I am sure that we have all watched a child in our life open a gift and is more interested in the box than the gift. There is so much truth to that on so many levels.

Last night my two nieces played with two empty boxes for over two hours over our Shabbat meal. In fact, they were having so much fun before dinner, that they wanted to leave the table early to continue their works of art.

Zoe was very interested in creating “Zoe’s Taxi” and had Gramma cut out windows for the front, back and sides of the car. She drew wheels, and headlights and tail lights, and inside the ‘taxi’ she drew in the steering wheel and seats on the bottom of the box. When I asked her if she wanted me to write the word “TAXI” at the front, she said no, but asked how “taxi” was spelled and did it herself. Very sophisticated at six years old.

Jaime’s car was more the look of a 1960’s VW hippie van with all kinds of art on the sides, front and back. I had written the words “Jaime’s Car” in bubble letters on one side, and she was very interested in colouring each letter about 4/5 different colours. I coloured in trees, and a sun, and she followed it up with a kite in the sky.

After their creations were done, photos were taken with them inside their cars to email to their mom (she and Ezra were not there due to illness). It was fun to see the creativity flourish and grow the way they are.

After that, Gramma put on Klezmer music and the dance fest began. There was lots of creativity there as well. Jaime told me that she could “feel the music in my heart”….and that made my heart melt just a bit.

We did say a prayer for the Fogel family and being with my family and watching them laugh, smile and dance was all I needed on this Shabbat.