I still remember it: your coming into this world, and those moments before, when the dr. told Mom that maybe the baby was not coming... maybe the time would not be that time that we were at the hospital. And it was then that I thought, "No, we have to have you. We have to come back home to the "apple apartments" in Beijing with little you in our arms." And, within an hour contractions were strong; you were coming. You came. And, since then, life has never been the same. We love you. We truly love you. You are our Everything, just like your song says. You are a giver of love. Your touches are gentle. Your care is pure. Your conversations sincere. You think deep thoughts. You ask enormous questions with the child-like wonder that I think Jesus was talking about when He explained that we should be like little children if we want to be with Him in Heaven. You are you, and you are happy. You do not need to follow this or that or him or her to be happy. You follow Him, and you are happy. Today I watched as you pushed some other little children on the tire swing at the park. You are kind to all, so kind and welcoming that you passed a little girl, who was crouched under a slide at the park and just asked, "Do you want to play?" Your smile is inviting, your warmth serene, your direction truly virtuous. Thank you for being such a good example of love, laughter and just being a little child. You are silly and a trickster, who, when you get caught in a funny moment, or a moment of uncovering a scheme, you let that little smile out of the side of your mouth. Yep, that one! We caught you! You made me laugh the other day when I called you to pause on the path as you got off your bike to check something out. Remember what you said when I said, "Madge, wait, don't get off your bike"? :) Yes, you made me laugh, because you were 5 steps away from your bike.... and then, little Caleb was investigating right behind you!
Your words whenever you have something to say are memorable. I remember so clearly the words you whispered into Marta's little ears just moments after her birth, "I have always wanted you." How beautiful, especially to a world that sometimes loses sight of how important and rewarding it is to want the life that God forever wants to give to it. Thank you for reminding us all how loves each life is. And, thank you for your sweet reminders, those reminders that you would mention after being pushed aside or overlooked at the grocery store. You always would say, "Don't people remember that they were little children too?"
We so look forward to next week and making your birthday wish come true of visiting some convents. You are a pure soul, a little soul who loves filling your poor box for all the needy. We expecially love how you are making your little look bracelets for the poor too.
We love you, Mammy-Cakes! Thank you for your simplicity, like today, whehn you helped your siblings do a nature scavenger hunt right after Mass.
Happy 8th birthday, Beautiful Girl!
