Tender Hearts

I've been asking Adelle to clean her room for the past week and a half. Still trying to figure out my girl and what works for her. Do I make her do it herself? Do I help her? Do I turn on her radio and make it a dance party? Do I do it by myself while she is gone? Do I punish her for not cleaning it? I've tried all of those things.

Her room is usually a disaster with clothes carpeting the floor and millions of loose papers, scissors and pens. She's got projects started and unfinished. She's got jammies stuffed in pillow cases. Necklaces adorning every shelf and hook. Reminds me of my room when I was a highschooler, or probably even before that actually. Reminds me of my husband's side of the room presently.

Today her and a friend were playing in her messy room. She came down to the computer while I was on it and asked me if I could make them a color copy of a picture they had made. I was working on some business paper work and she wanted me to do it right then. I asked her if her room was clean? She said, "no." I said, "Did I ask you to clean it?" She said, "Yes. A long time ago"(meaning a few days ago).  I said, "So sis, why should I do what you need me to do right now when you didn't do what I needed you to do in regards to your room?" She understood.  I made her the copies, she continued to play, and when her friend went home she cleaned her room. It took her a long time. She did it all by herself and smiled and didn't complain the whole time.

Braxton and I went and ran some errands to prepare for his birthday party tomorrow.  While we were out he asked if we could go to the scout store to get him his new shirt for when he earns his Arrow of Light next week. I said we could. We went to the store, and $48 dollars later he had a big smile and a new shirt and patches. He told me thank you and we continued with our errands.

At the end of the day I found Jeff on the couch in the middle of all four of our kids. Adelle had found my book, "Oh the Place's You'll Go," by Dr. Suess and Jeff was reading it to all of them while I was upstairs tidying up. I came down and cuddled in next to Braxton who was on the end. I told him how much I loved him and he smiled.

After the kids were tucked in I went up to my room to find a note from Adelle on my pillow. It was beautifully colored and had writing on it that said, "I'm sorry I didn't clean my room when you asked me to. I love you!!!!!!!" Laying on top of the picture was a selection of some of her favorite jewelry and another note that read, "pick one." My heart exploded. I love my girl.

And this is all real but really crazy that it all happened at the same time!

Then I walked over to my night stand because glancing that way a $20 bill caught my eye. I walked over to find a $20 and a $10 next to the receipt from the scouting store that Braxton and I had gone to. He had taken the bag with the shirt, patches, and the receipt up to his room earlier and apparently decided that he should pay me back for some of it? It wasn't the full amount that I spent but it was more than half of it and I never even mentioned how much it was or what a rip I think the scout store is.

I couldn't contain myself. The tears came, full on.  Happy, mommy tears. So blessed to have these kids as mine.