Old School Blessings

As many of you have probably heard by now, New Kids on the Block, the popular teen idols from the late '80s/early 90s, have reunited. I heard about this awhile back, but didn't really care at the time. Then, as I was doing my morning "ritual" of drinking coffee and reading the newspaper while watching television (I like to multi-task), I saw this...

The memories started flooding back and I had to sit and smile for a moment. I remember daydreaming of Joey day after day, hoping that one day he'd realize that he should leave showbusiness to move to Little Rock, Arkansas and sweep a chubby 10-year old girl off her feet! Ha ha! I remember constant debates with Rachael Goad, my BFF, over who was the cutest--Joey or Jordan (her fav New Kid). Most of all, though, I remember my dad taking me on a date to the NKOTB concert when I was in the 6th grade. This was HUGE! Let me tell you why...my parents wrote the book on picking your battles with kids. They could have easily said "no" when I asked for tickets for my birthday that year. While their music wasn't what one would call evil, it was pretty crappy. The guys are kind of tone deaf, and since I come from a family of musicians, this would be the night from hell for my dad. Add the loud, bad singing to the sound of screaming adolescent girls and you've got the seventh circle of hell for Dad. But, he gladly took me to this concert--ear plugs and book in hand--and as we walked up to the front of Barton Colosseum that February night, we noticed that the guy taking tickets at the front door was making all of the fans throw away the handmade signs they brought with them. I just happened to have made a sign, myself, so I was really disappointed. My awesome dad saved the day when he gently took the sign from me (it said "JOEY" in red marker) and quietly folded it up. He helped me put it in my pocket so I could sneak it in. Boy, I was so floored that MY DAD not only was taking me to this blessed concert, he helped me sneak in a sign!! WOW! We had a great time--or should I say, I had a great time. I screamed and held up my wonderful sign while Dad sat and read for 4 hours, God bless him! I will never forget that night, not because the New Kids were so memorable. I will treasure that night because of the memories I made with my dad. That can be added to thousands of memories that I have been so blessed to have with him. God has been so good to me--He saved my sinful soul and I definitely didn't deserve that! But God also gave me the best parents ever, and I can say with certainty that I don't deserve that. Thank you Dad, and thank you Jesus!