Hello, ninth birthday!

Hello, 9. My girl is so very excited to be here. Momma has mixed feelings – only really because it goes so fast, and I know that. 

Rachel Elizabeth is the girliest person in our house because, apparently, she was just born with a love of sparkles and sass. She also loves to run barefoot, leaving her socks in the yard like a mini tornado and turning cartwheels instead of walking. She wants to be big, but she also still loves to cuddle me – often even when I’d prefer her be sleeping in her own bed that is down the hallway. 

Ask her to help, and she will, but only after declaring it’s boring and asking why today, any day, really, has to be boring. She wants a party wherever she goes. Yes, we’re working on work-before-play and not-all-of-life-is-fun mentalities. She draws people in and makes them feel loved. 

Except maybe her brother. They like to argue and compete and pester and annoy. There is squealing and tattling. And I really pray we move out of that season soon. But, until, we do, I will continue my speeches that we’re a team and God put the five of us together on purpose for a purpose – so get along. Maybe they’ll catch on. 

And, really, I get it. She’s my third. I’m probably a better mom to her than I was my first. Or second. I’ve learned and grown and settled into who God has created me to be. But it wasn’t always pretty understanding how God was trying to parent me. Sure, I still doubt myself, but I’m a lot more settled in myself. I’m also tired. 

But I wouldn’t change being Rachel’s mom for anything. She helps me see the joy in life because she is joy. She leads with her strong personality because she is strong. She loves what and who she loves. She asks questions with infectious boldness and curiosity – albeit the timing is sometimes terrible. 

Rachel has asked me for days what I got her for her birthday. I won’t tell her. By the time anyone is reading this, she’ll have a homemade voucher in her hand for a date with Mom and Dad on Sunday. That’s right. No brother. No sister. Just us and plans Rachel will love: lunch at Chuck E. Cheese, $40 to shop at the mall, an hour at Vertical Jump, and ice cream for dessert. It’s like a Yes Day with boundaries. But first there’s a dinner at Cracker Barrel and a party with friends at the ninja course. 

Perhaps one day this firecracker of mine will see the boundaries are because we love her – not so much because we’re boring. So here’s to all the fun and love in the world, my dear Rachel. Happy birthday!

*****

Look back on Rachel’s past birthdays:  One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Learn more about her adoption story in “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family.”