By Tina McKenzie Jasper, AL

What "to do" list? It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in November. Our weekend company had just left. I had so much to do, and going hunting was not on my to do" list. It was then that my seventeen-year old son, Drake, asked me to go bow hunting with him.

My list quickly changed! How often does a seventeen-year old boy ask their mom to do anything with them? The look on my son's face when I told him I would go was that of surprise and excitement. He has been bow hunting for a couple of years now, and I've never been with him. This particular afternoon it really occurred to me, how little time I have to spend with my son.

So, dressed in our camouflage, to the tree stand we went. We had been in our stand about 45 minutes when Drake spotted a deer. We watched it closely for a few minutes. He studied it carefully with his binoculars to make sure it wasn't a button buck. He asked me to check it out as well. He wanted to make sure it was a doe because of the trophy management program we are following on our land.

I told him to shoot! That was all he needed to hear. If he made a mistake, now he could blame me! He drew back, released his arrow, and made a clean shot behind the front shoulder. After coming down from the tree stand, he sent me to get his truck while he tracked the deer. When I returned he was waiting for me with his 1 1/2 year old doe. He called his Dad to tell him that we had a successful hunt. With or without a deer, the day would have been a success to me! Spending time time with my son and enjoying the beauty of nature, two of God's gifts to me.

What a better way to spend an afternoon. Great memories were made in those couple of hours! Today I can't even remember what was on my "to do " list for that afternoon, but I'll never forget that time spent with my son. I encourage you to spend time with your children and make wonderful memories as well!