I have not kept up with my blogging this month. Not because I don't have anything to write - on the contrary, I'm overwhelmed with posts in draft mode - but rather because September's been a whirlwind of commitments, activities, and company. So, this is me resolving to clear out the draft pile.
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In August I had an opportunity to watch my friend's two young kids for a few days. H and B are the same ages as Thane and Graham (don't let their super height fool you). My kids couldn't wait for them to come and stay. Extra playmates? What could be better?
We spent our first morning together playing at a river we'd recently discovered (more on that fabulous find in another post). Unfortunately, the weather that morning remained chilly. H and B were undaunted; despite the shockingly cold water, little B especially found great pleasure in dunking his head repeatedly and then refusing to be wrapped in a warm towel.
All went amazingly smoothly the first day. Even bedtime was a breeze because H and B were so excited to be sleeping in a new place (and it helped that they'd exhausted themselves with playing all day).
The next day dawned bright and sunny. Soon all the kids migrated to the back yard to burn off some energy playing in the sprinklers.
When the bigger kids tired of the sprinklers, they devised a new method of entertainment - seeing how long they could hold their breath under water. This kept them occupied for a surprisingly long period of time!
It's been long enough since H and B stayed with us, that most of the details are fuzzy, but apparently we made it through day two happily enough.
Until bedtime.
While on the first night both H and B fell asleep happily and quickly, on night two, little B would not stay in the toddler bed (he sleeps in a crib at home), and H was still completely keyed up and couldn't lie still in her own bed. Since they were sharing a bedroom, this combination did not bode well for any hope of slumber.
I sat outside their room for a while whispering reminders and putting B back to bed. After an hour, I explained to precocious B that if he got out of the bed again, I'd have to take him to another room to sleep so his sister could rest. Five seconds later, he hopped out of bed, and I scooped him up to fulfill my threat promise.
Up to that point, B had been nothing but happy and calm. So, you might imagine my surprise when he opened his mouth and let out a scream that could rival any siren. On and on went his scream at full blast. "B!" I insisted, "you can't scream like that..."
I'd intended to complete my sentence by saying, "the other kids are trying to sleep and you're going to wake them up!" but before I could get that far, the wailing suddenly ceased and little B, in a calm but serious voice retorted, "Yes, I CAN scream. I can scream just like this!" And he opened his mouth back up and proceeded to clearly prove his point.
Honestly, it was so hilarious to hear a barely two-year old respond that way, that I had to laugh. The laugh eased the tension of the moment, and though it took another five or ten minutes, we were eventually able to get B semi calmed down and ready to try his bed again.
However, when we walked back into the bedroom, we found sweet H hugging her knees, and sobbing. With all the tender feelings of a four-year-old whose parents have been gone for 3 days, she cried, "I just want my mommmmmmmy!"
Seeing his sister upset sent B back to tears as well. Both kids were beyond consolation, and I knew there was nothing I could do to make it better. In that moment, the thought came to my mind, "say a prayer."
I quickly tucked H and B into their beds, and knelt down beside them. As soon as I began to pray, the sweetest, calmest feeling of peace entered the entire room. Not only did it wash over me, but I could feel the tension melt out of H's body, and hear B's breathing relax. As the tears streamed down my face, I offered my sincere prayer and felt an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude for the gift of the Holy Ghost and the love of our Heavenly Father. I knew that He loved H and B, and that He knew how much they missed their parents in that moment. It was just a tiny glimpse of how He feels about each of us.
By the time the prayer ended, both H and B were completely relaxed. H told me, "I feel really warm inside right now."
"That's the Holy Ghost comforting you," I explained, "I feel exactly the same way." I love the simple testimony of a child.
This was such a special moment for me, that I've felt compelled to record it so I don't forget. I think I'll always have an extra special place in my heart for these two adorable rascals.
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