the Savannah chronicles Day 2

The ice machine excitement continues. Summer hasn't settled down yet. Every new experience brings out giggles and the occasional spontaneous dance. Summer and I went to get ice the first night and as soon as the bucket was filled, in her exuberant manner, she grabbed it to take it to the room. In 1.2 seconds the whole bucket of ice spilled all over the floor. Of course we refilled and continued on our way to the rooms.

Enter night number two. Summer and her mom, Holly, went to fetch our nightly bucket of ice. Summer squealed in her best seven year old squeal as the ice cascaded into the bucket. This night she was extra careful in transportation of said ice. With lid tightly held to the top of the bucket Summer repeated her magic words, "Don't let the ice spill. Don't let the ice spill." Granddaughter and full ice bucket made it back to the rooms without incident.

Tonight Holly and Summer made the nightly pilgrimage to the ice machine. Evidently this will be Summer's responsibility until our time here is over. The walk to the frozen cubes was filled with frolicking all the way down the hallway to the machine. Summer plopped the bucket under the chute and slapped the button with vigor. (My granddaughter does even the smallest task great enthusiasm.) The roar of the ice twirling inside the machine getting ready to drop down only intensified the anticipation of a job well done for Summer. When the ice finally shot quickly down the chute it startled Summer so much she jumped and nearly knocked the bucket onto the floor for the second time this trip. Our girl at last managed to calm herself and deliver the ice without incident.

We watch our little one with great joy. There is nothing we do that is not 'new and improved' for Summer. She isn't bored with anything we do together. There are no jaded comments. No, "I don't want to do that." If it's a little change, or just plain fun, Summer is there, baby. There is so much for children to do and have in 2009. There are over the top birthday parties that encourage the attitude of more and more, please. Some toys cost hundreds of dollars. Children are often inundated with obscene abundance that births extreme selfishness and deepens the sinkhole of perceived emptiness and need.

Please do not assume that because our Summer is open and fun loving and joyful that she lives a perfect life, protected from all pain and trouble or challenge with never a care of her own to confront. Nothing is further from the truth. Summer suffers from asthma and many allergies to materials like polyester and acetate, and certain soaps, lotions, detergents. Her skin reacts with severe eczema to many of her favorite foods: eggs, milk, peanuts and ingredients in her beloved snack foods. From infancy she has learned what eating them does to her with the incessant breaking out, relentless itching and painful broken skin--so she doesn't eat them. And there isn't a child anywhere who loves to eat and enjoys food as much as she does. To have as itch free skin as possible without the torture of a reaction, in a very grown up manner, and even though she'd love to have them, she avoids these things. I don't know if I could do it as diligently as she does. And still, our little girl enjoys life in more fully than many people I know.

I hope little Summer holds on to her love of life and experience for a long, long time and that she never grows up so much that she becomes cynical and ungrateful for the small, good things in life. She helps me continue to find fun through her seven year old's eyes.

Father, thank you for the small, good things. Thank you for letting my granddaughter show me new ways of fun. I'm grateful, Lord. I love you.

Suz