dear lauren: lily pad

dear lauren,

i really needed to pack for efy, and i wasn't in the mood for anything.

but i heard you crying downstairs so i went to see what was up.

you couldn't make this origami flower.

so i made it for you.

i opened it up at the end, and you gasped

and told me thank you.

you had already made a leaf.

so you glued the two together and it looked just like

a lily pad.

we'll make a whole pond next week.

love, nicole

 



dear lauren: tic tacs

dear lauren,

you just came up to me and said

since you were such a good babysitter, here you go.

and you gave me four strawberry tic tacs
and a hug.

i'm eating the tic tacs right now.

they taste really good.

thank you.
you're on the phone with mom in the other room now.
you're telling her all of the fun things we did together while she was gone.
let's always be this awesome, okay?
love, nicole

 

 

dear lauren: big little

dear lauren,

enjoy the little things in life

for someday

you will realize

they were the big things.

that's on a sign in our house. it's right above the stereo next to the christus statue.

i've always believed it.

but i've never been able to see it.

i've always known it was something that would eventually be true.

someday i'll realize.

someday it will be true.

someday i'll see it.

but i think i'm starting to see it now.

i was laying in my bed this morning. thinking.

you woke up and asked if you could come into my bed.

you would not have asked me that two days ago.

i realized that the little things are what build relationships.

i've been told that my whole life.

but now i can see it.

it's awesome when dad takes us to disneyland. when he took to sun river. when we made the basketball court in our front yard.

that's all amazing.

but

it meant so much more to me

when that one day, he told me he liked my hair. i remember how it looked.

i remember how i felt.

some of my friends have probably never been told by their dad that he loves them.

but every night

i say to dad

goodnight, daddy.

and he says

goodnight, nicole. love you.

and i say

love you too.

and then he says

sweet dreams.

and i smile.

every night.

that's what i'm going to remember about my dad.

this morning i realized the little things are the big things.

you're going to remember when we make cookies together.

you're going to remember when i take the time to paint your nails.

you're going to remember that day when we finger knitted together for three whole movies.

you're going to remember when i tuck you in at night

and tell you i love you

and you know that i meant it.

i hope you remember all of that.

love, nicole