A Night of Small Miracles with my Daughter

We had a fun Friday night together. Janessa collects Littlest Pet Shop figurines and heard online that some people had found some at Goodwill. Before we made the trek to the Goodwill in Salt Lake, I said a silent prayer that we’d find a Littlest Pet Shop figure. When we got to the store, the toy section looked puny and my hopes began to crash. But we looked anyway. Goodwill had the small toys assembled in grab bags hanging on the wall. Janessa looked on the lower racks and I looked above. Then I saw one. Janessa informed me that this was a Littlest Pet Shop and it was a rare one with glass eyes. In the same grab bag, was another Littlest Pet Shop figurine. Janessa expressed her gratitude for my prayer and for God helping us with this small miracle.

 

When we got home and she looked at the other items in her bag, she came across a Lucky Charms fortune teller where you click it and the dice is inside. The responses were Yes, No, Maybe, Doubtful, Try Again, Always. We spent the rest of the evening asking questions of the fortune teller. Most of the answers seemed plausible and even spooky. It was fun!

Later, Janessa curled up by me on the couch as I was writing. Then Janessa asked me what I usually write about. I was sad to say that it’s usually about my problems, how to get better and how to help people with similar problems. I showed her a book idea I was working on and she read aloud the following excerpt:

“Trust that the universe will take care of me. Enjoy each day! Await miracles. Don’t despair. Hang in there.”

At one point, Janessa said “Don’t disappear.” I wondered where that statement came from. Then I realized she said that instead of “Don’t despair.” I love it! She totally made my day.

If you’re ever feeling down, spend time with a child. You’ll leave with a stronger belief in miracles, dreams coming true and life is fun!

"What makes me special?," Asked my Child

I’ve spent some precious time recently with my 8 year old daughter Janessa. I was working on my laptop one night and Janessa came and curled up beside me. She asked, “What makes me special?” Then she wanted me to write down what made her special from anyone else in the world. She even had me do some breathing exercises to focus on what to write. I was trying to see if I could come up one liners that described her. I came up with eight statements; one for each year of Janessa:

Janessa is so cute and precious. So innocent and pure. She wanted a spoonful of chocolate frosting and ended up with a spoonful that was half the can of frosting! Devious little squirt…who pays me with hugs.

Janessa is made of sugar and can eat her weight in sugar.

Janessa has a soft gentle heart and a fun sense of humor.

Janessa pays for favors with her hugs. She once tricked her parents to buying her toys back from her.

Janessa is as magical as any fairy but as down to earth as any tree.

Janessa is kind and good and always says her prayers.

Janessa’s sweet whisper heals my heart and transforms my soul.

Her full teeth bare smile reminds me of a wolf or dog. She is genuinely herself and happy in her own skin.

Recently, I sent a card to Carinna (Janessa’s older sister) telling her what made her special with a list of attributes and the things I love about her. She loved it!

Kids love to hear about themselves. Spend an evening with a child telling them what makes them unique and special. Your children may even pay you with a hug, just like Janessa. Write down for a friend what makes them special. For a pick-me-up, write a list of attributes about yourself. Everyone is special and needs to be reminded of it from time to time.