Today I had a rather amazing experience … but first a little background.<\/p>\n
You probably know that my 95 yr old dad passed away on Dec 22 in Canada. I was able to be with him before he died, came home to celebrate Christmas and then went back for his funeral. The journey of loss and grieving is a rough road only made easier by the thought that he is with my mother in his heavenly home. However my new reality here is that I am now an \u201corphan\u201d. That\u2019s why what happened today was all the more precious to me. <\/p>\n
This was my first public outing for Kindermusik since my dad died and it was to Twin Oaks Nursing Home so I could check in to be sure everything was ready for us for tomorrow, when we\u2019ll be doing our first \u201cKindermusik with Seniors PlayDate\u201d. A friend of mine had set up the initial contact for me there since her father-in-law recently became a resident. I was pretty sure this was going to be a tough time and would make me think of my dad, since he was in an assisted living residence for the last 4 years and that’s where I would go to visit him.<\/p>\n
I had a little cry in the parking lot and then I went in. And who do you think was sitting in the first chair by the front door … the father-in-law of my Palmyra friend, who had initially suggested I consider doing something at the nursing home! How special! <\/p>\n
So I said hello to him and we chatted for a bit. There was another lady in a wheelchair sitting there also. The sun was streaming in the window on both of them and as they sat there I told them about the song that my dad would sing to me when I would call and it would be sunny in his room that day. Then right there in the lobby I started to sing it (There Is Sunshine In My Soul Today … see all the words below) and it was just such a fitting celebration to be there with Seniors, honoring my dad, and making music, singing the song he had sung to me … quite the experience!!!<\/p>\n
So tomorrow Miss Janice and I will go back again to hold our first Seniors PlayDate. Thankfully she was there with me today to walk through yet another first and also knows what it is like to be an orphan as both her parents have also passed away. <\/p>\n
They say it\u2019s the little things in life that make the difference. And sometimes for me it\u2019s the \u201clittle things\u201d that are truly the most important things.<\/p>\n
Here is the song my dad would sing to me …
\nThere is sunshine in my soul today,
\nMore glorious and bright
\nThan glows in any earthly sky,
\nFor Jesus is my light.<\/p>\n
O there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine,
\nWhile the peaceful, happy moments roll;
\nWhen Jesus shows His smiling face
\nThere is sunshine in my soul.<\/p>\n
There is music in my soul today,
\nA carol to my King;
\nAnd Jesus, listening, can hear
\nThe song I cannot sing.<\/p>\n
There is springtime in my soul today,
\nFor when the Lord is near
\nThe dove of peace sings in my heart,
\nThe flowers of grace appear.<\/p>\n
There is gladness in my soul today,
\nAnd hope, and praise, and love,
\nFor blessings which He gives me now,
\nFor joys laid up above.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today I had a rather amazing experience … but first a little background. You probably know that my 95 yr old dad passed away on Dec 22 in Canada. I was able to be with him before he died, came … Continue reading