Life in these little things

The candles are in the windows and I am standing still. I think about the day, pictures swirling in my head.

Our youngest turned 5 with her pigtails and pink ribbons, carrying a purse, notebook and pen with her wherever she goes. She giggles and hops up and down with all the attention and cupcakes.

Our 6 year old became one of the top two finalists in the whole 1st grade spelling bee and when she realized what she'd done and would have to go to the whole school bee, she shook her head, crinkled her nose and whispered loudly to the teacher in front of everyone, "I really don't want to go... I'm not gonna go."

On the way out of school we caught the tail end of our 8 year old elf in play practice for the Christmas musical, fervently involved in the "twist" dancing to Elvis-like music. "John, your mom's here!" a classmate yell-whispered and several hands went up to wave.

The candles are in the windows and I am standing still. There is life in these little things that I'm afraid I might forget. So I write them down so one day I can remember.