Nightmares

For the last couple of nights, we haven't been as great about praying with the kids when we put them to bed. As a side effect, I've been waking up to deal with nightmares slightly more often. We'll make sure we pray tonight.

Most of the nightmares have been pretty standard "a big dog was chasing me" stuff. But this morning...

LF: Mommy, where's Daddy.

A: At work, why?

LF: When will he be home?

A: At the end of the day, like normal. Why are you crying?

LF: Because I dreamed we were watching a video. And it was just you, and me and LB and LM and Grammy and Grandad. And it was a video of Daddy playing with LM. And at the end of the video, it said, "Best Daddy." *bursts into sobbing tears.**

A: Oh, my... Come sit in my lap. I promise, Daddy is just at work. He's not dead. And if something happens to him, I promise he'll go to Heaven, and hang out with Uncle Ethan. And they'll watch you and make sure you're being taken care of. Would you like to talk to Daddy on the phone this morning?

LF: *nods while wiping tears**

Poor kid. It can't be easy having someone so important in your life as your uncle die when you're only three.

New word; appropriate timing

David: *points at painting of Ethan* Dat?

A: That's your Uncle Ethan

David: *spends the next five minutes pointing at all the other paintings and asking about them*

A: *spends the next five minutes talking about all the other paintings*

D: *Points at Ethan's painting again* Etan!!

A: Yes, that is Ethan. Good job.

The first time he ever said your name was last night. Happy Heavenniversary. 

Happy birthday, Uncle Ethan

L: Where are we going?

A: To the cemetery to have a picnic with Uncle Ethan.

L: Is today his birthday?

A: Yes. That's why we are having lunch there.

L: But how can we give him presents if he's dead?

A: We are giving him flowers and a flag for his gravestone.

L: He likes guns better than flowers. But can I draw him a picture?

A: (giggling) Yes, we can leave a picture there for him.

The Definition of Family

Laura: But I'm hungry!

Ceil: Now that she knows there's cupcakes.

Adriel: It's bedtime. You can have a cupcake tomorrow.

Ceil: Did you know we're going on a trip tomorrow?

Laura: On a plane?

Ceil: No, we're driving to Branson to see all of our family.

Laura: Ethan too?!

Ceil: No, not Ethan.

Adriel: That's a much longer trip.

Laura: But he's part of our family!

Keith: She's got you there.

Laura got a frame for Christmas. I told her she could pick any pic from the comp,& I'd print it. She asked for one of her & Uncle Ethan.

Laura had been taking orders from "Unca Esan" on her phone. So far, he's just retold her everything I'd told her to do. #alittleworried

I finally found it: the drawing I've been searching for since January. Uncle Ethan and Laura colored it together the last time he visited.

Karen pointed to a picture of me and Ethan as toddlers. I've never shown her the picture before, but she said: unsle esan

"Who dat?" "You tell me." "Dat my Esan. Esan not at Grammy's o Pau house. Esan wit Jesus. Esan safe." "That's right, sweetheart."

Laura is obsessed is greeting cards, & she thinks they are all for birthdays. I read a sympathy card aloud, & she called it "Esan's burday."