Yellow Cars

So last summer, before leaving my parents house...my dad says to our daughter...."Every time you see a yellow car you can remember me. Every time I see a yellow car, I will remember you."
If you have ever had the chance to know our little one...she has a memory on her. She can remember going on a vacation with the Davis branch of the family when she was still in diapers and had a paci! The kid forgets nothing. So to be told that she could remember "Doda" every time she sees a yellow car stuck in her head.
You know when you are little (okay ladies, probably not so much for the guys....) you would dream about your family. The man who would be the King of the Castle and all the little princesses and princeses? One thing I never imagined was all those sweet moments between my parents (the true King and Queen) and my own little girl (the true princess). Today, on our way home from gymnastics...I hear a squeal of delight from the backseat followed by "A YELLOW CAR, A YELLOW CAR, I remember DODA and Grandma Sue". I will never quite look at yellow cars the same. I can still picture my dad and my baby, on the front porch of their house talking about how they would remember each other. Yellow cars. And in a sweet second a tradition that will continue on for a very long time....
It can be so hard being so far from the ones you love so much. It makes me sad that my baby girl doesn't get to see my family and my husband's family more than she does. We make every attempt for her to know these amazing people but it makes me sad that they all miss out on her growing up and she misses out on them in her daily life. I wish I could bottle her excitement from her new puppy, being line leader at school, and reading her first book. It makes me sad knowing I am missing these moments for my sweet nephews Parker and Luke. Madeline is a very blessed little princess to have so many people in this world who love her so much. I pray that she never takes that for granted. I don't think she will though....this kid has an amazing heart. But she will always have her Yellow Car.....