11:11, Make a wish.

06/11/2011 It's the little things in life that remind you of the big picture. xoxo

"11:11, make a wish" Beth yelled from the back of our Mazda van.  "I wish I was an alligator" she proceeds.  "I wish I had more wishes" was always my response.  We always knew that wishes were just that, wishes, but it was fun nonetheless.  The 11:11 wish making was a tradition that we practiced throughout our childhood and beyond.  As we grew our wishes became dreams that we wished to achieve.  "I wish I could learn fractions", "I wish I could get my ears pierced.", "I wish mom would let me shave my legs."  Wishes that would eventually come true, when the time was right.  In life, we don't get to choose the date and time when our wishes will come true.  We must be patient and let God figure out the details first.  
My grandfather was a man who knew this best.  He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as a young man and was put in a wheelchair.  I'm sure he constantly wished that he could walk or that the disease would be taken from him but he didn't sit around and wallow in pity or self doubt.  He played the hand that life dealt him.  He was a loving father to four vivacious kids, a funeral director, a U.S. Navy World War II Veteran, president of the Louisville Lions Club, a mason, owner of Bargeron Insurance and property rentals, he was a founding member of the Bank of Jefferson County, he was a deacon and former chairman of the board of deacons at Louisville First Baptist Church.  He was elected in 1974 as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives and served for 20 years.  I remember watching him in parades throwing bubble gum from the back of a ritzy convertible and thinking "My papa is a celebrity."  
My papa inspires me and constantly reminds me of what I can accomplish when I put God first and believe in myself.   He accomplished so much because he was driven, loving, kind, and didn't let his imperfections hold him back.  My grandfather passed away on November, 11 2007, 11/11.   
God has a funny way of keeping us in check and reminding us to keep chasing our dreams.  I see 11:11 at least once a day and now instead of making a silly wish, I take the time to look back and reflect on the life of an amazing man who loved me so much.   
Never quit dreaming.
xoxo,
Emily

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