Pint Size Boss

“Good morning my sweet sweet mama, huggie?”

Her tiny little voice is so distinct. Did the rest of the Harney 4 yr olds sound like her? They had to have…wait…not boo, she always had such a deep voice.

Her voice is so high pitched, that it reveals her small stature. Her little body barely takes up space in my lap. Small little fingers get engulfed with mine when our hands are entwined. I notice her little toes. Every pair of shoes she has ever worn has been used to the fullest. There were no major growth spurts.

I never have to doubt her thoughts or better yet affection for me. Whether I am in the shower and she comes to find me or is running past the kitchen chasing the dog, I always am told “love you mama”. What brings a smile to my face is when I am in a room with people and I feel eyes watching me, just to scan the room and see her little amber eyes staring right at me with a smile on her face. She always knows where I am.

Though she is tiny, don’t doubt her strength. She is a force to be reckoned with. How a pint-sized tiny human can rule the house is still amazing to me.

On a recent camping trip, Ezzy came back laughing and told the group of adults what she had just overheard. “Daddy O”, the name Veil calls her dad…soon found out what happens when she is on day 2 of little sleep and he is not marching to the beat of her drum. She informed him of her desires from inside the tent, while waiting for him to attend to her needs, but this time called him “Ricardo” a name that is reserved only for mama’s use.

I have watched her brother love her with great patience. I love seeing the adventures that they have, how he is always quick to tie a shoelace on a hiking trip, carry her on his back when she is done walking or helping her with her shinguards.

When Ezzy’s love cup is running low, its when I find her pulling Veil into her lap and snuggling her while watching a baby show on the IPAD…there is something about the peace you experience when you are being loved by Veil. She calms anxiety, when you let your breathing match hers. When you breathe in her sweet gentle spirit.

Kyrene, who does not have a nickname from her…the only family member who has not received one from Veil, is always and I mean always called Kyrene. Not Kyre, Ky, Kryrie or Kyre Grace like everyone else calls her. Kyrene has the strength to go toe to toe with the pint size boss that the rest of us don’t. Veil is determined to remind Kyrene who is the boss and does not take it well receiving orders from her.

Boo, Veil’s best friend knows her better than all of us. There is laughter in the early morning when they snuggle in bed together and then late night chats when they snuggle together. They are partners in all they do. Climbing counters to get food, dressing up to match, playing house, laying on the dog, watching shows together, they are inseparable. Veil LETS boo take care of her, when she demands independence from the rest of the siblings.

Somehow our caboose is 5. This year she will be entering into full-time school. No more half days to adjust our work schedule around. No more watching her siblings leave all day, now it is her turn.

I have often heard the youngest of a family say they felt forgotten or that by the time their parents got to them they were so tired, how they felt like they didn’t get all the attention they needed.

I often wonder what she will think. Will she know that her morning hugs settle the restlessness in me that wakes me every morning? Will she know that her daddy tears up when thinks about her love for him? Will she know that her brother’s tenderness will one day amaze his wife and she will need to thank Veil? Will Ezzy tell her how much she misses her snuggles when she is inpatient at the hospital and just needs some peace? Will her and Kyrene argue on the phone when Kyrene is adventuring the world and Veil still wants to remind her who is in charge? Will boo and Veil choose to go to school together or marry siblings so they never will have to be far away from each other?

All I know is that God was so good to give us this tender soul. Her cadence in life is marked with innocent joy. Her smile comes from her love cup that is full because she has let Jesus fill it, she loves to talk to Him at night. Her wit was given to make sure that her brain will make up for what her tiny body might allow people to assume is weak. Her light was meant to shine in dark places. Wow God…what a call you have on Veil Eden Harney. She is such a loved and treasured child of God.