Hallie is EIGHT.

My Precious Girl,

I am absolutely blown away by you. I am not even sure where to start because the richness of who you are and who you are becoming is far beyond words. Eight years has flown by in the blink of an eye but the memories are forever etched in my mind. I love your smile and your laugh. I love your constant handstands and flips. I love your love of all things unicorns. I love your crazy (almost inhuman) strength and your daily pull up competitions. I love your sweet tooth combined with your super healthy (almost birdlike) snacking habits. I love watching you set your sights on a goal, cream it in no time, and instantly move onto another. I love watching your learning take off (already doing third grade math at the beginning of second grade) and seeing your dreams take shape. You, my darling, are absolutely exquisite. 

This year, you've continued to dominate in gymnastics. You are now in TOPs and working out 12 hours a week - which probably accounts for your crazy strength. We are still quite hesitant and proceeding with caution but man, I love watching your passions come alive. You played basketball for the first time this last winter and dominated at that too. And track, you fly. Your natural abilities combined with your incredible work ethic and determination make for an unstoppable force. And I just get to cheer you on as I watch you grow into the person that God has created you to be.

This year again was filled with some crazy fun adventures. Disneyland, Grammie's house, and Maui and tons of skiing and boating. You dominated wake surfing (although still holding onto the rope), have nailed your back handspring, and any combination of flips or tucks on the trampoline. You can do at least 10-15 pull-ups and 5-8 pike pull-ups at any given moment, and you love to do them daily for fun (and to show any guests your skill). Your are an avid kayaker, quickly followed by relaxing in the hot tub. You're a sun bathing beauty but your heart is the most kind and beautiful thing of all. We all absolutely adore you. 

Again today, my dear girl, I pray this prayer over your life.

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 be loved deeply in return. 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. Before I know it, I will be walking her into her first day of middle school...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.


Hal, you are heaven on earth. I'm the luckiest mom in the entire world to be the one that gets to love you most and watch you grow. I love you forever Hallie Belle.

Love, 
Mom