I'm so grateful that I live in Minnesota where we are able to see four seasons every year. I think I would miss the changing of the seasons. Each season has its own unique traits and is good in its own way.

In the winter I enjoy watching the snow fall gently to the ground; each snowflake different from the next, each beautiful in its own way. I love to see the trees after a heavy snowfall; their limbs and branches laden in white crystal, sparkling in the moonlight and radiant in the sun. And, since I've lived in Minnesota all my life, the cold doesn't really bother me. I know how to keep warm. And with it comes Christmas—one of my favorite holidays of all!

The springtime is lovely as it brings forth new life. I look forward to seeing the flowers and plants in my garden as they emerge through the soil, making their way ever upward towards the sunlight. I enjoy hearing the birds sing once again after they've returned from their winter homes in the south. And I love Easter and all that it encompasses.

The summer brings such lovely weather, with its sunny days and warm evenings. With it comes the opportunity to go to the lakes (and we DO have 10,000 of them in Minnesota) and hike through all the beautiful parks and forests that our state has to offer. It means picnics, camping, swimming, and fond memories of childhood days gone by. And who doesn't love to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July?

But my favorite season of all is the autumn. When September begins, I'm ready for cooler breezes and look forward to turning off the air conditioner and throwing open the windows and doors. I enjoy the crispness of the air and the smell of the autumn leaves. Even more so, I love the sight of the autumn leaves as they turn colors. Mother Nature paints her masterpieces in the trees with hues of yellow, gold, orange, red, and brown. Walking through the woods on an autumn day is a special treat as your eyes take in these breathtaking sights and you can hear the leaves that have fallen to the ground crunching beneath your feet as you walk upon them, just as though it's a carpet that has been laid before you. And Thanksgiving is held during the autumn—the perfect time to give thanks to our Creator for all that we've been given.

What a wonder the four seasons are—a true testament to the power and awesomeness of our God!

After my husband and I had dated for a year, we went shopping for an engagement ring. He actually had asked me to marry him only two weeks after we began dating, but we decided to wait to announce our engagement. We found a ring which I loved. It had a silver band with a round diamond in the center and one diamond chip on either side of the center diamond. I think the center diamond was a little under a third of a carat. Of course, to me, it was huge, and it was beautiful, and I loved it. The only problem with it was it did not have a gold band. The salesperson at the jewelry store assured us it could be ordered in gold. This was the perfect solution. I would have to wait a few weeks, but it would be worth the wait. Still, no one knew our secret yet.

In the meantime, I became ill with a very bad sore throat. I saw my doctor, who referred me to an ENT specialist. He diagnosed me with a very serious case of tonsillitis. He said I would have to have my tonsils removed. So it happened. The time I spent in the hospital recovering was during the time frame for my diamond ring to come in to the jewelry store. I remember telling Michael that if it came in while I was in the hospital, he could pick it up and then slip it on my finger while I was sleeping, and when I woke up, there it would be -- surprise! As it happened, I did not wake up to find a ring on my left ring finger.

I was released from the hospital with an excruciatingly sore throat. It is true what is said -- adults who have their tonsils removed suffer far more than children do. I was out from work for two weeks. It was the worst pain I had ever felt up until that point in my life. Still the ring did not come in.

After another two weeks had gone by, we still had not heard anything from the jewelry store, so I called to see what the problem was. After talking to three different people, I discovered that we had been misinformed. The ring which we wanted was not available in gold -- only silver. I was furious, to say the least. I could hardly believe we had wasted six weeks for a ring that did not exist. I was at home at this time and when I hung up, I must have looked so disappointed that my mother said, "What's wrong? You don't look happy." I quickly got rid of the look of disappointment on my face and answered, "Oh, nothing -- my throat is just still a little sore, that's all." Of course, it would never do to tell my mother what was really going on. That would spoil our surprise.

The same evening I told Michael about the ring.

"Michael," I said, "I can't believe we wasted all this time waiting for a ring that I was never going to have! The salesperson at the jewelry shop should have made sure the ring came in gold. It's inexcusable, if you ask me."

"I know you're disappointed, honey. I'm sorry. What do you want me to do?" Michael was always so kind and understanding. He was a very unselfish person. He always made sure that I was happy, no matter what the cost.

"I have an idea," I told him. "I think we should go to another jewelry shop and buy a ring that I can walk out of the store with. I don't want to deal with having to wait for the ring to come in again. What do you think?"

"Okay, if that's what you want. But we'll have to wait until next Monday, because I have to work the rest of the week. Will that be okay for you?

"Mhmm," I nodded. "The sooner the better."

So it was settled. Five more days and then we would be officially engaged. I could hardly wait to tell my mother and my family. It was all so exciting. Soon we could start planning our wedding! I counted the days until I would officially be engaged to Michael.

On Sunday evening, Michael and I were coming home from eating at a restaurant. He pulled the car into the parking lot, and as he was putting the gear shift into park, he said to me, "Say honey -- will you reach back and get me my jacket from the back seat?"

"Sure."

I twisted around and grabbed his jacket from the back seat.

'Here you go," I said as I handed him the jacket.

"Actually, could you reach in the front pocket -- I think I left my comb in there -- and I want to comb my hair before we see your Mom."

I thought this was a little strange. Michael had never before worried about the way his hair looked, especially not so as to please my mother. Oh well, whatever!

I put my hand into the pocket to search for the comb and could not find anything. There was a pocket on the other side, so I put my hand into that pocket and there was no comb, but there was a small velvet box. I pulled out the box with my mouth agape. I could feel my hand tremble as I gave him the box.

"Honey," he began. "I know you wanted to go the jewelry shop and walk out with a ring on your finger, but I thought this might be a little bit more romantic."

He opened the box. Nestled inside the black velvet was a round diamond set into a gold band. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hands.

"Cindy, will you marry me?"

I began to cry. I was so surprised and so happy; words could hardly describe what I felt in that moment. I nodded my head and said, "Yes, of course I'll marry you." We put our arms around each other in an embrace and then he said, "Now let's see how this ring looks on your finger."

Of course, it was a perfect fit!

I guess I've been a leader for as long as I can remember. Even as a young child, I was a leader. I was the middle child of seven children; however, there were seven years between me and my older siblings, and then I was the oldest of the four youngest, so in a way that made me the oldest. I would always hear my father say to me, "Cindy, you're the oldest, so . . . " I remember incidents of being a leader even at elementary school. When we'd line up to go to lunch or the lavatory, my teacher would always pull me out of the line and put me at the head of the line because she'd say, "Now follow Cindy's example. She has the perfect posture." Now that was always embarrassing!

I've always been one for organization, from organizing games with my friends to currently organizing daily events for my family and everything in between. People always seem to look to me for the answers, and I'm usually able to help in that regard. When I worked as an R.N. in the operating room, I was the charge nurse of the Surgery Department for seven years, and it was something that just seemed to come naturally to me. I was able to juggle the surgery schedule while at the same time managing to keep the staff and the surgeons happy, which was no easy task. I loved my job.

And I guess those leadership qualities have even flowed over into my Writing.Com life. I've been a leader of a few groups on this site, including my favorite group of all, the "Blogging Circle of Friends " . Of course, it's easy to be a leader when you have a wonderful group of people to lead!

I enjoy being a leader, but sometimes it is nice to be a follower!


"Leadership is action, not position." ~ Donald H. McGannon

"One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you." ~ Dennis A. Peer

"When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that person is crazy." ~ Dave Barry

A first kiss is usually something a person does not soon forget, especially a woman. I know that I'll never forget my first kiss, for it was indeed very special to me.

I was fourteen, only a young teenager who really knew nothing of love. But I did have a terrible crush on the boy who lived across street from me. His name was Tom Lannigan. He was thirteen, with strawberry blonde hair, and freckles sprinkled across his face. He and his family of six brothers were also quite athletic, playing in all the neighborhood baseball games. But, naturally, living in Minnesota, their favorite sport was hockey. There was a hockey rink and skating rink located across the street and down the hill from where I lived and every winter my girlfriends and I would make the trek down the hill to go skating. But one of my favorite things to do was to watch the boys play hockey, and of course, I had my eye on Tom Lannigan.

There were six or seven of us girls and boys who hung out together, and three of the Lannigan brothers were part of our group, including Tom. We'd sit around and chat and play softball together, but our favorite game was "kick the can."

One warm evening in July as we were playing a game of kick the can, I found a great hiding place behind some of the bushes that lined the parking lot by the Lannigans' house. But the best part was that while Tom was looking for a place to hide, he found me in my spot and decided to join me there. He was ever so close as he knelt next to me, our shoulders touching. The next thing I knew he had slipped his arm around my shoulders and said to me, "Cindy, I really like you. Do you think maybe you could be my girlfriend?" I was taken by surprise by his question because I never thought he would come right out and ask me, although I suspected that perhaps he felt the same way about me that I did about him. As I looked into his big blue eyes (and they were really big blue eyes), I timidly nodded yes.

And the next thing I knew, he leaned in towards me and gave me the softest, most tender kiss on my lips. I suspect it was the first time he ever kissed a girl, but it was perfect. It was the first time I'd ever been kissed by a boy. I was thrilled down to my very toes! And I felt as though I were floating on a cloud.

No sooner had he kissed me when the game was over because someone kicked the can and we had to come out of our hiding place. But I knew my life was forever changed. I knew what it was like to be cherished by a boy, and it was the most wonderful feeling in the world!

Tom and I "went steady" for the whole rest of the summer, and of course, I was kidded by my family about robbing the cradle since he was a year younger than me, but I didn't care. I don't remember why we drifted apart, but somehow we did.

But I will forever remember Tom Lannigan and my first kiss.

During my teen years, there was a group of about six or seven of us that hung out together; a mix of neighborhood girls and boys. We did everything as a group, so it really wasn't until I was sixteen that I had my first real "date."

I was in the eleventh grade and the junior prom was coming up, an event which I was dying to attend. But I had one problem - I didn't have a boyfriend at the time. One of my best friends from school, Sue Ricci, had the same problem. Then I hatched a plan. After discussing it with my cousin Jeff, it was decided that he would take Sue to the prom and his friend Rich would take me to the prom. The four of us would double-date for the big event. This was my first official date.

I remember shopping for a prom dress with Sue. At that time, the style for prom dresses were floor-length dresses. I was so excited when I finally found the perfect dress. And getting ready for the prom was half the fun.

On the big night, Sue's parents dropped her off at my house, and then the boys picked us up there. Of course, one of the big moments of the night was when Rich handed me the corsage - something which I had never received before.

We had a wonderful time at the prom and we danced almost every dance. After the prom was over, we went over to my cousin Jeff's house to hang out and were there until dawn.

It was fun, but there really was no spark and no romance between Rich and me. We all just wanted to go the prom - something none of us had ever done before - and we achieved our goal. After that date, I never heard from Rich again, and I really didn't expect to, so I wasn't disappointed. But I was left with the memories of a fun-filled night and the ability to say that I went to my junior prom.

Do I remember my first crush? Indeed I do, even though it happened in 1962. I guess when something that wonderful in your life occurs, you just never forget it, and I never have.

I was in the first grade and I loved being in school. As a matter of fact, I couldn't wait to wake up each morning just so that I could go to school. I absolutely loved learning and I loved being with my friends at school. But then one day I found a new reason to go to school. And his name was Mitchell Pose.

Mitchell had short straw-colored wavy hair and light blue eyes. He could probably be described as "skinny as a bean pole." But he also happened to be the smartest boy in the class, which is probably one of the reasons I was attracted to him because (and I'm not bragging here, just stating a fact) I was the smartest girl in the class. So therefore it was a match made in heaven.

We sat next to each other in class, me in one row in the third seat from the front, and him in the row right next to me, third seat from the front. I would constantly catch him stealing glances at me and when I did, I'd just smile at him and watch as his face would turn red from embarrassment at having been caught.

We never saw each other outside of school because he lived at the far side of the neighborhood and our parents wouldn't let us go that far from our houses; after all, we were only six years old! But whenever recess came or we were in gym class and playing dodge ball, whenever he got the ball, he always tried to get me out, which we all know is a sure-fire way to show a girl your affection at age six!

But the highlight of our relationship came one day at recess when he presented me with a ring from the penny candy store. I think it cost a whole ten cents! But to my six-year-old eyes, it was beautiful. It had a clear stone that mimicked a diamond, set on a gold adjustable band (which I'm sure turned my finger green within a few days). And then I knew we were going steady. I even had dreams of marrying Mitchell Pose one day.

But love can be fickle, especially if you're only six. One day a new boy came into our classroom named Danny Wilcox, and he was so tall! All thoughts of marrying Mitchell flew out of my head for I believed I had found my new love . . .

Now I look back and to tell the truth, I don't know whatever happened to Danny Wilcox or Mitchell Pose, but I'll always remember those days fondly for they are forever etched upon my six-year-old heart.

If I had the finances, I would open up a quilting shop. I love to quilt. It's my favorite thing to do, besides writing. I love everything about quilting, from deciding what kind of quilt I'm going to make, to shopping for the fabric, cutting it, and sewing it.

I'm sure that I must own every quilting gadget that there is available on the market today, including various sizes of cutting mats, rotary cutters, rulers, quilting needles, thread - you name it, I've got it. And that's what I would have in my shop - all the latest quilting equipment would be available for my customers.

And fabric - I would have bolts and bolts and bolts of fabric - all different colors of the rainbow with every pattern you can imagine. As a matter of fact, that would be part of the fun - shopping for the fabric for my shop. I love the feel and the smell of new fabric. It fills me with all sorts of ideas for quilts that I can make.

I'd have racks of quilting books, magazines, and patterns. I'd probably even carry some sewing and quilting machines, Oh, and don't forget plastic bins for quilters to store their fabrics and patterns and books in.

I think I'd also offer quilting classes for those who would like to learn more about quilting. Perhaps we could even have old-fashioned quilting bees. The possibilities are endless.

I would have the best quilting shop in town! Yes, quilters from miles around would come to shop at Cindy's Love of Quilting Shop, and every customer would leave with a bagful of quilting goodies and a smile.

There are many things that I don't understand, but the three things that I'll probably never understand are these:

I'll never understand how some parents can neglect and/or abuse their children. Why would any parent even want to do such a thing? I read or hear about such stories and it fills me with outrage and disbelief. How could you hurt your own children, the children that you've carried within your womb or fathered? These children are your legacy, your life's blood, the ones you're supposed to love, the ones you're supposed to cherish and protect. If you ask me, these people should never have had children in the first place. It's a terrible crime and a very deep sin.

I'll never understand how any person could kill another person. I would think that would be the most dreadful feeling ever. I truly believe that in order to kill someone else, there must be something deep down inside that is terribly wrong; some psychological disorder that would permit someone to do such an evil deed. Either that or the person doing the killing must be evil at heart, and then there would be no hope or salvation for that person.

I'll never understand how anyone could turn away from helping someone in need. Did not Jesus help the poor and suffering? In order for humankind to survive, I believe we must all help each other, or else there's no hope and no reason to continue on. We are all brothers and sisters - it's about time that we started acting like it.

Of all the technological devices at my disposal, I would not want to be without my computer. I suppose I could live without it if I had to, but I don't really want to.

With my computer, I can go anywhere in the world, from my beloved state of Minnesota all the way to the other side of the world if I want to.

With my computer, I can do anything. I can listen to music, watch movies or television, or write my stories and poetry on my favorite site of all, Writing.Com.

With my computer, I can meet anyone, from a housewife to an astronaut. I can make all the friends that I'd ever want or need, and I'm grateful that I've been able to do so.

The possibilities are endless, as long as I have my computer (and a good internet connection).

So, you can take away my television, you can take away my Ipod, you can even take away my telephone; but please don't take away my computer!