Happy Birthday, Ana Elizabeth!

Sweet girl~ you are so precious to me. I lovingly look back to this day, 9 years ago...when I would meet my first newborn baby. Let me tell you a little about it.

It was a Monday and I was working at the hospital early in the morning when my body was hinting at the idea of you being born very soon. I saw the doctor later in the morning and he assured me that you were not quite ready to be born today. After being home for a couple of hours, you decided you were going to be born today. Your daddy had left for a day trip to Milwaukee. I was anxious to get to the hospital because I didn't know how soon you were going to arrive and I was nervous. Your Auntie Laura was on her way over to our house anyway and she drove us to Memorial Hospital and we waited there for your daddy. We arrived there at around 12:30 in the afternoon.
While waiting for you to make your appearance I rested and reflected on the moments leading up to this time. Those moments of all of my life that were spent dreaming of you. I had wanted you for as long as I could remember. I had prayed God would prepare me to be a good mommy.......that he would give me a love that would never let you doubt how perfectly wonderful you are or how very much you were wanted and loved. You made your appearance at 8:44 pm. Your daddy smiled and rejoiced as you left my body looking right at him with your big, wide eyes. You were ready to see the world! We laughed and cried with joy when the doctor said "it's a girl!" You were lovely and perfect in every way. I cried with thanksgiving to God for giving you to me. I was immediately humbled that He would choose me to be your mommy. I still am.
Through the past 9 years you have grown into a funny, joy filled girls. A girl who loves to be around other people, a girl who wants to see as much of the world as one can. You love to be busy. You love to be active. You are really good at sports. You are very kind. You are sensitive to other people and their feelings and you are a very good friend. You love to bless others through your words and acts of love and generosity. You are also very strong - not only in physical strength, but also in your desires. But you are pretty easy going and you continue to amaze me at how quickly and well you adapt to the new things life sends your way. You are eager to learn more about the God who created you and you invited His Son, Jesus, into your heart when you were 4 years old. I pray that you will follow Him all the days of your life, that you will pursue a deeper relationship with Him and that you will continue to be a light of His love to those around you.
Living life with you has brought us perfect joy, dear Ana. You are wonderful daughter and a perfect blessing to your daddy and I and to your brother and sister. We adore you. Have a wonderful 9th birthday, precious girl. I love you.

Happy Birthday, my love!

If life is carrying on as I think it will be in one week, we should be in DisneyLand on this special day. I'm writing this a bit early ~ I just didn't want your day to pass without me sharing how grateful I am to celebrate your life with you today!

These are just a few of the things that I love about you...

~ you are loving. You have been since I first met you. You have taught me so much of what I need to know about love....certainly in words, but always by example.

~ you are a giver. You love to bless others and prefer to do it without them knowing it was you who helped with the blessing.

~ you are smart. I laugh sometimes at the insane amount of information you carry in your brain.....how you know so much about so many things. I'm always amazed.

~ you are wise. To me, there is a difference between smart and wise. You continue to guide and lead people carefully with the wisdom you've been blessed with. It is comforting to follow you. You can always be trusted to make the best choice based on what God has taught you through His Word and through the life lessons He has brought you through.

~ you are faithful......to me, to our family, to those you love and to those you are trying to love more or better....and to your God. When times are tough and you are tempted to resist His will and purpose for your life , you remain committed to carry out all that He has in mind for you.

~you are tender hearted. Meaningful words, stories, pictures and occasions cause your heart to overflow with emotion. Thank you for sharing that part of you with me.

~ you are funny. On the worst of days, you make me smile. You never pass up an opportunity to make someone giggle:)...even if it makes you look silly!

~ you are a provider - you sacrifice so much of what you want and need so that our family can get what it wants and needs sooner.....even today- on your birthday, you are scheduled to have lunch with your daughters and all of the Disney princesses. You sacrifice again and again to ensure that joy is given to others before you take it in yourself.

~ you are humble...because even as you are reading this, I know you are thinking " I need to be more....". Though I appreciate your desire to always want to 'better' yourself, I think you are wonderful and amazing.

I also love that you always greet me with a kiss and a hug. I love your warmth - you're the best 'warmer-upper' ever, I love your smile and your laugh. I love your homemade pizza. I love the way you play with our kids.....especially wrestle time. I love to listen to you breathe while you sleep and I love to pray for you while you do it. I love sharing life with you - each miraculous moment.

You are a gift from God and I thank Him for you....for lettting me witness and experience first hand, the blessings that come from you being all that He made you to be.

I love you with all of my heart, sweetheart. Happy Birthday!