just left as he said now that he's asleep he should stay out the rest of the night, and when he wakes up he'll still want to be with all the cousins. As I sat with him for 45 minutes tonight, I just didn't know what to say. I honestly wanted to say so much but realized he doesn't need words right now, he needs love, so I just sat by him and stroked his hair crying with him and just said a few things, "It's okay to cry, and I'll cry with you...I'll stay with you as long as you need." When he was awake, he wanted to talk to his dad so we called him. He asked his dad to come pick him up, so after that I told him I'd stay with him until his dad got here. I just kept stroking his hair until he was asleep and then once his dad got here he decided to head back home now that he's out. I'm going to stay by him a little longer in case he wakes up. I just sat here praying and hoping my efforts were what my sister knew her son needed. I prayed for Heavenly Father's help, acknowledging my sister's son is first and foremost HIS son, and I wanted to do right by both of them. I haven't been super close to this nephew, and I wasn't sure how he'd react to me expressing my love to him and stroking his hair tonight, but I just couldn't help it because he needed love and I have it to give. His dad said that was exactly what he needed so I'm grateful I was able to offer it. I don't know the details about how things work in the next life--I don't know the particulars about how my sister is able to watch after and take care of and protect and inspire and guide her son--but I do know that she will do whatever she can and is able to do. I wish I knew more specifics, but I don't, so rely on faith. I did tell him at one point, "It's OK to hurt because that means your mama did such a good job at loving you it hurts now that she's gone. Your tears are a way of knowing just how much you truly loved each other. You had the best mom in the whole world, and so it's OK to miss her." Oh how blessed we are to have the Gospel. The scripture came to mind "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain," and I just realized that now, more so than at any point in my life, I realize how true is the promise of hope in the Gospel. We do cry now, we feel pain now, but the day WILL come when the former things WILL pass away, and there truly will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, for we will be reunited in glorious exaltation, never again to suffer pains or loss and the sting of death.