Unlike her big brother who has spent several nights at "Aunt Kat's" house, Sarah, my 8-year-old niece had only stayed overnight at my house once, maybe three years ago.  Sarah is truly a "Mama's Girl!"  She and I have shared many special days together, but when it's time for bed, she wants to be at home where her "mama" can tuck her in.

Yesterday I got a special surprise.  I took my parents and Sarah out for Father's Day lunch.  She and I had a play day planned for Monday, and I told her she could go home with me yesterday and spend the night if she wanted, knowing she wouldn't go for that.  But she did!  So from yesterday afternoon until this evening, I have played and played and played!

I have playfully told Sarah many times that she is my favorite niece, to which she always replies that she's my only niece.  My only niece, yes, but truly special nonetheless!  Sarah's name is Sarah Katherine, named after me, and, like me, she has an affinity for the arts and academics.  She just finished 2nd grade and tested at an 8th grade reading level.  Her mathematical skill and her vocabulary are impressive for her age.  She can recite the names of all the books of the Bible, and she has a delightful sense of humor.  Of most importance, however,  she is a kind, caring, and compassionate little girl with unusual maturity and sensitivity to others.

She did get homesick at bedtime last night.  She went to bed bravely, but was crying 20 minutes later.  I held her and told her stories about when I've been homesick, and about when her brother Charlie was homesick at my house when he was younger.  She laughed at these stories, finding comfort in knowing it could happen even to Charlie, and she soon went to back to bed and slept peacefully.

Except for bedtime (which although sad, was sweet and tender), the visit was all happy, with tons of smiles and laughter!  We played 2 games of Monopoly and several games of Family Feud and dominoes.  We watched The Princess Diaries 2 and Ice Princess.  We went to Mr. Gatti's to play games (video games, air hockey, etc.) and to Cold Stone for ice cream.  (She ordered watermelon ice cream with M&M's.)  

Sometimes adult life can get so harsh.  Work deadlines, committee frustrations, challenging interactions, house and car concerns . . . What a blessing to have children in our lives.  They ground us.  They remind us of joy and of play.  They remind us of honesty and innocence.  And amazingly, the time we spend with children, as blessed as it is to us, is  just as blessed, and oh, so very important, to the children!  I would not exchange these two days of Monopoly and princess movies for any other experience, no matter how productive!  My little Sarah is a most precious gift!