Happy 7th Birthday!

This weekend you turned 7 years old!  You were so excited all week and could hardly fall asleep at night.  Sometimes we will just lay in bed for hours talking, and yes, its hard not to hollar at you and tell you to go to sleep b/c you just open up and talk about everything.  Lately I have been falling asleep with you almost every night.  (you love it! :)  Then I feel bad for dad :)

This week on Friday Dec. 14 was dads birthday.  We had plans to go out for dinner and to a Griffins hockey game and you and Luke were sooooo excited, you would have thought it was your birthday.  Here I have this whole party planned for you on your birthday and your more excited about going to the Griffins hockey game!  Thats usually the way it goes! lol

Friday was also the day that our country had a tragedy occur.  In a school in Connecticut, 20 first graders got killed and 8 adults by a young punk 20 years old who ended up taking his own life, just walked into school and started shooting....  We didnt' talk about it much that day but since then we have, I didn't want to upset you on your special weekend.  It is just devastating and I thought about how easy it was to come into your school and see you, how that could have been you!!  I slept with you 2 nights this weekend just to be at your side, I lay awake staring at you b/c your so beautiful, your face is like a porcelain doll, and your so sweet and innocent and I can see the love for the Lord in your heart growing and it makes me soooo happy!!!  Your really starting to understand deep topics in relationship to God, Jesus, and the Holy spirit and sin and punishment, Why we want Jesus, how to set ourselves apart, and do not conform...I pray for you often, and not nearly enough!!!

Saturday finally came.  I asked if you wanted to go to the tiny restaurant at the corner for breakfast but you wanted Grandma Nyenhuis' dutch pancakes! So we headed over.  You opened your presents from mom and dad first (I got you a special necklace which was sterling silver cross, I wear the same one, telling you that you are a special gift to me, and from God and that you are God's, special in your own way) I hope you keep it along time and treasure it.  You also got clothes (from Justice of coarse!! and a makeup box from justice, slippers, journals, crafts and hair accessories) you are DEFINITELY all girl.  I don't know where you get it.  Honestly.  I hate doing hair, makeup, and love jeans and sweatshirts and you LOVE IT!!  Maybe its the age.  I think you are growing up WAY TOO FAST!!!!

We went shopping and to pick up your birthday cake, then the girls started arriving for the party. 13 friends for a gymnastics party. (Mallory and Kate Hoekwater, Alexis Dehoop, Raina (neighbor), Corryn (daughter of moms friend) classmates (Ainsley, Emerson, Ellie, boy....I can't remember without you. (yes, mom is getting old :)  You girls had a blast.  We ALL loaded up in Uncle Troys big van that fit 12.  Jackie and the others met us down there.  You played, jumped, twirled, and then we had pizza, cake, and sang to you. (even the police showed up!! Aunt Jackies suburban got broken into :(  Then we headed home to open presents and to play.  Party was from 2:30-6:30 and Corryn stayed all night.  Your favorite gift was from Corryn, a voice activated journal that opens only to your voice! You wanted to take it to school today but mom said no. ;)

I kinda felt bad b/c I never got personal time with you.  You don't get a full blown birthday party every year young lady!! Don't expect it, its alot of $$ even though you think everything is free.  I really need to teach you appreciation, and quit buying things you don't have to have....Ya, I like to spoil you, shoot, I spend all of my own personal allowance that I get each week on you guys not me!!!  Its more fun seeing you enjoy things than things mom doesn't really need either.  Grandma N spoils you alot too!! Your so blessed to have such great grandpa and grandmas!!!

I love you Karlie Joy more than you will ever know.  You are truly growing up into a lady right before my eyes. Your so mature for your age. Compared to others in the class, you are a head taller and seem about 9 if people had to guess.  You like hanging out with older girls which sometimes worries me, but thats b/c they are your cousins.  I just want to keep you here!!!  Your so carefree and have not a worry in the world.  Girls aren't mean to you yet, like they were to me, no jealousy, envy, mean girls, trash talk....Oh I pray that you don't get treated like I did.  Your beautiful.  My mom used to tell me that all the time too but I never believed it until now....And now its too late b/c I am getting old!!! :)  No, I am not, but I didn't have faith or believe in myself like I should have and I want you too!  It held me back, it caused me to be a push over, talked into things, make wrong choices b/c I didn't have enough faith in myself and was afraid that others wouldn't like me.  Now, I know and if they don't like me, then too bad!! Your never going to please everyone!!!

Karlie, I know that I will fail you as a mom.  I know that I am going to make mistakes but I will try my hardest and I will try to be honest with you always.  I continue to pray to the Lord to help me as a mom to make the right decisions not only for myself but those that affect you so that you come to know and have a relationship with the Lord.  I want you to know Him earlier than I came to know Him.  And maybe not even that but as long as you do!!  Yes, the sooner the better b/c my life is soooo much better I cannot even begin to explain to you the ways that moms life has changed in the past 5 years....someday you and I will have a LONG talk.  Its so amazing to me to see the Lords providential hand in my life, even in bringing me you.  My perfect little Karlie Joy.  I say that now, your not going to make me change my mind in 5 years are you? ;)

I will celebrate the changes and I pray to accept them as part of the process of us, you and me.  I hope we stay close but it is also my #1 job to raise you in what is right in the eyes of the Lord and today Kar....that is a HARD job.  I am going to have to say no to you, I am going to be the dorky mom, I am going to say no to the clothes that are "in", I am going to say no to the makeup, I am going to say no to some boys or friends you want in the house....I am going to have to set boundaries to help you b/c that is my job from God.  To bring honor and glory to Him and that is going to make you mad when life seems "unfair and hard...." trust me honey, you have no idea what hard is!! This mom has been thru it....

Karlie, just enjoy life right where you are!!! I tell myself that all the time.  Don't look to the future, it might not be there!! Don't look to what you hope to have, hope to be, plans to be made, it may never happen....Enjoy today!!! Life at 7 is GREAT!!!