I confess that yesterday’s post took it out of me.  When the heart knows that there is so much to be done and so many children hurting, it is painful.  I want to scoop everyone of the hurting children up in my arms and soothe them.  I want to feed them and clothe them.  I want to be a loving grandmother to them.  But, of course, that’s impossible.  So, I began the search to see what I could do here…on limited resources and energy.  I would love to sit in the nursery at the hospital and rock babies who don’t have enough visitors.  I am a Registered Nurse but I don’t want that role with the babies.  I just want to comfort and cuddle them.  I haven’t looked into that one yet.  There is a possibility I could work with young adults with special needs.  I think it would also be fun to work in a soup kitchen.  I am researching and praying about it.

In the meantime, I needed some endorphins!  I needed a sense of well being and the reassurance that not every child in this world is in harms’ way.  So, I invited myself to an afternoon of play and dinner at my daughter’s house (I have an open invitation).    I picked a good night because she was preparing Ree Drummond’s lasagna and fabulous homemade bread from the Amy’s Bread cookbook.

While my daughter and my sixteen year old grandson ran some errands, I stayed with the other children and finished rotating the homemade chocolate chip cookie batches through the oven.  My five year old grandson wanted to play but I was manning the oven, so I suggested that I introduce him to a little 50’s and 60’s music.  His dad has introduced him to the 80’s music, so he thought that was a cool idea.  We began with Rockin’ Robin.  Remember that one?  Try standing still listening to that!  Then Splish-Splash, I Was Taking a Bath!  Then I wanted to introduce him to one of my lifetime favorites:  Elvis Presley!  I knew to choose wisely of course.  He is, after all, only five but this sweet grandson has more than his share of rhythm…just like Grandmommy!    So we listened to Teddy Bear, Don’t Be Cruel and then the movie clip from G.I. Blues where Elvis sings Wooden Heart in a puppet booth.  We had a good time and, about that time, my daughter and grandson were back.

I returned home refreshed with leftover lasagna and bread…and a sense of peace and happiness.