Anna M. Aquino

My youngest daughter has wanted to be a paleontologist for several years.   At only age 7 I expect that she’ll change her mind several times over and that’s fine.   We want to give her the freedom to choose and be whatever she feels God is leading her in life.   We’ve tried to encourage her love of dinosaurs through various ways; even by last years ‘Dinosaur Dig Birthday Party.’   So when she came home several months ago suddenly declaring she wanted to be a ‘Jewelry Designer’, I was a little bit sad that the paleontology phase of her life had ended.   I didn’t question it much, but tried to think of ways I could encourage her in this. It’s amazing what parents can learn about their children in long car rides.   On our way up to Windsor Canada from Central Ohio a few weeks ago, somehow the conversation got shifted to my daughter and this sudden shift to ‘Jewelry Designer’. “Mom, it’s my choice.” “Sweetie, I’m not saying you can’t do this. ...

My family sat around and played UNO together a few nights ago.   Friends of us have taught us a new spin on the rules; if a plus something card is put on the pile then the next person can defer their picking up those cards if they have the same plus number card then the next person has to pick up the total amount.   So to explain that if I threw down a +4 card, and the next person threw down a +4 then the third person had to pick up 8 cards.   Whether these are actual rules or made up rules it certain amounts for some fun card games.   However the other night the +4’s kept being laid down until my youngest daughter found herself stiffed to pick up 16 cards.   Laughter, hoots, and cries could have probably been heard from several houses away.   She cried, “That’s it I quit!” She wanted to quit.   She decided it looked hopeless.   But, I wouldn’t let her quit.   “No, you’ll finish this game.”   So we finished the game, and she...