Happy Birthday, Eliana!!

I don't know how many times this year we've looked at you and said, or thought, "Wow. She's really growing up."  Certainly seems like it's been a transition year for you, Sweet Girl.  We don't doubt that you love life. You put your whole heart into everything you do, in your lovely, quiet way.  And yet the depth of that heart sometimes just...blows us away.

You lost a baby brother or sister a wee bit more than a year ago, and I know that's changed how you see life.  I don't think that, since that time, I've heard you pray without also hearing you reflect those changes. Thank you, Sweetie. Thank you for trusting God with such huge things. And thank you so much for your prayers for me and for your unborn sibling. And thank you for sharing your heart. You don't know how much that has touched our hearts.

You are changing... from a child, to a young lady. You love to read, you love art, you love animals... you love your family, close and far away.  You love your friends and flowers and Hello Kitty. And we love you. We're so thankful to have you as our first-born child.  You are a precious gift from God, and we love seeing you grow.

We hope and pray that this next year has beautiful things in store for you. We pray that you grow in your love for God, and that you find true peace and joy in His abundant love for you.  We love you, Eliana!

Happy, happy birthday, Baby Girl!!

Proof Positive

Happy, Happy Birthday, 'Lijah!!

Dude. Seriously. For a just turned two-year-old, you are responsible for more gray hairs than any other child I know. You constantly keep me on my toes.  And you've stolen my heart. I have a feeling that you have more stolen hearts in your arsenal than you know what to do with!

When people meet you, I tell them that you are four boys wrapped into one. I also tell them that your squeaky shoes hold a much more practical purpose than simply being cute.  I think it's only fair to warn them, before you twinkle your baby blues, scrunch up your nose, remove the pacifier from your mouth and blow them a huge kiss.

I love your cuddles. You're so sweet to climb up into my lap and lay your soft face against my chest while you contemplate mass destruction. Speaking of your love for climbing, you're the first of our kids to put a hole in your birthday cake  BEFORE I even had a chance to frost it. Ahem.

I love how well your personality complements the rest of us, in ways I could never have thought of or designed. And I love how much your big brothers and sisters love you.

We love you, Elijah Joseph.  You are God's gift to us. You and all the gray hairs you've brought us.  We pray that you will grow in wisdom and love. We pray that you will treasure the mercy offered you by the most High King.  And we pray that God would protect you and your heart as you grow in creativity and the ability to enact your crazy plans.

Happy, happy second birthday, Elijah. We love you so much!!