Leah Faith - 9!

One week ago today, our Leah turned 9.  Sometimes, when I actually stop to consider things, I’m startled that we have a daughter who stands shoulder high and asks the questions that she does.  One-on-one she converses less and less like a child.  Are we old enough for this girl to be ours?  Yikes!

Leah won passes for our family to go to Denver’s Butterfly Garden as part of Loveland library’s summer reading program.  So we spent part of her birthday there, and for dessert that night we enjoyed the birthday cake that she decorated herself – her first ever.  She and Cousin Evan, whose birthday is the following day, opened their gifts from Grandpa and Grandma over Skype.

Nine Notable Things About Leah

1)  She talks.  And talks.  Andtalksandtalksandtalksandtalksand-Leah!  talks.

2)  She reads.  And reads.  Andreadsandreadsandreadsandreadsand-Leah! reads.  (“Just one more chapter/page/paragraph/sentence, Mom?”)

3)  She’s crafty.  When she’s not talking or reading, she’s digging through my stashes for some project she’s making.

4)  She’s kind.  For all that talking, we’ve never heard her say a negative word about anything or anyone at school.  Everyone in her classroom is “darling/hilarious/funny/adorable...”

5)  In contrast to Lady Marie, Leah’s a blue-jeans, plain-tee, and I’ll-do-my-own-ponytail kind of a girl.  There are books to read, after all.

6)  She started playing the piano one year ago, and I already have trouble demonstrating some of her lesson without trouble.  Now, I’m not very good, but she’s doing great.

7)  She's a perfectionist.  B.J. and I can't send her downstairs to tidy the basement without periodically checking that she's just tidying, not meticulously organizing everything.

8)  She's assuming more and more responsibility on her own.  What a great help!

9)  She's a smart and sweet and very special to us.  We're humbled that our Father has entrusted her to our care.

Happy Birthday, Leah!