In case anyone is wondering, that angel nightlight?  Made it through a whole week in Anaia's room before it got broken... I'm hoping i can fix it, but she is still trying trying trying to be good.

Yesterday she noticed the trash can in the bathroom was full - so she ran, on her own initiative, got a big plastic garbage bag, and tried to fill it.  But she is only four, and it didn't work so great.  So she dropped the bag, left the garbage all over the floor  for me to find once i finished changing baby's diaper...   I wasn't too happy, and when Anaia saw me heave a big sigh, she ran to her room, crying, saying "Why do *I* have to be the bad girl?  Why!  WHY!  WHY!"...

We have had some good talks lately about listening to the Holy Spirit, making good choices, and about how God *promises* that if *anyone* lacks wisdom, they can ask Him, and HE will give LIBERALLY, WITHOUT finding fault.  A sad little girl, sucking her thumb on my lap, was greatly comforted with that thought.  He's not mad at her for needing wisdom, and He promises to help her if she asks...

Today she had a great day - i put her down for a nap at the same time as Babe Meow, and put Uly down at the same time, too.  What a difference in temperaments!  Uly i told once (he's 3) - he trundled to his little bottom bunk, saying "OKay, mama", climbed in and cuddled up.  Anaia - argue argue argue, all the way upstairs, till i smooched and smoothed her in good, and left the room.  Then, because i am the mama, i sat on my bed facing her bedroom door while i nursed babe Meow down for her nap.  The first time she opened it without a care, didn't see me, ran back for her stuffed kitty, then pranced out... only to stop stock still when she saw me watching her steadily... "But MOM...."  Two of those - then baby went to sleep and i tucked her in and snuck down the stairs.  Uly and Anaia both got a half hour, and babe Meow only a little more, since Wyatt didn't know she was sleeping in there and went into my room to work on his novel... but still, it was a Good Thing, as Martha Stewart would say, to have a little peace reigning over my house for a little while...  I think all the biggies heaved a little sigh of pleasure to have that quiet descend...

And then Uly went outside with all the other children, and babe Meow stolidly stomped after them, and crawled backwards over the sliding glass door sill - a couple of minutes later, Uly rushed in, face flushed and the volume at 10 - and yelled "MOm!  Mimi almost falleded down!  But i held her LIKE AN ANGEL and she is okay!"  and ran out again...

Now i know, the way the Bible describes angels they are big warrior things that scare the pants off everyone - but maybe that just makes the picture all the more accurate...