Musical Miracle

Something completely strange and unexpected happened last night that I will try my best to explain.  We were totally wiped out from a long and tiring day.  I could spend a lot of time typing out what we did yesterday, but just thinking about it makes me too tired so I won't do that.  Just trust me, it was a lot.  T came home and was equally pooped.  In fact he ate and went straight to the bedroom to rest a bit.  Turns out that training for a marathon is burning his candle at both ends.  So our goal last night was to get everyone down early.  We need to start that anyways to prepare them for school coming up (hello... early morning seminary!).

I was lying on the couch, half asleep myself, and with slurred speech I was trying to verbally round everyone up for scriptures and prayer (it's our nightly ritual, and don't be too impressed... it's usually just us reading and the kids having crazy-tune-out time at our feet).  Big Boy was beside me and he was doing annoying things like squishing my upper arms and playing with my elbow tissue.  I keep casting silent spells on him that he will one day have a child who does this same thing to him when he is tired and cranky.  If I am still blogging by then, I will let you know how that spell turns out.  A couple more kids were rolling around on the floor and my husband felt his way to the front room to join us.  I don't really know what possessed me to do this but I asked my 16 year old if he would please go down and get his violin out.  He had just finished practicing his violin, and had been sounding awesome- sorry if I brag here but he's working on Bach's Concerto for two Violins and he's almost there. I wanted him to get it out so that he could play a mom-assigned children's hymn duet with his younger brother.  They have been coerced by the violin teacher and me to learn this piece as the first of many hymns to play for about 20 minutes as part of their sister's baptism in Feb.  I felt that they should start learning these songs early since their teacher will have them busy learning her songs this winter.  The first duet is the children's song titled I am a Child of God.  It is a favorite hymn of mine.  I sat there and bugged my son to get his violin out again and he was just not having any of it.  I must have asked and nagged for about 10 minutes.  All the while thinking we should just be headed for bed.  I don't know why I felt the need to nag.  We Mothers just can't help it sometimes.  So I turned to the 11 year old violinist who is much more willing to do stuff for me and he got up and got his violin out pretty much right away, putting his older brother to shame.  Then brotherly competition set in, and within minutes Big Boy was getting his instrument out and showing up Little Boy.  They played the duet quite well and when they weren't arguing over the mistakes the other one made you could really feel a sweet spirit in the room.  I can't wait for them to start leaning more hymns for the baptism.  It will be such a nice tribute to their sister who they torment 95% of the time.

After Mom's request was out of the way they continued playing various pieces for the next 40 minutes.  The other kids joining in playing their new pieces on the piano. It was so nice to be entertained without the need for a computer or a TV or a video game.  We were almost tuning in to the simpler time of Pa Ingalls lulling his daughters to sleep out on the prairie.  Except there was the electric lights, air conditioning and the hum of the dishwasher in the background.  T turned to me and said something unforgettable.  He said "those lessons are worth every penny."  And I have to say I agree.  The real miracle is how the spirit in our home perked up and changed because we all shared in the wonderful gift of music.  And it didn't have to be Bach to be wonderful.

If by some miracle I get a chance to record them playing this tune sometime I will post it here for posterity.