Happy birthday, precious girl! You’re 6 already…where has the time gone? It seems like just a little while ago that you were kicking on the inside as we folded little pink onesies and waited with baited breath for your arrival.
Alathea Grace, you are so perfectly named. Truth and grace; two things that abound in your character. You are so trustworthy and responsible, honest to a fault, and the most gracious, tenderhearted little girl I’ve ever known. You delight my momma heart.
We are so very proud of you, and couldn’t ask for more in the heart of a daughter.
The way you love your friends and look for ways to include those left out…the way you love your little brother and are so quick to forgive his boyish antics…and the way you fiercely love your daddy and me, and extend grace when we fail at this parenting thing, just blows me away.
Your kindness, your compassion, your gentle spirit, your wild streak, your love of babies, your sense of humor, and your delightful awe of beautiful things are just a few of the things that make you the precious gem you are.
If we could hand pick a daughter out of all the 6 year olds all over the world…we’d pick you. Every single time!
You’re our favorite 6 year old human being in the whole entire world in the history of ever.
I love the way you ask me deep, complicated life questions as I’m walking out of your bedroom at night. I love the way you just gobble up nature shows and passionately learn about wildlife. I love that you knew many of the major bones in the body at 3 years old, and that you called your patella, your “nutella”. I love that you still struggle to say “certificate”. I love the way you drop those beats on the counter while I’m making dinner {we have got to get you a drum!}. I love that your head is covered in the sweetest halo of curls I’ve ever seen. I love that you see God’s love for you in the sunset. I love the way you stroke your brother’s cheek and call him “sweet boy”. I love the way your face lights up each and every time you see your daddy in uniform. I love that you remember small details, like the fact that I love it when it rains and is sunny at the same time, and you call me to see my “favorite kind of rain”. I love the smattering of freckles that adorn your nose and cheeks. I love that you really get our heart on healthy foods, and that you want to fuel your body well…even when given the freedom to choose. I love the way your plonk on the keyboard and worship God in spontaneous song when you think nobody is listening. I love the way you look for ways to bless others, because you’re beginning to understand the incredible joy of speaking life and offering love to a broken world. I love the way you cuddle up on my lap while when we’re reading The Chronicles of Narnia, and the way you beg for ‘just one more!’. I love the way you love my mommy and daddy (your nana and papa) and the way you delight their hearts by just being you. And I love listening to you talk to Jesus about how thankful you are for everything in your life.
You are one incredible little lady, and I so look forward to watching you blossom into all you were created to be.
Thank you for being such a sweet, gracious, patient, loving daughter. I simply adore being your mommy!
Happy 6th birthday, sweet Bean!
We love you more than you’ll ever truly comprehend (although the way you love us back certainly gives the impression you’re catching on).
Rock on, girlfriend.
