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Miss Lane. Another year has gone by. You’re EIGHT. I would say it’s been one of the best yet with you. But then, I think every year has been the best. You truly keep becoming more interesting and beautiful. You have become so independent. The list of things which you can do by yourself has grown long. You are very helpful, able to do most things I request of you. I send you on little errands around the house. You save me a lot of time. Even better, you almost never argue and you rarely complain. You do little chores when I ask you like emptying the dishwasher or cleaning the bathroom mirror. You’re rewarded on a case-by-case basis with pom poms in your pom pom jar. A full jar and you get to pick a reward, something out of the basket or money. You get pom poms for good attitudes and general helpfulness as well. You earn a lot of pom poms. Honestly, you do things because they are the right things. It’s in you. You want to do right. The pom poms are just a bonus. You still like the little toys and crafts I stick in the bin. You have an alarm set to get ready for school in the morning. You get yourself up. You dress yourself. You shower when you get home from school. You make your own bed. You brush your own teeth. You brush your own hair and can do it yourself simply, headbands and pony tails. You almost always know how to spell all your weekly spelling words by Tuesday. If you don’t know one, a couple of repetitions and you do. You almost always pass your practice spelling tests on Wednesday so you that you don’t have to take the real test on Friday. Mrs. Lotz, your second grade teacher, let me know that you’ll be receiving the teacher’s choice award this month for your Math skills too. You get straight A’s. You are an excellent student, and even better than that were your teacher’s comments on your last report card. “Always kind and thoughtful of others. Wants the best for everyone. Always puts forth 100% in class.” If I had 4 thumbs to put up, I would. We are so proud of you. You are smart, but you are also kind, and you strive for excellence in all you do. You have a lot of little friends at school. You have become an excellent reader. Your books of choice are the Magic Tree House series. When I can keep you flush in them, you tend to read one every 3 days or so, faster if we go on any long car rides. You just eat them right up! You’re somewhere around book #40 right now, and you started sometime this summer. You still love to do crafts and make art (why we opted to have a painting party for your 8th!) In the past couple of weeks, you’ve made bath bombs, and sand art necklaces, and made jiggly crystals, and made several beaded bracelets… all from kits you’ve received as presents. You love activities, to do productive things. You love TV too. Right now, you claim your favorite movies are Moana, Storks, Boss Baby, and Enchanted. Your favorite colors are still pink, purple, red and green. Your favorite food is still pizza. Your favorite dessert is cherry pie (so you claim… you are standing here right now answering my questions.) You want to be a cook that works at your own restaurant called “Adela’s Bites.” Apparently, the whole family is going to work there. This is something we discuss frequently. You claim you’re going to marry someone named Jasper. Jasper loves Jesus, works at your restaurant, is handsome and loves his kids, of which there are 4. Someday I’ll get into more details about Jasper and my future grandkids. It’s something we are now discussing regularly at bed time. It’s so sweet to hear you dream, and a little scary to realize you are beginning to think about more grown up things like marriage and kids. Yikes. Your sweet innocence is fresh and beautiful. Your biggest struggle is your brother and how you react to his more annoying moments. There is a bit of conflict that surrounds your interactions. Irritation, whining. He is working on not being annoying. You are working on being gracious when he is. Generally, you guys are besties who get along and play together wonderfully. There are many times when I leave you to sort out your disagreements on your own. You succeed maybe half the time. Usually you both realize that it’s better to compromise than to end up in your rooms alone. You’re a “mommy” to 4 cabbage patch kids these days… Abigail, Eloina, Johnny, and Charlotte. They have their own doll bed and a drawer full of outfits in your room. At least one of them usually comes with us everywhere. I hope it lasts for a while. It’s the first time you’ve ever really played with dolls, and I think it’s cute. You continue to be an adventurous eater. You rarely make a fuss, and generally make me feel like an excellent cook. Your exceptions are the same they’ve been for many years… squash, mushrooms, fish without ketchup, and–incomprehensibly–bananas, are all big nonos on your ingredient list. You still love to help me cook in the kitchen. You claim you want to take ballet again. We may do that next month. You love to watch little You Tube videos with us at night about how things are made… things like paper, glass, lollipops, photographs, and many others. You are easily made happy. You are obedient and quick to repent. You are easygoing and content. You empathize and care about others’ feelings. You forgive easily. You love Jesus and initiate conversations about God and praying regularly. I often feel taught by your example. You exhibit fewer bad attitudes than I do. God has gifted you with a naturally sweet disposition and I pray He is glorified by it as you grow into a young woman.
You are so many wonderful things. I pray God continues to work in your life and reveal more of Himself to you, that you would always know how Loved you are by Him and by us, and that you never stray from the path he Has for you. I pray that I would be a wise Momma who always makes time to listen to your dreams and answers your questions and points you to truth. I am so lucky to be your Mom. So, so blessed. You are a joy in every way. A treasure. Grace. I love you so very much! A very, very Happy 8th Birthday, baby. Here’s to many more!
