A work in progress...: Hallie is FIVE!

My Darling Girl,

Oh my heavens! You are 5! I have had five full and glorious years of hugs, kisses, snuggles, jokes, spice, sass, and so much sweetness! Five years of morning smiles and goodnight kisses. And *almost* five full years of tutus, princess dresses, glitter everywhere, and strong opinions! You truly are my greatest treasure. Again, I sit here and look at this computer screen and look back through pictures of our adventures of this past year and try to put your personality and my love for you into words. And again, I'm nearly speechless. You are unlike any person I have ever met. There is just something about you that is indescribable. You radiate life, and love, and incredible fashion. You love to dance and sing and make people smile every single day just by being you. Your personality captivates every person that ever sees you - even if its only in the grocery store, or a restaurant, you turn heads wherever you go. You exude confidence and deep security in all that you are. You are the embodiment of all things good and glorious. And quite frankly, I just can't get enough of you.

This past year has been an incredible one. You completed your second full year of preschool in Miss Kelly's class and you loved every bit. We took another trip down to Disneyland and had an absolute BLAST with Elsa surrounding us at every turn! You were in your second wedding (Auntie Jen) and threw down some splits at the reception in a dance off with your brother! Spring break was a great time in Bend, Oregon where we pretty much just lived in the pool (you are quite the little fish)! You got your ears pierced, competed in your first season of track, went to California to visit Grammie, and Idaho for summer camp. And we finished it off with a "Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice" Birthday party (complete with costumes and pumpkin everything) It was a jam packed year and filled with sooooo many incredible memories!!!

In addition to all of these wild adventures, you demonstrated another wonder of your personality by accepting two beautiful foster babies into our home (Stefani Starr and Beverly Ann) and loved them like your own siblings. And then just in August, we welcomed our sweet Jovie girl into our arms. Seeing your love for these babies, your desire to hold them, comfort them, sing to them, and help with anything and everything, showed another whole side of who you are. And I'm positive that Jovie is the luckiest little sister ever to have such an incredible example. You are so excited to teach her all about fashion and being fancy, how to play with all the best toys, do her hair, and everything else sisters do.

So my Darling, again on your 5th birthday, this is my prayer for you...

Jesus, thank you so much for this gift of life that you have blessed us with. What an amazing honor it is to be her mom. I pray that your grace would pour out over Hallie's life and that your Holy Spirit would invade every part of who she is. I pray that she would know and truly understand that she is amazingly beautiful. She is the picture of perfection created in YOUR image. You created her as an artist creates a masterpiece and looked upon her and said, "It is good!" Jesus, I pray that Hallie would grow to exude confidence and grace. That she would be amazingly strong, courageous, and dignified, yet incredibly gentle and kind. I pray against any outer influence that says that she is not good enough, or that she is lacking in any way. Lord, I pray that all of her worth would be found in you. God, I pray that Hallie would dream big and love deeply. And Jesus, please guard her heart. Set her apart for you and your will. I pray that your love would envelop her and consume her and she would find herself in you. Lord, protect her heart, her mind, and her body. I pray that your protection would follow her all the days of her life. I am so excited for the days ahead and to watch my baby girl grow into a woman that is chasing after your heart. I've already watched her spread her wings and run into preschool. Next, I'll be watching her walk down the sidewalk to kindergarten. And I'm sure my tears will flow as I drop her off for her first day of Jr. High...and then High School. And I am so excited to hear her name announced as she walks across the stage to receive a diploma. And see her Daddy walk her down that aisle - glowing with your love as a beautiful bride. Or to watch her hold her baby in her arms for the first time, and gaze into his/her eyes as I know it is at that moment that she may finally get a glimpse into how much I love her. Jesus, thank you for this precious gift! Please give me wisdom to be her mom...To love her every single day of her life, to encourage her always and to be her biggest fan. I pray that you would be apparent in all of my words and all of my actions. Lord, help me to strive to demonstrate your love for Hallie in a tangible way in hopes that it will give her the smallest peak into who you are. Just as her name means "Praise God", all I can do is praise you for this precious life. May Hallie grow into the amazing woman that you have called her to be!

Amen.