Doggies and Dumplings

    I have a ten year old little girl who is provides both inspiration and exasperation every day.  She is full of life, ideas and fun.

    When she was a toddler, I would tell people that she has ten times more personality than any one person needs and she lives life like her hair is on fire.

    This hasn't changed.

    Today, she plopped herself right in the middle of the floor and called the dogs to her... So now, instead of being able to walk through the room, it is a swirl of child and wagging tails.

    Partially annoyed and partially smiling, I walk around the moving treacherous mess and into the kitchen.

    "Mom, can we have gnocchi tonight?"

     "I was planning on a chicken soup tonight sweetie, maybe tomorrow night when I have more time." I answered.

      "Mom, would gnocchi taste good in chicken soup?"

      Now I see she is fixated on the gnocchi. I really need to use that chicken in the fridge tonight. Hmmm... gnocchi... they are just a potato dumpling, right?

     "Maybe. I answer. We can make a small batch with gnocchi and you can be the taste tester."

       Sigh...

       Her face is completely lit up! She smiles as if she can already taste how fantastic it is.

     So tonight, we will be adding potato dumplings to our fresh chicken soup.

     Surely it won't be bad...

    

    I love her.. She is genuinely like this every day. She does not think ahead, therefore does not worry. She is delighted by possibilities as much as the actual event. She is exactly in the moment. She is perfectly content playing with the doggies in the middle of the floor and discussing dumplings.

    I thank God every day that my days are filled with doggies and dumplings and little girls.