When was the last time you took the time to really look at a stoplight? If you’re like me, you glance at it quickly to make sure the light doesn’t turn red before you rush through it. But Abby? Well that little girl really knows stoplights. Today she came to me and said “Nana, do you know what the colors mean on a stoplight?” Since I never know where her mind is going with something I assume I have a great deal of knowledge about, I decided to play it safe and say I just wasn’t sure. “Well”, she said, “there’s green and that means go; red and that means stop; yellow and that means caution. But my favorite is blue.” “Blue”, I asked. And Abby’s reply “yep, blue – that means go fast”. As I drove home tonight and watched traffic race down the road I decided Abby may be on to something. Perhaps I am the only one who can’t see the blue stoplight.

Because I often have trouble sleeping and have never been a morning person unless I was forced to be, I usually jump out of bed at the last minute, brush my teeth, throw on some clothes and race to Steph’s to babysit. This morning that all changed.

I have had an incredibly magical three days (has it only been three days?). I have been able to fall asleep quickly every night since Friday night and this morning woke up at 3:30 am. Although I had only had about 5 hours of sleep, I felt completely energized and wide awake. I had a couple cups of coffee, showered, dressed in a nice shirt instead of my standard T-shirt and even applied makeup. Abby was sleeping when I arrived but Currin greeted me with his normal glowing smile. And then he giggled – maybe because Nana was actually giggling too (or it could have been the pancakes and hash browns I took to him). When Steph left for work, Abby came up to me, cocked her head, batted her eyelashes and gave me the once over. I said “do I look pretty this morning Abby?” And Abby said “you look beautiful Nana but that’s not what I was going to say.” She continued to look me over and then said “Are you happy Nana?” I assured her I was feeling very happy and she replied “good Nana, cause your eyes don’t look sad anymore”. Wow!

We had so much fun today! Remember the song “I Hope You Dance” by Leeann Womack? I’ve learned there are times, in spite of any trials we may be facing, we just need to dance. Put your favorite CD in the player, turn up the volume and dance your heart out. Remember no one is watching so it doesn’t matter whether you are a great dancer or dancing poorly. Just dance. You’ll be amazed how this simple act can improve your spirits.

This morning that’s exactly what Nana, Currin and Abby did. We danced as a threesome holding hands; I took turns picking them up and dancing with them and spinning them round and round. And we danced alone – as Abby said “shaking our booty”. We tried to imitate the dancers in Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” video and what a hoot that turned out to be. We made ourselves dizzy spinning in circles and we danced until we just couldn’t dance anymore. And oh how we laughed. And so dear readers I just want to quote Leeann Womack and say “I hope you dance”!