Back in Time....

Yesterday was a day I'll treasure forever. I got to go back in time and enjoy Stephanie at 8 years old and Shannon at 18 months again. Sunday when I picked Matt up, Mike gave me a cassette tape that he had found in cleaning. He said it was Stephanie when she was younger singing.

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Yesterday when I got in the car to take Matt to sitters for school we decided to put it in and listen to it. It was absolutely precious and I laughed and cried all the way to work (1 hour drive).

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You see, Stephanie Lynn Bankard (now Vandagriff) was born an entertainer. She was singing and performing for Mike and I from the time she could stand. She would make the hearth of the fireplace her stage and constantly performed. She even put on plays with the neighborhood kids at Christmas and Easter giving us parents the pictures of the Nativity and how everyone would have felt at the death of Christ. Performer. Director. Cheerleader. That was Steph wrapped up!!!

This tape started off with her, obviously teaching school, having her students do the pledge. I'm talking ...."ok, class, let's stand for the pledge. Hand over your heart and face the flag..." She did leave half the pledge out but how precious. She went on the give the students birthdays for the day and directed her class to keep their eyes on the teacher and follow her direction. Next she goes in to telling her class to be ILAC (with such enthusiasm in her voice) and went on to explain, "I AM LOVABLE AND CAPABLE!" She obviously was also born the cheerleader that she later became and excelled at.

Anyway, for an hour I listened to my precious 23 year old become 8 again and listened to her sing her heart out (bless her heart - she knew the words but God just didn't think Steph needed the beautiful voice), teach her students to be ILAC, fuss at her baby sister, Shan, and play with her childhood friends (one particular she is still extremely close to...Miss Ashley Meyer). It was an hour I'll treasure for years.

I called her during the day and shared some of it with her and she couldn't wait for me to get home so she could come over and listen to it. I thought about it all day.....that child was precious. She was so talented and gifted. I listened to the tape again all the way home and it was only a few minutes after I arrived that she and my little man, JD were over. We set up an old stereo in the kitchen (one that still had a cassette player) and we all listened to Stephanie entertain us. I then loved watching her face as she went back in time. It was another moment that was precious.
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We had such a blast and all laughed. Steph felt bad at how much she fussed at Shan because today, those two have the most precious sister relationship. I only have two brothers so it has been such a joy for me to watch two sisters relate. They have been there for each other through many tough times and I know they treasure each other more than I realize. Praise God!
One last note. Even today, my precious Stephanie is still quite the entertainer. She is so full of life and loves to laugh. She is so much fun to hang with and I still treasure all the entertainment!!!!!!!!!!
Stephanie Lynn Vandagriff, thank you for being such a gift in my life. I love you with all my heart!!!!!!!

AND EVERYONE ELSE REMEMBER - ILAC - I AM LOVABLE AND CAPABLE!!!!!!!