she played

 The aim and final end of music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.   ~Johann Sebastian Bach

 I sat in the auditorium hearing and feeling the notes, the music of Mozart, Bach, Elgar, Gliere, and Mendelssohn being performed by her. I was very present in the moment listening with joy and tender pride as well as remembering the years that had gotten her to this place, her Senior Recital.

When she was just a wee baby I would whisper in her ear, "You shall play the strings". There was one time at the age of thirteen she wanted to quit the violin and I replied to her requests with complete sincerity,

"One day you will thank me".

 She has.

 

Charlotte's hard work, diligence, perseverance, and times of seemingly endless practicing have brought her to this place of beautiful accomplishment. But I would be remiss to not mention a necessary element of the overall picture as well, a part which flows strongly in my heart in the remembering. We, her parents, were always her most ardent cheerleaders.

  

My husband and I have purposely and gladly invested in Charlotte's music studies through the years. My husband has invested the finances required for all those years of piano and violin lessons. I have invested hours of faithfully driving her to her weekly lessons, and we've both invested time watching her through the many rehearsals, practices, recitals and concerts as she improved her skills and acquired the instruction needed to continue on to the next levels.  All this was done with complete happiness and  total willingness to see her achieve her goals.