My oldest son is "What If."  If there is a pretend scenario that I have not heard and responded to, I don't know what it would be.  "What If " speculates on subjects like original sin, the environment, nature, books and miracles. "What if" sees all of the possibilities .  "What If"  follows the all of the possible paths to find a new way of doing things.  "What If" takes me beyond the probable to the endless potential.

Then we come to my second son, "Why."  "Why" asks questions tirelessly about everything under the sun.  "Why" keeps me in the encyclopedia or online searching for answers. "Why" studies everything in minute detail in a quest to know how things work and how they fit  into the world.  "Why" brings me back to the nuts and bolts of life and reminds me to marvel at how perfectly creation is intertwined.

"Let's Pretend" is my oldest daughter.  "Let's Pretend" has been every princess, storybook character and stuffed toy that comes to life at midnight.  "Let's Pretend" lives in a world  where the sky is sometimes purple and butterflies grow big enough to ride on.  "Let's Pretend" isn't afraid to dance in front of strangers or to wear fancy slippers to her brother's soccer practice.  "Let's  Pretend" reminds me of the magic of imagination and the precious gift of creativity.

Lastly, there's my little one "What's That."  "What's That" is always discovering and learning.  "What's That" is fascinated with every blade of grass, lizard and renegade frog.  "What's That" can put so much joy and wonder in the word  "rock" that you are forced to examine it and  proclaim it the most perfect rock you've ever seen.  "What's That" helps me realize that the miraculous can and often does come in tiny packages.

Where would my life be without "What If", "Why", "Let's Pretend" and "What's That"?  May they never loose those precious phrases no matter how grown up they become.