The Truth about Afton

Afton hugs me by wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing tight. Then she will give me the most delicious kiss,  with all kinds of puckering power and a big "mmmwah!". When I say "I love you Afton" she says, quietly and so sincerely, "I love you Mama" "I just love you Mama". When I help her on the monkey bars and catch her on the slide (even though she doesn't need it) she smiles so big and laughs so heartily it makes my heart ache a little that I don't do that with her all the time. When she runs she kicks her bum and takes big strides. she moves so fluidly I love watching her do anything: walk, run, jump, dance, it's all a pleasure. Sometimes she'll do them in slow motion. It's funny. I love watching her fumble with her eyes closed during prayer at dinner time, with one arm folded, to find food and eat. She can be so silly but it all becomes serious when she sings 'I am a Child of God'. I show her a picture of Jesus and she says "that's my Jesus!" I love her lisp. I love how when I hold her while I'm walking she clings to me and it feels like I'm hardly carrying anything.  I love that when the closing prayer is finished in sacrament meeting she gets up and takes herself through the crowd to nursery and makes it there every time. By herself. She can play at a park for hours, by herself. She calls Jesse and Breanna her "friends". I really connect with her. And that's the truth about Afton!