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| Your first day of life |
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| Your first trip to the beach the Summer after you turned 1 - not sure what you think... |
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| Helping to water the plants at Apt. D when you were 2 |
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| When you were 3, outside Brandon Oaks with the Jesus Storybook Bible |
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| Just before you turned 4, gathering flowers at Grandmom Okie's Saluda house |
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| Your sweet baptism at Res Pres - just after you turned 5 |
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| Conquering a mile-long hike up a mountain at Acadia, a few weeks before leaving Maine |
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| SEVEN! |
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| The birthday cookie you decorated |
Aida Song, Aida Song,
Sent as a gift from heaven.
Long and pink, don't you think,
Born on May the 11th...
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Aida Song, Aida Song,
Sent as a gift from heaven...
I think it was BMA who originally penned this song for you shortly after you came home from the hospital?, but either way it has become our sweet lullaby, and whenever you are feeling the pressures of this world wrap around you, you ask me to hug you and sing this song. And, because you like the Sound of Music so much, you have recently started adding in the echoes (which is super sweet).
I was reading the letter I wrote for you last year when you turned 6, and was almost surprised to remember all of the stomach issues you had been struggling with. I am surprised in a very good way, because you haven't been having any stomach issues in a long time - I can't even think of the last time you were doubled over on the couch in pain. I am feeling so thankful for this.
You are still our little naturalist. This year we have been studying birds for school, and you have become such a keen observer - finding nests all around and keeping a close eye on the eggs and babies. When we went camping a few weeks ago a pileated woodpecker came to a nearby stump and you spotted him right off - alerting the rest of us. It is so fun to take such joy together. You are still learning more and more wildflowers, and after Papa or I teach you the name of a new plant you always remember it the first time (whereas it takes me lots of looking things up in our field-guides to remember them).
You have been off and on sad recently. You told me you missed our runs together in Maine (which were through paths and fields and involved passing many berries and flowers), and you told Papa just last night that you missed the walks you used to take together in Maine to hunt for worms. I feel sad about this, too, as it was so easy where we lived in Maine to walk through fields, forests and streams. I loved our house there, and many times you and Bro lament about not having woods in our backyard "like we did in Maine." But moving is such an adjustment, and we are trying to figure all of this out - learning to live in a neighborhood, and enjoying other things less natural (like the free pool!)
It has been fun to watch you with the bunnies - you observe them and know them so well. You love to feed them and hold them, and you seem to know what they're thinking and help to interpret it for us :) You stayed up late last night helping Papa to build the new cages, and you couldn't settle in for bed until you'd seen them all safely separated in their own cages.
A few days ago I had to take you to the mall to exchange a dress you'd been given for your birthday. It was a complete disaster - it was 6:00 in the evening, you were hungry and sleepy and definitely not up for walking through a crowded department store and trying on different sized dresses. You finally had a complete meltdown, and after successfully exchanging the dress (which is beautiful, by the way), I had to drag you out of the mall with you crying (wailing) the entire way behind me. I'm sure I thought at least once that you were seven now and 7 year-old don't throw fits in public anymore - right???
Contrast that to a few days later when we drove out to a small farm to pick strawberries. It was just me with all three of you, and I'm always a bit nervous navigating something new by myself, but you were so strong and capable - picking a gallon of good strawberries on your own, carrying two full buckets, riding in the front of the tractor. I was able to have free hands to hold Eliza and help her around, and before we left you discovered an Eastern Bluebird nest with 2 super cute baby birds in it. On the drive home I thought it was the first time berry picking that we had fun together AND got a lot accomplished.
Papa and I call you a little mountain woman, and we pray you will grow in grace for all those social situations where you aren't allowed to run free and wild :) We love you Aida Song Okie. You have been and continue to be such a gift to us. Happy Birthday!
