The Day Lizzy Was the Mommy

It all happened in one weekend...
Troy went out of town.
I watched two of my nephews for 2 1/2 days
I got sick.
I started feeling sick on Friday evening but didn't think anything of it. I don't often get sick and when I do it doesn't last very long. But by Saturday morning I knew I was sick. I had enough energy to lie on the couch - that's about it. Having my nephews there actually ended up being a blessing in disguise because they all entertained each other. I even fell asleep for maybe 45 minutes with no disasters taking place. I definitely had some Heavenly help that day.

All of the kids played together like angels but it was Lizzy who was the shining star. Saturday morning Lizzy said to me, "Mommy, you just lie there and I'll take care of everything." She was amazing.
She organized games for everyone like Musical Chairs
She had a dance contest with Porter.
She took all the kids outside to play in the sandbox
she made sure they ate balanced meals! :)

I was too sick to take any other pictures, but she was a dream. If I got up to fix meals or check on everyone she told me to go back to the couch because she was taking care of everything.

Here is the most amazing part...this morning (Sunday, March 7th, 2010) she and Ben woke up very early. They had gone to bed early the night before so that wasn't any surprise. The problem was that although I was super sleepy during the day, that night I hadn't been able to sleep at all. (of course) Finally, at about 2 am, I took some medicine that knocked me out - hoping the children would sleep until at least 6:30 or 7. They woke up at 5, I was absolutely not able to wake up enough to take care of them.

Lizzy took Ben into the kitchen, made him a bowl of oatmeal (she declared that it is time I teach her to use the microwave because she couldn't make his oatmeal hot) and provided him with materials to do art projects until I woke up almost an hour and a half later! Once again no disasters whatsoever!

This evening as we were getting ready for bed, Lizzy looked at me and said, "Mommy I want to be the little girl again." Oh my heart just broke. She has been so strong and brave and grown up for the past two days. After my father died when I was 5 (Lizzy's age) I had to grow up really fast. I am the oldest and a lot was placed on my shoulders. Because of this I knew exactly what Lizzy was feeling. Exactly - and I knew just what to do.

I took her in my arms and held her and kissed her and loved her and told her she will always be my little girl. I gave her permission to go back to being the little girl and assured her that I was so grateful for her support over the past couple of days but that I was feeling better and I would take care of everything from now on.

Dear sweet Lizzy,
Thank you. No matter what age you are when you read this in the future, you are still my little girl. I am so proud of you and the amazing person you are. The mothering talents you were endowed with before this life came through beautifully. I love you sweetheart.

"While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living” —and they did so before she ever bore a child. Like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born. Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality, righteous women were endowed premortally with the privilege of motherhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us.
As daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as daughters of Eve, we are all mothers and we have always been mothers."
Sheri L. Dew, “Are We Not All Mothers?,” Ensign, Nov 2001, 9 LDS.org - Ensign Article - Are We Not All Mothers?