Just before school ended, we received a call from the front office at the big kids school. Would Julia be interested in teaching an introductory piano class?

Julia played organ for daily Mass, so it made sense why they would ask her.

She said yes right away and our Tuesday became piano lesson day for the cutest twins you ever saw.

(Well, except for Brian’s sisters. Yes, they are cuter. If I don’t say that I’m sure I’ll hear about it.)

Before their first lesson, Julia prepared notebooks with theory lessons and hint sheets.

When they arrived, I visited with their mom in the other room. We became fast friends. Her littlest one is about six weeks younger than Mary Alice. And she has two little boys who played perfectly with Riley! (Another summer blessing!)

This week was their last lesson, so Julia made certificates for each girl. We were talking in the car today about how she liked teaching piano. She said it made her put teaching on her potential future profession list, because she enjoyed it so much. She said she loved preparing lessons and it made her so happy when she saw the light-bulb go on!

Listening to her from the other room, I can tell you she was amazing. She was patient and enthusiastic – the two perfect qualities for a teacher.

Teaching runs in her blood. My mother was a teacher for 21 years before retiring. She taught seventh grade English in Corpus Christi, Oklahoma City, and Houston. She coached debate and ran the poetry clubs. At 5″1′ her students were usually taller than her. I heard many of them call her Mamma T. And a few still check in with her to see how she is.

It makes me pause and wonder what her vocation will be. She has so many options. Maybe that is the hard part – when you have the privilege of having choices. Narrowing that down can be challenging.

Thank you, sweet friends, for adding beauty to our summer and encouraging Julia to use her gifts!