"Sperry Dogs" and Monkeys

Wow! So, my poor little blog has been neglected since January. It has been quite the busy hiatus, though, so don’t worry all, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth or been eaten by the pigmies of Canoe Creek. I have successfully completed the first semester of the nursing program and needed the time to direct my little pea brain towards endless hours of studying. It paid off : )

Okay, so on to the real reason for this sudden and long overdue post.

I have revived a tradition with the little people that had fallen by the wayside (the little people meaning my two sweet little nieces.) When Punkin was little (she is now 12) we used to lay on a blanket under the stars and watch for shooting stars and just talk. This started at age 2 and has continued on through the years. So in those times I realized just how fast she was growing up. And I also realized, being the aunt, how disconnected I can get from her life and the things that goes on in her little heart and mind. So I started playing 20 questions and to my delight, the two of us have passed many hours under the stars laughing and being silly and most importantly keeping connected.

So tonight, little Bugs got to spend the night at Aunt Amby’s house! We were laying in the hammock swinging and cacklin’ when I realized that I had never taken the time with her to ask her the all important questions of “who is your best friend?” and “what is your most favoritist thing in the world??”

We took turns, I would ask a question then she would ask a question. I love, love, love how her little mind works! In the course of two hours we had discussed everything from school busses to “sperry dogs” (prairie dogs) to cupcakes to marriage to why the moon is “only a half.”

In the middle of this, she asked a question that at first made me think and then when she answered, it made my heart smile. Here’s the conversation: (and make note, the question is maybe a bit morbid to some but we just had a death in our family.)

Bugs: “Do you want to die?”

Me: “Well, not right this minute, but some day. Why, do you?”

Bugs: “Yes, because I want to go to Heaven and see what God looks like.”

I think I was speechless for a few seconds at her honesty and her heart. I pray she grows up to love the Lord and to want to glorify Him through her life. She has such a sweet and tender heart and I know the Lord could use that in mighty ways. It was a sweet time of sharing and laughing.

So if you’re looking for a way to spend some great quality time with your son, daughter, niece, nephew or friend’s kiddo, this fun version of 20 questions is a good way to take a peek into the heart and mind of a child. And also a great way to pave the road to more meaningful conversations.

Here are a few questions to get you started, of course the possibilities are endless so this by no means is an exhaustive list, but just some questions we’ve shared through the years! =)

- If you could be any animal, what animal would you be?

- If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

- What makes you happy?

- What is your favorite Bible story?

- What do you think love is?

- If you could change anything, what would you change?

- If you could have any animal for a pet, what animal would it be?

- Do you wish you could be a kid again? (This one is always directed at me of course!)

- What is your favorite food?

- What is your favorite dessert?

- Who is God?

- If you could write a book, what would it be about?

- What is your most favoritist, favoritist thing in the whole wide world?

- What is your favorite color?

- What is your second favorite color?

- What is your least favorite color?

- If you could do anything right now, what would it be?

- If you could name your own star, what name would you give it?

- How many stars do you think are in the sky?

- What do you think make lightning bugs light up?

Okay, so I’ll end there. But you get an idea of the scope of things we can cover in just a short amount of time.

And furthermore, regarding future posts of past goings-ons (yes it’s a word in my head!) I have pictures to share along with some pretty fun stories, but alas, the treacherous tar ball laden waters of the gulf coast has rendered my *ahem* waterproof camera useless, so until I can find a tiny cardreader or another way to retrieve my images, I am a photographer without supporting art (insert defeated sad face here). Until then, I’m off to snuggle with the little snuggle bug before my short time with her is up.