“Hi, Kara!” she says, jumping into my arms.
“Hello, sweet girl.” I hug her tight.
I knew I always wanted to be a mom, but after being a nanny for these two girls, it’s absolutely solidified that it is one of my top goals in life. The happiness they bring to my life is unlike anything else, and I can’t even imagine what it would feel like, knowing they are actually your kids.
We get Lana from her class, and after they’re both buckled in, we head to their place.
“How was your day?” I ask. “Give me a high and a low.”
Lana always answers first, and it’s funny how Katy looks at her, waiting patiently for her to talk so she can share her stories of the day.
“I got to show the entire class my drawing today!” she states proudly.
“That’s awesome! Did you leave it at school, or do I get to see it too?”
“It’s in my bag, so we can hang it on the fridge when we get home.”
“Absolutely!”
I don’t ask about the low as I wait to see if they have anything to share. We pull up to a stoplight, and I look in the mirror to see her sitting in the back seat with her finger on her chin, like she’s thinking.
“That’s it today. No lows for me.”
“Then, it sounds like it was a great day! What about you, Katy?”
“I finished my cutting project first, and Ms. Steck held it up to show the class how good I did.”
“That’s amazing!” I say exaggeratedly, loving how excited they both are about their day.
“I did have a low today too.” Her sad voice makes me pause to look at her before I make my turn at the Stop sign.
“What happened?”
“I fell on the playground. Look.” She holds up her knee to show me a tiny scrape.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. You’re okay now though, right?”
She sighs. “Yeah. It hurt when it happened, but when I saw there wasn’t any blood, I went right back to playing.”
“I’m glad to hear it didn’t ruin your recess.”
“Nope! Laura and I still did some jump rope.”
We pull up to their house, and I help them get out of the car and into the house. They both put down their bags, go to wash their hands, then pull out whatever homework they have for the day.
I hang Lana’s art on the fridge after praising her on the job well done, then open the fridge and look inside. “Do you guys want a snack?”
“Yes, please,” they say in unison.
I cut some apples and set out some crackers as they get to work. Watching the way their little hands hold pencils as they diligently do their work always puts a smile on my face. These two little girls are so special, and I pray, one day, my children are as good as they are.
When Heather gets home, we talk for a few minutes, and then I leave and go to my house to grab my guitar before I head to Silas’s.
I pull up to his house, and he’s quick to open the door and meet me out front, offering to carry my guitar case for me.
“I’m used to lugging this thing around,” I tease after he gives me a kiss hello.
“I know, but it doesn’t mean you have to.”
