I watched a grandma at the piano, With generations gathered near, Their voices joined in songs together, The sound of love so sweet and clear. I smiled to see their happiness, But felt an ache I couldn't hide— At sixty-three, I saw the dream I'd carried since I was a child. I'd carried a Norman Rockwell picture Of the grandma I would be— With children gathered 'round the piano, Singing songs in harmony. But the world kept changing all around me, And I was changing, too— I never thought to update the picture Of the dream I thought I knew. The picture changed, but not the dream, The love was always true. I thought that something had been lost, But now I see it coming through. Across the miles, through songs and laughter, In moments old and new— I wasn't watching my dream disappear, I was watching it come true! I watched sweet Charli singing As she wandered through the day, The song we'd learned together Bringing smiles along her way. And Kadence sang beside me On the drives that we were taking. Those ordinary little moments Were memories in the making In New York we sang together, Spoons, scarves, movement, dancing feet, And in Utah, songs and laughter Coming from the back seat. Then Kadence wrote her own song, And taught her cousins, too— The faith and love I'd hoped to share Were filling up my view. I helped sweet Charli write a song, A thank-you to her mom and dad, The games they play, the books they read, And all the fun they've had. She told me why she loved them, We turned her words into a song— A little voice creating music That she'll carry her whole life long. No rocking chair or cookie jar, But plenty of adventures to pursue— A three-year-old who asks his Nana, "Can we go to Curiousity, too?" A twenty-first-century grandma, With so many things to do— And every time we're making memories, My lifelong dream is coming true. The picture changed, but not the dream, The love was always true. I thought that something had been lost, But now I see it coming through. Across the miles, through songs and laughter, In moments old and new— I wasn't watching my dream disappear, The dream is still coming true. Not every face is in the picture, Not every heart is near. There are moments that are still missing, Little ones I hold dear. But I won't let the empty spaces Obscure the blessings I can see— There's so much love already here, And more that's yet to be. The picture changed, but not the dream, The love was always true. The world moved on, and so did I, And something beautiful grew. Not a Norman Rockwell picture, But a living legacy— The dream I thought I'd lost forever Was unfolding all around me. I didn't need a different dream, Just a different way to see— The love inside that old-time picture Was already here with me. And somewhere in tomorrow, There's more love waiting, too— The picture isn't finished, The dream is still coming true.
