So, why “Callapidder Days?” When my thirteen-year-old son, C., was learning to talk, he had his own language, to a large degree. We worked to patiently and gently help him arrive at correct words (“car” instead of “mmmm,” for instance). But as he got older, I started feeling a little nostalgic, and I wanted to hold on to a few of his cute-isms. One such word was “callapidder” – caterpillar, for you laymen. I never corrected him when he said callapidder, hoping it would last indefinitely, but sadly, he eventually figured out on his own that the correct pronunciation was caterpillar. However, for years, he still *almost* said callapidder every now and then, and it always made me smile.

So – now you know the origin of callapidder, but why use it in my blog? A caterpillar always reminds me of change. He hasn’t changed yet, but he’s going to, and he’s always working toward that end. Eventually, he will create his chrysalis and buckle down to metamorphose into something new. And me – I feel like that too. As if I’m always working toward, moving toward a change. I see so much in myself that needs work, that calls for transformation. And I hope that the things I do are preparing me for the changes – little and big – that God has in store for me. So, every day… is a Callapidder Day… working toward change, [hopefully] ready for and open to change, growing into something new.