Happy 8th Birthday Sunshine!

Happy Birthday Sweet Sunshine!

Your big day is FINALLY here! You've understood the excitement surrounding birthdays for several years now, but this year, you have been more excited than ever for your day to arrive. You are finally turning 8 and you are so incredibly anxious to get baptized and officially become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For several weeks now, you have been telling everyone you come in contact with about your upcoming birthday. You've been counting down the days for the past month, both to your birthday and your baptism day, and the time has finally arrived.

You are so ready to enter the waters of baptism and make your first covenant with your Heavenly Father. You have been so eager to learn all you can about the gospel to be sure you were ready to take this step. You have studied and prayed and asked so many questions. You have so much faith and a far better understanding of the gospel than I knew was possible at such a young age. You are a great example to both your dad and I. We want to be better students of the gospel in order to follow your example.

Your love of learning is not limited to just studying the gospel. You are also excelling at school. You love to read and to write. You ask us to give you math problems to do, just for fun. You love to play school with Beebs and share your knowledge with her. She is eager to learn all you can teach her as she so desperately wants to be like you. You are a great teacher, just like your dad, and I am excited to watch you continue to develop that gift. You still love to draw and colour and try your hand at anything artsy. You spend much of your free time at your desk, creating and being inspired.

I know I say this every year, but time is just flying by. You were just barely placed in my arms- a helpless little baby, who needed me to do everything for you. Now, you are "all grown up" and I feel like you help me more than I help you! You are especially good at helping with Man Cub. Both of you are early risers and you are always so willing to play with him and keep him company until the rest of the house wakes up. During the first few months of my current pregnancy, when I was too sick to function, you would bring me breakfast in bed without ever being asked and find ways to help around the house to ease my burdens. Your willingness to serve is always such a blessing in our home and has been especially so over the past six months.

We are so proud of you, of the choices you are making and the young lady you have become. We are so excited to witness your baptism on Saturday and to continue to help you grow in the gospel. We are so grateful to have you as a daughter. You have such a strong and kind spirit that blesses our lives daily. We love you so much and hope that being 8 is all you dreamed it would be!

Love always,
Mommy & Daddy