A nice way to wake up...

My son turned 9 on Saturday.

I'm not old enough to have a 9 year old! Last week was a whirlwind of meetings and scouts and birthdays and service projects and church...I didn't get a moment to breathe!

This morning, as I was dreading getting out of bed and wishing so badly I could just hit the snooze button but knowing I couldn't because any moment my neighbor would be showing up with her fun, cute, adorable little baby for me to tend, I heard something that made my heart soar.

It was a little bird. I don't know what kind... I've heard it my whole life. It comes in the spring and it just has a simple little chirp. 2 notes daaaa-daa.....daaaa-daaa.

This bird has always held a special place in my heart. For some reason it has always reminded me of my Grandma and Grandpa. I would hear it often when I was over playing at their home only a few blocks from mine. This morning as my eyes were closed I heard that tiny little song and I could smell the tree outside my grandparent's house, could see the big tire swing and hear my grandpa tinkering in his shop. I could smell the grapejuice from the kitchen where Grandma was canning her grape juice, and I felt, as I did back when I was a child, that the world was good and all was well.

I breathed deeply in as I opened my eyes and the bird's song faded. It seems early in the year for that little bird to be here. Wait... it's my Grandpa's birthday today! I had almost forgotten!

He must have sent me that little bird to help me realize that all is well. He is in Heaven with my grandma, and they are looking down on me. Life may be hard sometimes, but we have little beauties all around us to remind us that it is also wonderful!

Thank you little birdie, Thanks Grandpa, and Happy Birthday!