The walls are pink... the floor is a comfy brown carpet, but in the moonlight, it is hard to make out such details. Moments before you would have heard the little girl whimpering as her footsteps were tiptoeing down the hall.

She finds the door she is looking for.

She hesitates... hating to do what she is going to do. To bother someone. But she knows she is loved... and her heart is scared and hurting.

The door opens, "Mommy?" the little voice whispers in the silence as the little hand pats the shoulder, "Mommy?"

And like always, there is that intake of breath that breaks the slumbering mother before breathing out, "What's wrong honey?"

"I had a bad dream."

The rustle of covers greet the air as the tired mother gets up and leads her little girl back to her room.

Then the music begin. No vocalist can ever compare to a loving mother whisper/singing songs to her little one. From "Jesus Loves Me" to "There's Just Something About that Name" fills the air as the little girl snuggles underneath her Precious Moment's comforter.

I'll been there when you're feelin down

To kiss away the tears when you cry

The tears that had been flowing down the little girl's face, are just a saltly memory by now.

And the room changes.....

White walls... hard white tiles.... the aroma of hand sanitizer fills the hospital room. There is no comfy bed for the use to be little girl. She had tried sleeping in the abandoned waiting room, but couldn't. So she found herself on the hard floor, listening to her mommy breathe in and out.

And her mind runs away with what the future might bring.... what it will be like when there would be no more air to make those vocal chords sing her to sleep....

And her mind runs backwards.... remembering all the nights of bad dreams and then being sung back to sleep.

And longing over takes her.... all she wants to do is climb into the hospital bed and let her mommy sing her to sleep while she smooths her hair.

But she can't.

And the tears trace their fingers down her cheeks.

Yet a small whisper in her mind comforts her.... "you have her today... enjoy her today... I will give you what you need when you need it.... trust Me."

The used to be little girl takes in a deep breath and can finally fall asleep.

And the room changes.

The once pink walls are now green.... the carpet is still brown. The moonlight is the only companion one can see for the little girl in a young woman's body.

And the tears are washing her face again.... she is remembering....

Remembering lullabies...

Remembering songs...

Remembering smiles....

And her heart aches because they are gone.

But the still small voice is still there.... "but they were there... and I am here.... one day you will be together again."

So with the left over salt on her cheeks, the once little girl learns again to be thankful... to mourn and yet be grateful.... to cherish each day... and that God is so amazing wonderful.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

There's just something about that name

Kings and kingdoms will all pass away

But there's something about that name

I have a bad habit of wearing socks way past their wearing point. My mom used to make them "disappear" but then after being on my own, they didn't disappear anymore. But when I realize that more skin is showing than sock covering... the socks receive a proper burial in the trash.

So with all that written, you can understand why the little girls I babysat on Tues saw my toenails.

At one point in the day, Joy* and Carrie* saw my toenails, "Miss Laura!" they exclaimed shocked, "Your toenails are painted!"

I saw the blueish nail polish peaking thru my burgandy socks. "Yeah I painted them."

"Does your dad KNOW?" they interragate as if I had shot someone.

I just grin, "Yeah, he does... wait, he may not, but it doesn't matter. The reason I painted them was because I split my toenail the other day."

I had to explain it twice to Joy, so that she understoodand quit eyeing me suspiciously.

Oh the little things that amuse me.

*named changed