Listening to Lucy

Oh, I know she looks just sweet and angelic in this photo.  And she is those things!  But this girl is also seriously funny.  And deep.  I was kind of afraid that as she got older she would lose her sweetness and wonder.  I'm so glad that hasn't happened yet!

Here are some of her sayings lately.

One day, Theo was complaining that Clayton never wanted to come swimming with us and never wanted to play with Theo.  I explained that as people get older sometimes they like to be with people their own age or maybe spend more time alone.

Lucy sighed and said in a sad voice, "Oh!  I don't want life to be like this!"

"Like what?" I asked.  "Without Clay at the pool?"

"No," she replied. "I don't want us to get older and change."

It's hard for me, too, dear one!

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Riding in the car one day with Lucy, Theo and a neighbor friend.

"Hey, Theo," says the friend, "what's the worst thing that's ever happened in the world?"

"Ooo, I know!" Lucy interrupts.  "Sin!"

End of discussion, right?!  Hee hee.

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John was going to be home with Lucy while the rest of us were dispersed doing other things.
Lucy asked excitedly, "What do you want to do, Daddy?!"

John: "Well, I need to work on my sermon."

Lucy:  "Nope!  That's boring.  What ELSE do you want to do?"

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She made up a word the other night when I suggested that we have ice cream. 

"Oh, that would be FLANDORIOUS!" she exclaimed.  I like that one.

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She strung a beaded bracelet the other day. A few of the beads had letters on them, but instead of spelling anything, she has used just a P and a Q.  She told me, "I put these to stand for PEACE and QUIET."  

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Theo and Clayton are away right now at camp in New Hampshire.  A few nights ago they were in Boston with our best friends, and Lucy talked to each brother and each friend on the phone.  After the conversation, she walked into the living room and stopped suddenly, her foot in the air as if she had stepped on something sharp.

"Mom!" she shrieked.  "Can you carry me!?" 

I was a bit alarmed.  "What happened?!  Did you step on a sticker?" (Sometimes the little sticker burrs make their way into our carpet.)

"Carry me!  Carry me!"  She would not explain.

I picked her up and she finally said, "I'm burning on the Texas soil!!!  I just talked to Mrs. Barnes in BOSTON and now I'm burning in Texas!!"  

High drama, I tell you.

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Lucy thinks being "stressed out" is the same as "stretched out".  So when I am getting tired and seem stressed out (as I am wont to do, sadly), Lucy says, "Mom, I don't want you to be stretched out," and she makes a motion like stretching out her cheeks.  "I want you to be stretched IN."  
So come on, mamas, let's do all we can to not be too stretched out.

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I hope this doesn't come across as bragging or boasting.  I just don't want to forget her while she's 7!  I never want her to get older, but it just keeps on happening!