July 10, 2012

Dearest Daughter,

Lene bean. . .how is it time to write you another letter? Where has this year run and gone?  You keep on growing up before my very eyes and some days it breaks my heart and some days it fills my heart with such joy to see how you are becoming who He has meant you to be.  I am looking in the face of a soon to be fourth grader.  Might I suggest we read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume pronto. . .because although you don't need me to read aloud to you any more...oh, how I want to!!! My number one--my first born--my daughter dearest, you are so many things to this heart of mine.  I continue to admire your energy, your ability to look failure in the face and proceed anyways, the way you embrace life and all it has to offer you.  We are so different, yet you teach me so much.

I hope you will take these gifts with you as we figure out what our plans for next year are school wise.  Your friendship, laughter, and easy going nature will make you bold and stand out in a new school environment.  You can do whatever you set your mind to because with Christ all things are possible.  You live this verse out and you may rely on it a lot this year as our life takes a new direction in a new home away from dear friends and a place that you've known since birth. We can do this.  We will do this because we are a family. . .and this is what families do.

This year you experienced some growing pains in the friendship department and I found myself on my knees praying that you would make good decisions, act nicely even when your feelings were hurt and figure things out without involving others needlessly.  Thankfully, you did.  You learned and grew and changed and I'm so proud of all the effort you gave and the sacrifices you made on order to work it all out.  This is only the beginning.  I pray you always take the higher road and you lean heavily on God, even when it is hard and the easier thing would be to follow the crowd.  Lead, sweetie.  Lead.  Shine His light always. . .

To be continued for her eyes only. . .

She opened her present with daddy last night.  A kindle for all that reading she does: )

Legos were a hit--loved seeing the two of them working side by side to complete a project!!