This week marked a major milestone in Squeaker's young life. Grammy, Grandad & Elena invited her to visit for a long weekend. As we drove to meet them half way on Thursday, we talked and played games.
Then I asked, "Do you have any questions about the weekend since Daddy, Brite & Uncle Mack won't be there. Like what you will do or who will put you to bed."
"Yes, Aunt Brite. Who will put me to bed?" She was quite comforted to hear that both Grammy & Grandad would be able to do that.
Then she asked, "Will I have Hopa and Blankie?"
"Of course. They are in your backpack."
"O.K. Then Grammy and Grandad can put me to bed."
She asked some more detailed questions about what she would do there and then we played another game. When I met up with them, we had lunch together and then moved the luggage over. I wish I had taken my camera! She hugged Hopa while wearing her preschool backpack, a skirt she picked out herself, and two self-beaded necklaces. She looked so grownup and behaved that way as well. She didn't cry at all and seemed excited to go.
The ride back yesterday was quite an experience. Grammy had relayed a few of their activities, but Squeaker was able to describe many of her adventures to me.
"Brite, we got to go pick up Elena at camp. Did you know there is a lake there? We got to throw big rocks in the water. "
"Did you have fun at her camp?" (This was a week long history camp at Stratford Hall.)
"Yes! I got to learn what they did there. Elena got to put the fire out. (No idea what this is about, but it obviously made an impression.) Then we had ice cream and apple pie. It was really yummy."
"Where else did you go?"
"We went to the Berry Farm.(the next day) We saw goats and I ate ice cream, again! Nana and Poppy were there!"
A few minutes later after playing in the backseat, she shared this things.
"Elena and I played together a lot. We had a tea party and we played with ponies. When we went to church, I got to play with Grammy."
As her eyes lit up about her adventures, I couldn't help but marvel at the love she has for them and for ice cream. :) It reminded me of sitting with her Mommy as she shared about a trip to see her family. Her description of them was wrapped in love in this same way. Her joy in playing with little Elena, the laughter and games with her parents, the wonderful visits with Nana and Poppy, and her sweet friendship Kira. Squeaker is learning to love them for all those same reasons. It makes my heart ache missing her for them, for us, but particularly for Squeaker. I want her back, every single day. And yet, I know that her dear Mommy is surrounded by perfect love and peace, free from the worries, insecurities, and pain we all face. She is living a faith realized in Heaven with Christ and is filled with unspeakable joy.
