h0ldfast: And now she is 10 -

It's birthday week. And although that officially means Ben & I celebrate birthdays this week, Sailor never got any press for hers. She's ten. She has been since July 15th. I wanted her to write about turning ten .... but I wrote her a note instead.

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Dear Sailor Jane ~

You're beautiful.

Happy birthday. I'm going to have a mom moment and go all I can't believe you're ten : ) really ....

I'm so glad you're a part of our family. I love who you are. You're actually birthday this year was a bit of a roller coaster wasn't it? High & low, up & down. But I'm thinking you won't really remember much of the low & down parts. I'm so grateful that you're so forgiving :) I've never been a mom to a 10 year old before. Thanks for being patient.

I'm so glad you know Jesus. I'm so excited you are searching to know Him more. That you aren't just taking at face value what you hear.

Listen to Him, Twinks. Hear Him most. I know sometimes I go all wonky on you - without you even knowing it - and think you ought to know everything that's taken me 34 years to learn in your short 10.

Whoops. Sorry.

Yay for grace : )

I love you.
I love how creative you are.
I love how generous you are.
I love to watch you from inside as you play outside .... it reminds me that ten is still little.
I love how you remember things ... or e.v.e.r.y. thing.
I love how you like to be on time.
I love your sense of modesty.
I love the way you love the other kids.
I love that you love music.
I love that you only drink water : )

You're inspiring. You challenge me. You push me right to Jesus. It's humbling that we sit at the foot of the cross together.

It's so funky how alike we are & yet how different we are. You get your need for routine from me. I'm pretty sure your ability to stress out comes from me too ;) Dad never stresses out, does he!

But goodness, your creativeness is amazing. That for sure is not Anderson blood : ) go you.

Wanna remember a few things for me?

Love Jesus.
Keep your identity in Him.
Smile.
Be grateful.
Tell the truth.
Breathe grace.
Enjoy the now.
I'm on your side.
I will fight for you.

Let me recklessly love you ... even if I bleed. You're gonna have all of me.
I love you, Twinks.

Love, Mom

ps ~ here's a picture of me when I turned 10 : ) I remember that old swim suit I was wearing. It looks like Grandma made a bunt cake. I remember the dress she was wearing. I was sitting in the dining room in the house I remember as the one where I 'grew up'. Past that .... I don't remember much about my 10 year old birthday.

But I remember yours, so here you go .....
xo ~

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I have recently been challenged to make praying for your kids' friendships a pretty big priority. That they'll have friends, good friends.

I'm so.so grateful that Sailor does & that I can pray their friendship continues. We squeezed in a little slumber party after a swim meet on Saturday & before church Sunday morning. We fixed some of her favorite foods - water ; ) popcorn, brownies, smoked gouda cheese & wheat thins. Plus skittles, 'cause Lilly likes skittles.

before church, the next morning -

- - -

Probably the biggest part of turning 10 came in a letter from Auntie Amie. She came up with this fabulous idea that when each kid turns ten, they should come out to Ohio with her. She sent a hand drawn invitation, we hooked up Skype & Sailor opened & read the note ......


candles, round 2. she asked for grandma's homemade fudge instead of a cake.

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And last .....
Back at the local home town fire works show on the 4th of July, I saw from a distance this super great photographer that I recognized. We'd never met, she had no idea who I was but that didn't stop me : ) I got brave & introduced myself & asked what her schedule was.

10 is big, I ~~thought~~ think. And I thought how fun it would be to have 'real' pictures to show for it.

But then the suburban needed brakes and tires. And then the real kicker ... the a/c went out, completely.

And whatever $$$ I was hoping to use for pictures was no longer there. Deep breath, oh well, bummer.

Plan B.
Funky overcast day, a girl into all colors bright & neon (is this 1987?) and we did our own.
10 is still big : )