A Pattern of Words

Each summer we get her for one week. In that week, she basks in being the oldest, herding kids to the car while hauling bags, organizing quick living room clean ups, twirling the littles enthusiastically, prodding the olders into helping more, taking over bedtime, demonstrating how board games are played, teaching new chores, and showing how prayers are said. Then when everyone is in bed, we read. Chapter after chapter of a book that’s all our own, dissecting characters and plot lines after we’re done. We love our big cousin week.