Dear Janie,

Here it is – the golden birthday you’ve been waiting for! You’re turning seven on the seventh! Happy birthday!

Once again, you’ve filled up another year with lots of fun, family, and friendship! Play dates and impromptu neighborhood gatherings have become the norm for you. Special times with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents are a treat, and your silliness and sense of adventure tend to make you the life of the party!

Papa and I especially enjoyed the few months that you and your family spent with us last fall. It was truly a blessing to get to be a part of your everyday life – every day! 😊 You often joined me during my morning quiet times with the Lord, unobtrusively coming into our bedroom and settling into a chair to draw or write sweet notes until I closed my Bible. Most days, you were already dressed and ready for school – an early bird like me.

Homework for this little first grader consisted of reading and Scripture memory. We tried to make reading time as fun as possible by choosing different locations around the house to be your special nook. The grand prize winner was our bathtub – complete with pillows and blankets!

What a surprise to you and Papa when you realized you were both working on memorizing Proverbs 3! It was sweet listening to you two practice together. (I think you know it better than Papa – our secret.)

It’s a good thing I’ve always got craft supplies on hand because you always want to make stuff! I’ve lost count of the number of times you’ve asked me, “Milly, can we do a craft today?” Of course, the answer is always, “Yes.” You love making art of every kind – at home and at school. One of your masterpieces even made it to this year’s art competition!

You’ve decided to replace baby teeth with permanent ones. You continue to sit and giggle and chat on the sidelines at your soccer game – only to take the field and dominate with the ball! You and your sister are thick as thieves – best playmates and cheerleaders for each other. You’re patient and inclusive with your younger cousins, making them feel important and special. You have a kind, thoughtful heart.

On November 19, your dad called me. He wanted to let me know that you and he had had a chat after church that afternoon. In that chat, you asked a lot of good questions. Then Daddy asked you a lot of good questions. In the end, you and Daddy prayed together, and you asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. So yes – today is your birthday, but we’ll celebrate a different kind of birthday in November.

You truly exemplify this year’s “cousin verse” – Colossians 3:12. “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” You are a blessing to me and to our entire family. Happy golden birthday to my book-loving, soccer-playing, snaggle-tooth smiling Jaybird!

Always loving you with all of my heart,

Milly