Thank Goodness for Big Girls

Can I just have a bragging moment for my oldest daughter? Some days I wonder what I would ever do without her. Yesterday we went grocery shopping... something I have been putting off for some time now because, quite honestly, I dread going shopping with all four of my children. Anyway, when we got home it was lunch time. I was thinking to myself, "What am I going to do? I have all these groceries to take in and put away, I have a baby who wants me to nurse him right now, and I have 3 little girls who want their lunch right now as well?"

I never said a word to my children about my dilemma and I mapped out my game plan:
1) Bring perishables in and put them in the fridge
2) Nurse Jackson
3) Lay him down for his nap
4) Make the girls their lunch
5) Make myself something to eat and quickly snarf down my food
6) Lay Oakley down for her nap
7) Put all the rest of the food away
8) Take a breather!

So here I go, working through the list in my head. As I start rushing the food in from the van I notice Reagan go to the fridge and pull out some bread. Then she goes to the pantry and pulls out the peanut butter and honey. She gets a butter knife and begins to work on making sandwiches; mind you, I did not ask her to do any of this! I stopped for one moment and looked at her with so much gratitude in my heart. Then I grapped a peach and sliced it up and put them on some plates. Reagan kept on making the sandwiches. She set the plates on the table and the girls began their feast.

So onto the next story I would like to share... today after the gym we went to the park and had lunch and then the girls played for a bit. We then ran to the store to buy a few items that I forgot to grab yesterday. When we got home, we sat in the front and enjoyed some slurpees in the shade of our front yard. Then little Jackson decided he was hungry; so we finished our drinks and went inside. I looked at the time and realized it was past Oakley's naptime. Yet here I was once again in this predicament... how can I do two things (or more) at once? So I asked Reagan if she would read to Oakley (as part of her naptime ritual) while I nursed the baby. Reagan read to her, tucked her in, and kissed her night, night. Then I finished with the baby, laid him down and went in to sing "I Am a Child of God" (again, part of the naptime ritual). As I began singing Oakley looked up at me with her big brown eyes and said, "Reagan wants to sing 'I Am a Child of God'". I sent Reagan in and she happily sang it to her.

I ask myself often what I would ever do without her. Yesterday and today I have truly been grateful for such an independant child who is so loving, patient, and gentle. She is so obedient and trustworthy. I am grateful for each child and the talents they posess. I am fortunate to have these 3 little mommies who take care of me and each other. We are a great team! They each have something special to offer. How did I ever get so blessed?