pockets of beauty & grace

“I hope you are finding pockets of beauty and grace.”

That’s what the text message from a friend said this week.

There are days and moments that weigh heavy on my heart.  News that breaks and bends.  Realities that burden and ache.

And.

There of moments of shared laughter and genuine joy.  Hope that soars and restores.

Pockets of beauty and grace.

Yesterday my oldest son and I had a date.

(We are still working our way through their Christmas gifts – a one on one date with Mom to some fun event.)

He was DJ in the car so it was all Okee Dokee Brothers and The Hunts for our drive.

Bergen has the happiest smile.  I love seeing it take over his entire face.

It’s good to have a car drive with just one child.  Good to embrace the silence and good to provide opportunity for simple questions and story sharing.

Lucky for me, his restaurant of choice was Mellow Mushroom, in which we were able to purchase quite possibly the best pizza known to mankind.

Half my way and half his.

Special dates are full of special treats – so when he asked if he could try orange soda, the answer was “yes”.

(I’m certain all the “yeses” are a gigantic part of the appeal of special date nights.)

As we were in Asheville, we felt the magnetic pull to make a quick stop pre-event to the one and only French Broad Chocolate Lounge.

(He’s really become a bit averse to having his picture taken lately.)

I like the conversations I have with the guy.

We talk about big stuff, sure.  But we also talk about space travel and gravity.  About novels and sports and hiking.  Birds with unusual nesting habits and our goal of making it across the Appalachian Trail together one day.

He’s good company.

He still holds my hand when we cross streets and his laughter comes quickly and his manners are on point.

Our tickets for the evening were for the Harlem Globetrotters.

I’ve never seen them play before – and they were a ridiculously fun and impressive show.

These guys were so talented with their moves and stunts and flips and dances.

Plus – they were funny.

The audience participation was really amusing and the evening sped by.

It was a really satisfying evening with my boy.  A little moment of his life and my life together.

A pocket of grace and beauty.