Alivia!

I can hardly believe it's been six years since we were blessed with our sweet Alivia.

July 09 - 3 months old with my mom and Natalie
previously posted here

She is quickly changed from the toddler to a little girl. I think she grew up while on spring break with her daddy. Today we celebrate her SIXTH birthday!

Here is a little collage I made for her birthday. This is her through the years. (Please excuse my husband's photo bomb in the left hand pic for this year, it was just too great not to use.)

Today, in honor of her 6th birthday I am going to share just a little bit about her. Alivia is in kindergarten and doing wonderfully. She is well liked by both the other kids and the teachers and staff at the school. Her favorite thing to do at school is fuse beads. You know those beads you put on the plastic tray and then iron them to make them stick together. If you have no idea what I'm talking about you can see them here. She is also really growing in her faith. According to her wonderful Sunday school teacher, she is always listening and willing to answer questions. I think that's amazing! She is a lover and is never short on giving hugs and kisses. Right now she has this habit of reverting to baby talk and I have to remind her to talk like a big girl.

Six things I love about her:

1. she is an excellent snuggler
2. she is very self reliant but always asks for help when she needs it
3. she isn't scared to try new things (not to be mistaken for new foods, she is not good about that!) 
4. she is friendly and loving to everyone and always makes sure to include everyone
5. her laugh is contagious and it's super easy to make her laugh
6. she is compassionate and wants to help when others are hurting

Six things I hope for her future:

1. I hope she always has the eagerness to learn
2. I hope that she keeps her willingness to help others 
3. I hope she is never scared to be who God created her to be
4. I hope she never stops being that friendly loving girl she is
5. I hope she finds something that she loves to do and sticks with it
6. I hope that she always remembers how much I love her

Six places I plan to take her (and her sisters) this year:

1. Multnomah falls 
2. the Oregon coast aquarium 
3. the Oregon zoo
4. Table Rock (here in Boise) 
5. Sandy Point (local park, to swim) 
6. to the butterfly exhibit in the Boise zoo.

Happy birthday my sweet Livie-love. I pray that the coming year brings you a boatload of blessings. We had a rough one last year, but we will make this one your best yet. Know that I am praying for you every day. This world is not always pretty, but I am going to try my best to help you see the beauty in each passing day. I love you always, love, your mommy

1000 Gifts: 3 gifts rising up

• it is a gift to watch a balloon rising up with a letter to grandma attached. 
• it is a gift to watch the birds take off, rising into the sky. Never fails to amaze me how perfectly God created them to be able to fly. 
• it is a gift to see the run going up on the horizon. I get a great view when I go to work of the sunrise. Beautiful!