As I know you other parents will agree, this age (3 years and 8 months-ish) is full of questions. They are trying to understand the world around them and make sense of the chaos.
Yesterday, Ally and I had a conversation that left me full of emotion. It was such a true glimpse into her soul that I feel compelled to write it down.
She was in the hallway looking at a picture of my grandmother, Nani Lou Ann. She stopped me and asked, "Mommy, when is Nani Lou Ann going to come home from heaven?" I had to sit down. I put her in my lap and looked up at the picture. As we gazed on my sweet Nani I said, "She already is home - in Heaven." She replied, "But I want her to come back here." To which I responded, "Honey, when people die they don't come back. But, we believe that we will see them again, when we go to heaven." She just looked at me until I said... "Nani isn't coming back." She started sobbing. So did I.
After I got a grip, man I still miss her so much, I told Ally to close her eyes and think of Nani. She closed her eyes and I said, "Can you see her in your heart?" She paused and said, "Yes." So I hugged her close and said... "Then, she is ALWAYS with you, even if she isn't standing right next to you."
Ally is such a sweet and deep little girl. I have never seen a heart so big. Of course that was a pretty heavy conversation for a three year old. But, I thought it was really neat and made me realize just how much ALL of their little minds are constantly working, thinking and feeling. We don't give them enough credit for how much they DO understand!
When I tucked her into bed tonight, she pulled me close and whispered in my ear, "I see Nani Lou Ann in my heart." God love her little soul.
Ally Boo Boo
Heart and Soul
I hope this story warmed your heart as much as it did ours.
Such a sweet post.
ReplyDeleteHugs to all of you.
Oh my goodness Gen...what a heartfelt, touching experience with Ally. She truly does have a heart of gold. Your Nani must be beaming in heaven!
ReplyDeleteLove you all!
Tears are rolling down my cheeks as I type. How special. I bet, even though she might not remember that specific conversation, those feelings or thoughts will be with her for the rest of her life! Amazing.
ReplyDeleteStarted my day off with moist eyes as I head off to work...thinking of my own mother that I see well in my heart!! Thanks for a sweet moment!
ReplyDeleteThat made me cry too! Kids have such sweet and tender hearts, and you are right we forget that they feel, ache and love just like adults, only theirs is more simplistic, honest and open. What lessons we learn from our beautiful blessings!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet sweet story! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove you!
So sweeeet! I have tears running down my cheeks! What a sweet soul she has! Heaven is so hard to explain to little ones. I'm still trying to explain to our 3yr old that our dear cat is not coming home to us. He keeps asking, "Mommy, When we going to pick up the cat?" I breaks my heart!
ReplyDeleteWow Gen it brought tears to my eyes. What a great post!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Gen... that is so sweet it seriously brought tears to my eyes!
ReplyDeleteVery sweet! Bless her lil' heart. My daughter is the same age and yes, they do know so much more than we give them credit for. You handled the situation great!
ReplyDeleteI held back the tears. Kids are so special, as are grandparents!
ReplyDeleteMade me cry! The innocence and sweetness of children is amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet little girl you have! That story brought tears to my eyes. I have lurked for a while and love reading about your gorgeous crew! I also have GGBG quads, but mine are only 16mos. This is a little peek into our future.
ReplyDeleteLove your sweet family!
Hi, I usually lurk, but I'm sitting here crying after reading such a heartfelt post! What a little sweetie you have and what a wonderful way to explain about Nani :)! Very touching.
ReplyDeleteSherri
www.caringbridge.org/oh/kara
ugh. you already told me this beautiful story---and i STILL got tears in my eyes when i read the words again. what a precious little girl, that ally boo boo. LOVE her!!!! (and you answered her perfectly! such a wise mama--love you)
ReplyDeleteOOOHHH, so sweet! I miss my Nanny too! What a special moment, thank you for sharing! A friend in East Texas, Pam.
ReplyDeleteTouched my heart? Yes, ma'am! Thank you for sharing, Gen!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! My grandma just passed away 2 weeks ago, so this especially touched me & brought tears to my eyes! Bless Ally, you & your entire family!! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete- A "stalker" from Texas
This story brought tears to my eyes! I dont comment often but I check almost every day for a new post on your beautiful 4! This story is such reminder of why God put children on this earth! God bless dear Ally's heart! Nani must be proud!
ReplyDeleteLove it!!!!! Love you!
ReplyDeleteWow..I wasnt expected to hear such a touching story!
ReplyDeleteShe has such a warm soul, but I shouldnt expect anything less with a mother like you. :)
You answered her perfectly!!
Thank you so much for sharing..that made my heart smile!
Oh, this brought me to tears! It is so amazing what the minds of children can understand! I was just discussing with someone else how one of my favorite memories of one of my school age daycare kiddos is how he would sit with the other kids circled around him and tell them of how Jesus loves them and died for their sins. He was a preschooler at the time! Still gives me goosebumps!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a sweet story
ReplyDeleteThis brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet girl.
ReplyDelete-Holly
That brought tears to my eyes. What a sweetheart!
ReplyDeleteI lurk on your page - one of my former co-workers is expecting g-g-g-b quads any day now!
ReplyDeleteThis post brought me to tears - thank you so very much for sharing this sweet conversation with little Ally.
My grandmother passed away 3 days before I was born. My mom was 25 years old at the time. My mom went into labor during her memorial service, and I came into the world 3 hours later!
If my grandmother were alive today, she'd have 15 grandchildren - I am the second oldest. Not too long ago I caught my mom staring at me with a smile on her face. I asked her why she was looking at me in such an odd way, and her response was, "You look exactly like your grandma Shirley. Same facial features, figure, personality, and very similar mannerisms."
All my life (I am 26 years old) I have been told by many people how much I look like my grandma. Of all of her grandchildren, I am the only one that looks/acts remotely like her.
I like to think she had a hand in it. When she went to heaven, she gave my heartbroken mom the gift of a child who strongly resembled her own mother.
I wish I had the opportunity to meet her, but she is always in my heart.
Hopefully you can see some of your Nani's features and/or personality in your children. What a wonderful gift to both you and them.
You sound like a terrific mom, Gen. Your beautiful children are so very blessed! Thanks for sharing :)
My eyes are full of tears. OMG, is a sweet post.
ReplyDeleteOh Gen....I was reading this on my cell phone today on my lunch at work and I could not keep back my tears! So sweet and innocent. My kids have yet to face the uncertainty and sadness of death and I hope it continues to escape them for a while...
ReplyDeleteBless Ally and Nani!
what a great story! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHow very precious, and yes it always amazes me how much they know and kind of understand at such young ages.
ReplyDeleteHow precious! We've had a couple conversations with Hailey about her sister Katelyn in heaven. She tells people she has 4 babies, 1 in heaven. She told me she heard Jesus talking with Katelyn in her heart. It's absolutely amazing what they can understand and articulate so beautifully. Bless her!
ReplyDeleteHoly Tear Jerker, Gen. I love you. I know your heart must ache every single day...
ReplyDeleteYour in my thoughts and prayers today.
Love you so freakin' much!
Gen, still crying. had to do it to me, didn't ya? ;) love you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet post and you did a wonderful job of explaining it to her.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteWow- what an emotional post. It's amazing what kids remember and understand. You definitely have a heartfelt daughter in Ally! I am typing this with tears streaming down my face that I couldn't hold back.
ReplyDeleteWhich of your kids get along best with each other? Just curious!
ReplyDeleteI just want to say THANK YOU for all of these AMAZING comments. I have to tell you.. I cried reading most of them!!! You all have such beautiful hearts and I feel so lucky when you share them with our family.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Gen
Anon,
ReplyDeleteLibby and Russ have always been exceptionally close. I did a post about it a long time ago.
http://mcnultyquads.blogspot.com/2009/08/russ-and-libby.html
However.. right now Libby and Ally are sharing a bed and loving it.
So, I guess what I am trying to say is that they are all very close and get along.. just in different way.
XO
Gen ;)
Leslie
ReplyDeleteI LOVE LOVE LOVE your story!! What a blessing for your mother and for you too! Having never met her, but looking at her.. that is just so special!!
I can't wait to see Nani traits in m kiddos. What a gift!Thank you so much for sharing that.. it made me smile from ear to ear.
XOXO
Gen
What a sweet little princess!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness...what a precious soul and a touching conversation. Melts my heart! Nani is smiling down from heaven!
ReplyDelete~Elyse
Your kids are so cute!
ReplyDeleteDoes Molly and Ally have a special bond the way Libby and Russ do?
Melissa-
ReplyDeleteThey are all very close. But, there is just something extra special about the bond that Libby and Russ have. Does that make sense? It's not that Molly and Ally don't have a bond, they have a very strong one.. it's just different.
xox
Gen
Gen-
ReplyDeleteI just lost my mother a month ago. My daughter Ella, turned 3yrs old 3 days before my mom passed. We have many conversations about how she can see Nana and she wants to take me to see her. Every conversation brings me to tears. The kids help us through times like these.
God Bless You and Your Family.
Nikki
So sweet... It made me cry.
ReplyDeleteLove you!
Barb