Dear Leah,
Nine! You are nine years old today! How fun!
You had quite a year! You were baptized, you played basketball, you had your first ballet recital, you sang a solo in church, you went to Hawaii, you started 3rd grade with a really awesome teacher...and more! When I asked you what the best thing about being 8 was, you said getting baptized and going to Hawaii. Your baptism was such a special day. And you've loved Hawaii since the first time we went when you were 4!
You are still our sweet girl. The family peacemaker. It's not uncommon for us to sit down to dinner to find a cute, personalized hand-written note from you on our plate. You are so thoughtful.
Friends have been hard this year. And honestly, that blows my mind. How could anyone not want to treat the sweetest girl in the world well?! I'm holding out hope that you will find some really good, kind, smart, fun girls to be your friend. Someone like you: strong and brave and kind. You deserve it. For now, you've been playing with the boys at recess. And that's fine by me too.
You are so good, Leah. You have a goodness and a pureness that I find pretty incredible in a girl your age. You are not perfect. No one is. But you make me want to be better. You make our family better.
I hope you have the best birthday! I hope you know how much we love you.
Love,
Mama
