Lauren's letter to Malia

Lauren has been an angel, a true heaven sent to our home.  In Arizona they offer an amazing program to help people with special needs.  She is paid to come into our home and help me with Malia, but she has become not just a friend to us, but family to us.  We love her, and this is her letter to Malia!

My Dearest, Craziest, Sweetest Malia,

Today was a normal and wonderful day with you. Whenever I am blessed enough to be able to have time with you, I try to make things easier for you. We always go to places you want to go (usually Target, Wal-Mart, the library, or to my house) and we do things that you love! I have grown to love them too, because I know how much joy those little things bring you.

We went to my house and you did something funny, so I called you a silly goose… You thought that was the funniest thing you have ever heard! You did your laugh, the one where no sound comes out and your mouth is just wide open. I asked “you’ve never heard that before?” You couldn’t answer cause you were still laughing so hard, so you just shook your head slightly. I teasingly asked you if you knew what a goose was, and you just about couldn’t stand it… you were laughing so hard! So I pulled up a picture of one and man oh man!! We had a hay-day laughing our heads off!

ON the way home you wanted the music on (of course you did… you LOVE music). It was your turn to choose the song cause I had chosen the last one. You chose “Just the way you Are” and sang your little lungs out. At the end of each sentence you will sing the last word.”...SMILE... WHILE... WAY YOU ARE!” We danced and had so much fun! We always do!

You used to splash me like crazy during bath-time… I would look like I just went swimming, but we’ve been working on that! And you are doing so much better. You got dressed mostly by yourself with a few prompts from me, and when you were all done and showed me the beautiful job you’d done I told you good job! But…your shirt was on backwards. I told you the tag was gonna itch you all night. Haha you said “I pomise (promise) I yike it”. When we promise, we use the most binding kind of promise… a pinky swear :) you always hold out your thumb instead of your pinky, it is so endearing.

When I put you to bed, you teased me, in your sweet voice that I love sooo much, “Yowen, you not mawwy Danyo” (Lauren you not marry Daniel)…I laughed and told you “NO WAY! I love him, you can’t have him.” You kept teasing me and said “You not mawwy him, cause I go mawwy him, I yike him.” (You not marry him, cause I'm going to marry him, I like him.” We joked about it for quite a while, but it didn’t get old. You were so cute, and I probably deserve it. After a bit, I started to fake cry, and you told me “is okay, we bof kiss him ganight”. So I got my phone out with his picture as my screensaver, and we both kissed him goodnight. :) You have such a smart and FUN sense of humor. I wish more people could see it! It is one of the things I love most about you.

Then I read you a story (Franklin of course… or Flaygan as you would pronounce it), rubbed your back, made sure your fan, music and socks were all on, and you had your snack in a bowl next to you with a sippy-cup of water. I told you I love you and kissed you goodnight.

What a wonderful day it was!

I love that we are able to connect in our own way, and it is a beautiful thing to be a small part of your life. I see such a light in your little Spirit, Malia. You are such an extraordinary little girl. You have blessed my life in ways I don’t think many could understand. Your smile cheers me up even on my worst day. Your laugh makes the hard times worth it. Your love lights me up and makes me remember the important things in life.

When I look at you, I see an example, a light in the darkness, a pure heart, a friend, and above all… a Daughter of our Heavenly Father, a Child of God. You and I were placed together for a reason… I think more for me than for you. You are an angel that God knew I would need in my life, and He sent you to me. I will be grateful for you and to you through the eternities Malia, and cannot wait for the day when we are able to talk to each other, reminisce on our times together and the memories we’ve made, the laughs we’ve shared. But especially when I am able to tell you all these things in person, and know that you understand every word I say, and know that it comes straight from my heart. I love you more than words can say! I love you

Love Always and Forever,

Lauren