Dear Almost 9 Year Old,

I was number 5 of 6 children.  I got hand-me-downs and was the tag-along.  I dreamed of being the oldest and imagined how amazing that must be.  But I can see as a parent, the oldest has her share of disadvantages too.

You are my oldest.  My first.  I went into parenting with a lot of expectations for myself and my child.  I hovered over you to make sure you wouldn't get hurt and that you were dong okay.  I started teaching you to read when you were 3.  I put you in ballet and gymnastics.  Now that child #4 is 3 I have mellowed.  I have more grace - for myself and her.  I read to her and we dance in the living room.  Most the time I have no idea where she is or what she is doing.  Things have changed.

You, my daughter, have thrived this year.  You have changed.  You are no longer a child. You are not an adult, but you have ventured into somewhere in between.

You have your own room and you love the privacy and freedom you have downstairs.  You have started doing daily devotions on your own, without me even suggesting it!  I am amazed.  You like to have serious talks, especially at night when you should be in bed.  You are responsible and trustworthy.  You treat me with respect and love.  I am thankful for you and simply adore who you are.

This was a big year in your faith journey.  In January a team called Revive Indiana came from Texas and rocked our world.  They taught us to love people boldly.  For 52 days we gathered and prayed, ate, went out on teams to share Jesus, came back together to share and eat, then we would get up the next day and do it again.  It was exhausting and amazing.  I watched you grow in leaps and bounds.  You got to participate in your first communion.  You went out on teams and prayed with people.  You especially loved when we would let you go out on teams with other adults.  You were a leader in Revive Kids and even asked Ms. Michelle if you could share your testimony with all the kids.  On August 23, 2015 you were baptized in Grandpa Shetler's pond.  I am so proud of the lady you are becoming.

It has been a sad year in some respects as well.  Both of our best friends are moving away at the end of the year and it has been hard adjusting to that idea.  Carmen and Liz will be moving to Texas and Jennifer and Lucy are moving to Peru.  We have cried together and prayed together numerous times these past few months about it.  I have encouraged you to trust God through this.  And as I say the words to you, I try to believe them for myself as well.

You are into a lot of things these days.  While you still occasionally play barbies and dolls with your sisters, you mostly like to use your imagination and make up games.  You play orphans and poor people and whatever book we happen to be reading.  You love to draw and paint and create.  You are bright and brilliant.

While I silently grieve the stage you are leaving behind, I want to loudly applaud as you step out in all that lays before you.  I have no doubt my darling almost 9 year old,  that one day you will fly.

I love you so much my Haddee girl!

**Written in Nov. 2015

Baptism and Stuff

My sweet kids are growing up.  There have been some pretty special milestones lately that I wanted to write down.

Haddee got baptized on August 23, 2015 at my parent's pond.  It was a wonderful day. 





Eva was just baptized on March 27, 2016 on Easter Sunday at church. 





That same day Justus told me he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart and just a couple of days later, on March 31, Justus asked me and Scott to come talk to him privately in his room.  He told us of his desire to ask Jesus into his heart and he prayed thanking God for always being in his heart and told him of his desire to follow him.  It was beautiful.  Then he asked if he would be allowed to participate in communion at church now.  Man I love that kid.










Chara LOVES to pray.  She prays at every meal, even if someone else prays too.  She starts every sentence with "Thank you Jesus that you..."  and ends every prayer with "And thank you for Jesus.  Amen."  She prays for things like Mommy's back to feel better, for Liam to come over, for her to grow bigger so she can sit in the front seat, for staying the night at Grandma's house, for providing for us.  It is so sweet.







I am so privileged to be a mom to these 4 amazing kiddos.  May they always follow hard after the Lord.