There are fires all around us, and the wind is whipping the smoke this way, but we are safe. We are pretty far from all of the hot spots. Thanks to everyone who has inquired about our well being. I don’t personally know anyone who has had to be evacuated, but I know people who know them. Let’s call it the Two Degrees of Fire Damage, no pun intended. Say a silent prayer for all those who are displaced by the fires.
I have been saying a prayer with Kyle before nap or bedtime lately. We have started small, with the “Now I lay me…” prayer. I remember saying it with my departed Gramma long ago, when I slept over her house and I stayed in my Aunt Jeannie’s old bedroom. There was a ceramic bust of the Virgin Mary in her room – it wasn’t scary; on the contrary, it was a periwinkle blue cloaked pretty lady. But I felt her watching me, and I never felt like I was really alone in there. Sometimes it was comforting, sometimes it was creepy.
Years ago, when shopping for a baby gift for a friend, I found the little praying stuffed animals. You squeeze the belly and a small child’s voice says the “Now I lay me…” prayer, only with updated lines that say “May angels watch me through the night, until I wake in morning light.” That is the version I choose to say with Kyle. At the end I pat him on the back twice, which is his cue to say “A-MEN!”
It occurred to me that Kyle is so entrenched in his bedtime rituals because I have been doing them since he could sit supported in my lap, so I started saying the prayer with Brady, too. He can’t say Amen yet, but he can grab fists full of my hair, as if to say “Nothing will take me away from you, Mama.”
Amen.
Thanks for the update. I was wondering how all my valley moms were doing, especially w/so many fires erupting everywhere. May God keep us all safe. Take care and give my love to your boys.
Karen
Funny, I just wrote a similar post. I am glad that you had a good weekend away. Hopefully, the fires won’t progress. We can only pray
Thanks for finding that bear for us. I liked that ending MUCH better than the traditional We say the prayer every night. Even the nights I try to escape early, Jackson says, “But PRAYERS, mommy.” He does not always pay attention, but then he gets to add his God Blesses at the end. It is good indication of what was on his mind that day, or if he starts with “Bwess da fan”, that is my sign he is done.
Thanks for the post, and we have been God Blessing our friends in CA.
Suz
Sophie likes her praying lamb. She will still grab it in the morning. We can hear it over the monitor… our first sign that she is out of bed and ready to go!
i’m so glad you’re ok. we have a hand-me-down bunny that says that prayer and i agree, the new ending is so much better.