Birthday Dream

In signiture jeans and t-shirt, her jacket came off the moment we walked in to the store with the painos lined up like chairs for giants. I felt small-- Kelly's stature grew. She held my hand and walked confidently past the monster instruments and their gleaming black and white keys.
In the back of the music store there is a desk, and a man smiling as we walked towards him.
"Can I help you?" he directed his question to Kelly.
She looked up at me with her big green eyes, then in a smaller than usual voice she replied, "It's my birthday, and Id like to get a violin."
"Have you ever played before?"
"No, but I'm going to learn."
He smiled a very knowing smile. "Wait right here, I'll bring some out to see how they fit."
He brought back a very delicate violin, and placed it in the crook of her neck and wrapped her hand around the scroll. He took it out of her hands and tried another. Her long thin arms stretched out and a giggle escaped her lips. "This feels better."
"Yes, there isn't too much bend in your elbow and its not too much to big either, yes, I think this is the one."
Then he handed her a tighted bow.
A slight moment of hesitation. Then gingerly she placed it soundlessly against the string.
A look at the man. "Go a head," he almost whispered as though on sacred ground.
She ran the bow across the string.
A single note, no scretched, no wobbles.
confident and focused
"A melody (of one note) pure and sweet like heralding angels sing."
And then the most beautiful sight:
She glowed.
Her eyes sparkled and a smile radiated from her whole body.
It was the Man's turn to chuckle.
I walked out of the store, hold desperately to the hand of a girl that was simply floating next to me with her large instrument case banging unnoticed against her leg.

Early Morning Conversation

Mom, I miss Daddy.
Honey, Dad is at work, we all miss him when he's at work.
pause--
but my heart is broken-- and it really hurts.
Let me hold you and tell you how much Daddy and Mommy love you.
Jesus mends hearts. He fixes them with love. I'm going to pray.

It is privilledge to be the mother of someone so noble and full of faith.