Miss Julie

Sometimes, in life, you cross paths with a person and your life is forever changed. The life-alternating changes can be big or little, momentary or life-long.

During the four years I attended Moody Bible Institute I crossed paths with many, many great individuals. Quite a few of those people had just a "small" part in my life as our relationships didn't continue past college. However, a select few of those young men and women are still my close friends today, though I guess we're not all that young anymore! :)

The summer of 2004, while I was serving at Ponca Bible Camp, the most important of all life-altering path crossings occurred though. This, of course, was the year I crossed paths with Lawrence for the first time. And at the time, it seemed like just that...our paths had crossed for those two weeks, but then we were continuing on in separate directions never to see or hear from each other again. That is, until God winded our paths back towards each other and eventually connected them to form one path. What a journey it has been too!

This fall I crossed paths with Miss Julie. To be technically correct, I guess I should say Mrs. Julie, but whatever. Like most times when you cross paths with a person who influences your life dramatically, you aren't planning on meeting them, let alone having them change your life forever. This would certainly be the case with Miss Julie. When I took Carson and Coralyn to Chick-fil-A for Kids' Korner for the first time, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I figured I would get to talk with other moms and the kids would have fun playing. Correct on both accounts. However, I got an added bonus when Miss Julie stopped by to introduce herself. She is the story lady for Kids' Korner, you see. But she does so much more than just read several books to the kiddos. She stops by the play dough or lego table to see what you are making. She takes the time to comment on the picture you are coloring. She does a "magic trick" with a pretend ball and bag (shhh, don't tell Carson and Coralyn the ball isn't real). She gives hugs and high fives. She remembers your name.

Every time I tell Carson and Coralyn that we are going to Chick-fil-A, they ask if Miss Julie is going to be there. As we walk in the doors, they are searching for her. And right after we give the posterboard cow a high-five, we beeline our way over to Miss Julie to say hello. And then Carson waits oh so anxiously for story time with Miss Julie. Sometimes, he doesn't even bother playing he is so excited to have Miss Julie come with her bag of books...he just stands there and watches her clear off tables and interact with other customers, not wanting to miss the second she goes to pick up her books and start making her way to the back of the restaurant for story time.

This morning was no different. As soon as we entered Chick-fil-A, there was Miss Julie to greet us with her delightful smile. She came over to say hi and tell us that she had missed Carson and Coralyn while she had been away on vacation the past two weeks. She commented on their adorable raincoats (Coralyn looked like a duck and Carson was quite the yellow fireman). And of course she promised to be back in a little while to read some stories.

Storytime is quite the event at Kids' Korner. It's in the play area so many of the children have a hard time sitting still and actually listening to the story as Miss Julie reads (understandable). But not Carson. Oh no, he is glued to her side and listening intently to every word that comes out of Miss Julie's mouth. He doesn't seem to notice that all the other children are running around like maniacs. He doesn't really care that he is the only one paying attention to Miss Julie's story. After she has read her books and it's finally time to go, he is always sure to tell Miss Julie good-bye and give her either a high five or hug.

I'm not sure what Carson is going to do come Thanksgiving and he doesn't come to my house anymore for daycare...and we don't go to Chick-fil-A on Wednesday morning for Kids' Korner (aka storytime with Miss Julie). I'm also not sure what Coralyn is going to do come Thanksgiving when Carson stops coming over every day, but at least she will still have Miss Julie on Wednesday mornings. And for that I am oh so grateful. Yes, I am so thankful that we have crossed paths with Miss Julie and that our lives have been forever changed as a result.