As I’ve mentioned before, my wife and I have two girls, ages three and six. On the weekends, my favorite thing to do is just about anything family related. We hang out, go to nearby parks, go to the mall, whatever.

On Saturday, I spent most of the day with the girls so that Julie could get some things done around the house in preparation for an Open House we held on Sunday. We are hoping to sell our home and move into a slightly larger one, but that is another story.

So, anyway, one of my errands on Saturday included the grocery store. The girls almost always go with me on these trips, and they are usually pretty-well behaved.

This past Saturday, they did pretty well too. Except for the fact that my oldest, Mikaela, really wanted a sample of american cheese from the deli counter. Whenever we go to the counter and order deli meats or cheese, or anything, the people behind the counter will give out individual slices to the children. My girls love that kind of stuff.

But we weren’t going to the counter that day and, when Mikaela asked for some cheese from the deli, I said, “honey, we’re not going there today so we can’t ask.” This, of course, was unacceptable.

“Please Dad! I really want some cheese!” “Sorry, nope.” Was my reply. And this continued for about 10 minutes until Mikaela saw that I meant it and wasn’t going to be pressed or whined into changing my mind.

So, next thing I know, Mikaela hands me a little sheet from one of her doodle pads. “Here,” she tells me gravely, “you need to keep this forever and ever.”

I stopped pushing the cart — both girls were riding in the cart at the time — and looked at the paper. The side that was facing up had a Snow White sticker on it. “Thanks honey,” I said, “this is nice.” “Turn it over,” she told me solemnly, so I did.

I saw two squares on the sheet, with two lines crossing, then, underneath, a blurry circle with what might be the word “no” inside. Just so you know, while I was looking at this, I was taking a sip of my coffee. I couldn’t figure out what it was.

I looked up puzzled. She told me “it’s two pieces of cheese with an x through it, she told me sadly.”

I nearly spit out my coffee. I was trying hard not to laugh, and harder not to choke on my coffee, much less spit it out all over bags of bread in the bread aisle.

Mikaela saw that I was trying not to laugh and gave me a sheepish smile. I managed to swallow the coffee, wipe the big grin off my face and said, “oh, I cannot wait to show this to your Mom.”

I still have the little sheet of paper with me, sitting in my wallet behind a couple of family photos. I’m going to keep it forever and ever, as ordered.

Maybe I’ll give it back, God willing, someday when she graduates from college. I might even include a couple slices of cheese from the deli counter!

I think it was early in the year, around January or February, while chatting with some friends at the end of one of our Bible studies that I made the comment, “you know, we have a “6 6 6″ coming up this coming year, don’t you?”  They gave me a completely blank stare.

 ”You know, June 6, 2006 is coming this year.”  It took a second more, then comprehension dawned.  We all smiled and chuckled.  Christians we are, silly or superstitious we are not.

BUT, for those of you who may be worried about this date — there’s always someone who is, as well as some religious leaders who love to hype silly stuff like this — Fox News Online featured this headline today:

Theologians, Scientists: 6-06-06 Nothing to Worry About

There now, don’t you feel better?  I know I feel safer.