Dear Peter,

Well today is Father's Day. I have really been thinking a lot about my daddy. As you know he passed away in 1984. And even though I AM biased I believe he was the best daddy in the world. :-)

I remember that his birthday was on June 19th. A lot of times Father's Day fell on his birthday. Every year we got him the same thing, a bottle of "Jade East" cologn. I haven't been able to find that scent in many years. I still remember how it smelled though. :-)

Daddy loved kids. He coached Little League Football, his favorite sport, and his team was undefeated all 3 years he coached. They were only scored against one time, and that was the game they played after we moved.

He showed his bravery by volunteering to go to Viet Nam, and by our Brownie Leader for 2 years when none of the mother's could/would volunteer. He always helped us sell our Girl Scout cookies.

He loved the Oilers and Astros (and anyone who played the Dallas Cowboys). He made great spagetti sauce and homemade donuts.

He coached Soccer for my brother, and attended most of our performances at school. He was a wonderful Santa Claus. He worked on Christmas Day, so he would wake us up at 4:00 am to watch us open our gifts. He was just as excited as we were. :-)

He had a really good sense of humor, loved music and played the drums. I remember how he used to call me "Wendy Susan" when I was in trouble, and that ISN'T my name. :-)

He taught us about respecting other people and yourself, generosity,a good work ethic, giving of our time, to always respect our elders and ALL veteran's, and to take care of your family,always.

I remember how he would take us to the Minor League baseball games during "kids week". He would take only one of each night, so we could have quality time together. I remember the night we won the car at the game. I remember he would buy us frozen yogurt in the little "batters helmets", and how we would give the batter a dollar after he hit a home run. I still love Kevin McReynolds.

After he died a song was released by Holly Dunn called "Daddy's Hands". I love this song!! Everytime I hear it, it reminds me of my Daddy. I will post the lyrics here, but all of the credit for these words go to Ms. Dunn.

I remember Daddy's hands
Folded silently in prayer
And reaching out to hold me
When I had a nightmare
You could read quite a story
In the callouses and lines
Years of work and worry
Had left their mark behind

I remember Daddy's hands
How they held my Mama tight
And patted my back
For something done right
There are things I've forgotten
That I loved about the man
But I'll always remember
The love in Daddy's hands

Daddy's hands
Were soft and kind when I was cryin'
Daddy's hands
Were hard as steel when I'd done wrong
Daddy's hands
Weren't always gentle but I'd come to understand
There was always love in Daddy's hands

I remember Daddy's hands
Working til they bled
Sacrificed unselfishly
Just to keep us all fed
If I could do things over
I'd live my life again
And never take for granted
The love in Daddy's hands

Daddy's hands
Were soft and kind when I was cryin'
Daddy's hands
Were hard as steel when I'd done wrong
Daddy's hands
Weren't always gentle but I'd come to understand
There was always love in Daddy's hands

Daddy's hands
Were soft and kind when I was cryin'
Daddy's hands
Were hard as steel when I'd done wrong
Daddy's hands
Weren't always gentle but I'd come to understand
There was always love ............ in Daddy's hands.


Love,
Wendy Darling

Dear Peter,

I hope you are doing well today. :-) It is a beautiful morning here,and it is the first morning in several days that I have not woke up with a headache. WOO HOO!! :-)

I am also very excited, because we are one step closer going on vacation this fall. I spent most of the afternoon on Tuesday finding hotels in the areas we will be going. I found 3 great hotels that meet our needs, and I reserved them. :-) The car will be reserved soon, and our itinerary is planned. Now, it's just saving the money. :-) Ok, so that is the biggest part, but I believe we will be able to do it!! I am having faith! :-)

Tell the Lost Boys and Tink that I said, "Hello". :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Dear Peter,

Sorry it has been a few days since I have written. :-) I thought that I would share with you the story I made up for the little girl that I babysit. It is very "rough". I made it up on the spur of the moment while trying to rock her to sleep. She loves it though. :-) I hope you enjoy it.

Princess Lacey and the Golden Waters

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Lacey. Lacey was a Princess. She had long, curly blonde hair, a pretty smile and beautiful blue eyes. Lacey lived in a big castle in a magic kingdom.

Lacey favorite thing to do everyday was to pick a huge bouquet of flowers from the meadow near the castle. Lacey would spend all day picking the flowers, because she wanted to give them to her mommy, the Queen. The only problem was the flowers would wilt and die before Lacey could give them to her mommy. This made Lacey very sad.

One day when Lacey was walking in the meadow, trying to figure out how she could keep the flowers pretty until she could get them to her mommy, she met a fairy and a leprechaun. The fairy and leprechaun asked Lacey, “Princess Lacey, why are you so sad?” Lacey said, “Each day I pick flowers for my mommy, but they wilt and are ugly by the time I get them home to her. I want to give my mommy a beautiful bouquet of flowers.”

The leprechaun told Princess Lacey, “You need to go to the land of the ‘Golden Waters’ beyond the rainbow. There you will find the most beautiful flowers, and they will last for many years.”

“How do I get there?” asked Princess Lacey.

“Wait until the next time there is a sun shower in the kingdom. Then, run outside and find the rainbow. Follow it to the end and you will be there.”

So, Princess Lacey waited for 3 days. Finally, a sun shower came to the kingdom. When it was over Princess Lacey ran outside, into the meadow, and looked up into the sky. There she saw the most beautiful rainbow she had ever seen. The fairy and the leprechaun were there. They said, “Follow us. We will take you to the end of the rainbow.”

Princess Lacey ran and ran. She followed the fairy and the leprechaun for what seemed like hours. Finally, she came to the end of the rainbow. It ended in the middle of a huge field, filled with many, many flowers. Princess Lacey saw the most beautiful flowers. They were such bright, beautiful colors. She had never seen flowers this beautiful.

“My mommy will love these flowers!” Said Princess Lacey.

Princess Lacey, the fairy and the leprechaun began to pick the biggest bouquet of flowers she had ever picked. When she was satisfied she put all of the flowers together, and tied the bouquet with the ribbon from her hair.

“Now,” said the leprechaun, “You must dip the flowers in the golden water.”

Princess Lacey looked at the pond that the leprechaun pointed to. She walked to the edge and looked inside. At the bottom of the pond were hundreds of gold coins. The sun shown on the water and made it looked like gold because of the many coins.

“That is why it is called the ‘Golden Waters’”, said Princess Lacey. “How wonderful!”

She dipped her bouquet into the water, and then began the long journey home. After she reached the castle she thanked her friends for helping her, and ran inside the castle.

“Mommy, Mommy come see what I have for you,” cried Princess Lacey.

The Queen came to see what Princess Lacey had brought for her. She was amazed at all of the bright, beautiful colors.

“I have never seen flowers like these. Thank you for such a wonderful gift,” said the Queen.

Princess Lacey and her Mommy put the flowers in a beautiful vase. The flowers stayed beautiful for many, many years, and brought great joy to all those who saw them.

The End.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Dear Peter,

I am sorry it has been so long since I have written. We have had a lot going on, and I have a lot of things that I could write to you about. I think I will just stick with the latest news though.

I have been reminded a lot about my childhood lately, and it makes me ask the question, "Why are we so hardheaded as children?" Why don't we listen to adults and heed their warnings? Why must we learn things the hard way?

My dear nephew got his first REALLY bad sunburn this weekend. He went to the lake and got too much sun. Before he left I went over everything that I had put into his suitcase, stressing the white t-shirt that I included for him to wear when he went swimming. I stressed that he should wear the water shoes we bought for him that morning, and that he should wear his sunscreen, and reapply it when he should. Well, he chose to wear the shoes. No shirt, no sunscreen, and he has been crying since yesterday. His back looks like a lobster, and he feels every bit of it.

This begged me to ask the question, "Why didn't you listen to me? I told you this would happen!" Well, this statement immediately brought back the memory of me in the 6th grade when I wore a sundress to the Little League football games. It was one Saturday, sitting through 4 games. My mother told me not to wear it, but I insisted. Then, as the day wore on she told me to get in the shade. I resisted. I paid the price with the worst sunburn in history.

I seriously feel for my dear nephew, because I remember the pain. The pain so bad you can't sleep, so you just cry until you literally pass out from exhaustion.

Dr. Dobson calls hardheaded children "strong willed". I believe that God gave that characteristic to certain people for a reason. One day they will need that will to either resist a strong temptation, or to have more courage and determination then they ever thought they would need. I praise God for strong willed people, most of the time. However, sometimes we just need to listen and heed the warnings of those who have been there.

Of course, most of us as adults could do the same thing. I guess we never outgrow the hard headedness we have as children. We just gain wisdom from all of our mistakes. At least, I hope we do.

Love,
Wendy Darling