Here's to the wonderful housekeeping staff at Holiday Inn Express!

Let me begin by giving you a little background information. When I was little I had a blanket that was my security blanket. I took it everywhere! When my family and I went on vacation, the blanket went with us. It took quite a while for me to break the security blanket habit.What eventually did it was on a trip to San Antonio. We went to Sea World one day and when I got back the room had been straightened and cleaned. The housecleaning people had wrapped it up in the sheets where I'd left it and took it away. My mom did her best to try and find it, but it was no use, it was gone.

Fast forward to this weekend. My son, Jack, has a security stuffed animal named Spooky. My mom bought it in a gift shop the October after Jack was born. It has been with him ever since. He takes it anywhere he goes where he has to sleep over. When he was in daycare we found a Spooky just like the one he has and bought it so he could keep Spooky 2 at the daycare and the original at home (this came about after he left it at the daycare and we had to wait until Monday to get it). We even have plans to put Spooky in a shadow box when Jack goes off to college so he'll always be there.

When we were in Abilene this weekend, Jack had Spooky. As we were packing up, I told Jack to put Spooky in his suitcase, and then went on about the business of cleaning up. We all went downstairs to leave, and on the way, Jack and Caroline struck up a conversation with the housekeeping staff that was just about to go into our room to clean. As we were getting into our car to leave and meet up with Jeff's family for lunch, the desk clerk came running out and said, "Excuse me but is this yours?" She was holding Spooky. OH MY GOSH!!!!! Jack burst out of the car and grabbed Spooky.

So here's to the housekeeping staff at the Holiday Inn Express in Abilene, Texas. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER! Jack's dad and I REALLY appreciate you going above and beyond.