Some days I look at you in awe of how we were so fortunately blessed with such a talented, intelligent little girl. Other days, I [unfortunately] take you for granted. But not today. Today, you turn four whole years old. 
And these four years have taught us each a thing or two. Love. Joy.
There are certainly a few things we are working on, too. Patience. Kindness. Gentleness. Gratitude. Grace.
There are days I don’t know if I will ever be the mother you need me to be. There are days where we’ve worked it all out, just so.
Perhaps that’s something else you’ve taught me: it won’t always be like this. The bad days end just as surely as the good days.
But I want you to know something, right from the inside out with every breath. You are loved. Cherished. Rejoiced over. Prayed over. There is nothing you could ever do, ever say, ever become to change this Truth.
Whether you turn out like me, or nothing like your mother at all, it won’t matter. You are beautiful, loving, caring. You have such compassion, so much strength in you, such will. I long for, hope for only good in your life, but I know there will be trials, challenges, and difficulties. Those things will shape you for better (or for worse, but I pray the better) and they will teach you skills and tools you’ll need to persist, to succeed.
Thank you for being so helpful, with taking out the garbage, helping with Nathan, among other small tasks you’ve begun to tackle. I know I forget to ask for your help sometimes, but I hope we can work on that over the next little while.
I love how you so proudly proclaim yourself The Big Sister, synonymous with Superman, Spider-Man. When you stop to help your brother out of his chair, or down the stairs – especially the times that you do it without being asked – it makes my mama-heart overflow with gladness, with pride that you “get” what being the Big Sister means.
So, my love, Happy Birthday.
