56th Baby Step - Life with a 7-year-old.

It's still dark outside. The dog hasn't barked. The cat hasn't meowed. "Pitter patter, pitter patter...." Silence. I pull a pillow over my head. "Liz Anne?" "Mmm." Silence. "...Liz Anne?" "Mmm," I repeat, knowing that only Holy Spirit power will get more than a grunt out of me at this hour! I pull the pillow off of my head and squint my eyes at the four-foot figure in front of me, "Good morning," I smile. That's all she needed. "Guess what!" she exclaimed. I can't recall the trail of words that followed that first exclamation, only that there was a trial of words, a long trail with energy and enthusiasm that'd take me at least another three hours to appreciate, or so I thought. 

Once I flipped on the lamp and had her nestle right next to me underneath the guest bed's leopard print sheets and cushy black comforter with her illustrated Bible in hand and a sweet expression on her face, my heart was completely softened and wide awake. She's been studying Genesis at school so wanted (and did!) read the entire creation account aloud (and not the kid version, mind you!). After I read a Psalm, we both prayed. 

The next two days that followed gave us enough time to established a rhythm, one you won't necessarily sense from the pictures below, but one I liked-- a rhythm of creation and communication. We created home cooked meals of scrambled eggs and stir fry instead of eating prepackaged pop-tarts and hot dogs, and we talked to each other and prayed to God while doing it. We created pictures for Mrs. Hughes to cheer her up after her husband died recently, and then sat in her parlor and talked with her about her life and family to temporarily ease her sense of loneliness. We also created intangible things, memory moments, I call them, when, after every meal, we'd dance to Ali's teeny-bopper music and brush our teeth for the time it took for sand to seep from one end of her hour glass to the other. Ali and I found a pace that worked for us so that we unhurriedly flowed from art projects to dusty country roads to the produce section at Publix, endeavors that didn't drastically change who we are, but helped us understand each other better and enjoy life more. 

Below I've captured a few of the moments we helped each other create that I don't want to forget:

Ali

Doodles for Mrs. Hughes' Collage

Ali's Design

The puppy I promised Ali's mom I would not bring home from the Animal Rescue Mission. Sigh.. but O how I wanted to!!

My response to a neighbor's cat that we pass on our walk, "Come on Ali, hurry up." Her response, "Oh Kitty!" She swoops her into her arms, strokes her fur, and completely immersed in the moment, walks no further. 

Broccolini Stir Fry

Her parents will arrive in an hour: "Liz Anne! Let's create a play!" She knows karate, draws, loves animals, cooks, writes stories... What is this child going to be when she grows up??

Ali's characters: Dogs, of course. My characters: Flower, Rain Drop, Thunder, and Doll, of course. :o)

The end of a good weekend. The continuation of a precious friendship. :o)