Count Your Blessings

This is our piano.

It was recently moved from its long appointed home in the living room
into its new place in the family room.
To many it may not be much too look at
and it usually looks like it does in this picture.
Assorted books and note books spread across it.

But to me it is grand.

This piano was a gift from Grandma T. when we moved to Tucson...
a gift given at the beginning of our PhD years.
For those five years it was a reminder that our poverty
would be temporary and that the day would come
when we would have a nice home and sustaining income.

Every child in our family has taken piano lessons
and has spent countless hours practicing at this piano
some more (lots more) than others it's true.

There were days in when I wondered if I would enjoy the sounds that came from the piano. For years I knew by heart the beginning songs the kids would play and could call out from the kitchen which note was the correct one. But on so many more days the sounds that came from the piano brought beautiful music to our home


Christian and Jennifer currently fill our home with music of all kinds.
Cold Play, Sonatinas, Rags, Hymns and of course
"Heart and Soul" fills our home with heart and soul.

This morning, before the kids left for school at 7:10
our home was filled with the strains of "Count Your Many Blessings"
Jennifer accompanies her Seminary class once or twice a week as they sing and she did a quick "run through" before she left for school.

The song remained with me
and I went through my day counting my blessings.

Including our piano.
Thanks Grandma T.

Flash Back Friday: Hot Air

This morning as I drove carpool to summer band the sky was full of hot air balloons.
Bright colored ones, smokey the bear, a castle...
it felt magical
and reminded me of clear cool mornings in Tucson.

We lived near the Tanque Verde Wash...
which hardly ever had water in it
making it a great place to launch hot air balloons.

My children were early risers and often while eating breakfast we
would hear a whooshing noise outside.

I've tried to come up with a better description of the noise but for those of you who have never heard what hot air balloons sound like just form your lips into a circle with a penny sized opening. Now move your lips upward carefully - so as not to disturb your circle - until the bottom edge of your top teeth are about half an inch below your bottom lip but not touching. Now take a deep breath and exhale through the small opening forcefully.
There you have it - whooshing.

When we heard that sound spoons would go down and everyone would rush out into the backyard - often barefoot and in pj's. The balloons were so close to us we could call "good morning" and wave to the people in the baskets. Fourth of July and St. Patrick's Day were days we could always count on greeting balloonists.

It was a special treat during financially tight times.