He is so compassionate. I will share an example, this is one of my favorite "Cotter" stories because it shows how much we adults who are there to help take care of the kids, actually need the kids.
Well, I was getting ready to leave on my mission and it was hitting me that I was leaving all my loved ones. Cotter was my baby (he is actually my nephew but I joked that I thought he was my kid cause I am that obsessed with him). He was a year and a half (about) and at this point in my life I had seen him pretty much every day since he was born. His little sister was just born and brought home from the hospital so Courtney and I went over to hold her one evening a couple days before I left. When we walked in Cotter heard us and came out from his room but was sent back to bed from his dad, as it was past his bedtime. We sat down to hold Quinci but again his head peeped out from the corner and he had this confused look on his face, not a rebellious-"I'm not listening to Dad"-look but a look like "whats that thing my mom is feeding and how come everyone is gathered around it?" It wasn't jelousy, it was just a little sweet boy trying to absorb it all. So I said I'd go lay by him until he fell asleep. I went in there and layed next to him and scratched his back as I sang to him all the songs that I usually sang to him all of his life. The room was so dark but as my eyes adjusted to the light, I could see his little eyes looking at me. I continued singing but my eyes filled with tears thinking about how I could ever leave this little boy that my life revolved around. I thought about how he was too little to understand what was happening and why I was leaving. He would just think I disappeared and couldn't speak the words to ask about my abandoning him. But then I knew he would be fine, he has amazing parents to take care of him, the question was "what would I do without him filling me with his happiness everyday?"
I began to cry harder to where I almost couldn't sing and his eyes grew shiny with wetness and a wondering of why Aunt Case was sad and a wondering of what he could do to make me happy. His eyes really spoke love and he put his little toddler hand, smaller then my cheek, up to my face and wiped my tears and rested his hand on my cheek. It was as if he was saying, "I don't know why you are sad but whatever it is, it will be okay". That incident is still so clear to me and carried me through the days at the beginning in England where I felt the distance between he, the sea, and me. To this day he is still that way, always showing love. He is extremely protective of his Mom and sister and now his new baby brother. I look forward to his smiles and the sweet things he says to me "I wuv you tash-ey". He still fills me with his happiness every time I see him.
Here he is with his cousin Gage
On his new bike
Eating his pizza
and opeing my gift to him.I love you Cot! May you forever be this sweet!
5 comments:
Ummm-what are you doing to me? I'm balling my freaking eyes out right now! You said it so perfectly-he really is so amazingly sweet and has always been such a sensitive little guy. I love that others see it as well!
Once I fake cried like Dad used to do when he tried to get us to do something for him, and I looked up at him and he had tears in his eyes. I felt so HORIBLE! I love that kid so much-he truly is my friend!
LOL I totally can picture Dad doing the sad face right now, bottom lip down and all. haha
WEll, thank you for having your kids for me to enjoy. All 3 are angels. Also thanks for living within a mile of my home so that I can see them often.
He's a doll! Neices and nephews are the best :) How are you doing? So I have a question for you... How did you survive here In England? I know you were here on your mission and you had plenty to do, but even though I love this place and its totally awesome, im not finding to much to do. I miss so much stuff from home and I'm having a hard time finding good places to eat... Anyways, just thought you might know of some sweet spots I'm overlooking.-Camille-
Camille!
well, us Americans are used to many choices of yummy restaurants everywhere to eat and agreed, Britain doesn't have them. I ate good cause the members cooked for us. But wait til summer....cause they have amazing fresh veg. They will have little roadside stands selling fresh stuff and you can cook up some nice british roasts and veg. Just try out all the British delicasies (custard, roasters, veg in all it's varieties, fresh fruit too, puddings, pasties, etc. ) PUbS I hear are the best place to go for hot fresh meals but you might have to be the cook most of the time. Do you have Tesco's or Morrison's or LIDl's? haha.
AS for things to do...you got to go out and see the sites! Really especially with the weather getting nice. Yeah, I was busy with missionary work and there was never enough p-days to see and do all that I wanted to. CASTLES, historical sites, museums...there is culture everywhere. It's also nice because everything is relatively close there. The U.S,. is so spread out but anytime your husband has a day off take a daytrip somewhere (Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwick, Nottinham forest, the coastern villages, CASTLES) I could give you more ideas of places. Just google sight seeing in the various towns and tons will come up. I'm jealous of you for getting to be there so you better enjoy it. haha have so much fun! Where are you exactly? I could put you in touch with some fun people if you are nearby too.
Thanks for the advice! I have a Tesco that is about 1 min. from my house! Its so expensive! We are going to Dover Castle this month so I'm looking forward to that. I would love to meet some cool people, im so lonely and I need human interaction, besides my husband of course. I live in Thetford. I live about 75 miles from london. So if that helps you know where we live....
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