Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Prayer with Buttercup


Usually I pray about the events of the day with Buttercup, which is not only a nice concrete prayer, but at her age it helps her learn order and aids her ability for recollection.  Sometimes she is a more active participant in the prayer; I don't know if it's because she thinks it's the Ugandan-school style "repeat after me," or because this is toddler do-it-herself-ness.

Mama: Dear God, thank you for today --
Buttercup: Deah God.  Deah God, tank you day.
Mama: Thank you for Buttercup's play time with her brother and sister.
Buttercup (nod nod): Tank you, play, play, tananana, broder, sister. (nod nod) Broder, sister, Bu-cup. (nod nod nod)
Mama: Thank you God for all the good food Buttercup got to eat today, especially the birthday cake.
Buttercup (looks excited): Tank you God, good food, good, good, happy-bir-day cake!
Mama: And thank you God for Buttercup's happy birthday.  She feels very happy and proud about her happy birthday.
Buttercup: Tank you, happy bir-day, Bu-cup! (nod nod nod)
Mama: And God, please help us get the papers very fast, so we can all go to America, and Buttercup can be with her Daddy.  She misses her Daddy very much, and she is very sad to be far away from Daddy.  Please help us get to America soon, so Buttercup can be with Daddy almost every day.  (Said with pauses, but Buttercup was looking off into the distance, and didn't want to repeat anything.)
--pause---
Buttercup: And diver, Yassim-y.
Mama, surprised: And bless our driver Yassim...
Buttercup: Daddy, sitting seat, with Yassim-y.  And 'Biscus, Daddy sit lap 'Biscus.
Mama, understanding: We drove to the airport with Yassim, and Daddy sat in the front seat, and Hibiscus sat on Daddy's lap.
Buttercup (nod nod nod): 'Biscus sitting Daddy's lap.
Mama: Please God, help us get on a plane like Daddy so we can go to America and be all together.
Buttercup (nod nod nod nod nod nod nod!!!)
Mama: Mama, Daddy, brother, sister, and Buttercup.
Buttercup: Broder.  Sister.  Broder.  Sister.
Mama: Amen.
--pause--
Buttercup: Amen!
Mama: Goodnight, sweetheart.  I love you. (kiss)
--pause--
Buttercup (very softly): I yuv you.
Mama: I love you too.
Buttercup (as Mama sits up and moves away, softer yet): I yuv you, Mama.

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