But Today IS Special

For Christmas, Mini Cooper received one of those dress like my dolly sets.  The dresses were a blue shiny material with velvet designs on it.  When she opened it, I remember thinking 'what I nice set for a special day.'  Special as in church or a party or pictures or something 'special.'

Last week, I was sitting at my desk and she comes up to me, dolly in hand, and asks, 'Mommy, can you button me?'

First thought, "That dress is for a special day.  Today is NOT a special day.  Today is just a hang around the house and play with our dolls kinda day. "

Mini Cooper looked at me with her sweet smile.  Her dolly was already all dressed up, ready to play tea party and princess with her 'mommy.'

I almost ruined her day.  Thankfully, I didn't.

I wanted to tell her to take the dress off and hang it up for a special day.  But, thankfully, I bit my tongue and buttoned up her pretty dress.

"Thank you Mommy."  She smiled and spun off, dolly dancing beside her.  As she danced away I realized that for her the day was special.

She had a new dress, she matched her dolly, and her mommy loved her enough to help her put on that new dress.  She was happy, she was healthy, she was loved.

This reminded me of last summer when my mom wanted new everyday dishes.  My very practical aunt noted that my mother owned 2 sets of china.  One set was obviously more special then the other (it was my grandmother's) so it was the one that was used for special occasions.  The other set was not quite as special and was often overlooked on special dinners.  But, since it was china it was still thought of as special and put away for rare occasions (read sat in the cabinet and took up space).  Now, faced with a 'need' for new everyday dishes, my aunt pointed out that Mom should just use the other set of china.  And she did!

It made me realize that I have many things, hanging in closets, packed away in boxes, sitting behind glass cabinet doors waiting for a special day.  But, why??

Yes, I'm always going to keep the outfits I brought my babies home from the hospital in.  But, does that mean I need all their special clothes?  By the time it comes to wear them again they will be yellowed or outdated.  In the meantime, they take up space while another little baby could wear them.

Other 'special' items sit to look at, dust, and require me to protect them from my children.  Some are so special that they are in boxes to make sure my children don't break them.  Gee so special.

I don't know how many dresses I purchased for Mustang when she was a baby that she never even wore.  They hung in the closet awaiting their special day.  That day never came.  Why?  Because I failed to see each day for what it was.

Someday soon Mini Cooper won't care to dress like her baby dolls.  Someday soon, she won't ask me to button her.  Someday soon I won't have a little blonde girl who dances away to play, thanking me for helping her with a small task.  Someday soon, I'll just have pretty little dresses with no little girls to wear them.

Today is special.  Why?  Because she wore her new dress, and I got to see her dance.

God Bless,