where suddenly, out of the blue

you were filled with warmth

and thankfulness?

I had one last night.

My friend Missy and her two daughters

and daughter-in-law

invited me and my two daughters

and daughter-in-law

out to a local dinner theater

to watch a show about Patsy Cline.

The lights went down low

the stage was black

backlit

and the actress who was being Patsy

intoduced her band

Billy Bob-Ray Bob-Joe Bob-Bobbie Bob

and the actress who played

Patsy's best friend

Louise Seger.

Our table held red candles

white tablecloth

White Russians

Zinfandel

cherry cheesecake.

I looked at my three girls

who were chattering with Missy's three girls

six people who had never met before tonight

and I have to say I was proud

of how easily my girls were laughing

making friends.

My word they were just so beautiful!

Patsy sang "Back in my Baby's Arms"

and "I Fall to Pieces"

and the girls clapped to the beat

hollered out "YeeHaw!"

and I burst out laughing inside myself.

Missy and I exchanged glances

both of us smiling

pleased with our ladies night out.

When Patsy died

all of these girls were tiny

toddlers

and now here they were

grown

in their late 30's

early 40's

toe-tapping

ripping it up

incredibly wondrous

a joy to their old mamas

sitting across from each other

at the head of the table.

Patsy sang "Crazy"

in her pink taffeta dress

then "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"

and we all sang and clapped and toe-tapped along with her.

That's when it happened.

I was filled with the joy of the Lord

on this special night

thankful

for these children He had given me.

My word they were just so beautiful!