Dear Reader:

What is it about a key that captures our imagination…especially a key without a lock? What could the key go to…a treasure box…a dancing ballerina music box…an old metallic, dusty bank box in the attic filled with old letters between your grandparents about their lives together in the ‘old” country?

Our imagination can go on and on and on when we see a simple key. A key represents hope for something new and unexpected…it can turn an ordinary day into an imaginary day filled with endless possibilities. A key has the potential of being a change-agent in our lives and we can’t help but want to solve the mystery of the missing lock.

Pam Stewart gave me this key in a bottle as a “christening” gift for the new deck and garden….for years it dropped from a hanger under the eaves of the roof overlooking the deck. A few months ago…I realized that Eva Cate’s Japanese Maple was now strong enough and tall enough to hold this gift of hope and mystery.

I told her (when she spent the night with me the other weekend) that maybe one day she would find the lock that fits this key in a bottle…until then she should try to think of as many different possibilities as possible of what item the key might belong to….she liked the idea of a magical music box…I do too.

She thought one with fairies would be really cool…(she spent a lot of time helping Boo clean and wash up very dirty fairies from Hurricane Matthew.)

Maybe on a holiday or birthday….time will tell….

It wasn’t until I came across this quote from George Herbert that I realized prayer really is the key that unlocks the mystery of life. We can’t go through it without securing a ‘lock of trust’ between our Creator and ourselves.

“Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” George Herbert

So until tomorrow…

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Yesterday was my favorite day, too, because I heard that Mandy got Teacher of the Year at Buist Academy! I am so proud of her…she is certainly very deserving!!! Love you Mandy!!!!!

One key to a mystery solved was the comment I made weekend before last when Mandy dropped Eva Cate off to spend the night with me.

I mentioned that Eva Cate had a five-star week and so did her mother. (Mandy had just found out that she was one of five “star” teachers up for Teacher of the Year.) So that is why the girls shared the adorable little wooden angel I found at Marigolds for a very successful week (and teaching career)….Now she has been named Teacher of the Year! I think our angel came through with a sign…like this:)