For a little over two weeks now I have had a shadow; a sort of mini me.  Without complaint she has gone with me to work, thanked me for bringing snacks, and has been my partner in crime.  We have sung silly songs together, shopped together, cooked together, read books together, taken naps together, gone on walks together, watched TV together, giggled together, gone to church together, survived Christmas functions together, played games together, rung in the New Year together, and savered time in the park together.  We made up a fire hydrant game while we’re in the car.  Whomever spots the most by the time we reach our destination wins.  And she came up with a great alternative phrase for being frustrated:  “Oh Ritz crackers!”  We have brushed our teeth together, said prayers together, and have done chores together.  From the celebratory to the mundane, this little girl makes my life better.  She goes back to school tomorrow and I will miss her.  But I know she needs her friends, to learn, and to  discover other activities.  I sure have loved having her around though.  Author Elizabeth Stone said, “Making the decision to have a child – it is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”  My precious, funny, sweet, kind, smart, strong little girl is the keeper of my heart.  I know it’s in good hands.