Letter for a 9-year-old

(I'm copying your idea, Becca:o)

Dear Hannah,

Today you are nine years old! We keep talking about how this is your last year in the single digits. You have been planning your birthday party since February. We are going to the WOW Zone with 3 of your friends: Ashton, Sidney, and Savanna. Speaking of friends, we always thought you would be a social butterfly. From a very early age, you always enjoyed being around lots of people and would often talk to strangers in lines at stores, at the doctor's office, etc...Daddy and I were just noticing the other day that it seems this is not the case anymore. I wouldn't call you quiet (not even close). I'd say you have a keen social sense. You understand social norms, and do not like to call attention to yourself by violating them. You can be quite reserved when you are out of your comfort zone. As it turns out, you tend to find a few good friends and then are fiercely loyal to those friendships. You are more at home one-on-one than in a large group. However, you remain socially excitable. When you are in a situation where you are comfortable and with people you trust, you are a risk-taker. You are boisterous, loud, wild, and silly. You love to make people laugh. And laugh we do...at your botched punch lines when telling jokes, at your extremely long-winded and detailed stories, at your incessant movie quotes, at your excessively long and loud gas expulsions (AKA "toots"), at your contagious laughter.

You are a girl of contrasts and extremes - highs and lows. You can be doubling over with laughter one moment and dissolving into tears the next. You can be so helpful and selfless, and yet have a tendency to shirk your duties and demand your own way. You can be thrown into a lion-like rage over a relatively benign offense; you can be as cuddly and docile as a kitten. You feel things deeply and can't always explain what's in your heart. You are light-hearted, yet reflective; full of energy, yet you love your sleep; you tell me you think I hate you, and later you wonder if you might be my favorite. You "get" people which leads to a variety of contrasting characteristics and emotions: compassion, manipulation, empathy, self-pity, encouragement, or pushing all the right (wrong) buttons... There are days when it seems you can do no wrong. There are days when "you're going down, and you're taking Mama with you." You either love things or you hate them. You are passionate, exuberant, determined, and strong. However, if you are discouraged, you might wallow, give up, throw a screaming/crying fit, or give the silent treatment. You're a fireball and a spitfire. Yet, you can be so gentle and caring and low-key. I could go on and on...one thing is for sure though: you are one or the other. There's rarely an "in between" with you, my precious daughter.

One of the activities you are very passionate about right now is reading. If I don't know where you are, the first place I check is your bedroom. I can usually find you there curled up and engrossed in a book. You like historical fiction, the "Alice" series, A to Z mysteries, and biographies. You have especially enjoyed the missionary biographies we've read for school this year. I actually had to set parameters for when it is appropriate to be reading. You also enjoy our pets, swimming, watching movies, and crafts. If you are not reading, you're probably playing with Ethan or Sarah. You get along quite well with Ethan. The two of you can be very creative in your play. Sarah is another story. One minute you are best friends; the next you can't stand each other. The two of you have that competitive sister thing going on. We've had numerous discussions about how you are each special in unique ways and loved so much for exactly who you are. Yet, like most sisters I suppose, you both know just how to push each other's buttons.

You love wearing sweats and sweatshirts (a girl after your mother's heart). You don't like to wear dresses. You enjoy wild amusement park rides...the wilder the better. You don't like to be in a place where you don't know anyone. You like to be cuddled and tickled. You can't stand it when your sister's leg "accidentally" touches yours on the couch. You adore babies, toddlers, and teenage girls. You love to tell long and detailed stories (a girl after your father's heart). Your favorite food is chili. You do not like milk. You crave coffee, but are only allowed small tastes now and then. You're always good for hearty laughter. You give the silent treatment when you are angry. More than anything, you desire to be understood.

I love you, my sweet girl. I pray that you will come to know the significance and security that comes only from your relationship with Jesus. That you will be grounded in His love for you. That you desire to love and serve Him wholeheartedly. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. I know it full well.

Love,
Mommy, Mama, Mom (I'm so glad you're still comfortable with calling me all three)
(I started writing this a week ago; Hannah's birthday is the 27th)

Happy Mother's Day!

Some random thoughts from the children and Dana on "MOMMY"...

Sarah - Mommy likes to cuddle. She kisses me and tickles me all over. She likes to scrapbook especially with Miss Martha. She likes Mountain Dew, Barley Soup, Hot Tamales, and salad. Mommy likes to read books to me. I like Fancy Nancy books. Mom is fun, cool, lovable, nice, and pretty. I know that my mom loves me because she kisses me and she feeds me. I like it when she tells me she loves me. Mommy got 2 cats and a dog for me to play with. I don't like it when Mommy scolds me. I like to go shopping with her. Mommy likes Jesus because she worships God and she sings and reads her Bible.

Hannah - My mom is wonderful. She's my mom. I like to cook curry chicken and rice with her. And cookies too. I like when she makes her yummy chili. Mommy likes to read my books to me while we cuddle. I think her favorite job is to take care of us kids. She likes to read her book too. I don't like it that Mom makes me eat carrots. I wish Mommy would watch more movies with me. I think Mommy goes shopping and drinks Mountain Dew when we are not home. She cuddles with Daddy. She's not too serious, but also is not really funny all the time either. My mom makes me keep my room clean and I have to ask to read books (because she says I am not responsible with when I choose to read). One of my favorite things about my mom is that she likes to wear comfortable clothes like sweatshirts and sweat pants. I like to wear those kind of clothes too.

Ethan - She's AWESOME! I like it when she plays with me. She reads books with me. Mommy is usually happy. She likes to sleep in. She is my teacher this year. Mom likes Hot Tamales, Diner Dash, spinach, and her kids. She REALLY likes Daddy. She calls him "Bun". She's good at riding bike and caring for Rudy. She's trying to lose weight so she goes and exercises at the Y and then we can swim! There are a lot of best things my mom does for me: going to Culver's, going to the park, cleans the house, and makes supper. I like when my mom makes potatoes and green bean casserole. I get mad at her when she says we have to pick up the whole house. Mommy is a Christian, and Jesus will be happy to have her in heaven with Him.

Dana - Nedra has a burden for the hearts, souls, and character of our children. She loves being a mom, but would say that it is the most challenging thing she's ever done. She receives strength, support, and encouragement from her friends and fellow mothers at church. God is refining her as our kids get older. I would describe her as humble, hungry (for the Lord), passionate, growing, and beautiful. She likes to scrapbook, organize, read, and have deep discussions. She needs quality time with loved ones. She appreciates a good "chic flick". She loves Chipotle. What makes Nedra an excellent mother is her desire to continue to grow in her relationship and submission to the Lord in allowing Him to refine her as a mom.

Our Baby is Seven!

It was a big birthday day around here yesterday. 10 girls joined Sarah at Happy Joe's to celebrate her 7th birthday! The celebration was complete with pizza, tokens for games, prizes, ice cream sundaes, party games, and plenty of chatter and laughter. We skipped gifts this year in favor of a book exchange (each child brought a book and left with a different book). It was a busy couple of hours at Happy Joe's - something Daddy says he never wants to do again - but Sarah and the rest of the girls were having a great time.

After the party, in a spur-of-the-moment decision, a couple of girls came over to our house for the afternoon. We were joined by Grandma and Grandpa and (SURPRISE!) Great Grandma Elsing. We were all glad to give Gram a tour of our house in her first trip to Mankato since we moved. We continued to celebrate by opening a couple of gifts at home and eating angel food cake with icecream and strawberries. One of the girls had a little too much birthday and it ended up on our patio outside!! She made a quick
recovery though :o) We had planned on having a campfire that evening which Dana ended up starting in the middle of the afternoon saying, "The girls wanted to burn stuff." Huh?! They were very responsible, however, and we used the fire later to roast marshmallows for s'mores. How many treats can we fit into one day?

Sarah says her favorite part of her birthday was the campfire. Mommy thinks it was her new sunglasses which hardly left her face all day (except to share with her friends - good job, Sarah!)

Here's Sarah's version of the happenings on her birthday - "We opened presents. I got sunglasses, books, a shirt, hair things, a sucker, and we got to have seven tokens. We went to church. Then we went to Happy Joe's and had pizza and ice cream sundaes. 10 friends came and I was the special birthday girl. Then I even got to have 2 friends over at my house! Grandma and Grandpa came to see me with Grandma Elsing. I sat and cuddled on her lap. I got a book from them about art and an American Girl doll game. We had a campfire with my friends and we got to throw pine needles into it to help it grow big. It feels good to be seven. I like it. Everyone says I look seven too."