We spent this past Christmas with my husbands family.

They are quite the musical group and my mother in law is an outstanding pianist. After Christmas dinner, we all crowded into their office where they have a beautiful wooden piano. 

She sat down and got out some of her old sheet music with hymns and various classics. We sang and had the best time together. It was like something out of a movie.

It got me thinking that I would love to have the same expereince in our own home for our kids, so I started a search for a piano of our own. My MIL encouraged me that people give them away all the time. So I started the search, and turns out she was right. Facebook marketplace was FULL of free offers. 

I must admit I felt a little silly on this side quest at times, because neither me or my husband know how to play the piano.

But a lot of our other friends and family do, and I hope that our kids learn someday.

I think having one in the home can ignite that curiosity, and I think it can encourage moments like the one at Christmas to happen on a random night with close ones. 

The only catch for a free piano...pick up. It is a hassle and takes about 4 men to move an acoustic upright piano. Luckily we have some good friends that didn't mind being dragged out of their home at 10pm to go pick it up for me.

My husband teased me on his way out the door to pick it up, asking why we needed a piano again? In a theatrically serious tone, I declared that our kids deserve to grow up with a piano in their home.

A piano is full of possibilities to me. I love the idea of the potential memories made, the possible hobby for our children, and even the naptime activity that it has provided me.

While I never plan on officially learning to play, I have been able to attend YouTube University to learn the melodic parts of some songs I love.

With my youngest, Henry, strapped to my chest, I was able to figure out a few measures and I can only begin to tell you how much joy it brought me. There was a sense of whimsy that I think we need more frequently in life.

On the night we brought it home, I heard my husband playing around on our new piano. It made me grin from ear to ear knowing that he was already enjoying it.

After a few minutes he came to me and said, "you were right, honey, we did need a piano."