Win their hearts with love

Putting the children to bed last night was an unexpectedly sweet experience.  I was, as usual, very tired and oh so anxious for their little eyes to close.  Little Lucy was the first to close her eyes.  Sweet and tired she drifted off to sleep.  I kissed her chubby little hands and cheeks and laid her in her bed.  1 down!  Miriam lay on her bed anxious for a mommy snuggle.  Just a minute I told her, I have to get the little ones down, then I would love a Miri snuggle :)

 Little Eliza had taken a much need nap during the day, and was not about to go to sleep anytime soon, so I moved on to helping little Hazel.

As we talked, she snuggled up to me, and asked me about her "book of life", the Hazel Book as we call it,  I am not sure why, but I mentioned once that we all have a book in heaven that tells our story, the angels write in it all the good and the bad we say and do.

  This made a very strong impression on her and we talk about her book a lot.  She was very worried about having bad things written in her book.  "What about the mean things I do mommy?"  I reminded her about repenting, and that when we repent Heavenly Father erases the bad things from our book forever, we then talked about all the good and beautiful things she had done throughout the day, like making Lucy giggle, washing all the chairs without being asked, so our house would look "like a temple", sharing with Miriam, hugging Mommy when she was sad, and so on.  She struggled to keep her eyes open as she asked me, but Mommy, what if I forget to repent?  I'll remind you! I said, contented she fell asleep.

I looked towards Miriam's bed...she's was out! 3 down.  Just a small pang as I realized she had fallen asleep waiting for me to snuggle her.

Eliza was still bright eyed and playing with some bug stickers she had found.  She stuck them to her fingers as she held them upside down and said over and over again, "stick like jam!" (repeating the game her older sisters love to play)

As I laid by her I began to drift in and out of sleep...I could hear her little voice prattling on..."Someday, I will be a mommy like you...uh-huh!...then I will walk around and cut pizza!...Mommy, I''m really hungry....I want choco-milk...wake up mommy!"

I was vaguely aware of Jared and Jacob listening to stories from the friend, giggling about something or other, talking about their newest idea of something to invent.

I fell in and out of sleep until I realized my sweet little Eliza chatter box was twigle-ing her ears, a sure sign sleep was moments away.  Daddy and Jacob were asleep, peace...settled over the house.

The next thing I knew I heard Miriam whimpering.  Mommy I just can't sleep, you never snuggled me...I laid down by her, she held my hand, instantly alseep...

More whimpering, little Lucy has a cold, must be held upright to breath....it's now 4 a.m. on Monday morning and I'm awake, my thoughts????

I want to do everything I can to win their little hearts through love.