The Daily Commute

The drive from Ruta's school to my office is about ten minutes. I am fortunate enough to arrange my schedule so that I usually get to drop her off and pick her up. We are at the stage with her language development that she asks the "whys" and "hows" of everything in her life. These q&a sessions are most prevalent during our daily commute from school. It is during these times that we are alone and she is not having to fight for my attention and I can focus on each of her questions. There have been some really great ones, some completely ridiculous ones, but only one has completely left me in tears.

We were talking about our upcoming Disney trip a few weeks ago and she was looking up at the sky and saw an airplane.

Ruta: "Mommy, why that airplane look so small?"

Me: "because it is really high in the air."

Ruta: "Mommy, can we jump and touch that airplane?"

Me: "No. It's REALLY high."

Ruta: "Is it so high that it is where God lives?"

Me: "God lives there but He also lives in your heart."

Ruta: "Mommy, what is He doing way up there?"

Me: "Well, He is watching over me and you. And Daddy and Alazar."

Ruta: "Mommy, how do we get to God?"

Me: "Well we can talk to Him anytime we want but when we die we actually get to go live with Him up there in Heaven."

Ruta: "Mommy, is that where my Ethiopia mommy is?"

Me: "Yes." (choking back tears)

Ruta: "Mommy, what is my Ethiopia mommy and God do up there all day?"

Me: "they are watching over us and wanting us to be good to one another and love one another."

Ruta: "Mommy, my Ethiopia mommy and God happy with me and you?"

Me: (tears streaming) "I think so baby girl. I think so."

Ruta: "Mommy, can we get ice cream today?"


Ruta's Ethiopia Mommy: I cannot tell you what an honor it is to be a second mommy to Ruta and Alazar. I pray that you are watching every smile and every laugh and are writing them down for me. For I know that I will forget some, but I cherish the day I can meet you face to face and I am praying that you are happy with me.