memory map

my hubby is a huge fan of maps. he sold his car last week, and as he was about to hand over the keys, he found one of his coveted maps in the glove compartment. it was a map of chicago. he laid it out on the floor and started showing things to e. e, who loves anything that daddy loves, was engrossed completely. i walked in and found them all together, huddled over the map, taking it all in.



suddenly, e shouted, "look momma, it's buckingham fountain!" up until a few months ago, when i discovered a shortcut on lower wacker, we would pass buckingham fountain on our way into the city. i would point it out to her each time and ask her what it was. sometimes she'd remember, sometimes she'd forget. but today, as she saw it on the cover of the map, she recognized it, she knew its name and she was thrilled with her smarty pants self:) and so was her momma.

they continued looking at the map for a few minutes. i started to walk out of the room and as i left, i heard scott point something out to e.

s: look ellie, here's a note i wrote to your mom.

this piqued my curiosity, so i went back into the family room. and there in the middle of lake michigan was a note. it made my heart smile. right away, i remembered receiving the note on the map. it was during the summer between his second and third year of law school. scott lived in chicago while i was still in atlanta. i came to visit him quite frequently and on the days he had to work, i would tour the city. it was kind of like my courtship with chicago. if you know chicago, you know that it is the summer here that makes it worth it. there is something magical in the air during the months of june, july and august. the rest of the year, well, not so much. but those three beautiful months carry you through year after year.

and during that summer, i came to know that chicago would eventually be my home. and i came to know that the man God had for me, scott, was worth september through may.

and so he left me a love note on a map, with directions to my tourist destinations for the day. he signed it scooter, the name i've called him since we fell in love. to think, this little piece of history almost drove off in our old glove box! i'm so glad that he rescued it and i'm so glad for the memories of love and adoration that flooded into my heart. God picked a good man for me. scooter, i love you!