The Concert

Today our little Ellie amazed us both. It wasa getting close to her bedtime when out of the blue she suddenly seemed inspired. She left whatever she was doing and sudenly said she wanted to have a show. A show...we thought? Odd...so we asked her what show she wanted...and she said she wanted to have a special show. We were a little confused becasue this was the first time she's done this. So we exchanged looks of bewilderment.

Ellie made me hold up a strip of plastic (for her clips) as if it was a spotlight Then she ran to the room and dragged out the maid...another of her audience. Next she grabbed one...mind you she said only one..of her xylaphone sticks and then came out. I wasn't allowed to put the strip down even for a moment...No Daddy...must hold it up...was her command! LOL Then she picked up all the cushions and laid then in a row to form a stage of sorts...we wondered where she got all the ideas from. We didn't teach her for sure.

These pictures were taken some time last month but those are the yellow sticks that she's holding!

Then she went under the "spotlight" and started singing on the stage...using the xylaphone stick as a microphone!! Well it was the favorite nursery rhymes...A, B, C, D...and twinkle twinkle little star then a combo....it was so cute...I wish I could have taken a picture but I was busy holding up the lights!! LOL Next she made her mummy sing too and then it was my turn while mummy held the "lights" LOL We really had a blast. My visiting Aunt was enjoying the show too!!

After a bout of songs and some dances too the show ended but not the nights festivities...

Next she ran into the room and got a blue cloth and laid it on the floor. Hmmm...what now? Okay mummy...come swim in the ocean with me. I am a small shark and am going to bite you okay!! So she pretended to swim the length of the ocean and then proceeded to shark attack poor mummy. LOL After that it was laps in the pool...first she and mummy...Daddy don't forget German...German???...has she been watching Telematch I wondered...then it dawned on me...Ladies and Gentlemen. Gentlemen became German!!! hahaha So daddy became the annnouncer...ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls...etc. LOL and I had to announce the swimming competition!! So she and mummy did "laps" while I gave a running commentary!! After that it was my turn to take a dip LOL

I really had fun tonight and learned a little more about my daughter! She is amazing to me and wifey!! Either that or it was the delicious orange and poppyseed cupcakes that wifey baked tonight...then again she didn't have any until after the show!! LOL

You know those proud moments fathers have of their children...Yup...I had one tonight! Cheers

RED MARBLES

Someone sent this to me last week and with the global food crisis that is upon us PLEASE spare a moment to think of those who are less fortunate and do your part to help them ease their burden.

I was at the corner grocery store buying someearly potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean,hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin'them peas. They sure look good.'
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr.Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of thosepeas?'
'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one isblue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.
'Not zackley but almost..'
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in thatIdaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died.

They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho '

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath..