For Aunt Helen

A while back Aunt Helen requested a close up picture of Adia Moon. Aunt Helen is my friend Amy's husband Mike's sister (did you get all that?)... and we've adopted her too. She's beautiful, funny, smart.... I love her 'cause she speaks Spanish...talented, giving and she makes a rockin' fruit leather.

I would also like to take this moment to send her a public thank-you for the beautiful hat that she knit for Adia around Christmas time. You know the one.... the cute little pinky purple one from the Oregon coast pics? I LOVE IT! Thank you, thank you Helen!! For your thoughtfulness and the beautiful creation. I apologize that I have been so remiss in thanking you - you know, I always intended to send a cute little card, kept forgetting to get your address, yada yada - and then I just ended up seeming rude and unappreciative altogether. Anyhow, we love it and you!

We were over at Mike and Amy's Friday night and Mike sent over this great shot of Adia. I think it captures her perfectly for some reason. When Adia was a baby we could never get her to laugh. She was content and would smile all the time but it seemed she was too proper to just let out a full belly laugh. Even now she is a sweet and gentle little girl. She'll laugh but more often shines a sweet smile. She snuggles with us and is sensitive - noticing the slightest change in my emotion. She is purposeful in her movements - reaching out a dainty finger to the tiniest detail on a toy - rarely clumsy or rambunctious. She is generally content to sit on my lap and spend time with me. She wants to be near us and notices when she is not included in things.... because she certainly is mature enough to do everything we do. She is reserved and thoughtful and people often comment on how she seems to take in everything around her. She is also fun loving and easy going most of the time - and takes joy in a simple song or nursery rhyme. She loves story time at the library and I'll notice her attempting the hand motions as she watches everyone intently.

I am not naive enough to overlook her sinful nature that goes along with these things though - sometimes manipulative, expressions of hurt feelings often taking over her face at the smallest bump from her brother. Sometimes she'll ever so slightly position her body away from me and look down in defiance when I tell her to do something. Many times she will obey me in action - handing over a beloved item in physical obedience and then crying woefully with a heart of rebellion. I am challenged in my role as her mother to nurture the beauty in these traits and train out the rest. I want her to be a strong and fastidious woman - emotionally and physically. I take great care to not baby her when she hurts herself - sometimes wondering if I should be more concerned - but I want her to cry about the things that matter and express her feelings when they are truly justified. I want her to be a source of joy to her husband and her children one day - responding to them with smiles, giggles and a gentle touch. My prayer is that she would be a safe and comforting refuge to those around her - and she must be a strong woman to do that. It is a good lesson for me.

I really didn't intend to write all of this when I started out this morning - I guess these are some of the thoughts that have been rolling around in my head the last few days. I never would have imagined that I would want a girly girl - but I think we have one and I love her. I love seeing all the softness that God created in her and I am looking forward to being her mama as she grows into a woman.