Sophia turns 12

 

My Dearest Sophia,

Happy 12th Birthday! It feels like just yesterday you were a tiny little thing, and now look at you – almost a teenager! This past year, your 6th grade year, has been such a joy to watch. It's been so awesome to see you thrive. Theater, band, and 3D printing club are just a few of the areas where you have gotten involved.

Your friendships continue to be such an important part of your life. You are thoughtful, remain a great gift giver, and love any adventure to shop for food, gifts, or clothes. You also have been stepping up your cooking game this year in the kitchen by routinely making some of the dinners. And your help taking care of, and connection with, our 17 month old foster placement has been an encouragement to us.

Your involvement in the Delta Youth group has been really fun. It's clear that you're growing in your faith, and it’s great that you have started to ask so many good questions.

As you step into being 12, I hope you continue to embrace all these wonderful parts of yourself. I hope you keep on not putting all of your attention to what others think of you – that confidence and self-assurance you've developed will serve you well. This will become more challenging as you get older with others trying to ascribe a particular wardrobe or behaviors to fit in a box that was never meant for you. My prayer is that you will continue to shine brightly in the one of a kind way that God designed you.

I am so incredibly proud of the young woman you are becoming- your kindness, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, and curiosity. I can't wait to see all the adventures this summer brings as well as next school year.

Happy Birthday, my sweet girl!

Love,

Dad

Happy 6th Birthday Jayden!

 

My Dearest Jayden,

Happy sixth birthday, superhero! Six years of spins, tumbles, and incredible adventures!

The other day when I was doing laundry, I was admiring your large collection of

spiderman themed clothes you have collected.

Your love for Spiderman and all things superhero runs deep. And now, you have super-

powered vision with your new glasses (even if you don’t see it that way yet and often

take them off)!

It's wonderful to see your intense friendship with Malcolm in your kindergarten class.

You two are a dynamic duo, always running up to each other every morning like you

have not seen each other for weeks. Your teacher says you have often act like siblings

in class.

More recently we have been working to tackle big emotions. This year, we’re praying

that you’ll continue to develop tools to handle those big emotions, just like a superhero

learns to control their powers.

We also hope that this year is filled with lots and lots of laughter. Your laughter is

contagious, and it brings so much joy to everyone around you.

Love,

Dad

Happy 6th Birthday Jayda!

 

My Dearest Jayda Joy,

Happy, happy sixth birthday! Can you believe it? Six whole years of your bright, shining

smile filling our lives with joy. Just like your beloved unicorns, you bring energy and a

sparkling smile wherever you go.

Whether you're leaping, dancing, or running around in your pink rain boots no matter the

weather, you seem to be trying to suck all of the emotions and experience out of every

moment.

You want to feel your food, paint all the colors, try one of each, and only speak with an

outside voice at all times, because life is so exciting.

This year as you are learning the basics of reading in kindergarten, you want to get it

perfect right away. It's okay to take your time and trust your brain to figure things out,

even if it takes a few tries.

We’re praying that this year, you’ll grow even more confident in the classroom. Your

ideas are amazing, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible things you’ll learn. We’re

also praying that you’ll continue to be a wonderful friend, someone who is flexible and

kind. Sometimes, plans change, and being able to invite others to play, even when

things don’t go exactly as expected, will make your friendships even stronger.

We love you more than words can say!

Love,

Dada