Joy trumps balance.

Yesterday was the Christmas recital.  I can’t tell you how many times how many people have asked me why I don’t just take the year off from violin for the kids.  It’s a long drive, it’s a lot of practicing, it’s just not essential.

But any  parent should understand.  When I sit and listen to my children making beautiful music TOGETHER, it’s totally worth it.  Every once in a while when it rains, I have momentary doubts.

I hate it when it rains on violin days.  Getting children, baby, Danny’s chair, four violins, a viola, the music bag, snacks, diaper bag and schoolbooks all into the van in the rain, out of the van in the rain, into Jessica’s house in the rain (trying to not drag too much mud into her always lovely home…) then back out to the van in the rain (and by now it’s dark) then out of the van in the rain and into the house, in the rain. 

So I admit.  I pray for dry skies on Tuesdays.  But all it takes, even in a downpour, to motivate me to happily listen to my children’s lessons is to think about how nice it is when somebody who tends to not have much confidence in his musical skills can thoroughly memorize his new piece and be really proud to show it off… or to think about how nice it is to snuggle a baby while hearing my big kids laughing and playing dueling fiddle tunes on Saturday mornings. 

Yesterday was the recital.  Their music brought me joy.  (and some laughter… I still think it’s funny that Danny decided that he was going to play “A Major Scale” instead of one of his twinkles…. but he did such a good job and was really proud of himself 🙂 )  The trio was beautiful, and the solos were ever so nice. 

Who cares about balance?  If it makes me happy, it’s worth it.

Love, Elizabeth

Oh, P.S.  No photos of George from the recital because he has RSV.  He was at the ER from 8:30 to 1:30 yesterday, so I thought it was best to not share his germs with all the other families right before Christmas.