Hallie is NINE!

My Darling Hallie Belle,

My oh my, what a year it’s been. I find myself writing this 9th Birthday post to you under the most unlikely of circumstances. We are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. You finished second grade from home and just started third grade virtually as well. Everything around us seems to be uncertain. The political climate of the world is insane, wild fires are sweeping the west coast, and people everywhere are trying to stay healthy from this crazy coronavirus. But, my darling, when the world seems to be in shambles, you are like a ray of sunshine on the darkest day.

I know these last six months have been some of the hardest of your nine years. Your school closed down and you started schooling at home. The gym closed down which took away your daily outlet to exercise your deepest passion. Your face became solemn and downcast. We counted down the moments until your 2:00 zoom meeting with your gym friends to lift your spirits. But my darling girl, its all beginning to look up. The darkness is lifting and the light is shining through. We still started 3rd grade at home, but we're beginning to see friends again. The gym is open and you are back. Your smile has come back and your spirit is filled with joy. 

Even through the craziness of this last 6 months, we have had an absolute blast. This summer was one for the record books. We worked hard (remodeled our house and moved in, and got our old one ready to sell), and we sure played hard. We spent our days on our boat, or paddle boards, or swimming, or wrestling on the sundeck. We hiked, played, and adventured. We had a glorious time in Chelan in what might be our new favorite place on earth. Our hears grew closer together and closer to Jesus. And you, my dearest daughter, thrived through it all. You learned what it looks like to experience pain but overcome that pain with the hope of tomorrow. You've learned resilience. And you've done it all with such beautiful grace. 

So today, along with so many other prayers that I'm praying over your life and what that will look like in our ever changing world, I continue to pray this over you today...

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.

Hallie, I can't express how proud I am of the person that you are becoming. Your laughter fills our home with joy. Your kindness warms my heart. I've watched you tackle challenges and learn from them, and I'm constantly amazed by your resilience and determination.

I love you forever,

Mom