We knew it was coming.
We were awaiting this moment with bittersweet breath because this was our last first.
She held it out to us at the dinner table- a trophy of endurance, a peace-offering of sorts as she tried to gobble down her last bit of pizza.
We celebrated with her and sung about how the tooth fairy would fly in and give her a small prize in the middle of the night for her courage, perseverance and determination.
She held my gaze a bit longer than usual and played along. I think she knew deep down in her little heart there was no tooth fairy, but she asked anyway.
"Mommy, has anyone ever seen the tooth fairy?"
"Certainly not" I said.
Because that is the truth.
And I gave her a wink and a hug.
Something about this moment pronounced her all grown up and I choked down tears as I watched her put her tooth in a baggie for safe-keeping.
What's funny about this tooth is that it didn't want to come out of her mouth. She had two adult teeth that had pushed their way through her gums and were proudly standing behind those baby teeth and just waiting for her to grow up.
It was taking forever to happen.
And I knew why deep down in my soul.
This baby girl who had sacrificed her whole baby career to be a big kid so I could tend to her older sister wanted to hold on to her baby identity just a little longer...
Hopefully someday she'll forgive me.
"Certainly not" I said.
Because that is the truth.
And I gave her a wink and a hug.
Something about this moment pronounced her all grown up and I choked down tears as I watched her put her tooth in a baggie for safe-keeping.
What's funny about this tooth is that it didn't want to come out of her mouth. She had two adult teeth that had pushed their way through her gums and were proudly standing behind those baby teeth and just waiting for her to grow up.
It was taking forever to happen.
And I knew why deep down in my soul.
This baby girl who had sacrificed her whole baby career to be a big kid so I could tend to her older sister wanted to hold on to her baby identity just a little longer...
Hopefully someday she'll forgive me.
Two weeks before Christmas I got my kids a dog named Rambo. He came to us looking like a matted mop yet had the sweetest temperament and I just couldn't leave the little scottie there at the shelter. I thought I was getting my kids a pet but what I didn't realize was that I needed a dog-friend much more than they did.
There is something that happens when you get a dog. Suddenly everything you thought that mattered doesn't matter anymore: like clean floors, clean couches, and manners. And crumbs definitely don't matter anymore. Because they are licked up and eaten in 2 seconds flat.
Suddenly you find yourself in the midst of worrying about the hairy dust bunny in the corner...and somehow, magically the pros outweigh the cons and your pup runs and jumps into your lap and you realize right then and there that you are forgiven,
for now and for then, and for always.
He never judges you, always sees the best in you, always gives you the benefit of the doubt, is completely loyal, waits patiently for any morsel of affection you can throw his way. And then, he settles down in your lap for a long snuggle and you are forgiven.
He never judges you, always sees the best in you, always gives you the benefit of the doubt, is completely loyal, waits patiently for any morsel of affection you can throw his way. And then, he settles down in your lap for a long snuggle and you are forgiven.
For every last bad deed you have ever done that day, and the days before that,
and the ones yet to come.
Charlotte prayed this tonight as she laid her little head down:
Dear Jesus, we hope that you love us more than to the moon and back. And that your love comes to us and our love to you and you bring us salvation.
I don't pray like that. I'm not sure where she pulls these foundational truths from.
I am forgiven. For every last bad deed I have done today.
For forever.
And for always.
That's it.
And now I will put on my tooth fairy wings and fly up to the bedroom and reach under my babiest daughter's pillow and give her her heart's desire:
3 gold coins and a piece of chocolate.
And then I will snuggle on the couch with my Rambo.
And be forgiven.
Dear Jesus, we hope that you love us more than to the moon and back. And that your love comes to us and our love to you and you bring us salvation.
I don't pray like that. I'm not sure where she pulls these foundational truths from.
I am forgiven. For every last bad deed I have done today.
For forever.
And for always.
That's it.
And now I will put on my tooth fairy wings and fly up to the bedroom and reach under my babiest daughter's pillow and give her her heart's desire:
3 gold coins and a piece of chocolate.
And then I will snuggle on the couch with my Rambo.
And be forgiven.
