Hallie is TWELVE!

My Dearest Hallie Belle,

Welcome to year TWELVE! I truly can’t believe we’re here already. It feels like just yesterday I was holding you for the very first time. Every day since then has been such a gift. For 12 whole years, I’ve had the incredible privilege of being your mom—and I’ve loved every second of it. You are an absolute joy. A bright light. You are heaven on earth.

Hallie, you continue to inspire me in ways I can hardly explain. You live each day with such determination, energy, and heart. You make me want to be better, dream bigger, and live more fully. Watching you set your sights on bold dreams and then hustle like crazy to reach them—it’s one of the greatest honors of my life.

This past year has been full of so many incredible moments. You rocked 5th grade at home with the best teacher around, and now you’re crushing 6th grade like a total pro. You’re thriving—not just academically, but in all the ways that really matter.

And what a gymnastics year you had! You made the leap into level 8 and brought your whole heart to the gym every day. You trained harder than ever and continued to show everyone what grit and joy look like when they come together. Your love for the sport is contagious, and watching you fly across the beam or launch into a floor routine never gets old. Every meet is an adventure, and I’m just so dang proud of you.

We packed the year with so many sweet memories too—sun-drenched lake days, Disney rides, surf sessions, and surprise moments. You’re basically a pro at surfing without the rope now. Whether we were cruising in Chelan, sweating in Florida, or just chilling at home with Penny curled up by your side, every memory with you is a treasure.

You’re still loving your favorite shows (shout out to Full House), and somehow, even a chill day on the couch turns into something special when you’re around. Whether we’re bouncing from activity to activity or just soaking in a quiet afternoon, there is no such thing as a boring day with you in it.

This year, more than ever, I’ve watched God work through you. Your passion for gymnastics continues to inspire me—but even more than the medals or routines, it’s your love for the process that stands out. You aren’t just chasing results. You genuinely love the challenge. The stretch. The discipline. The growth. And that kind of mindset? It’s rare. And it’s beautiful. It reminds me to pursue my own growth with more passion and joy too. Hallie, you are teaching me every day how to love the process of becoming who God created me to be.

You are truly something special. You’re stunning inside and out. You love fiercely, laugh often, and work hard in everything you do.

And 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