Elizabeth-
Probably the thing I miss most is times with my grandparents. I’d have weekly dates to Pizza Hut or TCBY with Mamaw and weekend white perch fishing trips with Papaw. They went out of their way to make sure I knew I was loved. Of course, they spoiled me with presents and never refused me, but more than that they taught subtle life lessons in their day-to-day lives. I would give just about anything to hear Papaw’s stories being a little Indian girl (yes, girl…VERY creative man), or help Mamaw in the kitchen making fig preserves. They fostered an independent spirit inside of me without me even knowing it. Phrases like….just try….you can do anything you set your mind to….TRY AGAIN….and don’t quit stay at the forefront of my mind during our journey to see this dream a reality.

Marie-
I miss a lot of things about childhood! I miss the innocence of being a child, of not knowing how the world really is. I miss the undying hope of a child, truly believing that anything is possible. I miss having unprejudiced faith in everyone, that each and every one of us don’t have something dark in us. I miss the carefree days of summer and the hardest decision I had to make was what to play and with whom. I may miss all of that sometimes, but I hold on to being able to see that in my children’s eyes as they grow. Those are definitely some things that I hope they will hold on to for as long as possible.