The Gift of Girls

This was a gift of a weekend.

And absolute cotton candy, pure joy sort of weekend.

When the babies were born, I bonded with the boys the weekend they were born.  Little bit took a little longer.  She was like a cat and the boys were like dogs.  She just wanted me to feed and change her, but the boys were all cuddles and cooing.

That has changed.  I mean, the boys are still like puppies, but little bit has become my favorite buddy.  Not as in my favorite child, but we LOVE hanging out together.

At the last minute, Bray ended up taking the boys to the ranch to play with their cousins, so it was just me and my girl.  Friday night we ate at the mall (lord have mercy, I NEVER go to the mall), explored every inch of the American Girl store (she is all about dolls and loved the exploration without ever asking for one), and then shopped for a birthday present for a classmate.

When Bray is gone, I’ll let one of the kids sleep in our bed.  I figure that their interest is nearing its expiration, but for now it’s considered quite a treat.  Instead of staying up to get on the computer or watch t.v., I went to bed when she did and we read stories and snuggled up and just laughed.  As terrible as my memory is, I don’t think I will ever forget having our faces inches from each other’s and giggling until we had to go to the bathroom.  If I could bottle that moment, I would do it and take a sip every time I felt gloomy.

Saturday we were like women on a mission.  We had breakfast with one set of girlfriends, FINALLY got my phone after it took a bath on Monday, and then had lunch at a birthday party.  We napped and played games and looked for Easter dresses and watched a silly movie.

Sunday was a lazier day but was just as perfect.  We went to church together and at the end of the service she said, “Mommy, I want to say hi to the pastor.”  We have a new pastor and she’s only met him once, and I’m not the type to stand in line to chat with the pastor after church.  But wait we did, and as he got down on his knees to visit with her and she threw her arms around him in the kind of hug only a preschooler gives, I thought I would just burst into tears.  I am so grateful for my church and for knowing the people who lead us to know God more every Sunday.  So grateful.

We came home and painted the bottom of our crazy multi-color neighbors table and cooked and played more games, and she preached in the driveway on Bray’s workshop stool.  (It was hysterical. I videoed the event.  I won’t ever post it because it’s her thing, but trust me you would have fallen out.)

We got cleaned up and in p.j.s and watched some Pollyanna while we waited on the boys arrival.  Oh we were so grateful to have them home.  But I am so grateful to have had these sweet moments with her.  I know she’ll probably hate me when she’s 14, so I’m going to hold on to every ounce of this.  Because mercy, it is just that good.  To quote her as we left the store holding hands, “I love holding hands with you mommy.  It makes me happy.”