Post 168: 1st Commenter Award

This morning when I got up and checked my email and then my blogs to see if I had any new comments I was pleasantly surprised with a neat idea. The comment was left by Zen Mamma and this is what she said: "I invite you to hop on over to my blog and join the blog hop hosted by Mc Klinky featuring the first person who commented on your blog with an award."

I thought this a pretty cool idea, as I had no clue who the 1st person to ever comment on either of my blogs was. Now I do. So here we go.

Instructions: Pay it forward and pay a tribute to the first person that commented on your blog/s by posting a short story remembering who they are, where they are now, and that first comment made you feel. My Tribute goes out to:

Michelle.

It was my 11th post on my England blog before I received a comment. The comment was left on my 28th birthday by my friend Michelle.

Michelle and I met when both our husband's were stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Layton Utah. Our husband's worked together and we had a group of people over one afternoon for a bbq and that is when I remember first meeting Michelle - if it was before that I apologize! She showed up with this teenie tiny baby girl, Bailey. Bailey had been born early and she was so small.

Bailey became a big part of my life not long after that. Mark & Michelle were in need a babysitter and since I was home anyway, I offered to do the job. I can't recall the age difference between Bailey and my son Brier, but I don't think it's much. Anyway, Bailey was 4 months old when I began watching her. She was the sweetest thing - probably still is.

I babysat Bailey for approximately 2 years. During that time Michelle & I became friends and we did a few things together. We took our kids trick or treating or trunk & treat I think it was called. Where people park their cars in the Church parking lot and open their trunks and the kids come by for treats. It's a safe way to do Halloween. Michelle also came over once to scrapbook with me while our hubby's went of to some car show, both were nice times spent together - and I know there was more, but my memory isn't the best.

The last time I remember seeing Michelle was at a going away/promotion party we held at our house. We had orders to Ohio and her husband Mark had just gotten promoted, if I am remembering this correctly. She made this awesome spinach and strawberry type salad - it was so good.

The last day I babysat Bailey I took her and my kids to the zoo. It was a great time and I've a lot of pictures from that day. Bailey had become like one of my own. I included her in everything we did...and then the day came - we got orders. Funny thing was so did Michelle & Mark. They're to New Mexico and ours to Ohio. So either way, my days with Bailey had come to an end.

I will admitt that was the hardest part about leaving Utah. And I've not babysat anyone like that since. I got so attached to her. I didn't want to go through that again. So anyone I babysat after that, was not a permenate job. I refused to get that attached to another kid that was one going to leave me or two I was going to leave them.

I will never forget my days with my son Brier and Michelle's daughter Bailey - those two were quite the pair, I never knew what they were going to do, and it was always entertaining.

Michelle & her family are still in New Mexico. They bought a house and they seem to really love it there. They have 3 children, Allie, Bailey, and now Payton. They are all beautiful. I was blessed to have known them, to know them, and I am thankful.

So here's to you Michelle! Thank you for letting me be a part of your life. May God bless you always.