We Danced

Worst day ever. I woke up to  gray, drizzly, drippy rain. I tried to snuggle back down in the bed but I had overslept. and it was past time for the dogs to make their morning rounds.  They were supposed to go to the groomer today, so I tried to move them along, but they were being slow this morning. They didn't seem to want to eat and they were taking their  time in the yard, as they always do when it rains or I am in a hurry. I would be babysitting for my granddaughter, Arya, today, and needed to get her breakfast going before she got here. I finally made it to the kitchen, but too late, I heard the door rattle and then she was there, unhappy as only a two year old knows how to be. This was kind of unusual, as she was almost always happy to see me, but today she clung to Mama, not willing to part with her. But Mama had to go to work, so I extricated Arya and carried her upstairs.

I set her in her highchair to eat, but was she still crying, and having none of it, also highly unusual. I was considering her, and what the problem could be when The Mr. interjected....Uh...something is wrong with your account. Great. I jumped on the banking website and sure enough, there were some unexpected charges. Fantastic. Grooming and all other plans on hold, I sighed and sank down into my easy chair, not in a hurry now, since we wouldn't be going anywhere after all until I got it straightened out.  Another dreary day in the house I thought to myself. I closed my eyes. It had been a hard week. On Sat morning I had awakened to the reality of having a twenty year old cat. She had finally come to the place that living was hard for her, and so we had made the decision to have her put down. I was missing her very much, more than I had anticipated. Sunday I had awakened with a wicked headache. Monday had been a long day. We were all still adjusting to Daylight Savings.  Today was only Tuesday, and I was already tired. 

Arya  wasn't crying anymore, but she wasn't eating either. She just woke up in a bad mood, for no reason her parents could pinpoint. I could sympathize. Me too, honey, me too. 

I decided that what was in order was some good hot coffee, so I stepped over the dog, who was stationed in front of the door waiting for an opportunity to escape, and skipped down the stairs, in a hurry to get back, because Arya would be wanting out of her highchair before long. 

I sipped my coffee, while the Mr. worked, and Arya played. Today she wheeled her tiny shopping cart full of blocks over by the Mr's desk and dumped them out on the floor. I watched as she stacked them up, multiple towers spread out around her, and each block placed with the painted letters facing up. I don't know why she does this. Maybe she figured out that they stack better this way, as the sides are slightly rounded and the tops are very flat.  Yesterday I sat and built towers with her, and tried to sneak some in the wrong way to see what she would do. She would have none of it, she always removed the block and turned it the other way. Who knows the curious twists and turns of a two year olds mind? I'm sure there was a reason, but she wasn't telling me. 

She came and sat on my lap for awhile. I could tell she was tired. Maybe that's why she was so cranky this morning. It was only nine AM and she was yawning already. I thought she might fall asleep, but when she was just on the verge, and her beautiful brown eyes were getting heavy, they popped back open and she slid down off my lap, ready for another round of block stacking. 

I reached around behind me on my desk and grabbed my Bible. I found a measure of peace as I continued yesterday's reading, in the next chapter of Proverbs. I began to pray, and the gloom began to lift. I find it amazing, this undeserved faithfulness of God, always, always working on my behalf when I come to Him with my woes and worries. He never fails me. Always has a way of turning things sunny side up, giving me a better perspective. Gives me a smile and some peace. Things really weren't so bad. I fixed the bank issues, and had another cup of coffee, and then another. 

Late afternoon, and I decided I needed some light in the room, to dispel the rainy gloom. I have twelve large windows, so I opened the blinds and let in some light. Then of course I had to make the bed, which I had neglected to do in the morning. I put on some good music and began straightening the sheets, and shaking out the quilts. Can you dance? I asked Arya, who was standing in the middle of the room. She responded with a spin and stuck her foot out and dipped, as only a two year can. Why not? I thought to myself. And I begin to spin, and dip, and sway as only a grandmother with a dancing two year old beside her can do. We spun in circles around each other. We spun in circles next to each other. We snapped our fingers and stomped out feet when the music got loud. She laughed out loud at the stomping feet, and then she grabbed me by the hand and began to spin herself around and around, holding on to my finger all the time, a tiny ballerina on the bedroom floor stage, with an audience of three, myself and the two dogs. The tempo slowed, and I swung down and picked her up and held her in my arms, swaying softly, as the music flowed around us. She was content there, head on my shoulder, as we danced. It was one of the most fulfilling hours of my life. Worries and woes forgotten, around and around we went. Again, for a moment I thought those heavy lids would close, but no, again, they popped back open and she was off. She needed to check on the toy fruit in the toy fridge and have one last crack at the blocks and the busy box before Mama and Daddy were here. I let her play for a few minutes and then I set her back in the highchair, with Grandpa watching, now that he was back from his store run, and again, skipped quickly down to put dinner together for her. It only took a minute, because it was all prepped and ready. I came back up and opened the door, and could see immediately that I wouldn't be serving dinner. She had fallen fast asleep in her chair, head lolling off to the side, tired eyes finally, at almost five in the afternoon, giving up the fight to stay open. 

I put aside the plate and took her out of the highchair and laid her in my bed. Mama would be here in a minute. I got her shoes ready. Stood there and watched her sleep for a minute. Best day ever.