To My Almost 10 Year Old

AK, it's so hard to believe it's been a decade now with one of the sweetest, most fun kids I know.  I love who you are at almost 10 years old.

Your creativity astounds me. For some reason around 9:00 PM you come fully awake and start coming up with all sorts of craft ideas. You love working with all things fabric, paper, and cardboard. You have taken over my hot glue gun. Last week you took a shoebox back to your room and emerged with a homemade backpack an hour later. You love making potholders and headbands and jump ropes out of weaving loops. You made headbands to sell at our school bake sale and every week now I see different students wearing them to school.

You are growing in every way. This fall you had a leading part in the play "Wonka." You had so many lines to memorize and pull off in front of a packed house...and you did it! And with a British accent the whole time!!! You have learned so much in school this year - 4th grade is an important one, and you have tackled it with a great attitude. 

You have such a nurturing heart. This morning we were running late to get out the door for CC (shocking, I know) and you were right there, gently pushing Owen (not a morning person) out the door, having made sure he had his lunch and presentation in his backpack. I can always count on you to help pack up snacks or lunches when we are out. You are so caring toward the younger kids in our community. 

You continue to love gymnastics. Even though you broke your arm in December in a weird turn of events involving a horse, a water trough, and a chicken, you were eager to return to gymnastics after you healed. You've worked hard to regain your strength. This year you also played soccer and basketball. You were tenacious in both sports and played with all your heart in the games.

You feel things so deeply. That makes it hard sometimes because your feelings are so big and the world is so broken. But I can see so much growth in you as you struggle to be temperate in stressful situations. I'm so proud of you. I hope you always run to the Lord and pour out all your big feelings to Him because He created you to be exactly who you are. He will use those deep waters to make a difference in this world.

You have a servant's heart and feel most alive, I think, when you are being helpful. You still have the most contagious laugh and sweet dance moves. You love music, especially from movies like Encanto or The Greatest Show. You never go to bed without a really good hug.  You asked for homemade croutons for your birthday breakfast. 

Even though you can spend hours by yourself building with Legos, you are happiest when you are with your friends.

Aves, I've always said you were part fairy, and I was so curious to see what happens when a fairy grows up. I'm grateful to have a first row view of the sweet, beautiful young lady you are becoming. Keep growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Happy birthday, my sweet almost-10-year-old!

 

The Summer of a Lifetime Part 4: Amelia Island

To wrap up an unforgettable summer, we landed in one of our favorite spots - Amelia Island.

And for our annual beach pictures, Owen was not thrilled but he eventually came around. 

I feel like this picture is very accurate.

Thanks for humoring me on the pictures, guys. And that is a wrap!!!