Hallie is TEN!

My most precious Hallie Belle,

It was exactly TEN years ago that I got to hold you in my arms for the very first time. Since that moment, I’ve been blown away by the wonder of who you are. You’re a dream. You’re sweet and kind, caring and generous. You strive for everything you do to be done with excellence. I absolutely adore you. You make me smile, you make me laugh, but mostly I burst with pride as I watch you grow. I’m so stinkin proud of the person that you’re becoming. And I love you with all of my heart. 

These past 10 years have been filled with wonder and adventure. And although you've had your share of sass, you have grown into a breathtakingly beautiful soul. You are the first one to lend a helping hand or a kind word. You're definitely the first one to try to steal every baby that you can get your hands on and you are an absolute kid magnet as every small kid quickly falls in love with your sweet spirit. You are so gifted at making people feel like at that moment, they are the most important thing in the world. You are so very talented and incredibly humble. Your smile brightens any place you're in and your hugs can literally heal hearts.

This tenth birthday celebration has been one for the record books. Your birthday trip request was Disney World. Your gift was a surprise as your best bud Addison (and her family of course) magically appeared in the airport in the wee hours of the morning as we were about to fly to Florida. Everything about it was absolutely incredible and it might just go down in history as the best Disney trip EVER! Thanks to covid and capacity restrictions, Disney was almost empty and those five days were jam packed with ride after ride after ride with almost no wait times. We closed down the pool most nights, spent as much time as we could at the water park, checked out Clearwater and Cocoa Beach and walked until our feet almost fell off. Hal, everything is more magical with you. And every adventure is grand and beautiful because you, my darling, are magical, grand, and breathtakingly beautiful.

But wait...theres more! To continue the celebration, we snuck away to Sacramento to stay at Grammie's house, see Simone Biles on the Gold Over America Tour, and go to HAMILTON. Anna and Addison met us down there for a VIP experience where you got to dance on stage in front of the whole Golden One Stadium full of people. And Hamilton was nothing short of amazing. It was a birthday celebration for the record books for sure. All because we simply cannot help but celebrate the person that you are and the incredible and lovely person that you are becoming.

Hal, never forget that you are loved beyond measure, not only by your family and friends but by the Creator of the Universe. Your faith and kindness remind me daily of the importance of love and compassion in our lives. Your ability to see the good in people and to be a source of light in this world is a gift that you share with all who know you. You love deeply. You give of yourself generously. And all of our lives and everyone that comes in contact with you leaves feeling seen, valued, and loved. You are a gift and an unbelievable treasure. 

So today on your 10th birthday, and everyday of your precious life, I pray this over 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 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, you are a cherished daughter of the King and my pride and joy. You are a shining star and I'm beyond words grateful to be your mom! I love you to the moon.

Love you,

Mom