Bright sparkling laughter
jumbled from the next room
Lisa and Ed, my daughter, my son
are visiting home.

All grown up now
but with the twirl and wisp
of their younger years

Their childhood chuckle remains--
race cars, dolls, and lollipops.

I still can see the smudges
On their grubby fun faces.

Absent today, but present in the rattle,
Dan and Jen,
the rest of the clamorous clan.

Chatter and giggles echoes
through the rosy corridor.

It's a rainy winter day
but a slant of sunlight
shines in my heart.

"Pizza ready, mom?" I hear....

And again,
I am the busy mom
reaching for something better
than myself...

Fixing lunch.