Hallie is ELEVEN!

My Dearest Hallie Belle, 

Welcome to year ELEVEN! I still can't believe it...and maybe just don't want to! But it does mean that I've been so blessed to hold you in my arms every day for 11 whole years. And I've loved every second! You are an absolute joy. You're heaven on earth. And somehow you consistently encourage me to be a better person...to always strive for more, break down 'normal' boundaries, conquer goals, and chase dreams. Because thats how you live out every single day. You set your sights on lofty dreams and work like crazy to accomplish them!

This year was full of so much fun! You crushed 4th grade and just started 5th (@ home with the best teacher around!) You dominated level 7 in gymnastics, finishing the season with a 37.025 at REGIONALS! We had a blast traveling to all of your meets...Anaheim and Disneyland, Pasco, Portland, and all around Western Washington. It's such a joy to watch you do what you love. 

We also took some crazy fun vacations. Vegas, summer camp, Chelan, Florida, and ALL the wake surfing and boating we could squeeze in in one summer. You learned to surf without the rope and now you can do it like you're an old pro. We got to float in the lazy river in the sunshine of Vegas, lounge in 'our lagoon' for a few days, and party in Florida and sweat profusely. We even got to welcome the cutest little baby puppy in the whole world, Penny Pentz, to our family on the 4th of July. I think it might have been the surprise of your life! Everyday with you is a grand adventure. Whether we are crazy busy tuning from activity to activity, or having a lounge around the house kind of day watching your favorite shows (right now its 'Dog with a Blog', previously Jessie, Full House, Liv and Maddie) its impossible to have a bad day when you are near!

These last few months, God has been using you to speak to my heart over and over. Your drive and passion for gymnastics has been so inspiring. But not just your drive for the outcome, but the love you have for the process. You don't love gymnastics only for the moment that the meet is over and you can step on that podium. I would even venture to say that that part is almost irrelevant to you. You love pushing your body to the limits. You love stepping out of your comfort zone. You love spreading your wings and seeing how high you can fly. You love the process and you love the daily grind to become the best Hallie you can be. And you've been teaching me to live out everyday to love the PROCESS of becoming who God has created me to be. You inspire everyone around you...all the time.

You are absolutely incredible. You're beautiful in every way. You love deeply, you live passionately, and man do you work hard.

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.

Keep rocking it Hal. I love you with my whole heart forever. 

Love,

Mom