FOUR-YEAR OLD NOAH ON MAGGIE:

On the day we found out she had passed away . . .

"When Maggie is done in Heaven can she come back and live with us?"

When he didn't understand why she wasn't coming home . . .

"Did God love Maggie so much that He just wanted her to be with Him?"

When we told him she was in Heaven . . .

"I can't believe she gets to go be with God!"

To his cousin, Julia, the day we came home from the hospital . . .

"Juju, my mommy had to go to the hospital because she's sad about Maggie."

In the car on the way home from preschool . . .

"I just wanted to get to hold her.  When I go I will hold her in Heaven.  Will they have chairs in Heaven?  'Cause I know you have to sit with her because Maggie's so fragile."

When he saw his mama having a tough time . . .

"Mommy, are you ok?"  [Yep]  "I want you to be happy."  [Mommy's happy. See. *Smile*]  "No, I want you to be happy about Maggie.  'Cause we're going to see her again.  And we can hold her and play with her and do all kinds of things in Heaven.  It's gonna be good."

After coloring a picture of a flower and a butterfly for me . . .

"We have to bring this with us to Heaven so we can give it to Maggie--it's for you and Maggie to share."

When I told him she could already see the beautiful masterpiece he made us, he ran to the window with the biggest smile and pressed it up to the glass, "See, Maggie!" Then he turned to me and said, "I didn't know she could already see it--that's so cool!"

TWO-YEAR OLD MASON ON MAGGIE:

After covering me with all his babies (stuffed animals) as I sat in Maggie's glider . . .

"Rocky, rocky, Mommy. Rocky, rocky, babies."

During our mealtime prayer at lunch, I started "Dear Lord, bless . . . " and Mason finished "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie."

Comforting his upset mama after a recent doctor appointment (just like he's seen his daddy do) . . .

"Mommy sad. Sorry, mommy. Ok, mommy. Ok, mommy."