Esther Turns Seven: 07-22-20

Where the sun meets the waves there I am pretty sure you will find the makings of this girl. The girl whose smile radiates. The girl whose laugh sounds like the twinkling of stars. The girl whose caring heart pours out love, joy and kindness.

I am loving watching her grow every day. She lets me get a glimpse daily into what she is learning and becoming. But just a glimpse.

Lost her first tooth! 

Esther absolutely loves fashion, still. She designs and creates clothes for her dolls all. the. time. How she puts together her own outfits makes me wish she would just pick out my clothes and dress me!

Along these lines, she is so enthralled with make up. Applying it on herself or others makes her feel so happy!

Putting make up on her cousin, Sofia. 

Esther is super into fort building. I mean she can turn any space into a fort in a blink of an eye!

First airplane ride, to Nashville, TN.

She loves any living creature: fuzzy, slimy, small or large. Tadpoles, slugs and snails have been top interests this year.

This now seven year old is a fish in water. Perhaps she would call herself a mermaid. Yes, she definitely would say that about herself.

She continues to have a free spirit. She wants to be and do things in her own way without fear of how others think. She is so self aware. She knows when she needs time alone and takes it. I love her boldness and inner peace.

Lord Jesus,
What a blessing this child of mine is to our family. Thank you for the gift of laughter she readily gives. The gift of perspective she opens to us all. And the gift of silliness that she freely delivers keeping us light and carefree! Continue to use her mightily in the way that brings you glory, Father!

First, and hopefully the last, broken arm 

My delightful daughter,
Thank you for being you. Joyfully, kindly, lovingly you. I can not tell you how many times I have seen Jesus stream out of you through one of your laughs or a glimmer in your eye, a loving action, or a kind word. And those times you have stepped up to help nurse a friend's wound or when you offer forgiveness so quickly. Every part of you shimmers with His love and grace. You are a blessing, indeed, to our family.

 PS: You are ridiculously tidy when eating a  favorite meal of yours, a sloppy joe! I haven't ever met anyone who could eat one so cleanly! I  will forever be impressed with this skill.

Height: 47. 5 inches 

20 questions (when asked these were Esther's answers) 

1. What is your favorite color? 

purple

2. What is your favorite toy? 

Elsa  

3. What is your favorite fruit?

Mango (orange and yellow) 

4. What is your favorite vegetable?

Cucumber

5. What is your favorite song? 

1. Into the Unknown 2. Every Inch of Me Is Trembling 

6. What is your favorite book? 

My Fancy Nancy Mermaid book

7. What is your favorite thing to play? 

Doggy out of the pool and Mermaid in the pool 

8. What is your favorite animal? 

Giraffe 

9. Who is your best friend? 

Luna Burroughs  

10. What is your favorite drink? 

Orange juice 

11. What is your favorite bible verse? 

Be kind to one another. 

12. What is your favorite bible story? 

Zacchias because I liked when Jesus asked him to come down from the tree 

13. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? 

Cinnamon Rolls 

14. What is the one toy you want to take to bed? 

Elsa  

15. What do you want for your birthday dinner? 

Mini Burgers 

16. What is your favorite thing to watch? 

Of course it is Frozen II

17. What makes you happy?

Mommy and Daddy 

18. What makes you sad?

Not having Dingo with us. 

19. What do you like to do with your family?

Eat Dinner together 

20. What is your favorite treat? 

Cake  

21. What do you want to be when you grow up? 

a mermaid 

"I am your favorite book, you are my new lines

I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine. 

I am your lullaby, you are my peek a boo

I am your good night kiss, you are my I love you." 

Eve turns Nine: 04-11-20

"I don't wanna go slow, I go fast" ~ Hare, from the Tortoise and the Hare 

This girl is making nine divine!

Taken by Brianne Linder Photography

She is still a bibliophile. Most parts of the day she can be found with her nose in a book whether they are new reads or she's read them 10 times already. I absolutely love this about her.

traditional library visit while on vacation 

If she isn't elbow deep in the imaginary worlds of books she can be found in a tree. Sometimes with a book!

Eve also really enjoys swimming in the pool. She has become quite the little fish in the water and she's constantly making up new games to play in there with her sister.

She is still an adventurer. Always up for new things... maybe too eager. She went to her first trip to the ER while on vacation this year. She got stitches on her chin because while trying to explore Hemlock falls she split it right open on a rock. Such a strong girl, though.

ER visit after fallen at Hemlock Falls 

She has also gotten an interest in skate boarding. She caught on so fast to this and loves to go fast and try different tricks.

Anti Gravity in Nashville, Tennessee 

I always want to remember your amazing imagination. You pull others right into your story and go on some fantastic adventures. The way you can make a single stick come to life as a horse named Courtney is something special to witness.

Evie girl,
You are growing up at a speedy rate and although this pulls my heart strings I am totally in love with watching you become more and more the person God created you to be. You are quick to kindness and forgiveness. You have a servants heart and always step up when asked to contribute to others and our family. I thoroughly enjoy our book chats before quiet time and watching you run around the yard catching moths to make them your pet. You have an impressive sense of humor with a quick wit that makes me chuckle all the time! I love being your mom and being witness to the first hand amazingness that is you.

Taken by Brianne Linder Photography 

HEIGHT: 54 inches

reindeer for Halloween 

Dear 9 year old Eve from 8 year old Eve: 

I don't want you to forget Dingo and how she made you happy. Every time I draw I a dog I always draw them with a bent right ear like her. I don't want to forget that I made so many brand new friends this year in the neighborhood. 
Remember that time when I was being angry for like three days in a row, well I want you to know that I feel closer to Mama, Daddy and Esther now even though that was hard. They will always love you even on your yucky days. 
Remember that Grandma got really sick and I got to go see her at the hospital. I prayed and prayed for her and she got well! 
I want you to remember how many letters the Burroughs' sent you this past year. I felt so loved when I got those. 
Oh, and I started this new silly face smiling. I feel proud when I smile like that. 

20 questions (when asked these were Evie's answers) 

1. What is your favorite color? 

purple

2. What is your favorite toy? 

the swing

3. What is your favorite fruit?

oranges and apples

4. What is your favorite vegetable?

carrots

5. What is your favorite song? 

The Mended Wood by S.D. Smith from the Green Ember

6. What is your favorite book? 

Little House on the Prairie series 

7. What is your favorite thing to play? 

Mom and Kid

8. What is your favorite animal? 

Tiger

9. Who is your best friend? 

Julia Burroughs 

10. What is your favorite drink? 

Lemonade

11. What is your favorite bible verse? 

John 3:16

12. What is your favorite bible story? 

The one about Apostle Paul  

13. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? 

Pancakes

14. What is the one toy you want to take to bed? 

Fluffy Bunny Bear and Purple, my blanket 

15. What do you want for your birthday dinner? 

Mashed Potatoes and gravy with raw carrots and hummus 

16. What is your favorite thing to watch? 

 Mr. Rogers 

17. What makes you happy?

You (mom) 

18. What makes you sad? 

Thinking of Dingo not being in our family anymore 

19. What do you like to do with your family?
Cuddle on the couch 

20. What is your favorite treat? 

ice cream 

21. What do you want to be when you grow up? 

I want to be a farmer