Maclellan

Thursday, my daughter and I had lunch with my niece.  She is leaving for college next week.  This is her sophomore year.  She attended a school in town for her freshman year.  This will be her first time away from home, and our first time for her to be away.  I am thrilled for her.  I think she will love being away.  I am going to miss her. 

She is about 2 or 3 in this picture.  She still has that million dollar smile.  I am 15 years older than her mother, my sister, so when Maclellan came along, my children were in school, and I had the opportunity to spend lots of time with her.  I taught her important things ~ like how to stick her tongue out.  One of our favorite memories is being at Christmas Village with Maclellan in her stroller.  She was probably about 18 months old.  A lovely lady walked by and commented on how precious Mac was.  Mac immediately stuck her tongue out at the lady.  I am fairly certain that lady was quite concerned about Mac's upbringing as her mom, her grandmother and I broke out into peals of laughter.  We thought everything she did was hilarious, and it pretty much was ~ and is. 





We are a family who loves nicknames.  Maclellan has more than most.  An obvious one is Mac, but she is also known as Clelly Mac, ClellBell, Worm, Mac-a-doodle, among others.  When she was small, she could tell a story like no body's business.  She made them up as she went along and inserted conversations, which never happened, along with wild and crazy adventures she had not, in fact, experienced.  She was very entertaining ~ and still is.

 One of the most obvious characteristics of Maclellan is her servant's heart.  She won't leave Nunny's house after dinner without being sure the kitchen is cleaned up. She is the one who always gets stuff down from Nunny's attic.  She loves making runs to the Williamson County dump.  I would rather have Mac helping me with any hard job than just about anybody else I know.  She does not create drama.  She is a good friend.  She is a good sister.  She is a most precious niece.  She is great fun to spend time with.  And...there is that million dollar smile that is irresistible.

We enjoyed our lunch with her Thursday.  I wondered why I have not done more of that.  I am anticipating some drives to Arkansas to visit while she is there.  I will miss her on Halloween.  I will look forward to the annual lighting of Nunny's tree with her during Thanksgiving weekend.  I hope she loves school in Arkansas.  I hope she doesn't love Arkansas, but rather longs to return home upon her graduation.  I hope she knows how much she's loved. 

However your life unfolds, I pray, Mac:

 "The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."  Numbers 6:24-26

blessings
Aunt Mellie