Happy 3rd Birthday, Nicole!

Dear Nicole,

What a treat it is to celebrate your sweet little life year after year.  You have grown a tremendous amount over this past year and I'm thrilled to uncover all that God has in store for you in the days ahead.  I can't believe you're already three years old!

I always find myself smiling when I think of the unique and beautiful ways that God knit you together.  Psalm 139: 13-14 says,

For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.

You are incredibly observant, you have a fantastic memory, and your heart is kind.  Daddy and I are consistently amazed by how your outgoing, friendly personality draws people near to you in special ways. You always pay attention to people's names and you consistently demonstrate your care for them by remembering who they are.  Daddy and I knew that God gave you a heart that loves people when your Sunday School teacher told us that every single Sunday you greet each kid that comes in by name.   God loves people too, which means that your love for people reflects the One who made you.

You have grown your imagination, your independence and your obedience this past year.  You have practiced kindness, patience and selflessness in your friendships which has made you a warm and inviting friend.  Daddy and I love watching you play and we enjoy participating in the games you make up each day.  You've started to appreciate order and have become diligent about putting your things away exactly where they go.  I am continually encouraged by your joyful willingness to help me, Daddy or Jonah with whatever we need.  Your awareness of others and your desire to connect makes you a great person to enlist as a dedicated helpmate. 

Something else you have grown in this year is prayer.   You are exceptionally good at thanking God for things and I know that He loves hearing you express your thankful heart.

Be joyful always; pray continually: 

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

The past three years has been a whirlwind of growth and change.  Daddy and I love watching you grow up because you're becoming such a beautiful, kind and responsible little girl.  So far you have navigated all of the change in your life with a significant amount of resilience, especially when you became a big sister to Jonah.   You will encounter a lot more change in the days and years ahead, but as long as you stay anchored to the One who doesn't change, your foundation will remain steady.  

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8 

I love the time we spend together reading and I get excited when I anticipate all of the stories we will share together in the years to come because of our mutual love of books.  I regularly look forward to settling into a cozy spot with you after our weekly trip to the library so that we can explore our new stack of books together.  It's been fun to see the stories we share weave themselves into the fabric of our lives and our relationship.   

 You are special, unique, beautiful and deeply loved.  My prayer for you Nicole, echoes what the apostle Paul wrote in Philippines 1:9-11,

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.  

May you trust God and follow Him all the days of your life. 

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him." - Jeremiah 17:7

I love you dearly, Nicole.  

Happy 3rd Birthday! 

Love, 

Mom