"She wished she was a mermaid, you know..."

Tonight when I got home, Charlee came and sat on the couch with me for a few minutes while I perused facebook.

Charlee loves facebook "because of all the pictures of Canada", she says.
When I asked her what that meant, she told me Canada is where we live.

Sometimes I'm curious what Charlee thinks of my mental capacity.

Anyways, in my newsfeed, some friends had been tagged in wedding pictures, and knowing Charlee would love them (and perhaps strategically helping her understand her upcoming flower girl duties), I clicked open the album.

I'm flipping through them pretty quickly when Charlee grabs my hand:

Charlee: Stop Kaleen! Go back!

I flip back a couple of pics, until Charlee points out what she's wanted to see: the picture of the groomsmen. 

Me: What are you looking at, Char?

Charlee: I like these two boys. They're my favourite. I like looking at them.

I immediately start chuckling, as Charlee points out two guys I went to bible college with. She continues by explaining how she likes just them. Not the other guys in the picture (sorry, boys). Just these two (who, coincidentally, are brothers, and therefore are similar looking). 

Charlee: Why are you laughing Kaleen?

Me: Oh Charlee, you are just growing up, that's all.

Charlee: Are you going to cry now?

Me: What? No...

And then I realized, a few tears were, in fact, coming to my eyes. 

 

How she knew, I have no idea.

Am I going to be that lady in Charlee's life?

The one who doesn't let her forget she used to need us? Who will always tell her, "oh, you were just so little once" in the exact baby-voice you just heard it in your head? Who may happen to show up while she's on a date and share, in detail, with her boyfriend about how when she was four years old, her main dream in life was to be a mermaid?

Yes.

Yes I am.

and so...

...I shared my hesitation of teaching "th" to Charlee, with Carleigh tonight after dinner.

It resulted in a 5 minute conversation in which we attempted to replace "th" sounds with "l" sounds (similar to how the kids' use of "Kal-leen" does)...and whether or not we could convince the kids that it's cool to speak this way.

Me: So, I was linking lat maybe we should try some-ling new.

Carleigh: I was linking lat lursday is a bad day for lat.

Try it. I dare you.
Warning: you may burst into gut-laughter.

We did.

Have I told you all lately how much I love my "sister"?

Not to mention, this week in the midst of my chaos with school, I come home to find she has emptied my garbage, washed my clothes, and taken my dirty dishes up to the kitchen (my personal shame). Thanks for serving me, Carleigh. I promise great re-payment in August.

I will even scoop the kitty litter.

And you know that's true love.

Can I?

Last week Charlee actually said "Kathleen"...not "Kaleen".

My heart stopped.

Is it considered poor ethic to try NOT to teach a child how to say "th"?
Or to derail any attempts by parents or teachers?

Cause...it's crossed my mind.

I don't know about Carleigh and Gary, but I'm not ready for Charlee to turn 5...and she's not even my child. Gosh.

cousin-auntie

Thursday evening I walked in the door and was greeted by Carleigh:

"You're a cousin-auntie!"

I had to think about this for a few seconds.

And then all of a sudden it clicked...

My dear cousin Kyle and his equally dear wife Sally, who live in Australia, had their baby girl...and she is a beauty. In fact, she reminds me a lot of her real auntie, my cousin Andrea!

Some of you are thinking, "I have 300 cousins and I don't know half of their kids...", so this idea of cousin-auntie won't be familiar to you. But when you only have two cousins on one side of the family, they are more than "extended family"...they are your family. And Kyle is the first to marry, and Hannah is the first grandchild...on both sides for him and Sally. I can't help but think how proud Auntie Flo would be of her new granddaughter...and gushing about the red hair on this one!
We miss you Auntie Flo.

This week I'm wishing Australia was a whole heck of a lot closer, so I could see this scene in person, and have my turn for cuddles:

Welcome to the world Hannah Ruby Davies! 

We love you.

what i want to remember right now.

So I may have been questioned by one young lady as to why I haven't posted anything in almost 2 weeks. I didn't realize my fan had been left wanting. This one's for you, Jenne. :)

Well. Let's see. I don't have a great reason. Other than that I perhaps slightly panicked that my summer was ending, and thus packed my "overnight" bag three times, took four ferries, added an extra 1000 kms to my car, and blew my budget on coffee. I worked hard to fill my "tank" with time spent with friends.

I chose these last minute adventures, partly because I just wanted adventure, and partly because June was ending, and I knew that July is dedicated to school.
And here we are.
July.
Day one, class one, done.
Tonight I read. Tonight I write a paper.
(and of course, I blog to procrastinate. That is my m.o. after all).

Already I feel the pressure of deadlines and schedule, and the knowledge that my head is about to be crammed with all sorts of stories and lessons....again. But I am excited. And I'm happy to be on campus again with those we survived the last summer's courses. These are the friends whom I have studied with online this year, whom I have skyped and emailed and facebooked with. There is something comforting to know we are in this together and we are reunited now in person.

And I smile because community can be so good.

And community can look so different from one space to the next, yet similar.

I smile when I try to get in my car to leave for school, and 2 year old Jane yells from the front step.

Jane: Mo'! Mo'! Hug! Mo'!

I have to return and give yet another last hug and receive a last kiss (with added "MUAH" sound from Jane, to which I inwardly giggle), which makes me late to pick up Kirsten, but I don't really mind, and Kirsten understands the love.

I smile when 4 year old Charlee knocks on my door as I read.

Me: Hi Char! Are you here to tell me something?

Charlee: Yes! We are going to the MOON on SATURDAY!

Me: Oh, really? I kinda thought you were here to tell me supper was ready.

Charlee: Nope. We're going to the moon on Sat-ur-day! (think sing-song voice here).

Me: Oh, okay.

Charlee: Can I use your lipstick?
Me: Yup, just a little, okay?

Charlee (after dramatically rubbing the chapstick on her lips): Okay. Supper's ready now.

I smile again when it's 3 year old Bodhi's turn to pray for supper.

Bodhi: Prays Jesus. 

Mom and Dad. 

Loves us. 

And all our suppers. 

And all our TOYS! 

(giggle)

Ooops.

Let me do again that first part.

Prays Jesus.

Mom and Dad.

Loves us.

And all our suppers.

And all our toys.

And all our hearts.

Ayyyyyyyy - men.

These kids teach me how community can love you. And care for you. And see things, and find the joy in things, we don't tend to see or acknowledge anymore.

I may be learning about leadership on a campus, in classrooms, with a community of articulate and professionally brilliant adults, but I also learn a lot about leadership, about loving and caring for people, about the big picture, from these beautifully created little ones...and I hope I never forget that.