Frazzled Mommy + Thoughtful Daughter

Yesterday my daughter and I were on our way home returning from an afternoon of errands.... capped off by the dreaded trip to Party City to shop for a costume.... as it was the SECOND store we had been to and she was so NOT happy that we didn't find something at the first. I was a frazzled mommy... We were finally successful after trying on several different costumes... she had happily selected a pink leopard like kitty costume... a kitty with a little sass... quite fitting for her... loves animals and at times has a little sass... it really is a great costume. But I was stressin'... we had to go through 3 costumes once she had made her choice. Because, as any mommy knows... costumes are not put together with the greatest of care... it seems the little hand slips (for lack of a better word) were quite difficult to get right for the manufacturer. So we had to pry 3 different sets from those icky plastic costume bags and check each item for flaws. Not fun... and truly not successful... after going through 3 and finding a fault in all 3 bags... (I know, it seems an easy solution to just piece together a perfect set... I shared this view with the store helper and she said it was not an option). So we gave up... We took the least faulty pink kitty costume and headed out.

Frazzled as I was, we were almost home, but was I planning down time? NOPE, I was already ticking off my to do list (To Do List Tami attack, I know). And then she got to me... My daughter is in the Chorus at her school... she has been practicing ALOT... she even has a CD they gave her with the music on it to help her practice... she likes this played in the car ALL THE TIME!... I must admit... I have been tuning it out a little... I detest repetition in certain things... Anyways, frazzled mommy + daughter practicing = A song comes on that I've heard her sing at least 100 times so far... she leans over a bit on my side and says "Mom, I have a secret.... when I get older... if I become a famous singer like I want to... I am going to sing this song on stage and dedicate it to you." Before she even finished talking I was BAWLING... the song was "You Raise Me Up"... My daughter is a pre-teen... her behavior often shows that.. she is struggling to figure out where she fits in what she sees as the line between childhood and adulthood that she now stands on... this can cause great difficulties in having sweet moments I have grown accustomed to with her.... she is often trying to push away and show me how much she DOESN't need me... and here she was telling me she dedicated THAT song to me.... Oh my! What a gift..... That song has always been special to me for different reasons... but now.... MAJOR special... I can see myself in the future, when she isn't being so sweet to me, listening to that song and remembering her words... Big gift! I will never forget that moment... In that moment... God nudged her to reveal her heart to me and she "raised me up."

You Raise Me Up

When I am down, and Oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong... when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up, to more than I can be.