Sunday, January 16, 2011

One month from today...

This time next month, my sweet five year old will turn into an even (hopefully) sweeter six year old. I'm counting on it because she has never ceased to delight me and I am certain that she delights everyone she chances to meet.

And for the last 18 months I have learned firsthand that the best and worst part of having a child with leukemia is having another child to love at the same time. Sometimes I feel like I have no energy to entertain another child and yet, Linleys very being is the only reason I don't crawl into bed and cry multiple times a day. Sometimes I wish I could only focus on one child's needs and yet, I need the ability to talk about things like princesses, husbands and what her house in heaven is going to look like. Sometimes I want to hid out in the house and not venture out into that world where I have to compare my youngest with others and yet, I have a five year old who still deserves the park, play dates, trips to Target and a reason to wear fancy shoes.

Linley helps Piper keep Mommy exhausted and yet, without Linley I know that I would feel hopeless. She is my simple joy and after she wears me out she promptly rejuvenates me with her witty Linley-isms and stories. I praise God for her every day.



This is how she rolls when I tell her we're going to the grocery store...again.

First shes all, "hey mommy, I love you"...


...then she wants to know "wwwhhhyyyy????"...


...so I remind her who the boss of this house is...


...and she reminds me that she is her mothers (bossy) child...


...then she wants to know about getting a balloon...


...and in a moment of weakness I say yes...


...then promptly remind her that she has to share with her sister...


...then I sooth her with visions of the huge race car shopping carts...


...but draw the line at buying candy for lunch...


...and so she promises that she will be good and I take advantage of her doing a semi-kissy face and let her know that I absolutely, totally, completely love all of her.

5 comments:

  1. love, love, love it! Linley is so full of life & passion & sassiness... love it :)

    I am not trying to compare our situations AT ALL... but I can identify (ever so slightly) with how you feel on this... It's overwhelming to take our girls out, if it weren't for Maggie we'd stay home all the time! oh the things we do for our babies :)

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  2. omg! you have quite the actress on your hands :) she is precious!

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  3. Loved the photo commentary! Also, I thought how wonderful it will be for Linley to read this and know that she wasn't lost in her sister's illness. She'll know what a wonderfully precious gift she is to her mommy, daddy, and Piper during this time!

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  4. This was funny and glad you showed the ups and downs of that little Linley. I ran into Miss Norma today at Publix and told her how much I had loved getting to read all about you and Piper and your family. She said that she just got to spend some time with you and her eyes just twinkled. I know she loves those girls. She is such a lady of the highest kind. Hope that all is well!!

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  5. Linley is most definately a precious gift! And you two are doing such a good job of bringing her up in the midst of it all... Give Chad, Linley and sweet Piper my love,
    xoxo
    mj

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