There are songs rolling through my head at the end of this month.

 

They all have to do with stars that pop out after a long hot day. Do you see them against the bright moon? 

 

Look up and to the left of the top tree outline. 

 

Now do you see the two stars? 

There you go!

What comes next is the key for star watching. 

You need to be patient enough to watch and wait. 

 

The night sky is slow to go dark enough to see the stars so what is there to do? 

 

We wait and enjoy the moments as we look up. 

There is a quiet realization that looking up is not all we can do. Pausing and talking about the day creates a flow we enjoy during the wait.

Songs that come

And then there are those songs that come.

 

Each one of these songs have been a part of me for as long as I can remember. 

 

I probably learned this first one before kindergarten.

 

Let’s see if you know it.

 

Twinkle twinkle little star, 

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle twinkle little star,

How I wonder what you are.

 

Did you start to sing it in your head as you were reading? 

So did I!

 

Now, there is a path from when I first learned this one to the next part of my life. 

 

Days and nights when I worked with young children and taught this rhyme as it became part of our favorite song choices. 

 

I then started to sing this little ditty to our son as we were learning how to bring calm to his world again. 

When this happened, I would add sign language so he could also learn the words and be in sync. 

Sing and sign

As we, Dallin and I, started to sing and sign, the words became that source of pause. 

 

Twinkle Twinkle little star and our hands would shoot into signs.

 

How I wonder what you are to bring thinking motions and the best question to ask. 

What?  Yes, that is the best question to ask. 

 

Up above the world so high came with a stretch of our fingers pointing high into the sky. 

 

Like a diamond and yes we were making that shape appear with fingers and thumbs touching. 

 

Then back again to stars shooting from our fast-flying fingers. 

 

Can you feel the fun and rhythm created with this starting point? 

 

Let’s keep going, shall we? 

 

As I have sat in summer mode the next song is all about those fun years of being a teenager and spending time with a big extended family. 

 

One year my grandpa turned 80 years old, and a song was adjusted so the bunch of grandkids could belt out a tune. 

 

Are you already hearing this next bit of music? 

 

Here we go!

 

The stars at night

Are big and bright

 

And now for the switcho-chango in the words. 

 

We love him, he’s our grandpa! 

 

It was a fun time as we all stood together and could watch grandpa begin to smile and then I do think there was a grin. 

 

Sing loud

Chances are that we were not in tune or knew the words completely, but we did sing loud when it really counted. 

 

Singing parts of this song to the one who always made me smile, taught me how to crack walnuts in the driveway and showed how to enjoy each moment.

 

A-Ha!  Do you see where I get my moments of joy? 

It did come from this grandpa and so many more in my life.

 

My grandpa was a great star that night.  This song always holds love and fun for me as it pulls me back to simpler times. 

 

Can you imagine how the next song is going to be part of this star lit memory lane? 

 

Here is the final train of thoughts to go with what is rolling around.

 

Sometimes when the first star is seen I still make a wish. 

Why is that? 

These quick lines could be the reason.

 

Star light star bright

First star I see tonight 

Wish I may wish I might 

Have the wish I wish tonight.

 

Wishes and stars go together in our family. 

 

Friends.  What wishes have you made over the years and, as importantly, recently? 

 

Was it a wish for yourself or for someone around you? 

 

Did you close your eyes and send your wish into the sky to sit in the stars? 

 

That is how it went for me when I was younger. Wishes sent with such hope. 

 

Then there have been times when this piece about stars has held the greatest wishes of all time. 

Tossed coins

Time has stood still as we wished with a star, tossed coins with stars into wishing ponds for hope of tomorrow and then worked to make the wishes come true. 

 

Did you know that was part of the deal? 

Me neither until the stars held possibility, and our dreams became wishes within the moments of life. 

 

There are other songs and poems about stars that flow through me even now. 

What are they for you? 

Are you able to put in a bit of work to help the stars align with the glowing you see at night? 

 

Keep going towards what you wish.  

Perhaps when you wish upon the star your dreams will come true.