They Make Me Smile - Abbie

Do you have someone in your life that the mere sight of them coming toward you or just seeing a picture of them makes you makes you smile?   I have come to realize that if we have only a few like that, we are truly blessed.

Now, if your reaction was something like "Oh sure, I know lots of people like that," then you do not understand what I mean.  I really hope that some day you do.

One of these special people in my life is Abbie.  I want to tell you about her.

Now, I've known Abbie's mom for a long time and Abbie since she was about 4 but I clearly remember the day she became special to me.... she was about 9 at the time.

I was standing in the back of our church after the morning service and turned around to see Abbie running toward me at full speed. When she was about four feet away she left the ground and yelled "Mr. Buzz!". Abbs landed in my arms and.... well... I was hooked :-)

From that time on, a huge reason I looked forward to being at church was to see Abbie and catch her as she flew through the air.  What a treat for me.  And what made it so special was that we would have these great talks about life and what she wanted to accomplish.  Abbie dreams big and I will not be surprised when she accomplishes big things.

I remember clearly the  day Abbie turned 12. She came bursting into our Sunday School room, threw her arms around me and said with such pure joy. "I'm twelve... I'm twelve!!!" She was so excited to be growing up.... for the moment.

That very afternoon I was enjoying listening to our choir practice when Abbie walked up and I noticed she had tears streaming down her face. I asked her what was wrong and she so very pitifully cried out, "I'm twelve!!!".   She had just realized so was TOO OLD to go to the kids youth group anymore.

It was about this same time that a very sad thing happened.  Abbie was truly growing up and she had grown into a beautiful almost teenage young lady.  I turned around in church one evening and she was just leaving the ground headed my way.   Well, if I hadn't been ready we'd have both been on the ground... or in the E.R.  Abbs was getting too grown up to keep flying into my arms. I cannot tell you how sad that realization made me.  But, I do have to say, she still gives some of the best hugs ever.

Abbie has become one of the most spiritually minded young women I've ever known.  She truly loves the Lord and wants everyone she comes in contact with to come come to know Jesus. I have seen her moved to tears over people's souls.

This picture was at her 14th birthday party.  What a privilege it was for Kathy & I to be invited. Wow! How could she possibly be 14 already???

There is soooo much more I could tell you about Abbie and maybe I'll write more on her later.  But, for now, I want to list her as one of the true blessings in my life.  I just can't wait to see what God has ahead for "Princess Abbie".

Te quiero mucho Abbs!