I had just finished reading the chapter Great Stories Have Memorable Scenes in Donald Miller's new book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years when my granddaughter asked me to read her Fancy Nancy. I don't remember which Fancy Nancy book we were reading but the storyline told about the time Fancy Nancy's plain parents dressed up "fancy" and went with her to the local restaurant. I thought to myself now that's a memorable scene and without a thought as to where this might lead I said to my granddaughter, "would you like to go fancy to McDonalds"? Her eyes lit up and you could literally see the wheels turning in her little head trying to imagine what going fancy to McDonalds might be like. We finished our story and off to bed we went, but she did not forget.

The next morning my daughter asked me if I had said "something" to Lily Grace about going fancy to McDonalds. Oh.....caught in the act. I confessed that I had and explained the context of the Fancy Nancy book. Feeling responsible for placing my daughter in a predicament, I had to somehow figure out how to go fancy to McDonalds. That is when I decided to make a "memorable scene" for Lily Grace.

Fortunately for me Halloween was only a week away. I had been invited to attend Lily Grace's preschool parade and party. Why not dress up and surprise her? I could come as her fairy grandmother. I ransacked my closet and discovered a long winter formal I had worn to a friend's wedding years ago....perfect! Then I fetched the old shoe box with my grandmother's gaudy costume jewelry finding earrings and rhinestones for my shoes....perfect! Finally I was off to the Disney store for a Tinkerbelle crown and a pair of light up wings ( at this point I was beginning to sing Bibbity Bobbity Boo to myself).

The Thursday before Halloween I drove to Hickory in my formal attire. I was hoping I wouldn't be stopped for a speeding ticket or break down with a flat tire or have any other reason to exit my vehicle. Arriving at the school I made a sweeping fairy grandmother entrance into Lily Grace's classroom. When she saw me she flew across the room into my arms in awestruck wonder. Memorable scene you bet. She then proceeded to lead me over to her spot on the floor for story time and snuggled close to me as if she never wanted the magic to end. And after we had paraded and snacked our way through the morning there was only one thing left to do, go fancy to McDonalds.

I will forever be grateful to Donald Miller for writing such an inspiring book. I could have been the grandmother bystander that day; instead I entered into the story and gave Lily Grace and myself a memorable scene we will never forget. Somehow I think that is all the Lord wants us to do...enter in to His story and stop being the bystander. One thing is for sure, it is a lot more fun.