The morning of Easter Sunday dawned bright and clear here in Lehi, Utah; I could tell it was going to be a special Sabbath day...I was not wrong.
It was a fairly routine morning with Parker going down for a nap and Belle and I getting ready for church together. I was trying to make it to choir practice, but that was a No-Go. However, Belle and I did make it to church just in time to see the practice end, and Belle looked beautiful in her Easter dress, and her hot-pink sunglasses with the yellow lenses, and her hot-pink bunny-ears headband. Quinn was at home waiting for Parker to wake up before they would join us.
I let the choir director know I would sing with them anyways since I had been to choir practice the previous 2 Sundays.
Seeing us arrive at Sacrament Meeting 15 minutes early, the executive secretary must have assumed I was a responsible soul, and so he invited me to offer the Benediction. I happily accepted his invitation.
Soon Belle and one of her friends, Emma, were busily enjoying the meeting with various snacks and games. In no time at all it was time for the choir to sing (no sign of Quinn and Parker), so Emma's father (Emma happens to be the choir director's daughter) came to sit with the girls while us moms went to join the choir. A kind and thoughtful gesture to be sure.
Not 10 feet up the aisle I heard the sounds of terror erupt as I read Belle's mind, "who is this strange fellow sitting in my mother's seat?!"
What I should have done was SOMETHING; what I did do was NOTHING.
As the song begins, Belle breaks free from the confines on the pew and comes screaming (I don't only mean that she was running quickly, but also she was actually screaming) down the aisle. She looks lovely in her Easter dress and her hot pink sunglasses with the yellow lenses; mercifully her friend has stolen the bunny ears.One of my other friends does chase her down and catch her, unfortunately that friend is pregnant and she apparently values the life of her unborn child. Belle escapes again and makes it up the stairs.
What I should have done was SOMETHING; what I did do was NOTHING.
Sniffling and screaming Belle pushes her way down the line of Altos to get to me (I was standing in the most natural position for me: the front and center of the choir). I must have finally realized that avoidance was no longer possible, because I set my music down on the piano and bent to lift Belle onto the seat behind me, hoping to finish the touching musical performance with her in the seat. Unfortunately, the piano was in use at the time I set my binder on it and so, being propped open, the top was somewhat slanted. The binder holding my music would have slid off of the piano causing a crash and a terrible distraction, but thankfully my friend (the choir director) saw what was happening and caught it just in time.
The sister standing next to me angled her sheet music so that I could basically see and continue singing. Always a planner, Belle had thought to bring along her coloring book and a few markers, so we all enjoyed several moments of peace... until the last two measures of the song when one of her markers fell to the ground and Belle renewed her sentiments on the injustice that was her life.
The song ended and Belle and I re-united and returned to our bench. Belle resumed playing with Emma. Quinn and Parker joined us about 10 minutes later.
The closing song was performed by the Primary children (ages 3-12) and when Belle saw Emma being ushered up to sing by her mother (even though both Emma and Belle are 2 years old and attend nursery class instead of a primary class), Belle seized the opportunity to return to the stand. As I expected both girls to, Emma stood by the top of the stairs staring at the taller children around her. Belle disappeared into the crowd. Moments later we saw the children at the front of the stand begin to jostle about and look down behind them. Belle's hands appeared first as she elbowed her way to the very front. She sang very loudly (the words of her own little heart) with a huge smile on her face. I felt an unexpected surge of love for my lovely, wonderful girl:-)
After the song it was time for her to come back down to us, and I was so excited to hug and kiss her. It was also time for me to remember to go up and offer the benediction.
What I should have done was SOMETHING; what I did do was NOTHING.