Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star - We Know Exactly what You Are

Yesterday, Luke, Nina and I were tracing cookie cutters stars onto yellow card stock and cutting them out when the kids started to spontaneously sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  After a round or two, Luke paused to say, "Mommy, it's a strange song.  We know what stars are."  When I asked him what, he said, "Gas."  I smiled and, then, asked him if we should come up with a new version of the song.  Before long, we were singing:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

 I know exactly what you are:

A ball of gas up in the sky,

reflecting light into my eye .

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

I know exactly what you are.

My heart glowed with gratitude.  To have the time to be present with my children, following their lead from reading a favorite late January story, A Gift of Gracias, to making stars to catch on blankets (as happens at one point in the story), to realizing their growing understanding of the universe while enjoying song and fine-motor skill work was a true delight.  Giggling and laughing while tossing and catching the stars in blankets afterward was fun, too.

Simple moments.  Spontaneous activities, song and conversation.  Twinkling eyes and smiles.  These are gifts of parenting and homeschooling I am so grateful for.  

What are you thankful for today?  Share at Thankful Thursdays at Spiritually Unequal Marriage.