We are so lucky to have this amazing girl in our family! Here are 9 fabulous things about Madeleine:
1) Madeleine you are a born leader! Perhaps being the oldest helps you out, but you have great leadership quality which we see daily as you help me around the home, with your brothers, and is looked towards as a leader in your class and school. Being Class President has helped you accept leadership in a new area - and watching you blossom in this new role has been such a joy this year!
2) You are such a beautiful girl! Inside and out. You have been blessed with a kind heart that wants to help out....growing each year with being able to look at a situation and find ways to help those around you is a special gift you have been given. At times you can be cautious as you see a new situation, however your heart is always in the right place!
3) Smart, smart, smart! Not only do you have a great ability to be smart about how to lead - but Madeleine you are a girl who has a bright mind and a love for learning! How amazing it has been to see you grow in your desire to learn and all that you have been taught and how it adds onto what you are capable of. You especially love literature - both reading and writing it. The growth in your writing this past year is evident in your essays, personal narratives and the work you bring home from school and do here at home. I love that you are enjoying expressing your thoughts, opinions and views through the written word....it has helped you be able to express yourself more easily in many different ways - what a blessing and what a gift you have!
4) Reading! Watching you pick up a good book to read is one of my greatest joys! I love that you'll take recommendations on what to read....currently you are finishing the 'Little House' series, and I love when you tell me about what you are reading and learning about Laura Ingalls life. I shouldn't be that amazed when you finish a book - but sometimes I still can't believe between everything else on your schedule, that you find the time to read and finish a book (usually around 200 pages) about every 2-3 days. And again, your interest in reading has lead to adding to your knowledge....what wonderful choices you are making!
5) Sense of style! I love how you put your outfits together, and then add a flair with a scarf, or one of your fabulous headbands, little bit of bling from some jewelry or your shoes. Your teacher this year is just in love with your outfits and constantly tells me that she just loves when you walk in the room to see what you'll be dressed up in that day!
6) Internal Alarm Clock. Your body has a very keen sense of what time it is. I've never had to wake you up, or get you moving in the morning - you just seem to know what time it is and you wake up at the needed time. Even if we it's earlier than usual! You are able to balance your schedule and do what is needed in the time allotted you - whether that is getting ready for the day, doing your homework, practicing the piano or any number of jobs ---- you are amazing to use your time most effectively and I
7) You love to participate in activities! If you could, you would be doing things from sun-up to sun-down! Currently you are doing ballet on Monday, Piano and Girl Scouts on Wednesday and Activity Days with the girls in church on Friday nights. The only reason you aren't doing more....is that I can't figure out how to get you everywhere you want to be without having your brothers fall apart because of the busy schedule! You love to get into new projects and on Tuesday & Thursday you enjoy being able to have time to play with friends outside or to enjoy your American Girls.....which you still love and play with using your imagination to a level that really makes us happy to see that you are still enjoying these more simple joys in life!
8) This past year turning 8, you stepped into a new responsibility with being baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and receiving the Holy Ghost. You have learned how to listen to the promptings this year --- you are learning how to let it guide your life. There are times when it seems you have been able to listen and see the ways it can bless your life. You've also had some times where you didn't make the right choice - and with consequences you realize the importance of always trying your best to listen and obey the teachings of our Savior and to follow those promptings that you are now able to receive through the gift of the Spirit. It's a learning process - and one that you seem to be taking seriously as you have matured in a beautiful way of spiritual understanding this year. It will be wonderful to see how you continue to grow this next year. :)
9) Change and adaptability! You help to create a stability in our family while we have gone through some different changes with this move and look forward to different changes in our future. You have learned that change is going to be inevitable in life, and your ability to adapt to different situations shows that you again are maturing and growing in ways that are blessing you and our family. I find that I include you in talking about possible situations for our family - example being that we are seriously considering moving this summer. I worried that you would take things too seriously and get worried - however you seem to be able to understand that there are things we need to discuss before decisions can be made and although you are excited and nervous about some changes - you do your best to realize that life can always through in a few surprises in life and that we can never plan completely for what will happen. It really has helped me to have you be so mature about our families new, exciting and sometimes crazy adventures!
We love you so much Madeleine! We remember that first time driving home with you in the car and hearing you make all those precious baby sounds and having it sink in that we were your parents! From the beginning you have been bright eyed and ready for whatever experience life has to offer. We love you and your excitement, that you are our sweetheart and we loved celebrating you and another amazing year in your beautiful life!
Happy 9th Birthday!
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