like famished and parched.  I was fascinated when she began to delay bedtime with question as as any children do.  But I was fascinated that her questions and fears were not about the monsters under the bed but about:

1) How do I know you’re really my parents and not alien impostors? (How exactly does one prove that to a 6 year old!)

2)  Doesn’t the idea of eternity overwhelm you sometimes?  It’s so big!

I was fascinated as she got older at the way she kept watching.  Fascinated that I had to watch every conversation and action in front of a daughter who missed almost nothing.  I was fascinated at the way she sat on the edge of her dinner chair ready to bolt to something more important and interesting than dinner.

I am fascinated at the way she sits still and enjoys whoever she’s with today.  I am fascinated at how much wiser she’ been in her choice of friends than I was at her age.  I am fascinated today with how teenage hormones sometimes throw off that great brain of hers.

I am fascinated with the great heart to match the great brain.  I am fascinated that one so beautiful and smart could occasionally be so insecure.

I am fascinated by thought of what great plans God has for her life.  What had he designed you for Sweet-n-lo?  Do you remember once I told you, God had great plans for you   Do you remember what you told me in your little 5 year old voice, I have great plans for God!  YOu’ve learned since then to let God make the plans, I trust.

Happy Birthday fascinating daughter.  I am on the road today as I’ve increasingly been this year.  I am trusting this is a year for it, not soon to be repeated, but this year has reminded me why I’ve chosen not to travel as often as I could.  It’s because I am fascinated most of all by the 6 of you!

Enjoy your twisters and your hoodie search.

Sweet-n-lo, fascinating friend, beautiful daughter to Pastormac, Princess Ann, and God.